Brushing my hair back, I considered putting on makeup besides the pink lipstick that I had planned to apply. It was times like this that I wish I’d had someone to help me out like with the dragon council event. I blinked back anxiety as both men offered me concerned looks in the mirror. I didn’t like these looks as much as the ones they’d been giving me before when they’d been staring at me in the dress. I didn’t want to worry them.
“Sugar?” Croy’s voice was warm and soft, making me melt. My skin flushed as I realized I was finally feeling a bit better and in less of an anxiety-induced haze. I breathed in and then out, trying to settle myself. The technique seemed to work to an extent, and I felt a surge of pride for being able to soothe myself, even if it was to a small extent.
“You both look really good,” I pointed out finally, noticing Henry was wearing an almost all gold uniform, accented with the blue that I was starting to realize was common to this kingdom. He looked absolutely gorgeous—both of them did—and it made me a bit worried about the other women that would see them.
“Thanks.” Croy flashed a smile, an authentic one that had the skin around his eyes crinkling, while approaching me. His wolf rubbed against me as I let my head fall back, Henry’s gaze still on my face as I nearly asked him what he saw. I was worried that he read me too well, though. Then again, the man had pretty much direct access to my innermost thoughts, so that wasn’t all that surprising.
“Maya, we need to talk about what happened.” Henry’s voice was soft as my fingers traced over the wolf on Croy’s uniform. The crest brought to mind Jordan and her father’s pack, making my brow dip. There was that persistent, overwhelming urge to go back. I think it was rooted in the realization that there were others like me.
Now that I knew my reality had been unusual, I wanted to save the others. I had to save the others. I couldn’t live with the knowledge that I let them suffer another day.
“I can’t stop thinking about the possibility of there being others.”
Croy stilled in understanding as Henry let out a low rumble, coming up to Croy’s side and tilting my jaw up.
“We have to save them. We have to make this right. They deserve freedom like I got,” I nearly choked out.
Henry examined my expression. “Then we will. When we leave here, we will go and find them. I’m positive your parents are already gathering intel to attack the coven, we just have to make sure that we work into it checking for any other prisoners.”
“Really?” I asked, feeling a surge of hope.
“Yes, really,” he promised, cupping my jaw. “But we are doing it in a way that keeps you safe. I don’t want those fuckers getting their hands on you again.”
Before either him or Croy could say anything else, there was a knock on the bathroom door, causing all three of us to turn to it in confusion. Who would be knocking? Henry strode forward and I tilted my head, surprise filtering through me because it was not one of my mates or anyone I had ever met before standing there. In fact, it was actually one of the first women I’d seen outside of the few in town. Had there been any in the throne room? I had to assume so, although there was for sure a lack of women overall. Was that because they weren’t dragons? Or pure dragons? Hadn’t Croy mentioned something about that?
Taller than myself, probably somewhere around 5’9” or 5’10”, she was wearing a uniform that I’d yet to see before but found somewhat intimidating. It was a dark maroon leather with black and gold across the bodice, highlighting a large dragon that seemed to almost shift under my gaze. I didn’t bother hiding the fact that I was looking over her, curious about why she seemed so different, wondering if it was the uniform. Outside of the color difference between her and my mates, she had a pair of over-the-knee boots, leather with laces, and a dark set of rings that covered her long fingers. Across her chest was a long leather band that attached to a carrying case behind her. Was it for a sword? I couldn’t tell fully.
None of that was what made her unique though. Nor was it the dark tattoo that ran along the right side of her neck or the gold hair that she had pulled back to reveal a stunning but extremely serious face. No. I realized very quickly it was her magic. I didn’t think she was a shifter, but she had a lot of magic, and it seemed to be vibrating through the air and around her in an aura of black energy. Honestly, if I wasn’t so fascinated by the woman, I would have been terrified.
The only soft part of her face was a pair of brown eyes that were so dark they almost appeared black, surrounded by thick lashes. I saw her look over me as well before she offered me a small nod in greeting, looking at Henry with indifference as he let out a defensive rumble. Except instead of being scared, she just looked back at Croy and I, my wolf wrapping an arm around my waist.
“Who are you?” Henry demanded, his voice laced with suspicion.
“Senior Group Leader for Squadron Eight from Eldur Academy.” She paused and then seemed to realize something. “My name is Eleven.”
“Like the number?” I questioned softly.
Her eyes flashed with something that looked a lot like pain wrapped in slight embarrassment, but it was gone a moment later. “Yes. I’ve been sent here by Queen Cyra to be Princess Sol’s personal security detail tonight.”
“You can call me Maya,” I insisted softly.
“Alright.” Eleven nodded, keeping her face void of expression.
“She doesn’t need a security detail,” Croy insisted quietly.
“I’m just following orders.” Eleven offered him an indifferent look that was absolutely mastered. I was a bit jealous, because I could never do that. Then again, usually if someone was good at hiding their emotions, it was for a reason. Just another reason I was glad I was so open with my mates.
She continued, “I’m going to be following her either way, so I figured I would at least introduce myself.”
“Nice to meet you.” I stepped forward and offered her my hand. Normally I would have done a hug, but she didn’t strike me as the type to like that. Surprise covered her face before she masked it and stepped forward, meeting my hand and offering a nod. I wasn’t scared of the woman, per se, but my phoenix was warning me that she was a dangerous predator that we needed to be cautious of. That she wasn’t something we recognized for a reason. It probably didn’t help that there was a slightly numb, almost cold and clinical look to her eyes that had me knowing without a doubt that the woman was a killer. She would probably kill anything or anyone without blinking.
“My group is ready to head out if all of you are ready,” she stated as Croy pulled me back against him. Henry seemed to evaluate something before striding from the room, Eleven stepping back before following as the two of us walked through. I had to fight the urge to try to make conversation or ask her about herself. I was positive the woman wouldn’t be interested in being friends with someone she considered a job, and I didn’t want her to feel obligated to respond. My lip dipped slightly as Croy’s arm tightened around my shoulder, his lips pressing against my temple, making me wonder how much he was able to read through our bond.
As we made our way through the bedroom suite, I wondered how she had ended up all the way at the door of the bathroom en suite without anyone noticing. It didn’t seem like my mates to let someone into the room like that. Everyone looked up at us as we entered the room, but immediately Atlas was there, in front of us, pulling me from Croy.