Love, Life, Loyalty and Honor by Lady Adellandra Dratianos (e book free reading .TXT) 📖

hair in a long ponytail down his back, Brakkon had his hair trimmed, liking it out of the way when he battled. It was easier to take care of that way.
“Vaguely.” Adellandra supplied. “The last thing I remember is the binding ceremony, and our forms changing. All Mystics were in pain, as they were when Adarra set the similar spell years ago, all Draconians were frozen in place and the three of us were glowing bright white.”
“For the God of Darkness to glow bright white, it had to be something very powerful.” Brakkon chuckled.
“Of course it was, Brakkon.” Draconis supplied. “We were swept away in our God-forms by Brigit once the spell was cast.”
“We laughed, we got mad, and we had fun, right?” Brakkon said sarcastically.
“If you call that fun, I should find another definition.” Draconis spat back.
“Enough you two.” Adellandra was laughing at their playful banter. “We’ve got to find the Heart. Since you two seem to know exactly where it is and what the Hades is going on, I’m following your lead.”
“As always,” Brakkon chipped, sharing a look with Draconis.
Adellandra shook her head and sighed. “Males.”
Tired and worn but fine, the trio reached the highest cavern of the Northern Dragonlands. The winter wind chilled them, but they had to go on.
Adellandra felt something deep within her stir. Draconis and Brakkon shared a look and watched her.
Her eyes closed and a palm was placed on the cavern wall. Draconis noticed it was glowing the same bright white of her Goddess-form A’isha.
It’s all coming back to her. Brakkon shared with his Realmbound son.
Not a moment too soon. Draconis sent back. Even I don’t know exactly where the Heart is. We need Spirit to sense it.
What? Darkness and Death aren’t enough?
Draconis shook his head. Spirit to Spirit, Brakkon. She’s the Ancient Mystic’s Goddess of Spirit, just as I am Shadows. Spirit will call to the Fifth and final Pillar of Balance, Ishanar-as-Spirit. She will find the Heart.
But without ‘Life’ to give it breath, it’ll just be a Heart of magic. Brakkon pointed out.
Draconis nodded, smiling. He turned back to his beloved and spoke in his “Draconai” tone – “Beloved A’isha, Call to the Heart of Ishanar. Open yourself to Spirit and let it flow within you.”
Adellandra-as-A’isha never opened her eyes, merely felt against the wall and followed her senses. The two of them followed.
“Heart calls to Heart, Spirit to Spirit.” A’isha’s echoed voice announced, a chorus of all the incarnations of her soul meshed together as one. She continued to walk and feel her way along the icy cavern wall. The heat from her hand kept all three of them warm. “Heart of Ishanar, Pillar of Spirit, Hear me and Answer my call. Know me as A’isha, know me as Spirit, know me as Silver Moon, know me as Adellandra Dranna, but do know me. Heed my Call and show me the path to find you.”
She placed both palms on the cavern wall. The silhouette around her fingers began to glow bright red, branching from her fingers down the lengthy corridor. They followed the bright red line until it seemed to draw a door, complete with three handprint keyholes.
Brakkon and Draconis instantly knew what to do. Adellandra-as-A’isha finally opened her eyes to see what they saw. She followed their lead when they reached their right hand to the appropriate-sized handprint on the glowing door.
Once her own hand touched the handprint, the door became solid ice instead of rock, opening to reveal a large chunk of bloodstone. As soon as she saw it, she was out of the A’isha-as-Light Goddess-form and returned to her Lady Adellandra Immortal form.
“The Heart of Ishanar!” Adellandra raced to it, reaching out for it.
“Careful, Adellandra.” Brakkon cautioned.
She snapped her hand back.
“Funny how it’s a chunk of Bloodstone.” Draconis reached for it and held it in both his hands. “It’s glowing, and warm.”
“Just like flowing blood!” Adellandra cried, sharing an astonished look with her mate.
“Calm down, girl.” Brakkon laughed.
Adellandra scowled at him. “What part about it being a Bloodstone is funny?”
“Seeing how Ishanar was the birthplace of the Dragon Nations, I would’ve thought it would have perhaps an onyx or obsidian as its so-called heart.”
“This is much more appropriate, don’t you think?” Brakkon asked.
“Between the power flows of blood and magic, it’s perfect as a Bloodstone.” Adellandra pointed out, staring at it. “Question is: where do we keep it safe once we finally get it to Mal’estar?”
“In our vaults, of course.” Draconis supplied. “With any other magical artifact we wish to keep safe from any harm.”
Adellandra thought it over and nodded. “Another query, if I may?” The males waited. “How do we get it home safely, if we can’t use magic here?”
“Easy.” Draconis smiled. “We carry it.”
“It has to be about two-hundred pounds, Kano!” Brakkon cried. “You can’t carry it alone, and sure as hales I won’t be able to.”
Draconis only laughed. “Watch us.”
Once they exited the caverns and were back at Mal’estar, they were finally able to use their magic to transport the Heart to the Vaults under heavy enchantments none but they could break.
 
Chapter Five:
Soul-Sight

Destria was bored and frustrated, unable to do anything for the Lady Adellandra but pace and wait for instructions.
She snuck out of the Demon Lord’s castle and flew in her gyrfalcon form toward a mountain. That’s when she surveyed the ground below her and recognized three females that were chained together. There was Lady Adellandra’s youngest daughter Arianna, Lady Adarramena’s youngest daughter Harmony and Sir Anton’s daughter Aislynne.
The Princesses! Destria cried in her mind. She thought to the Lady, See through my eyes soul-sister. See what Gloriana and Albrath are doing with the three princesses of the Nations.
If you wish to warn me about MagDaliah and her Fe-Minions kidnapping our daughters, I assure you, we already know. Came the gentle, calm voice of Lady Adellandra.
Did you want me to rescue them?
That won’t be necessary, Destria, but thank you for the thought. Lady Adellandra supplied pleasantly. We have everything under control.
Is there anything I can do, my Lady?
Keep an eye on the Princesses, but do not interfere. Not yet. Lady Adellandra commanded. I will be in touch.
With that, the Lady left Destria’s mind. She was frustrated, angered that her Lady Soul-Sister hadn’t told her to do her job and rescue the Princesses.
This is ridiculous! Why won’t she tell me what’s going on? Why was she so calm when I told her three of the Nations’ Princesses were kidnapped by the very beast-ess we’re fighting?
With a loud call to the winds, she took flight and followed wherever Gloriana and Albrath were taking them.

Back at Mal’estar, Lady Adellandra was smiling while her mate was pacing in front of her.
“Okay, Adellandra. It’s your plan. Now what do we do with it?” Draconis stopped pacing to ask. “Our daughters and nieces are kidnapped by Gloriana and Albrath, just like you wanted. Will you tell me what we do next?”
“Nothing.” Adellandra supplied. “At least, not for awhile anyway.” He stared at her, scowling while she kept her smile. “We let them think they’re getting what they want, when they’re not. They don’t know we’ve already linked our Familia to Ishanar’s Power, nor do they know we have the very Heart in our vaults.”
“My Lord and Lady,” they heard a voice in front of them. They looked to see Adellandra’s Mystic son Andrew knelt at the foot of the Thrones. Andrew continued once he was nodded to rise and stand at attention. “As you already know, the Princesses have been kidnapped. I’ve come from Mek’anar and the Demon Realm to tell you all is well and ready for your orders.”
“What were you doing at Mek’anar, kano?” Draconis asked.
“Visiting with Caleb, of course.” Andrew shrugged.
“You know those three, Sweetheart.” Adellandra nodded to her son. “They never can stay away from each other for long.”
“Well, we are a team, as well as Meredith, Stacey and Angel.” Andrew supplied. “At any rate, I thought to report straightaway.”
Draconis was silenced, shaking his head.
“Of course.” Adellandra said. She stared into space for a moment and smiled. “Kano, return to Mek’anar once you found your duo. Let your Uncles and Aunt know all will be well and ‘Operation Bait and Switch’ has begun.”
Andrew smiled, fist to heart and nodding in respect. “Aye, my Lady Matéré.”
“You are excused.”
Andrew bowed and saluted a final time before clicking his heels and leaving.
“’Operation Bait and Switch’?” Draconis asked her. “Is this another one of your Agency plans?”
She shook her head. “Nope. It’s one the Crusaders made on their own.”
“You and your plans.” Draconis responded, shaking his head. “Want to tell me about it or am I left to guess?”
“Don’t I tell you everything?” Adellandra teased. “We’ll wait until my team of Crusaders arrives, then go for the kill so-to-speak.”
“I’m sorry, what?” Draconis was confused.
Adellandra merely smiled. “You’ll see. In the mean time, we’ve got work to do.”
She headed out of the Throne Room with him on her heels.

Keep an eye on the princesses, huh? Destria crouched in her position high above Gloriana’s camp. Not much to keep an eye on – all they do is meditate.
It’s a survival mechanism, Destria. She heard a female voice in her mind. It sounded like Adellandra but she knew better. The Lady was with her Lord at Mal’estar, and this voice came from above her.
Destria looked up to see the Dragonwolf form of the other Lady Dratianos, Adellandra’s duo Adarramena. Behind her on both sides were the Dragon forms of her mates: Lord Drakkar on her left while Lord Dran’a’vir was on her right.
Not a very good one, I might add. Destria sent back, shifting to her gyrfalcon form and taking flight to meet them. Gloriana and her goons are just standing around, doing nothing. Her daughter Albrath – the one that looks like a walking corpse – keeps taunting them before giving up.
Do you know why Albrath is giving up? Dran’a’vir sent. His voice was deep yet airy, like a new Immortal’s should be.
Let me guess. No reaction? Destria flew above him as she spoke sarcastically.
Right. Just the same as you used to when you didn’t get your own way. It was Lord Drakkar’s rough baritone in her mind this time, teasing her.
Destria cawed to the air, flying back down to her perch. If that’s the way you’re going to be, my Lord, I’ll return to my post and be done with you all!
After she had settled herself back in position, she heard the Lady Adarramena’s voice say in her head. I’m sorry about ‘Karr, Destria. We know you’re on our side, and we appreciate your sacrifice to stay on our side. You’ve been a great soul-sister and soldier of the Armies.
If I’m such