Ancient Mystic's War of the Realms Saga - Lady Adellandra Dratianos (read me a book TXT) 📗

Sight, Sense, all of it are a part of who I am, both Dark and Light are balanced. He doesn’t need to worry about that with me.”
“We have full confidence in your Ancient Mystic Magic, Adarra.” Emerald tried the name on her tongue. Somehow, it sounded familiar, like the whisper of a voice from ages past coming back to haunt her in the present. “We both just worry to what depths you will take your Dweller-kin abilities, if you have any.”
“I’ve been learning a lot from both of you, don’t get me wrong.” Luna supplied, her eyes filled with wonder and delight. “I just want to learn more.”
Emerald paused and stared into her eyes for a moment before saying a word. “Does a certain dark-haired stranger have anything to do with your sudden need to learn more of our powers?”
Luna blinked and blushed. “How did you know about that?”
“It is on your mind, Blood-Sister.” Emerald said softly. “It has been on your mind a lot lately, and I’m beginning to wonder who else is on the same mind-path as the four of us.”
Luna was in deep thought, thinking about the dark-haired black-eyed stranger she’d met in her own Dream Realm. Reluctantly, she told Emerald what happened that night; from the time she met him, to what her own sister told her. She even told Emerald of the different forms both twins were taking now: wolves with dragon’s wings, Dragonwolves.
It took a moment for Emerald to respond. “Thank you for telling me, Adarra.” She said softly, half in thought herself. “Ariana is right, I am afraid. There is something about the two of you, and both are connected in one way; through our Countess, Shylee Stargazer, known in the Nations as Dracora.”
She wanted to say something else, but stopped. Instead of responding, Emerald just misted in the air and disappeared. This left Luna very confused.

II

Emerald returned to Firestorm’s side with the story. Firestorm wasn’t happy to hear it. He came up with one conclusion, based on what she’d told him and what he’d witnessed over the past weeks.
“I thought you told her she wasn’t Dweller-kin?” Firestorm asked his Bondmate Emerald.
“I-I did tell her.” Emerald was as confused as he was.
“Why do I smell the Draconian blood in them both?” Firestorm asked. “I broke our promise to both Celeste and Dixilynne. I turned her.”
“You didn’t know, Fire.” Emerald replied. “I’m not sure anyone really knew.”
“That’s just it, Em. I did.” He supplied. “Something told me to do it.”
Emerald was surprised to hear his admission. “Can you tell me what?”
“I wish I could explain it, Emmy.” He replied. “It’s like someone was urging me to do it; so, I did it.”
“Who is strong enough to get through our Ancient defenses?”
Firestorm frowned. “Only one I know of who is more ancient than us, and that’s the Countess in the Dragon Nations.”
“I am willing to bet that is also who Turned a Young Lady Guardian as well so long ago.” Emerald responded. “All we have to do now is wait for further instructions from Shylee.”
“Why wait when we can go to her ourselves?” Firestorm was livid. All Emerald could do was follow and make sure he didn’t destroy everything in his path.

III

The Countess and her General Trenor were waiting for the three of them in Monarch’s Glen. General Terrantis met with her first.
“Well, Dracora, they will be coming soon.” Terrantis supplied after quickly bowing to her.
Dracora smiled. “All will be as it should be soon, gentlemen. Meanwhile, we have a Nation to run, aye?”
“Aye.” Both Terrantis and Trenor chorused.
“I told the young Enchantress of the Lost Ones.” Terrantis supplied.
Dracora’s heart skipped. “Who evidently told her Mutyr?”
“Aye.” Terrantis announced. “What of the Lady herself? Does she know who she is?”
“Nay, not yet, but soon.” Dracora supplied. “I only wish I could do something to speed up the process.”
“You know how memories and the minds of our people work, Dracora.” Trenor said. “We are forever kept in shadows, silent until our minds and magic believe we can handle the responsibility.”
“Our Lady is no ordinary Draconian now, my friend.” Dracora said. “You must remember her heritage before becoming our Empress. She was a Dragonwolf, one of few at the time. Now that she is an Ancient Mystic, just as my own Mutyr was, she is virtually unstoppable against those who wish to destroy us.”
“Is that why you Turned her so young?” Trenor asked. He was there in the Mortallan War during delegations and was the one to help her through the FireWall back to the Dream Realm.
“I did nothing of the sort.” Dracora denied. “You cannot Turn someone into what they were born being.”
“You just gave her a little push?” Terrantis smiled. “To remind her, I take it?”
Dracora cleared her throat and stood at her Throne. “Attention gentlemen, we are about to have company.”
In a few moments, they watched as Firestorm and Emerald misted in, and the Lady Guardian herself marched to the Throne in her Dragonwolf form. She was wearing her Fighter’s Gear, complete with her Spiritblade on her back and the Dragon Dagger at her hip.
All three began talking at once, which made Trenor wince. Terrantis stood at attention and sighed.
“What is the meaning of this?” Dracora roared, which stopped whatever the three of them were saying in unison.
“I only came on your insistence, Dracora.” The Lady Guardian Ariana announced.
Emerald bowed as her mate folded his arms and frowned. “We come asking questions about the one calling herself Adarra.”
Both Dracora and Lady Guardian blinked and looked at each other.
“Is that right?” Dracora asked softly.
Lady Guardian turned to Emerald. “Adarra, as in my sister the Grand Magus? My twin?”
Emerald closed her eyes and nodded. “Aye. We fear she is getting too dark in learning her magic.”
“You don’t need to fear that.” Ariana smiled. “I trust her with her Dark Magic.”
“It’s not the Dark Magic we speak of, Lady.” Firestorm spoke up. “It’s the magic from our blood-binding.”
“Of which I was not impressed.” Dracora responded.
“Don’t blame me for something the Ancient Mystic did herself.” Firestorm shot back. “Grand Magus was the one who wished it, not me. I was just following a voice in my head, prodding me to do so when she asked.”
“A Voice, Firestorm?” Dracora was interested now, forgetting her anger over his Blooding Ariana’s twin. “Do you know who or what the Voice was from? Did you recognize it?”
Both Firestorm and Emerald looked to each other then back to the Countess. Ariana just stood aside and waited, thinking.
“It sounded like the Emperor himself.” Firestorm replied with respect. “As if he was wishing I Blood her for some reason.”
“Question is: was it the Emperor in her mind or another?” Emerald asked.
Dracora didn’t answer, for she was deep in thought. “Could it be? After all these years?”
Trenor heard her. “Countess, it has been rumored of his return to the Nations.”
“It only sounded like the Emperor,” Firestorm supplied. “I didn’t say it Felt like him.”
“It may not have been him.” Emerald supplied. “It may have been his Lord Bratton.”
“His duo? After all this time?” Dracora was skeptic. “I doubt that; though,” she continued after a moment, “it does sound like something both my Brattons would do.”
She sighed.
“We only know he was powerful enough to break through all of our shields on Grand Magus’ mind.” Emerald replied.
The Countess shook her head. “Which brings us back to one question: Grand Magus naming herself ‘Adarra’? That in itself sounds familiar.”
“I was thinking the same thing, Countess.” Emerald shared a look with her.
“If I may interrupt,” Ariana said softly. “The name ‘Adarra’ is her Pagan name; given to her by Red Shawl Starchaser.”
“You don’t say.” The Countess looked to Firestorm. “Red Shawl is your niece, Fire. What does she have to say?”
Firestorm was hesitant, looking to Ariana before the Countess. When Dracora nodded with a smile, he continued. “Perhaps Red Shawl was thinking the same as we were? Perhaps she, too, looked into the Grand Magus’ eyes and heart and Saw the same as we did?”
“The truth shall prevail.” Emerald announced, finishing his thought.
“That it shall, my dear Emerald.” The Countess said. She turned to a waiting Firestorm. “You came for answers, and you will get them, but not now.”
“Always later, Dracora.” Firestorm said.
Not in front of Ariana. Dracora sent to both Bondmates at once, using a mindpath she’d forged with the Dweller-kin. She doesn’t know the full truth, yet.
After a moment, Firestorm stood at attention and nodded. “Very well, Countess. We’ll be awaiting your command, as always.”
Both Bondmates bowed, misting into air and disappearing.

Story: #3:
Blood-Lust and the Yearning

It was late at night, and Luna was restless. Her thoughts loomed back to the mysterious stranger in her dreams, and the conversation she had with her sister. She wandered the house, listening and thinking.
She stopped at the top of the stairs and heard the grandmother clock ticking from the front room. Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath and extended her ears around the house. Shane’s breathing was steady; he was sleeping peacefully in bed. Her ears tuned in to her children next, making her smile. All three were in their beds, sleeping peacefully.
Beautiful, just like their mother.
The male from the other night entered her thoughts again. She no longer feared it, but welcomed it.
Why, thank you, stranger. Luna answered back in her mind. She opened her eyes and headed down the hall. Did you want to tell me who you are and why you’re haunting me?
An empathic feeling of love washed through her sensors. Soon, Little One, very soon, but first things first.
Aye? Luna’s voice purred.
Turn your children.
Luna stopped in front of her oldest son’s doorway, watching the young Caleb sleep. Turn, as in Dweller-kin kind of Turn?
As you know it now, aye. Don’t deny them Immortality.
Why should I do what you say? Luna frowned.
He was silent in her mind, and she sensed frustration on the path before feeling him leave her.
She focused her eyes to the dark room as she went to her son’s side. Sitting on the bed, she caressed his hair.
“Rest, Precious One.” Luna whispered in a voice lilted with otherworldly accent. “Rest deep and dream of things that make you happiest. For this time tomorrow, our whole worlds will change.”
Through her fingers, she could feel the pulsing of his heart and blood pumping through his veins. Staring at her son, she licked her lips.
To her surprise, she felt her incisors sharpen to pinpoints. She gently pulled the blanket away to expose his neck. Closing her eyes and opening her mouth, she pierced her