A Lair So Primal by Zoey Ellis

12

Organizing and redecorating the lair was a lot harder than Elora thought it was going to be, but it was also so much fun.

She finally met all the stewards and the rest of the staff who had been working in the lair for over a year. They were all extremely excited that their lord was the next to find his mate and congratulated her profusely.

All of the staff from the lair who she’d spent the most time with all claimed they knew it was coming.

"I told you all she was going to be next,” Askel said, pointing at the rest of them. “I should have bet on it.”

Cyndra simply laughed. "I'm just glad you are with us again," she said to Elora. “Those few days when you weren’t around just before the mountain collapsed felt really different."

Pelles agreed. "We thought maybe something happened," he said, glancing at the group. “We were preparing to go and speak to our lord to find out where you were… and maybe see if there was something we could trade or offer for you to stay with us."

Elora was so touched, tears sprung to her eyes. She knew how terrified Pelles was of Zendyor, so the idea that he might question him about her meant that he really was worried.

“I’m not going anywhere, Pelles,” she smiled, blinking away the tears. “Who will I beat at Dao if I do?”

They all laughed at Pelles’ scowl.

Sarai was ecstatic about Elora becoming Zendyor's mate, but she was even happier that she finally located her brother. "He was one of the people who came here to work on the lair," she said excitedly. "That’s why we couldn’t find him before in the lair, when we were trying to help relieve him of some of his workload." They planned to spend more time together as things settled down in the new lair, and Sarai wanted them all to meet him.

Elora grinned, glad that she was able to find and be with her family.

The number of stewards seemed small in comparison to the size of the servants when they were all together, but the four of them insisted that they were able to cope.

"I should have known." Marahl grinned when she first saw Elora after the move. "He was very focused on you and I couldn't figure out why. I feel foolish now that I didn't put it together."

"Don’t worry, you had plenty of other things to be concerned about," Elora pointed out. "You're practically running this lair with only three other people. I don’t know how you do it."

Marahl practically blushed. "Well, I am glad you are organizing this lair with me," she said to Elora. “It would have taken much longer without you, and we really need to settle in as quickly as possible."

Because all the staff were now in one place, they were also much bigger than they had been before so the first thing they had to do was assign quarters.

"We may not have the space for everyone to have individual quarters now," Marahl said, frowning.

"See if anybody wishes to pair up," Elora said. “In fact, suggest it. It will free up some space for other things.”

The next thing was finding Boe a suitable kitchen space. He was unhappy with most of the spaces that they suggested, but finally found one that was big enough for him to have an area to put platters for staff to pop in and try some of his new recipes. Elora also made sure she found and allocated communal spaces for people to spend time in including a dining hall, a Dao room, a singing space, and a story room.

Once the most important places were allocated, the decorating was much simpler. Staff offered their own skills to create furnishings and various items that would be useful for new spaces, and the other dragorai offered the skills of people from their lair to create new rugs, chairs, tables, candle holders, beds and everything else they need. It would take some time before everything was completely furnished, but it was underway.

Elora left the organization of the staff and their duties to the stewards while she focused on ensuring that Yorgynel had a lair that was big enough for him and had space for the things he needed.

The first time he went into the space, she had to encourage him to put his treasure on one side and to eat on the ledge just outside of his den. Once he got used to doing that, he would burn the remains to ash, which would float away in the wind without Elora having to do any cleaning. In the meantime, he was happy with his treasures being in his den with him. Each time Elora visited, he had melted something for her, usually very small items, and very occasionally something large for her to display. She displayed them all around the lair, and particularly their chambers, much to Zendyor's annoyance.

"He never does this for me," Zendyor fumed one evening, when Elora bought yet another gift from Yorgynel.

"Leave him. He hasn't got a mate to treat," Elora pointed out.

"That doesn't mean he should be courting mine," Zendyor bellowed, irritably.

Elora put her hands on her hips. "It's not like you court me with gifts," she said, a twinkle in her eye. “I have to take them where I can get them.”

At that Zendyor roared in annoyance and grabbed for her as she giggled and tried to escape him. Lifting her into his arms, he threw her onto the bed to show her exactly what gifts he had for her.

Within a few short weeks, the lair was feeling more like home—her home. And the staff told her they were much more comfortable here than in the previous lair.

Even Telyssa, who sheepishly waved at Elora the first time she saw her, decided to be more social and she spent the majority of time in the Dao room and the story room.

Of course, most people were worried about the same thing happening in this lair that happened the last one, but she assured them, as Zendyor had assured her, that it took years for a mountain to get to that stage, and with Yorgynel much calmer now, it was unlikely to happen so quickly.

The mountain was not what worried Elora, it was the queen finding out where they were. If she found them once, she could surely find them again, but Zendyor was adamant that it wasn't something she had to worry about.

"First we make sure we are bonded,” he said, “then we focus on your ordination. Then we figure out how to fucking obliterate the king and queen.”

His concern about ensuring she was bonded to him as well as being inducted into the clan outshone everything else. Before they could have a clan meeting, he wanted both of those things completed. She knew from the way he talked about his brothers that they disagreed with holding off the meeting, but he was adamant that he was not going to have her at risk again without being officially recognized as his mate and a Vattoro.

It was endearing that he wanted to display how much she belonged to him and to the clan, but she was just happy to belong.

* * *

Elora lay as still as she could, trying not to irritate any of the skin on her body, which was still delicate from her burning. She’d known what it meant to bond with a dragorai, but it had never been something she ever thought she would go through. It hurt like all seven hells. Being enveloped by the naked fire from a dragorai-dragon—the hottest fire there was—flames tearing away at your skin and shriveling your hair to a crisp, didn’t seem to be worth it—but that was before Zendyor. And she still had been apprehensive before it took place, but she needed to do it for her alpha and her dragon. I'mya had told her how deeply the bond connected her with her mate and their dan askha, which would help settle both Zendyor and Yorgynel. But setting herself on fire was another example of the Goddess’s explanation about pain accompanying the good things in life.

She stared up at the ceiling, wishing there was more to do than just lie around waiting for her body to heal, but that was mostly what this part of it was about. She was supposed to be contemplating her role in the clan, according to some of the scriptures about the dragorai and the mating process, but Elora had no idea if she would have any kind of serious role. She wasn't like I’mya, who was pretty experienced in gathering data and information about the North Cities, nor was she like Oshali, Tyomar's mate, who she'd heard had been brought up by the Mheyu guardians and had studied the Goddesses, the dragorai, the Twin Realms, practically anyone of importance. In comparison, Elora had little to offer.

Thankfully, before she went out of her mind with boredom, there was a knock at the door. It was Marahl. "You have a visitor."

"Let them in," Elora said. She tried to sit up, but decided against it.

When the door opened, I'mya came through, followed by another young woman she didn't recognize.

"Elora!" I'mya said, rushing to her bedside. She leaned over and gently kissed her forehead. "You can't take more than that right now," I'mya said knowingly. "This is the bit that I really hated."

Elora sighed exasperated. "I hate it too! What are we supposed to do while we heal?”

“That’s why I’m here.” I’mya grinned. “And this is Oshali, Tyomar’s mate.”

“Oh, good day,” Elora said, smiling at her. "I've heard a lot about you."

"And I you." Oshali grinned. "I'mya has told me so much.”

“I’m so excited I’m not the only one anymore,” I’mya said. “The brothers are great, of course, but it’ll be nice to have some women at the clan table.”

Elora made a face. "I don’t think I’ll be at the clan meetings. I'm pleased that I get to be part of this, but I’m not an expert at anything like you two are."

“Um.” Oshali glanced at I’mya before turning back to Elora. “Is it true you met a Goddess?”

Elora laughed gently. "Yes, but that’s not the same—”

Oshali clasped her hands together and squealed. “That’s so exciting!”

“I know that you grew up studying them," Elora said. “And it was exciting at first, but then….” Her voice petered out.

Oshali neared her bed and was about to take her hand but thought better of it, looking down at the healing hot-pink skin. “If a Goddess chose to appear to you, no matter the reason, it means you’re special, Elora. They haven’t appeared to anyone in centuries; not the dragorai, not the Mheyu, not any of the people who pray to them across the Twin Realms every day.”

Elora bit her lip and nodded. That was true.

“I’d love to hear about it when you are feeling better,” Oshali added. She leaned forward. “I heard you also breathed fire.”

I’mya’s mouth dropped open. “You breathed fire?”

“You’re the first one of us to do that,” Oshali said to her.

Elora nodded, her smile wide. “Yes, but I don’t advise doing it. It really hurts afterward.”

She looked between them. "Thank you. It took a lot of heartache and suffering that I would have preferred not to have gone through, but I am glad to be with Zendyor now."

"And we are glad you’re with us,” I’mya said, coming around to the other side of the bed.

“By the Seven!” Elora exclaimed. “You’re pregnant, I’mya!”

I’mya laughed, her hand drifting to her round stomach. “I am, I am, didn’t anyone tell you? Dayatha has been my army general.”

“No!” Elora said, affronted. “I’m going to have some hard words with Zendyor when he comes back in here.”

"He's upset with me," I'mya said. "He broke the Dao board I gifted to you and then expected me not to be annoyed about it."

Elora couldn't stop laughing. “Yes, I gathered. But it’s not true that he’s upset with you," Elora said. "He respects you and wants to protect you as part of the clan. And I think he definitely likes you," Elora said. "But I sense it’s more that he has a difficult relationship with Nyro."

I'mya nodded. "I have felt that too. It seems like it is improving, so I don't interfere."

"Yes," Elora agreed. "They are proud and boisterous sometimes, but there is a strong love between all of them. It’s remarkable."

"It is,” I’mya agreed. “Her mate"—she pointed at Oshali—"is the peacemaker of them all."

Elora tilted her head, giving I’mya a wide-eyed look. "I just realized that you know all about the brothers. Tell me what the other two are like!"

"There's nothing much to tell," I'mya said. "The head of the clan, Khyros, isn't very talkative. I'm not sure how much he socializes with the brothers outside of their meetings."

"I always see him on the back of somebody else's dragon whenever they’re together," Elora said, thinking back to when she noticed him.

Oshali and I'mya exchanged a glance. "His dragon is missing," I'mya said.

Elora gasped.

"No one knows where he is."

"That must be terrible for him," Elora murmured.

"I'm doing some research into where he could be," Oshali said. "They have been sightings of him in some of the Mheyu records."

"Do you think you'll find something?" I'mya asked.

"I feel confident I will," Oshali said. "I just wish I could do everything quicker."

The other two nodded.

“What about Sethorn?” Elora asked. “He seems really authoritative.”

“Don’t let that fool you,” Oshali said. “He is the charmer.”

"Except for Uraya," I'mya pointed out. "He couldn't charm her if his life depended on it."

"Yes," Oshali giggled. "I don’t know what is going on with those two. I don't know why they don't just bed each other and get it over with."

"I don’t think it’s that," I'mya said thoughtfully. “He likes his woman to adore him, and I think he gets annoyed that she doesn’t pay any attention to his attempts to charm her.”

“Wait, what’s her name?” Elora asked.

“Uraya.”

“Did she… is she the one the queen wanted back?”

Both I’mya and Oshali sobered. “Yes,” Oshali said.

“Why is she with the clan?”

“She’s not really,” I’mya said. “She helped Oshali and now the clan owes her a debt. Plus she has lots of information on the queen because she was one of her wardens.”

Elora shivered involuntarily.

“I’m sorry,” I’mya said, carefully taking her burned hand. “I don’t have to talk about—”

“No, no. Go on.”

“Uraya used to be a warden, but now she’s helping us. She’s very good at strategy and so is Sethorn, so they clash a lot. Like I said before, I think a lot of it has to do with the fact he can’t charm her. He’s probably annoyed.”

“She’ll be at the next clan meeting after your ordination,” Oshali said tentatively. “Is that all right?”

“It’s fine,” Elora said. “As long as she’s not a warden and working for the queen or wearing that horrid black and red outfit, I’ll be fine with her.”

Oshali smiled at her. “She is really nice. I think you’ll like her.”

Elora smiled back, her eyes lowering to I’mya’s stomach. “How far along are you? Will the baby be arriving soon?”

“Define soon?” I’mya retorted.

“Dragorai pregnancies last longer than normal,” Oshali said to Elora.

"Oh no," Elora groaned. "Guess what the first thing Zendyor wants to do?" She rolled her eyes at the other women. "He wanted to get my burning out of the way because he knows my heat is coming soon. Though he's been pretty active, even though it hasn't arrived yet."

The other omegas laughed.

“How is everyone at the lair?" Elora asked I'mya.

"They're great now," I'mya said. "The month you left, it was as if somebody had died, but they're really excited that you’re Zendyor’s mate. Nureen is beside herself with excitement."

Elora pouted. "Aw, I miss her. Tell me everything that's happened since I left."

Oshali and I'mya stayed for an hour before Marahl came to usher them out, saying that Elora needed her rest. Of course I’mya protested and squeezed out every moment she could, but Elora waved her away promising they would see each other soon. Even though Zendyor was with her all the time and she was satisfied and content with him, Elora was glad she had other women to talk to who were going through this new experience the same time she was.

* * *

Elora closed her eyes and enjoyed the breeze on her face as Yorgynel soared over the range. Deep within her, the bond she shared with him and Zendyor hummed with contentment, layered with hints of other emotions from both alpha and dragon, but when they flew together like this, it was when they were all the most peaceful. She brushed her fingers over the velvety scales on the patch between his neck and shoulder blades and sighed.

"Are you ready to meet the clan?" Zendyor asked, seated behind her. "They will all be there after your ordination."

Elora nodded, turning her head to him. "What do you talk about in clan meetings?”

“Anything that involves the clan on a wider scale, more than just us as individuals," Zendyor said. "But more recently, the fact we’re discovering our mates… for obvious reasons."

Elora nodded and turned back to face front. Yorgynel tilted slightly, taking them farther around their range.

"Yorgynel," Zendyor growled. "We need to go to the temple."

A bluster of warmth drifted through their bond, and Zendyor exhaled in annoyance. "He enjoys having you on his back.”

Elora beamed. "I enjoy being on his back," she said, patting the dragon. "We’ll need to spend more time doing this, don't we, Yorgy."

Zendyor made a noise in the back of his throat. He turned her around to face him. "What did you call him?"

"Yorgy. It’s a cute nickname, don’t you think?"

“He is the most vicious dragon that exists in the Twin Realms," Zendyor said tersely. "He is not cute."

Elora laughed. "You have your nickname for him, and I will have mine." She grinned. "Anyway, he likes it."

"He likes when you give him attention, that is all," Zendyor muttered. "Not the name."

"What's the difference?" Elora asked innocently. She had to hold in her laugh at Zendyor's displeased expression. "Now I just need to find a cute nickname for you,” she said, lifting a hand to stroke his cheek.

The dragorai growled, but the more he looked at her, the more it softened until it petered out. He pulled her in and kissed her, dominating her tongue and savoring her until she was dizzy with arousal.

He chuckled and turned her back around. "You can call me whatever you want," he muttered as he nuzzled his nose behind her ear.

They finally approached the mountain that held the temple.

Elora had come to recognize the kind of mountains suitable for dragorai lairs. They had to be a specific shape and size in order to accommodate everything needed. This one was exceptionally large, since the dragorai temple was located on its peak.

Zendyor cast incantations to lift them off Yorgy’s back and onto the ledge at the entrance of the temple.

"What does he do during the meetings," Elora asked, watching him as he flew around the mountain.

"He spends time with his brothers," Zendyor said. “He’ll be disappointed they’re not here today. I just wanted to come here before our first meeting and give you time to get familiar with the temple.”

"So," Elora said, thinking back to all the new knowledge she’d gained. “All of the dragons are blood brothers, whereas all of the alphas become brothers through their bonds with their dragons?”

"Yes," Zendyor confirmed.

"And that's why you all look different?"

"Yes. But we have similar traits. They are slightly different in all of us, but we all are Vattoro," he said.

The temple itself was astonishing. Artifacts and items of history adorned the walls; paintings and tapestries from ages that Elora had never known about were beautifully vibrant. In the center stood a large table with chairs around it, the one at the end slightly raised. That had to be Khyros’ as the head of the clan.

“Why was it important for me to come here before the meeting?”

“I thought you might have some knowledge about some of these items that could help us.” Elora looked around again and she did recognize some of them.

Elora nodded at Zendyor, grateful for the time alone at the temple and for the opportunity to help her new clan. As they went through each of the items she recognized, Zendyor made a note of them in preparation for their meeting.