Burning Hearts

Chapter Thirty

Tana

I watched the holographic image and listened in mind link. I don’t know what to do. There was something about Callum that I needed to speak with him before I could fully make a decision, but I still needed help and guidance about how to proceed. Sure, I can command all dragons to no longer kill innocent humans because they found out about this world, but to remove a king from his position even though Corbin sort of deserves it…

All eyes were on me as I glanced around the room. “I’m uh… I think I need to speak with Callum before I make any decision. I need help though. I’m not sure how to proceed punishing Corbin.” I admitted. “We will help you with that, my dear,” Alexander responded. I nodded. “Finish eating. We have a lot to do and discuss today,” Robyn said. She didn’t need to tell me twice.

I finished off the meat on my plate and I grabbed some more, and I grabbed some eggs, waffles, and fresh fruit this time too. My meat craving isn’t complete, but I think I controlled it enough to get something else in me. I dolloped some fresh whipped cream on my waffles and drizzled them with syrup before I used my fork to cut into them and took a huge bite.

I got lost in eating again. I finished off my plate and my hunger pangs seemed to have settled for the time being. However, Casen’s scent was now tickling my nose and all I wanted to do was climb on him. Lust coursed through my body, and I tried to hold it at bay.

I woke up emptying my belly and after that the need to just be as close to Casen as possible washed over me. I wanted his warmth, I wanted to feel his heart beat against mine. I wanted to listen to his breaths. When I woke, his scent was driving me wild with lust. I tried not to wake him, but I failed.

“Are you okay?” Casen asked. “Uh, no not really.” “What’s the matter?” “Your scent is driving me wild with lust again.” “Again, what do you mean again?” “It’s why I was kissing in your neck. I don’t know why, but I want to crawl on you and never let go. I want your touch, your kisses, your skin on mine…” I heard his chuckle in mind link. “Now you know how I feel about you from the moment I saw you on the dance floor. Maybe we can sneak away for a few minutes, but we do have a lot of stuff to do.” “I’ll take it.”

Most everyone had left the table or were leaving. Some of the guests like Oren were going back to their kingdoms today. I stood and tried to walk at a normal pace to get back to our room. I really wanted to run. I took the stairs as fast as I could go without seeming to be too eager. I opened our bedroom door and Casen followed me in closing it behind him.

I dove at him. Our lips crashed together in a dominating kiss. “We…have…to…be…fast…” Casen said between each kiss. I turned my back to him and pushed my leggings down with my panties. I braced my hands on the bed. I heard the swoosh sound of him pushing his sweats down his legs. He stepped up behind me and thrust into me. I cried out in sheer ecstasy to be filled by him. It’s what my body wants so desperately.

My head lolled down as Casen fu*.ked me hard and fast. He was pulling deep moans and pants of pleasure out of me. He arched my body up slightly to his mouth as he began kissing and nibbling on my shoulder. I turned and angled my head for him to kiss me and he did. I felt my body ready to climax and Casen moved his mouth back to my neck. After a couple more minutes, I felt my release crest and Casen bit down on my mark, sending me over the edge calling out his name into the room. A couple of minutes later, he was roaring out with his climax.

I felt a little gooey on the inside as Casen pulled out. I was going to collapse to the floor because my legs were so shaky, but he picked me up and set me on the bed. I laid on my side and Casen laid next to me, facing me. I reached out and brushed his hair off his forehead.

I think I need to ask Robyn or Solay, or Roslynne, or Mei if they felt the same way when they were pregnant. He captured my hand and brushed feather light kisses over my hand. “I love you so very much.” His words washed over me. “I love you. There’s no one else but you, Casen.” He caressed my face and leaned forward to kiss my lips. I felt content in this moment.

~~~

I didn’t want to go back to the palace this soon, but everyone agreed that if I wanted to speak with Callum I needed to. Casen actually agreed that he felt as I did that something was off with Callum. I drove us mostly in silence as I pondered what to ask and say to him. Casen held my hand to give me comfort. After he had bit my mark, it seemed to control some of the wild lust I was feeling for him. It’s still there, but I feel like I can contain it for a while.

I parked and we all got out. Orien parked next to us and his father next to him. I feel blessed that I don’t have to confront Callum alone, nor if I choose to confront Corbin as well. I walked into the palace, and I still get leery when I see the stairs to the dungeon and the area where Corbin and Callum burned me to ashes.

The thought occurred to me that I didn’t know how Syndra was able to burn my father to capture his ashes. Am I easily flammable? No, that can’t be, because I can surround my body in flame and not be burned. Maybe I need to see if I can be burned in dragon form, but that made me doubtful. I wish I could talk to him and learn about being a phoenix dragon. I had to shake my head a little to clear my thoughts as we approached the throne.

I waited for Casen to sit, since he is acting as king. Many of the dragon kings and alphas are meeting here and will be let in as soon as I finish my interrogation of Callum. Casen wasn’t sitting. “Aren’t you going to sit?” I asked. Casen just stared at the throne. “I don’t know if I should. I feel like you should sit.” “Don’t be silly, you are acting king it is your throne for now.”

His face seemed to grimace slightly before it brightened as if he had an idea. Casen picked me up and sat resting me on his lap. I heard the others chuckling and I had to join them. To be honest, having contact with Casen will keep me balanced. “Bring Callum in,” I commanded. It seemed like they had him waiting in the wings for my command.

Callum was walked to be placed centered to us. He was disheveled in his wrinkled tux. He had the magical cuffs on, and two guards flanked him. They really didn’t need to. There was nowhere for him to escape. He is rendered basically human, and he would be caught faster. “You guards may step to the side. He can’t do anything.” They bowed their heads in acknowledgement and stepped to the side, but close at hand.

“Prince Callum, why did you attack visiting royals? Keep in mind, I will have the truth from your lips because if you lie your punishment will be much worse. Speak.” He raised his head to look into my eyes. He cleared his throat.

“I don’t know my queen. I don’t know what is going on. I was compelled to attack by an inner voice not that I expect you to believe me.” He rasped. “How can you not know?” Casen demanded. “I’m sorry I just don’t.” I could feel Casen’s frustration. “You leave me no choice. Robyn, if you please.” I gestured with my hand. “She’s going to touch you. Do not resist her.”

Robyn approached and walked Callum closer to us. “Since my father has left, I thought about trying this. Give me your hand and Casen touch Tana’s skin.” I reached my hand to her, and she placed her other on Callum’s temple. Many images flashed through my mind in almost super fast forward from Callum being young and even though they sped by I could understand and feel everything he was experiencing. The memories seemed to pause on a time when Callum was a young boy, maybe nine to twelve aged. He was excited because his father told him he had a brother that had just been born. He always wanted a brother. He soon heard his mother saying vile things about his brother and his mother.

The memories continued on over the years and Callum learned to keep his thoughts of his brother silenced around his parents. It showed that Callum would celebrate Casen’s birthday each year by getting a cupcake or something and putting a candle in it wishing him a happy birthday.

The memories advanced to when Callum learned that now that Casen was eighteen, he would be coming to live with them. He wanted to show him everything he had learned about being a dragon. After all, that was their father’s intention to bring him here. He soon realized that if he treated him as welcome, Casen could suffer the consequences. He decided he would be ruthless in his training to make Casen stronger than he was.

The memories advanced to more recent ones. He tested Casen in training and his heart soared as Casen defeated him in every challenge. He wouldn’t have actually killed Casen, but he needed to know that Casen was able to defend himself from someone with murderous intent. He didn’t like his father’s ploy to marry Casen to Ainsley. He did what he could to keep her from him, but not appear to.

He wanted to rip the little bitc.h’s head off for tattling on me. Sadly, their dad pulled out from him that he witnessed me sneaking into Casen’s room every night. He wasn’t sure how he was able to. When the memory flashed to my death, he didn’t want to participate. He refused their father. He had spent the two weeks pleading for our release. It was as if he was compelled to change and burn me to death. He instantly felt regret when it was over. Everyone had left and he moved to Casen and released the magical cuffs.

He left and flew off crying to the heavens at what he had just done. I was too young, and he knew Casen loved me. When I returned, his heart soared that I survived. The memories progressed to a moment in Corbin’s office. Callum had left the door ajar and he smelled Orien’s scent nearby as their father explained what he was going to do at the Christmas ball to me by forcing me to marry Callum to control me. Before he could protest, something overcame him and he went along with it.

He spent the few weeks after we left, as he hoped Orien would warn us, trying to avoid their father as much as possible. However, when Oisin and Alexander were confronting Corbin, he was compelled to attack when Corbin did. The compulsion ended the second the magical cuffs were placed on his hands.

Robyn let go and there felt like a small shock to my system as the throne room came back into focus and I was pulled out of Callum’s memories. “Is she…” “I would have to remove his cuffs and you would have to have our help if she is controlling him too. The thing is, removing the cuffs can let her back in fairly quickly and we need to act fast.” Robyn explained.

“Lyrai, I need you.” Lyrai approached. “Get her blankets, and someone, get food here fast, especially the meat.” Robyn ordered the others. I heard the others discussing what they were going to do, but didn’t focus on them. Adrian, Michael, Orien, and Brayon flanked Callum. “Should I join my brothers?” Casen asked. “No, you should fuel her mark. It might help her to not be as drained as what it took to help you.” I felt Casen nod. He moved my hair off my neck and placed his lips upon it.

I felt the jolt of energy he sent through me. “Marked? You are married?” Callum asked. “Yes, we are mates. If what we suspect is happening to you, Callum, you may be put through pain to dislodge her.” “Dislodge who?” “Elle, queen of the dark witches. She controlled Casen’s mind the night of the ball. I’m sorry about the pain you may endure. Just fight her. Use your dragon to fight her on the inside.” He nodded.

Robyn and Lyrai took position on each side of me and touched my body as I called my flame out. I raised my hand. “Now.” Michael released the cuffs. Callum seemed fine for a minute. Then the ungodly screaming as Casen had done screeched through the room. “Fight.” The brothers were encouraging Callum.

Callum couldn’t fight for long. He stood and I saw Elle’s grin through Callum. “Leave him, Elle.” “But why? I now know where you are. You were foolish to leave whatever barrier that protected your detection from me.” Callum smirked an evil smirk. “Last warning Elle. Leave him and I will consider sparing your life.” “Never. You will be but mere ashes soon enough and Syndra will rule this world.”

I could see Callum was losing the fight. I remembered that Casen had his celestial side of Comet to help him, and Callum doesn’t have a celestial side. Robyn squeezed my arm, and I pushed my flame at him. It was my red flame for a few seconds before I could feel Lyrai using her magic to help pull my light magic forward. My flame quickly turned bright white, and Callum screamed in agony with Elle’s voice not his own. “You bitc.h I will get you. You can’t escape me."

With a final shriek, Callum collapsed to the ground and I felt Elle leave his mind. I felt myself losing consciousness. My head fell back to Casen’s shoulder. I let the blackness take me as I had no more energy to fight it.

I saw a beautiful small ball of light. It grew and grew. The light took form. I smiled and cried as I ran into her open arms. “Mum.” “Shush. I’m here, my beautiful daughter. I’m so proud of you.” “I’ve missed you mum.” “I’ve always been with you. I never left.” “How is this happening?” “You tapped into my side enough and though you are unconscious it allowed me to create this, shall we say meeting room in your mind during your unconscious state.”

“Is what Elle said about my dad true? Did you know about him?” She smiled. “I knew about your father not at first though. He introduced himself to me as Grayer.” She caressed my hair, fingering some of the strands through her fingers. She caressed my face. “You look so much like him. You have his eyes, nose, and ears.” I smiled. “What did his dragon look like?” “His dragon is bright red with black and crystal green scales. He had black feathers at the end of his tail. He was magnificent.”

“Is his tail engulfed in flame too?” She shook her head. “That is unique to you.” “What, why?” “Part of it is your distinction as a female phoenix dragon and your ability to call your flame during your human state comes from my family line. All light witches are part fae. I was queen of the White Flame coven. I could pull my flame around me too. That is what attracted your father to me. His phoenix detected my flame and I soon learned he was my true mate. We don’t have much time left. Just know I love you and your father loves you.” She pulled me back in for a tight hug before releasing me and kissing the side of my head. “I love you mum.”

She faded from sight, and I was opening my eyes as I was cocooned in a blanket, and I could feel Casen sending energy into my mark. I was shivering because I’m still very cold. Soon I felt the blanket lifted behind me and I could smell Drew and feel his bare chest connect everywhere my skin was exposed to him. I realized we were sitting on the floor in front of the throne. “My mum was a queen.” I barely whispered.