Of Dragons & Vampires

Chapter Twenty Two

The group stared in shock at the vampire before them, the resemblance between her and Evander striking them fast. Theodosia had the same exquisite facial features, the same small stature and wide, violet eyes. She watched them with a small smile playing at her lips, but Abel realised she had the same tell as Evander: her eyes betrayed her emotions, and Theodosia's eyes were saturated in urgency.

"How did you get here?" Amber snapped, wings unwound and eyes aflame.

"My son, Damien, used to sneak his little witch-wife into the house when he was younger. He was stupid enough to think I didn't know, this is one of her portals," Theodosia clasped her hands in front of her. "I came for a reason, I assume you're Abel Drake?" She arched an eyebrow at Abel, who nodded.

"Good. I haven't been fed much information by my oaf of a husband, but from what I've managed to squirm out of him I understand you and my youngest boy have some sort of...relationship," she waved a dismissive hand, "I know you care for him, and judging by his reluctance to come home and his apparent betrayal of our kind in favour of yours, I assume he feels the same about you. I want you to know I love my son...with all of my heart." Theodosia's beautiful face creased in sadness before she composed herself.

"I knew he felt his life to be suffocating, unpleasing, and when you're an immortal a happy life is essential. I knew he wouldn't be happy, which is why I began projecting the dreams to you."

"Why me?" Abel frowned.

"Lord Ejder Drake was a remarkable man, even Atlas feared him. It took a lot to bring him down, who better to protect my son than Ejder's own grandson? Or so I thought." Theodosia arched an accusing eyebrow at the young dragon.

Reagan stepped forward, her crossbow raised. "You're one to talk, I bet you're mother of the year."

"I'm not perfect," Theodosia glared, "I tried my best under the circumstances, but right now Mordecai has my son and I know exactly what that beast is doing to him. If my hunch is correct my other children, Danae and Damien, are plotting some sort of extravagant rescue, most likely with the help of Evander's friends. I need you to help them."

Amber eyed her suspiciously, scanning Theodosia's face for any sign of insincerity.

"Why should we trust you?"

"Trust a mother who wants to protect her son. I promise, on my life, I want Evander to be safe...with you. Now, Abel," the vampiress bore her eyes into the dragon's. "Promise me that when you get him back you'll protect him, protect him like I never could."

Abel breathed deeply, eyeing the portal behind Evander's mother, and nodded.

"Now and always."

OOoOoOoOoOoOoOO

Well. This was incredibly awkward.

Jamie leaned against the wooden panels of the most stately room he had ever been in as thick silence clung to the air. Theodosia had accompanied everyone back, and now they stood in a room full of seven vampires and a witch. Savannah and Wyatt had smiled instantly when they saw each other, a silent solidarity settling between them. The same could not be said for everyone else.

Amber stood beside her brother, both of their identical eyes glaring at Pericles who looked anywhere but at them. Reagan was eyeing Danae suspiciously, the fact she caught Jamie staring did not help. He couldn't help it, what was in the Aetos gene pool? They were all Victoria's secret models.

A friendly looking vampire sat next to Theodosia, his face a more angled and masculine version of Evander's, although he had tousled dark hair. Savannah sat on his lap, her head resting on top of his. Damien. Beside them, three vampires around Evander's age stood tall and anxious. A beautiful, olive skinned girl with glistening dark hair and amber eyes kept glancing at the ceiling at the sound of creaking footsteps. Jamie had heard her name, Charvi. Beside her, a slim, pale vampire stared at Amber and Jamie with wonder, his red eyes standing out in contrast to his black hair. Lastly, a beefier vampire stood glaring at Abel. He was quite intimidating, with dreadlocks that reminded Jamie of Castel, and mocha skin that complimented his red eyes alluringly. Brae.