leader, the white dragon Aodh, was instrumental in creating our oldest enemy. She inflicted us with centuries of fear of being captured and tortured in her labs until we finally fought a war against her and her minions and killed her. That war had only been three years ago, and the nymphaea had long memories.
“Then ask Deva for help. You know she’d jump at the chance to match up more of her precious Bloodline with members of the higher races.”
I shook my head. “Bloodline women with enough dragon blood to reliably match one dragon are rare enough. Three of us would be too many. And before you tell me Aella managed just fine, we all know her blood was concentrated enough to attract the very Winds themselves. Most female members of the Bloodline don’t possess that quality. We can find mates just fine solo. Besides, I wouldn’t want to bother Deva unless she could guarantee all six of us could stay together, and I’m not about to ask her to make that kind of promise.”
Tate tutted. “I never knew you were such a sentimental fool. This all-or-nothing shit is new.”
“You know it doesn’t have to be an issue.” I shot him an irritated look. “The six of us are good together. Why change what works?”
“Because it isn’t enough,” he said with a helpless shrug. “I know we all feel it. As good as what we have is, it’s missing something. When we worked for Aella, we had a synergy that isn’t there when it’s just us. Even though all we did was watch over her, she was the center of our universe. It’s natural for ursa to want that with a woman, and it sure as hell felt like it was natural for the three of you too. We were a well-oiled machine until…”
“Until she got mated to three demigods?” I spat with a level of bitterness I didn’t realize I had in me. I wasn’t jealous—well, maybe just a little jealous. We’d been on the pop star’s bodyguard detail since she started her residency at the Pandemonium Casino a few years back. It had been before the Bloodline’s magic woke up and allowed them to see the higher races for who we were. Of course, the Winds didn’t waste a second getting to her, staking their claim, and providing her with three mates who could literally call down lightning to protect the woman they loved. Our team was no competition. We all understood that she no longer needed us. I think I was more irritated to be out of a job and at loose ends as a result.
Tate’s eyebrows lifted, and he gave me a wary look. “Yeah. Until that.”
“Sorry, I don’t know what came over me. I’m happy for her, of course, but I wish it didn’t mean she didn’t still need us as her bodyguards. We aren’t useless, even though her mates are immortals, and her boss is as powerful as a god.”
Tate grimaced, his body shaking with a shiver of revulsion. “Better we’re away from that place anyway. Gaia might be influenced by Chaos, but answering to him directly as our employer was not something I saw myself doing for the rest of my life. Leave the crazy bastard in Vegas with his tentacly lover and his casino. Let the Winds answer to him for a change.”
“Chaos was unpredictable, sure, but that just kept things interesting. And you know that ‘tentacly lover’ is the higher races’ oracle. I’d be less inclined to speak ill of the Diviner than Chaos, so watch your tongue.”
He held up his hands. “Fine. But there’s nothing stopping you from finding another ward to watch over once you get to Seattle. As for me, Eddie, and Chayton, we’re ready to move on. We’re leaving in the morning, taking Route 66 to see some sights on our way to the Sanctuary portal in Taos. I’ll say it again: you all can come. Ursa girls are no strangers to mixing things up.”
He gave me a wry grin that faded in response to my defeated look. “I’m sorry, man. It would feel like asking for a handout if we went in hoping for a mate when the competition is high as it is.”
Tate sighed. “I figured you’d say that, but I had to try.”
“I don’t speak for Murdoc or Stu. Maybe they have different plans.”
He shook his head. “Stuart’s coming with us as far as Santa Fe, so I’m hoping to wear him down on