Killian Silvercrest tried not to stare like an awestruck fool as he was led through the long corridors of the partial cave by the two burly men who were in a partial shift, stuck between being partly human and being partly dragon-like, sporting huge horns and spiked tails that were definitely deadly with scales all over their naked bodies, each man covered in a unique colour—and who could blame the Alpha without a pack, really?
The Cenotes, of Draconia were truly impressive.
Killian had almost forgotten how mesmerising the place was the last time he had been here, and that was quite understandable, since it had been so long ago... but the Cenotes of Draconia were massive alright just as much as they were beautiful, housing over two thousand sea and air dragons, with emerald and aqua marine tinges here and there adding a glow to the place that was almost ethereal.
So impressive were the monuments that, for almost a minute, Killian almost forgot that he was being led by two very angry men towards their Lord... he almost forgot the hissing and the scowls that followed him as the dragon horde, descendants of the ancient Ghidorah looked down on him, a few brave ones murmuring the words ‘what is he doing here?’ and a couple of other expletives that would have made the human society blush a dark shade of red.
As Killian passed through the midst of the outraged crowd, tall and proud even with all the hooting, he applauded his strength for standing his ground and not allowing Kendra to join him despite her strong insistence... for it would not have done him any good.
At all.
He truly saw that now.
“You have some nerve showing your face here, Killian Silvercrest,” The dragon lord boomed loudly, the sound causing the walls of the cave to rumble slightly, his full dragon form, a gargantuan body, dazzling vermillion with silver like scales scattering across his underbelly and all over him, really... and his primal voice making the whole scene even more threatening as he looked down from the massive platform fully tailored to seat him in his dragon form, it seemed. His three heads, each monstrous in their own right cocked to the side as he eyed the Alpha in interest.
“Iconus Draconian,” Killian boomed back, a dazzling smile lightening his features as he threw his arms in the air in a grand gesture of greeting and acknowledgement. Oh yes, indeed... Killian Silvercrest could be charming too when he put his mind to it, especially when his life was on the line like that.
“What do you want, Silvercrest? And you’d best get to it immediately, for you just happened to catch me at a very bad time,... and I would not hesitate to burn you to ashes right where you stand if you do not give me the answers I seek.”
Harsh.
Killian knew, but he really wanted to go back home to Kendra in one piece, and so he nodded his head. “Very well. I came here because I really need your help.”
“Where is it?” Came the huge beast’s reply, as he practically ignored everything the Alpha had just said, but Silvercrest only feigned ignorance. “Where is what, Iconus?” The Alpha even managed a confused expression to go with it.
“My engraved ring, Killian... where is it?!”
Ah.
Killian remembered now. Why their lover’s spat had happened in the first place.
The dragon lord, Iconus Draconian, was a thief.
The powerful beast, just like every other dragon could not ignore his natural urges... those natural instincts to hoard wealth at all costs, even if he had to steal it. It was evidenced in the way the magnificent, and ginormous cave sparkled and gleamed and shone with the hints of various minerals and loot hidden at vantage points.
Raiders were truly going to have a field day should they stumble across this secret place, especially if they were not going to have the fire breathing beasts to contend with, but alas, the monsters seemed to never stray so far from their lair.
Where was I before I got carried away? Oh yes, Iconus Draconian as a thief. He had stolen the Silvercrest family ring during the time that Killian’s father had been Alpha, and the old man... more pressed with other matters than the theft of the priceless ring that had been in his family for generations had let it slide, choosing to attend to those other matters instead.
But Adrian, Killian’s brother had not been able to let it go, or maybe he had, and had thought that perhaps sending Killian out there on numerous quests and travels might perhaps spare him from the curse that plagued their family, and so he had sent his younger brother, when he was but a young lad of six and ten to retrieve the ring.
Killian had been able to the silver ring that had his family’s Crest engraved on it back, the evidence pretty much sitting on his left index finger, glowing, gleaming in the dimly lit space, probably adding salt to injury.
The then young boy and the dragon lord had fast become very good friends... right before he had swiped the ring under his very nose and fled, and they hadn’t spoken to one another nor heard from each other again... until now.
“Can you... change back into your human form so we can talk about this like the civilised specimen I know we are?” Killian asked, jumping to the side with a chuckle... and just in time too, for the breath of fire just narrowly missed him. He really needed to stop riling up the beast if he wanted to make it out of here alive.
“What is there to say, Silvercrest? Aside the fact that you stole my ring and that I want it back?” The dragon lord thundered, but Killian was undeterred. “You know, technically... it is my family’s ring so I should be the one accusing you of stealing my ring, or don’t you think so?” Killian winced when he heard the loud gasps from the horde.
He. Had. Fucked. Up.
This time, the breath of fire came in short spurts, following his every move, his every turn, even as he executed cartwheels and twisted and ducked and jumped.
To be honest, the Alpha without a pack had truly not had that much adrenaline coursing through his veins. It was oddly weird and satisfying just how much fun he was having... it was crazy really, how much he seemed to revel in putting his life in danger like that.
He wasn’t sure which Kendra would do had she seen him in that moment, whether she would have passed out in fear or smacked him senseless for being stupid like that.
But knowing her, it would have probably been the second option.
Finally spent, the huge beast’s mouth hung open in exhaustion, finding that the continuous puff he had expelled had rather drained him. He was going to have to wait for a while to build it up again.
But even as he rested, the dragon lord realised the humour in the entire situation. The great, Iconus Draconian knew that he could be such a sore loser sometimes, and who could blame him really? He, an immortal had been bested by a mere sixteen year old werewolf!
It was hard to swallow such a bitter pill when it all came down to it, but of course, it didn’t stop him from admiring the young boy, albeit begrudgingly.
That Killian Silvercrest really had spunk.
And for him to show up in his kingdom when he needed his help despite all their differences was enough to confirm that observation.
Iconus shifted back into his human form, a long cloak appearing from nowhere, shielding his nakedness from Killian and the horde. “Come,” he said, “We have a lot to talk about.”
*****
Everyone knew that dragons were cold blooded, it was one of the primary reason why they normally stayed in the Cenotes, nevertheless, they had a huge castle with a small village of okay looking homes surrounding it where they spent their time at whenever they were in their human form. It was exactly why they had managed to survive for so long living right among the unsuspecting humans in their province.
Iconus had brought Killian to his office in the ginormous castle so they could settle their scores and talk business.
“I heard the curse caught up with you after all,” He went straight to the point when they were seated, not being one to beat about the bush. “It really is such a shame to know that you are going to die.”
Killian had to give him that. The dragon lord did look slightly devastated that he was going to die, but the forwardness just had him chuckling in amusement, “As much as I appreciate the sentiment, I’m afraid I’m not dying anytime soon. The curse has been broken.”
Iconus had not known that.
He nodded in satisfaction. “Good. I always knew if someone was going to get rid of it, it would be you... your brother and sister were rather not quite resilient to handle the task, I’m afraid.” Came his answer. Killian had no words to say to that especially when he knew that the Lord’s words were true anyway.
“So you are married now?”
“Not yet. I am mated though, and we shall wed soon, but we would first have to restore our pack before we would be able to do that, I guess.”
“I see. I guess congratulations are in order, then.”
Killian accepted it gratefully. “It really is good to see you again after all these years, Iconus... you have not aged a single bit, though you’re still every bit of the same arsehole I still very much remember,” He said, a mischievous glint in eyes.
“I’m afraid that character has been imbedded in my very soul, Silvercrest, and changing that would be changing me,” The dragon lord retorted with a smirk that had them all laughing boisterously.
“It really is good to see that we have managed to put the past behind us.” Killian said in relief, his words causing the dark skinned dragon lord to raise an eyebrow. “Who said we have?”
“We haven’t?”
“Oh, Silvercrest, Silvercrest, Silvercrest... I see you still have a whole lot to learn. This is but a temporary truce, child... I want to hear what you have to say and see if I can help you in anyway... see what is in it for me I the process. This is nothing but business, I’m afraid, so you’d still do well to watch your back and your finger while you’re at it,” He eyed the silver ring lustfully, “For I would not hesitate to turn on you should our interests clash.” He finished with a smirk.
“I can assure you that it wouldn’t, for this one involves Alaric Macintyre.” Killian replied.
Now if you thought Iconus Draconian intimidating in his regular, calmed state, you would have probably passed out at the murderous look that graced his features as the mention of the General’s name. “What has he done this time?” He growled, and so the Alpha proceeded to tell him the story as short as he could, pointing out how Dnakle could do with the help of the Draconians if they wanted an assured victory.
“Say no more, Silvercrest,” The dragon lord ordered, “I would give you a hundred of my men... as a matter of fact, I would do you one over and join you myself as well,” He said, a deadly smirk gracing his features as his dark eyes took on a faraway look filled with pain, “Someone has to avenge the death of my wife and child after all.”