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Chapter 51: Merethyl
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2024-10-29 19:42:56
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The Dark Protector Chapter 52: Avani
Our motley crew begins searching for The Chief. I get the information from the scientist that has been helping Ishir and we begin our search again, this time using a grid approach. We know where we’ve found the old and existing labs, we know where Tana was found, and from there, Ishir begins narrowing our search for us. Over the next couple of months, we continue to find the hunters’ laboratories. I’m amazed that there were so many, but we obviously haven’t found them all if we can’t find The Chief. Zephyr has returned with my son, Ancalagon, although she must remain in the forest because Ancalagon won’t be able to shift to his human form until he’s five years old. Until then, he’ll grow into his dragon form and then, on his first shift, he will shift into an adult man. Technically, he’ll be younger than Kenna, and in dragon years, he will be, but when he shifts for the first time into his adult form, Kenna’s human form will still only be about 13 years old. I’ve been speaking to Ze
The Dark Protector Chapter 53: Merethyl
I’m not sure if Avani caught it, he was busy snarling at the doctor and Cedric, but I did. Ishir’s focus was solely directed toward Zephyr during our meeting. And Zephyr made sure she was actively ignoring Ishir in return. Interesting. As we’re getting ready to leave, I can feel Avani’s excitement in finally getting to meet his son. I’m happy for him. When he lifts off, I look down and see Ishir watching Zephyr. I wonder if all shifters feel mate bonds or only some. Yhendorn recognized Kenna as his mate, but he’s read about it, and new what to look for. If I had known what I was looking for, I guess I would have realized that Avani was my mate the moment I smelled him. The man smells like everything that is good in the world, evergreens and cinnamon. ‘Thank you. I’m glad you like my scent. I like yours too.’ Avani says, listening, as always to my thoughts. “I wonder if our daughter will smell like a spring meadow, or if she’ll just have a floral scent that is currently boosting mi
The Dark Protector Chapter 54: Avani
I had just about gotten the fat buck that I was planning to snatch for Anacalagon when I heard Zephyr ask about Mere being pregnant. Fury and fear rippled through me and I roared, causing the herd to scatter. It’s not that I don’t trust Zephyr. I do, otherwise I wouldn’t let her raise my son. But Ancalagon, as a pure dragon, will be stronger than my hybrid child with Merethyl. He, at least, will be able to start calling on his element or possibly both elements when he’s six months old. There are still too many hunters, and The Chief is still out there. Until he’s gone, neither of my children are safe. And right now, the less people that know about my daughter, the better. I continue searching for food, listening to the conversation between Zephyr and Merethyl. I’m thankful Zephyr is being open about their future relationship and about our incapability as mates. Merethyl seemed to need to hear it from her as well as me to believe it. When I hear Merethyl say hello to my son, I get a
The Dark Protector Chapter 55: Merethyl
We left Zephyr and Ancalagon, both of us feeling better. I hadn’t realized the first flight would seal the bond between child and parent and a bit of Avani’s unease has lifted. I know most of mine has as well. Not knowing what to expect of either Zephyr or Ancalagon, I was pleasantly surprised by both. Ancalagon is a sweet dragon, basically a huge, unsteady toddler but with a kind heart. Zephyr is nothing at all like I expected. As Avani flies, I lay on his back, thinking of what I now know of dragons. There’s a confidence among all of them, a strength that must be intrinsic to their breed. Or maybe it’s just this group that has survived when none of the others did. And then, there’s the mate bond. I know from sharing Avani’s mind that a dragon’s love for his or her rider is unlike anything I’ve ever seen or felt before. But, that also seems to be the one area where the dragon’s confidence wanes. Their need for the love and acceptance of their mate wars with their own desire to rema
The Dark Protector Chapter 56: Avani
I have a vested interest in finding this Chief quickly. He’s already had my mate in his clutches once. I won’t allow him to get to her or my child again. Merethyl has started to show, her once flat stomach gaining a slight roundness as our daughter grows inside her. You can’t tell yet because of the flowy clothing she wears, but if she were captured….I can't think about it. I would go insane thinking of them doing to Mere and my daughter what they did to Tana and Liekki. We pick up where we left off, continuing our grid approach to finding the laboratories. The first one was empty, but it looks like it was left in haste. We collect as much intel as we can find and I send Ishir the coordinates to come and get it. When we get to the next laboratory, we find that it is still operational. This one is openly guarded. They aren’t even trying to hide anymore. The hunters, or maybe they are just guards now, are heavily armed and I know that whatever they are using as weapons will be able to
The Dark Protector Chapter 57: Merethyl
One minute, I was cooing at the baby dragon, the blue one and the next, she screeched and fell over dead. I was still trying to figure out what happened when I heard the terrible screeching from the red dragon. Then both of the red dragons fell to the ground and blood began pouring out of their eyes. I tried to save them. I tried. I kept pushing my healing power into them. I pulled on the earth element, begging the earth mother to save them. It wasn’t until Avani grabbed me that I realized there was nothing more that I could do. I’m clinging to him, sobbing at the senseless loss, when I hear heavy paws and wings whoosing into the building. “What happened?” Kayid says. Avani doesn’t let me go, but I feel him turn to them. “The Chief. This is what happened to that dragon at the arena. He must be the one that killed them. We need to get that human doctor here. He needs to tell us what we’re working against and how we can try to save them next time, but I guarantee you, there are more
The Dark Protector Chapter 58: Avani
My mate is so sweet, so kind. Seeing something like this takes a lot out of her. It takes a lot out of me as well, watching as dragons, even if they are lab-created dragons, are murdered right in front of you. As I lift up into the sky, I feel Merethyl lay down, letting herself relax against me. I begin to purr, wanting to soothe her more, wanting her to sleep. Her panic had caused a subtle change in our daughter’s heartbeat. It may be something that other parents would never realize because they don’t hear it, but I did, and I needed my mate to calm. Once she did, our daughter’s heartbeat went back to normal. It’s a risk taking her to Cedric’s pack. Zephyr had recognized that Mere was pregnant because of her actions, but now, our daughter’s heartbeat is strong enough that if you are listening for it, you’ll hear it. However, if I can get this human doctor, Everett, to come with us, Kaylani may be joining us as well. If so, she’ll figure it out sooner or later. The flight takes near
The Dark Protector Chapter 59: Merethyl
I slept on the way back to the laboratory. I didn’t get much sleep last night and the stress took a toll on me. I know Avani is worried about me and our little girl, so I took the opportunity while we flew back to sleep some more. I can tell that Avani is feeling better now that I’ve gotten some decent sleep and have food in my stomach. That is, until we land and he hears that they caught a hunter. “Ishir, care to join me?” Avani says, inviting Ishir to go ‘interrogate’ the hunter. I have no such desire, knowing that whatever they do, it won’t be pleasant. When Ishir nods and walks to Avani, I turn to Everett and Kaylani. “I’ll take you to the dragons.” “Thank you.” Everett says. As we walk, Everett looks at me. “I don’t want to presume, but, are you an elf?’” I look at him. “What gave me away?” He smiles self-deprecatingly. “The ears.” “Ahhh.” “Well, that and the regal way you carry yourself. I guess I have an image in my head of elves being majestic and other worldly. You fi
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The Dark Protector Epilogue 2: Avani
After Enki was born, Merethyl and I spent one more week together, letting Merethyl readjust to the loss of dragon DNA in her system. I had noticed it after Gaia’s birth, but I’m noticing it even more now, her body is absorbing dragon DNA every time she gets pregnant. She still had some dragon tendencies after Gaia, and now, after delivering Enki, she has even more. Her ability to cdonnect to me mentally, sift through my memories and thoughts, is nearly as strong as mine. It doesn’t bother me that she has the abilities that she has, it’s more that I’m worried about the long term effect of her body taking on the dragon DNA. Once things are settled with this assassin, I'll be taking her to visit the doctor. When we get back to the elf lands, I know I can’t stay long. I’ve been out of the hunt for two months and Ancalagon is still missing. But, when we arrive and my little girl, now nearly 8 months old, comes toddling out of the castle, her arms raised to me, I refuse to leave without sp
The Dark Protector Epilogue 1: Merethyl
Four months later We still haven’t found Ancalagon. I’ve searched with Avani periodically, but between our daughter needing her mother and my belly starting to grow with our son, I’ve stayed home more than I’ve gone out with him. A few months ago, Ishir started finding shifters that had been murdered. At first, it was a rare occurrence, one in the first month. We assumed that it was some sort of lucky hunter kill. Then there were three more in the month after that, then more. Lately, it feels like Avani and Ishir are finding a dead shifter or supernatural every few days. Not only that, but the ones they are finding now are apex predators or leaders of their supernatural groups. Avani had told me that they had found a high priestess of a coven along with a very powerful warlock. Avani has refused to allow me to leave the pack lands in the last month and has asked Kenna and Bajaro to guard us. Kenna is happy to stay here. She wants to protect her mate, even though Yhendorn doesn’t lik
The Dark Protector Chapter 75: Avani
Being loved and cared for by my mate goes a long way to making me feel better. I’m still distraught, still angry that I can’t find my son, but at least now I feel like I have the strength to start again. I fly Merethyl to Cedric’s pack lands. I already knew that Zephyr wouldn’t be here. She hasn’t stopped and unlike me, she doesn’t have a rider to care for her. I know Mere thinks that Ishir is her mate, but without being claimed, the draw to her son, the need to protect him, will be stronger than the draw to her mate. When we arrive, I pull Mere into my lap. She is all that is keeping me sane, having to be here, listening to this when I should be out searching for my son. I know this meeting is important, but I’m struggling with this feeling of helplessness and weakness. ‘You’re not weak,’ Mere says in my mind. ‘Or helpless, and they may be able to help us. It’s good that we’re here.’ Kaylani begins telling us that the most recent dragons that they have found are hybrids, all of th
The Dark Protector Chapter 74: Merethyl
Zephyr told us that she had left Ancalagon with the mountain goat shifters, while she went into town. She was oddly vague about where she was or why she was gone, but it doesn’t matter. Ancalagon should have been safe. He’s nearly a year old now. When she had returned, Zephyr said she could smell death and the paralytic. The hunters had killed all the goats and paralyzed Ancalagon so they could take him. Zephyr had been frantically searching for a day, when she finally gave her dragon’s call, knowing she needed help. We began searching immediately, Avani tearing apart every hunter’s lair and laboratory that we could find. He had contacted Ishir to get more intel, but he wasn’t able to tell us much. He gave us a few more laboratories, but most of them had been destroyed when Kaylani, Cedric and Ishir had hunted them down, rescuing the dragons. I had to split my time, hunting for Ancalagon and taking care of my newborn. I love my time with Gaia, but I worry about my mate every moment
The Dark Protector Chapter 73: Avani
I walk Merethyl to the stage that is set up for the event. As his only living relative, she will be leading the coronation ceremony for Yhendorn. She looks gorgeous as always, but dressed as she is right now, the royal blood in her is much more obvious. She was meant to be a queen. I’m just the lucky dragon that gets to claim her as MY queen. She stands beside Yhendorn, who also looks regal in his dress robes. Merethyl begins speaking in elvish. I don’t understand the words, but I understand the intent as I sift through her mind and feel the words she’s speaking. A peace settles over the people, an acceptance of their new King. I look out over the elves, watching as they begin to sing and chant in Elvish. I look behind us at where Kenna is laying, being here for her mate in her dragon form. The air around us begins to feel magical and I look over at Bajaro. She’s holding Gaia and I swear, my daughter looks like she’s paying attention. Maybe she is, both Mere and I have the earth as
The Dark Protector Chapter 72: Merethyl
After Avani dropped me and Gaia off on the mountain and went to get me some clothes, it wasn’t long before I hear an eagle’s call. I look up to see Shiv and it’s only a moment later when I hear Bajaro in her hyena form and Kayid in his fox form yipping as they run up the side of the mountain. As soon as she gets to the top, Bajaro shifts and walks toward me. “Please tell me you’re going to let me hold that little one.” I walk to her, putting Gaia into her arms. She immediately starts to purr, gently rubbing her face over Gaia’s. “Bajaro, meet Gaia,” I say, stroking my daughter’s hair. “She’s beautiful. She smells like you and the earth dragon,” Bajaro says quietly. I can tell that Avani was right. She will want to be a surrogate mother to Gaia and will protect our daughter with her life. “Speaking of the earth dragon, where is he?” Kayid asks. “He went to get me some clothes.” I say, watching as Bajaro begins humming a strange tune that I’ve never heard. It’s a gentle but hauntin
The Dark Protector Chapter 71: Avani
We stay in our cave for another week after Gaia is born. We carefully take her out every day, making sure she has fresh air. Merethyl lays her in the grass and then will use her element to grow flowers around her. My mate is back to normal now. As much as I loved having her desire for me run as deeply as mine does for her, there’s a reason she’s my mate. I need the balance that she gives me. So, I'm glad she's back to normal again. “We need to head back to the elf lands, love,” I tell her. “I know. I’m just enjoying this time, with only the three of us. But Yhendorn has waited long enough to take over as king and it’s time to introduce our daughter to my family and to your son.” “I wanted to discuss something with you before we return,” I tell her. “What’s that?” “You know that the Chief’s son is still out there. I need to help hunt him now that you’re back to your normal self. I don’t know how you feel about me leaving…” “No! I won’t let you go alone. What if something happened
The Dark Protector Chapter 70: Merethyl
I love being in our cave of treasures. I can feel the metals singing to me, calling to me. I feel their differences, their density and weight making their song different. The gemstones also have their own feel to them. I’ve found a couple that I like, that seem to speak to me louder than the others. But mostly, I love having my mate here with me. I can’t get enough of him. There will never be enough of him. He is everything, the world is nothing without him, my mind, my body, my soul are incomplete, empty without his touch, his caress, his presence in my mind. I’m just starting to wake when I feel the first pain. I look down, my stomach large and swollen. As I watch, I see the muscles in my stomach contract, sending another shooting pain up my side. I look around. Avani isn’t here. Our child, I need to protect our child. I rub my stomach, cooing at our daughter. I can feel her mental presence in my body. She is agitated and irritable. She wants out. “Not yet, baby girl,” I coo at h
The Dark Protector Chapter 69: Merethyl
The scent of evergreen and cinnamon fills my nose. I’m so drawn to the scent that I try to burrow myself deeper into the warmth where the scent is emanating. I hear voices, men’s voices, speaking around me. There’s a deep rumbling sound and it reverberates in my body, making me hum. Then I hear a female voice. My eyes flash open and I snarl. “MINE!” I snap at the beautiful woman that is standing too close to my mate. That’s who I smell, who I feel inside me, in my mind, in my soul. My mate. I feel him begin to purr behind me and my body calms, relaxing back against him. His hand touches my face, moving the hair away from me. I lean back against him, rubbing myself against him. “Merethyl, do you know where you are?” “With you, my mate, my love, my life.” “Yes, you are with me. Do you know where WE are?” I open my eyes again and the beautiful woman is still here. I growl at her. “I don’t want your mate, Merethyl. I’m here to help you. Do you know who I am?” “The water dragon.”
