Draconis 8
Title: Draconis chapter 8
Pairing: Jensen/Jared
Chapter Rating: PG-13
Summary: Jared's a prince who always does what's expected of him, even as he dreams of following his heart. When his father signs an allegiance with a dragon clan and he meets Jensen, everything changes.
Disclaimer: Neither of these beautiful men are mine. I just play with them sometimes.
Previous Chapters: One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven
(Awesome banner made for me by the talented Mystik-Ivanow)
Penn slipped away from the Padalecki family and their loud argument. It was unanimous of course that they wanted Jared back, the problem was how to go about it. For his credit Gerald was trying to do his best to placate Jeff who wanted nothing more than to go in and take his brother, consequences be damned. The women were lost in the middle of it, their opinions unheard in the chaos of Gerald and Jeff yelling at each other.
The answer was simple to Penn, he just needed the right push to convince all of them to go along with it.
He made his way out to the yard with it’s stupid fountain and honeysuckle weeds that Jared loved so much, and nearly jumped out of his skin as a hand landed on his shoulder.
“Oh, sorry. Did I almost make you crap yourself?” Ansem snickered.
“Shut up,” Penn hissed. “Where’s Jared?”
“With my clan of course. What’d you think, that I had him hanging off my belt loops? Whether I like it or not that sperm scraping is important to both of us, but that doesn’t mean I want him around me.”
“If he comes back with any scratches on him--”
“Oh come off it, Penn. Don’t act like you care about him now after you sold him out. The kid’s a meal ticket to you, nothing more.”
“Don’t be stupid. I was going to say that if he comes back with any scratches on him the better. Even if he talks jolly about the dragons, no one’s going to believe him.”
Ansem raised an eyebrow, looking interested as he crossed his arms over his chest. “You want me to rough him up?”
“I do. Just don’t kill him. Unless I marry Jared I’ll never get any real power around this dump, no matter what my status is as Jeff’s advisor.” Penn pulled a small brown sack out of his pocket and handed it to the dragon. “Is Jensen going to be a problem?”
Ansem reached into the sack and pulled out gold coins and brightly colored jewels taken from the royal family vault while everyone had been distracted. Although they had no use for money, dragons were notorious for liking shiny and valuable things. That was why they were known for using them in the construction of their nests.
He snorted. “Hardly. If the kid’s smart he’s going to want nothing to do with Jensen now that he knows the truth. And by the time I’m through with him he won’t have the energy to change his mind.”
Penn nodded, looking as satisfied as the cat that got the cream. “Good. Now get the hell out of here before someone sees you. I refuse to let his plan fail like the last one.”
<>***<>***<>***<>
Jeffrey Dean was waiting for Jared when he and Jensen returned from the lake, and he gestured with one hand towards an intact section of the castle.
“Through here, please.”
Jared stepped inside and found himself in a meeting hall; the lone, long table faded with age as pieces of wood chipped here and there. All of the windows had been destroyed, some of the glass still littering the floor and Jared was reminded of the ballroom at home.
“If you’ll have a seat, please,” Jeffrey Dean directed both men to a chair.
Chris, who had been waiting in the room when they’d come in, sat across from Jared and Jensen. He tilted his head in greeting but said nothing and Jared did the same.
“I’m sure you have questions,” Jeffrey Dean said. “Why don’t we start with those?”
“The most I want to know is why you came to sign that treaty, considering everything.”
The dragon leader folded his arms on the table, his fingers entwined together. “While it’s true the Padalecki family has been hunting us for generations, your father was the one to stop it. He was the only member who had the courage to go against your family’s beliefs and lifestyle, an act that had made him courageous to some humans while ostracizing him from others.”
“Do you know why?”
“My sister’s babies,” Jensen’s voice was full of anguish, and Jared’s neck burned in discomfort from turning his head so fast to look at him. “After ending her life, your family killed her young. They were hatchlings, Jared, just like the one you saved. And they were beaten to death.”
“Your father recognized, for the first time, what true evil was,” there was a hard edge to Chris’ voice yet a sadness just underneath the surface. “Even during battles, a dragon has never killed a human child. We preserve innocence, but your family didn’t have that kind of sympathy.”
“Even though he had yet to become king, and it was still years before the treaty was written, Gerald had a verbal power over people,” Jeffrey Dean said. “He had the ability to get others to listen and see his side of things. He brought the precise details of the slayings to everyone’s attention, and realizing the horrific nature of the hunt many humans decided to fight against it.
“The damage to Draconis was already done, and as you see we have been unable to rebuild. Animosity still separates us and keeps us from moving forward. Truth be told, I was reluctant to come to your home when Gerald sent word to me about the treaty. But I was so hopeful for a way to start over.”
Jared swallowed passed the lump that had formed in his throat. Beside him Jensen was looking down at the table, his body very still.
“And Ansem? What of him?”
Jeffrey Dean shook his head. “I’m afraid that Ansem has proven himself uncontrollable and will be dealt with when this mess is over. I promise you Jared, what he planned and did was of no order of mine. He leads the resistance against me and won’t listen to anything I say. I’m sorry that he dragged Jensen into it. I thought I had helped him to move passed this..”
The chair legs scraped loudly against the floor as Jensen shoved away from the table with enough force to shake it. He stalked from the room.
Chris looked as though he wanted to follow, but refrained from doing so and merely shifted restlessly in his chair. “Forgive him, please. Some days are better than others.”
Jared watched the doorway that Jensen had disappeared through. Squaring his shoulders, he turned to Jeffrey Dean in determination. If his father had a way to make people see right and wrong, maybe he did too.
“So, what do we do now?”
<>***<>***<>***<>
Nightfall made Jared extremely nervous. He couldn’t see any of the dragons around him but he could feel the weight of their eyes. He was always being watched, but at least in the daylight he could watch back. Now all he had was the small fire in front of him.
Danneel was close by. She hadn’t spoken to Jared since Jensen had insisted on accompanying him to the water. In a way Jared felt like she blamed him for Jensen’s behavior but couldn’t even be sure if that was true. Maybe she just needed some time by herself.
The baby dragon he’d saved was nestled in his arms, the small tail wrapped around his forearm like a snake while the baby’s head was pillowed against his chest. When it’d come over to Jared and climbed it’s way up his body like he was a mountain, he had threw a startled look at Tania but the mother dragon had simply snorted and laid her head down with her other hatchlings.
Stroking his fingers over the baby’s body, the leather wings still soft and unusable, Jared looked up at the sky. The stars shown even more brightly than they had at home, and the constellation Draco was directly above him.
“You’re becoming awfully comfortable here,” Ansem’s voice murmured in his ear, sounding completely disgusted and Jared whirled around so fast to face him that the baby squeaked in protest.
“Your perception must be off,” Jared retorted, taking a step back from the hostile dragon. The fire prevented him from going too far, and to step around it meant that he would have to take his eyes off of Ansem. If there was anything his instinct told him, it was that to do so would be a costly mistake. “I’d rather be home where I belong.”
“Where you belong is a place a little more permanent. Somewhere that won’t matter to anything but the worms that feast on your flesh and the dirt that covers your corpse.”
“You’re vile.”
“It’s one of my many attributes.” Ansem reached out and grabbed the front of Jared’s shirt, yanking him close although he left enough room to keep the baby in his arms unharmed. He inhaled deeply. “Jensen hasn’t been hanging off you lately. I guess he finally realized you weren’t worth it.”
“That’s none of your damn concern. Now get the hell off me or I’ll--”
“You’ll what? Spit on me? Give me a lecture? Oooh, I’m shaking. Face it, Jared. You’re nothing but a spoiled child in an adult’s body. You wouldn’t know a real fight if it punched you in the face. You’ve gotten everything you want growing up, right? Every toy, every meal. No one ever told you to go without. You’re a disgrace. What the hell does Jensen see in you? The two of you would never be equals in anything, any relationship you’d have would be one-sided.
“Trust me kid, he’s better off with a dragon. At least with his own kind, Jensen would be just as protected as vice versa. With you all he is, is a babysitter.”
Ansem’s words rung true, as much as Jared didn’t want to listen. He’d told Jensen that there was no future for them, and everything that Ansem said just proved his point. It wouldn’t be fair to Jensen to expect that kind of security from him all the time.
“Let him go, Ansem,” Tom growled, yanking the dragon off of Jared with a sharp tug. “He doesn’t deserve your bullshit.”
“Hey I’m only telling him the truth. It’s not my fault if I destroyed his petty delusions.”
“Don’t you have chickens to bite the heads off or something? Get lost!”
Ansem smirked. “No need for the illusion anymore, Thomas. The kid knows your lies, you don’t need to act like he matters.”
“He matters more than you ever will,” Tom spat, shoving the other male backwards. “Go!”
Throwing his hands up, Ansem cast a smug look at Jared then walked away. Only once he was satisfied that Ansem wasn’t going to return did Tom focus back on Jared.
“You can’t believe him, Jare. He’s just trying to hurt you.”
Jared plopped down on his butt, gently placing the baby dragon on the wide vee of his legs. It simply curled in on itself and started to purr. “Maybe. But some of what he said is true, Tom. I really don’t know much about anything.” He looked up at the dark-haired male. “But I want to know. I want to learn. I know I can make a difference in all of this, I just need a chance.”
Tom crouched down beside him and touched Jared’s shoulder, giving the joint a firm squeeze. “That’s a perfect first step. No one ever changed anything by staying silent and naive. It’s those that voice the way that things should be that make the difference. Your father did it before, and now it’s your turn.”
<>***<>***<>***<>
By the time Jensen wandered over, Jared was lying on his back looking up at the stars again. The baby dragon was still with him, and was lying upon his chest on it’s stomach like a rag doll. Every now and then a little, whistling snore would leave it and every time Jared chuckled in response.
“Looks like you have a fan,” Jensen said, plopping down beside him and Jared quickly pushed himself to sit up.
The baby awoke as it rolled onto his lap. Shaking itself out, it climbed down and wandered back over to Tania.
“Jensen, about earlier..”
“When I was young I felt like I could do anything,” Jensen said, talking over Jared. It all came out in a rush, like he’d been building up the courage to talk and was afraid to lose it if he stopped. “I thought myself too full of potential and growing strength to stick around my family like a hatchling all the time. It drove my brother crazy and for awhile he chased after me, trying to talk some sense into my head. Joshua always told me that my priorities should lay with my family. I thought he was just being paranoid.
“I continued to take off and eventually he just left me to it. At the time I was just shy of becoming an adult and independence was everything to me. I would be gone for days just doing whatever. I felt like the world was there for me to enjoy, you know? I wanted complete freedom for as long as possible before I was to be mated.”
Jared remained silent, watching the orange reflection from the flames in front of them dance across Jensen’s face.
“When I finally decided to return, the attack had already occurred. My siblings were dead, and next to my sister’s corpse were the battered bodies of her hatchlings. I’d never seen so much blood. The image burned itself into my brain, and haunts me still.
“Please understand that although I believe in my clan leader, Ansem approached me about his plan while I was still in mourning. Nothing mattered except revenge.”
“Your and Ansem’s fight, was that staged?”
Jensen shook his head. “No. Ansem wanted answers about your family. Any weaknesses he could exploit or opportunities to attack. After we got to know each other I told him I wanted nothing to do with his plan anymore, and that’s why we fought. It was all real and I did it for you.”
They sat in a heavy silence for a few moments, the crackling wood in the fire the only sound. Jared plucked at a piece of grass.
“If you had been around during the attack, you might have been killed, too.”
“All the better. I have a tough time living with myself, Jared. I may have died, but there’s an equal chance that I could have prevented Josh and Mackenzie’s murders. And if not theirs, then maybe my nieces and nephews.”
Jared had always been one to offer physical comfort with hugs and the like when someone he cared about was upset, be it his family or any of the servants he’d become close to. He had been that way since he was a child, and so it was natural for him to slide an arm around Jensen’s stiff shoulders and pull him closer.
Jensen went willingly, crumbling a little as though he’d been desperate for the touch and yet afraid to ask for it. The dragon was one of the strongest individuals that Jared knew, but everyone had some weight on their shoulders that they shouldn’t bear alone.
“I’m sorry I hurt you,” Jensen murmured against Jared’s shoulder. “I don’t deserve your forgiveness after everything, but I’m going to prove to you that I’m not like that. I will admit that I’m bitter sometimes but not always, and the last thing I want is to hurt your family. I just want solid protection for my clan.”
Through wordless agreement Jared and Jensen shifted until Jensen’s head was pillowed on the prince’s lap. He fell asleep with Jared’s fingers carding through his short hair.
The early hours of the morning, sun just barely peaking over the horizon, found them curled together. Jensen awoke with his chest to Jared’s back and his arm across the younger man’s hip.
“How long have you been there, you voyeuristic bastard?” he growled, not even bothering to look up.
“Long enough to vomit in my mouth a little,” Ansem retorted. “Have you so easily forgotten what Jared’s family did to you? How they destroyed you? I remember what it was like after the attack, Jensen. But obviously although you claim to care, the truth is that you could care less. I wonder how your siblings would feel if they could see you now, cuddling with the spawn of the ones who ended their lives?”
“You don’t know Jared. He’s nothing like them.”
“No? Apparently it’s you who’ve been played, Jensen. Not him. Maybe it’s he who is trying to lure you into a false sense of security, giving into your misguided affections with a dimpled smile and seemingly innocent touch. He comes from hunter blood, a blood which deserves to be spilled just as our clan’s was.”
“You’re lying.”
Ansem laughed humorlessly. “Am I, now? Well if I’m such a liar, then why are the Padalecki family at this moment hiring dragon hunters of their own?”
Jensen looked at Ansem, his green eyes narrowing even as a feeling of dread curled in his gut. “That can’t be true. And even if it is they are hunters, why would they hire someone else?”
“Why bother getting their royal hands dirty?” Ansem shrugged. “Besides there’s only two males in that family now, and one of them is old. They wouldn’t be able to take us.”
“This is your fault,” Jensen accused angrily, peeling himself away from Jared to climb to his feet. “I told you not to take him!”
“From the looks of how I found you, I’d say you’re glad I did,” the other dragon sneered. “Did you beg for his forgiveness, Jensen? I’m surprised you’re not wearing a damn leash around your neck; he obviously owns you!”
“I don’t own anyone, nor do I want to,” Jared grumbled, his voice still thick with sleep. He stood up stiffly, body aching from sleeping on the hard ground. “I admit that I don’t know as much about dragons as I thought I did, but you know even less about humans, Ansem.”
“I know enough to keep me alive. Can you say the same?”
“Considering I’m standing here in front of you I must have done okay so far.”
“You had your family protecting you, kid,” Ansem said disgustedly. “Like a little hatchling. And now you have Jensen doing the same. Did he change your dirty diaper and wipe your ass as well?”
“Screw you.”
“No thanks. I stick with my own kind. Speaking of, hey Jensen you want me to find a dog for you to have sex with next? Since you’re feeling your way around the species with lower brain capacities and all.”
Jared stumbled back in shock just as Jensen lunged, knocking Ansem to the ground. It was all too reminiscent of the fight they had before, and even in their human forms they made the same angry, animalistic sounds.
Springing into action Jared grabbed Jensen and yanked him off Ansem just as Chris, Tom and Mike arrived to help. It took the two of them each to hold the snarling males away from each other, Chris helping Jared with Jensen while Tom and Mike blocked Ansem.
“What the hell is your problem!” Mike demanded. “We hardly have time for this petty bullshit, there are more important matters!” He shot Jensen and Ansem a dirty look. “Like the fact that there’s dragon slayers gathering at the Padalecki castle.”
“You mean it’s true?” Jared paled, horrified. “But father would never--!”
“Your brother’s in charge now, Jared. Remember?” Jensen shrugged Chris off. “The dragon hater. Guess your plan’s working out after all, isn’t it Ansem? I hope you’re damn proud, you just sentenced more of us to death!”
Ansem wiped the back of his hand across his lips, smearing the bit of blood that had gathered there from one of Jensen’s punches. “The only ones who are going to die are those damn humans. And I’d love to start with the one in front of me who’s currently tainting our home with his presence.”
“You’re the one who dragged me here!” Jared snapped back.
Chris threw up his hands. “Stop! This isn’t helping anything. Jeff sent me to get you, Jensen. Given the circumstances a bunch of us have no choice but to head to the castle.”
“It could be a trap.”
“I know, but if we don’t go everyone here is sitting ducks. We don’t have a choice.”
“I’m going too,” Jared announced, stepping towards Chris.
Jensen dragged him back by the arm. “Like hell you are!”
“This is still my family, Jensen! I’m not letting anything happen to them. Besides, if I return then I can talk some sense into my brother and get him to stop the hunters. It’ll work!”
“And if it doesn’t?”
“What choice do we have?”
They stared each other down for a few long moments, tension radiating between them in waves but neither willing to back down. Finally Jensen sighed.
“Fine, but you’re staying with me. There’s no way I’m letting anything happen to you.”
Chapter 9
Pairing: Jensen/Jared
Chapter Rating: PG-13
Summary: Jared's a prince who always does what's expected of him, even as he dreams of following his heart. When his father signs an allegiance with a dragon clan and he meets Jensen, everything changes.
Disclaimer: Neither of these beautiful men are mine. I just play with them sometimes.
Previous Chapters: One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven
(Awesome banner made for me by the talented Mystik-Ivanow)
Penn slipped away from the Padalecki family and their loud argument. It was unanimous of course that they wanted Jared back, the problem was how to go about it. For his credit Gerald was trying to do his best to placate Jeff who wanted nothing more than to go in and take his brother, consequences be damned. The women were lost in the middle of it, their opinions unheard in the chaos of Gerald and Jeff yelling at each other.
The answer was simple to Penn, he just needed the right push to convince all of them to go along with it.
He made his way out to the yard with it’s stupid fountain and honeysuckle weeds that Jared loved so much, and nearly jumped out of his skin as a hand landed on his shoulder.
“Oh, sorry. Did I almost make you crap yourself?” Ansem snickered.
“Shut up,” Penn hissed. “Where’s Jared?”
“With my clan of course. What’d you think, that I had him hanging off my belt loops? Whether I like it or not that sperm scraping is important to both of us, but that doesn’t mean I want him around me.”
“If he comes back with any scratches on him--”
“Oh come off it, Penn. Don’t act like you care about him now after you sold him out. The kid’s a meal ticket to you, nothing more.”
“Don’t be stupid. I was going to say that if he comes back with any scratches on him the better. Even if he talks jolly about the dragons, no one’s going to believe him.”
Ansem raised an eyebrow, looking interested as he crossed his arms over his chest. “You want me to rough him up?”
“I do. Just don’t kill him. Unless I marry Jared I’ll never get any real power around this dump, no matter what my status is as Jeff’s advisor.” Penn pulled a small brown sack out of his pocket and handed it to the dragon. “Is Jensen going to be a problem?”
Ansem reached into the sack and pulled out gold coins and brightly colored jewels taken from the royal family vault while everyone had been distracted. Although they had no use for money, dragons were notorious for liking shiny and valuable things. That was why they were known for using them in the construction of their nests.
He snorted. “Hardly. If the kid’s smart he’s going to want nothing to do with Jensen now that he knows the truth. And by the time I’m through with him he won’t have the energy to change his mind.”
Penn nodded, looking as satisfied as the cat that got the cream. “Good. Now get the hell out of here before someone sees you. I refuse to let his plan fail like the last one.”
<>***<>***<>***<>
Jeffrey Dean was waiting for Jared when he and Jensen returned from the lake, and he gestured with one hand towards an intact section of the castle.
“Through here, please.”
Jared stepped inside and found himself in a meeting hall; the lone, long table faded with age as pieces of wood chipped here and there. All of the windows had been destroyed, some of the glass still littering the floor and Jared was reminded of the ballroom at home.
“If you’ll have a seat, please,” Jeffrey Dean directed both men to a chair.
Chris, who had been waiting in the room when they’d come in, sat across from Jared and Jensen. He tilted his head in greeting but said nothing and Jared did the same.
“I’m sure you have questions,” Jeffrey Dean said. “Why don’t we start with those?”
“The most I want to know is why you came to sign that treaty, considering everything.”
The dragon leader folded his arms on the table, his fingers entwined together. “While it’s true the Padalecki family has been hunting us for generations, your father was the one to stop it. He was the only member who had the courage to go against your family’s beliefs and lifestyle, an act that had made him courageous to some humans while ostracizing him from others.”
“Do you know why?”
“My sister’s babies,” Jensen’s voice was full of anguish, and Jared’s neck burned in discomfort from turning his head so fast to look at him. “After ending her life, your family killed her young. They were hatchlings, Jared, just like the one you saved. And they were beaten to death.”
“Your father recognized, for the first time, what true evil was,” there was a hard edge to Chris’ voice yet a sadness just underneath the surface. “Even during battles, a dragon has never killed a human child. We preserve innocence, but your family didn’t have that kind of sympathy.”
“Even though he had yet to become king, and it was still years before the treaty was written, Gerald had a verbal power over people,” Jeffrey Dean said. “He had the ability to get others to listen and see his side of things. He brought the precise details of the slayings to everyone’s attention, and realizing the horrific nature of the hunt many humans decided to fight against it.
“The damage to Draconis was already done, and as you see we have been unable to rebuild. Animosity still separates us and keeps us from moving forward. Truth be told, I was reluctant to come to your home when Gerald sent word to me about the treaty. But I was so hopeful for a way to start over.”
Jared swallowed passed the lump that had formed in his throat. Beside him Jensen was looking down at the table, his body very still.
“And Ansem? What of him?”
Jeffrey Dean shook his head. “I’m afraid that Ansem has proven himself uncontrollable and will be dealt with when this mess is over. I promise you Jared, what he planned and did was of no order of mine. He leads the resistance against me and won’t listen to anything I say. I’m sorry that he dragged Jensen into it. I thought I had helped him to move passed this..”
The chair legs scraped loudly against the floor as Jensen shoved away from the table with enough force to shake it. He stalked from the room.
Chris looked as though he wanted to follow, but refrained from doing so and merely shifted restlessly in his chair. “Forgive him, please. Some days are better than others.”
Jared watched the doorway that Jensen had disappeared through. Squaring his shoulders, he turned to Jeffrey Dean in determination. If his father had a way to make people see right and wrong, maybe he did too.
“So, what do we do now?”
<>***<>***<>***<>
Nightfall made Jared extremely nervous. He couldn’t see any of the dragons around him but he could feel the weight of their eyes. He was always being watched, but at least in the daylight he could watch back. Now all he had was the small fire in front of him.
Danneel was close by. She hadn’t spoken to Jared since Jensen had insisted on accompanying him to the water. In a way Jared felt like she blamed him for Jensen’s behavior but couldn’t even be sure if that was true. Maybe she just needed some time by herself.
The baby dragon he’d saved was nestled in his arms, the small tail wrapped around his forearm like a snake while the baby’s head was pillowed against his chest. When it’d come over to Jared and climbed it’s way up his body like he was a mountain, he had threw a startled look at Tania but the mother dragon had simply snorted and laid her head down with her other hatchlings.
Stroking his fingers over the baby’s body, the leather wings still soft and unusable, Jared looked up at the sky. The stars shown even more brightly than they had at home, and the constellation Draco was directly above him.
“You’re becoming awfully comfortable here,” Ansem’s voice murmured in his ear, sounding completely disgusted and Jared whirled around so fast to face him that the baby squeaked in protest.
“Your perception must be off,” Jared retorted, taking a step back from the hostile dragon. The fire prevented him from going too far, and to step around it meant that he would have to take his eyes off of Ansem. If there was anything his instinct told him, it was that to do so would be a costly mistake. “I’d rather be home where I belong.”
“Where you belong is a place a little more permanent. Somewhere that won’t matter to anything but the worms that feast on your flesh and the dirt that covers your corpse.”
“You’re vile.”
“It’s one of my many attributes.” Ansem reached out and grabbed the front of Jared’s shirt, yanking him close although he left enough room to keep the baby in his arms unharmed. He inhaled deeply. “Jensen hasn’t been hanging off you lately. I guess he finally realized you weren’t worth it.”
“That’s none of your damn concern. Now get the hell off me or I’ll--”
“You’ll what? Spit on me? Give me a lecture? Oooh, I’m shaking. Face it, Jared. You’re nothing but a spoiled child in an adult’s body. You wouldn’t know a real fight if it punched you in the face. You’ve gotten everything you want growing up, right? Every toy, every meal. No one ever told you to go without. You’re a disgrace. What the hell does Jensen see in you? The two of you would never be equals in anything, any relationship you’d have would be one-sided.
“Trust me kid, he’s better off with a dragon. At least with his own kind, Jensen would be just as protected as vice versa. With you all he is, is a babysitter.”
Ansem’s words rung true, as much as Jared didn’t want to listen. He’d told Jensen that there was no future for them, and everything that Ansem said just proved his point. It wouldn’t be fair to Jensen to expect that kind of security from him all the time.
“Let him go, Ansem,” Tom growled, yanking the dragon off of Jared with a sharp tug. “He doesn’t deserve your bullshit.”
“Hey I’m only telling him the truth. It’s not my fault if I destroyed his petty delusions.”
“Don’t you have chickens to bite the heads off or something? Get lost!”
Ansem smirked. “No need for the illusion anymore, Thomas. The kid knows your lies, you don’t need to act like he matters.”
“He matters more than you ever will,” Tom spat, shoving the other male backwards. “Go!”
Throwing his hands up, Ansem cast a smug look at Jared then walked away. Only once he was satisfied that Ansem wasn’t going to return did Tom focus back on Jared.
“You can’t believe him, Jare. He’s just trying to hurt you.”
Jared plopped down on his butt, gently placing the baby dragon on the wide vee of his legs. It simply curled in on itself and started to purr. “Maybe. But some of what he said is true, Tom. I really don’t know much about anything.” He looked up at the dark-haired male. “But I want to know. I want to learn. I know I can make a difference in all of this, I just need a chance.”
Tom crouched down beside him and touched Jared’s shoulder, giving the joint a firm squeeze. “That’s a perfect first step. No one ever changed anything by staying silent and naive. It’s those that voice the way that things should be that make the difference. Your father did it before, and now it’s your turn.”
<>***<>***<>***<>
By the time Jensen wandered over, Jared was lying on his back looking up at the stars again. The baby dragon was still with him, and was lying upon his chest on it’s stomach like a rag doll. Every now and then a little, whistling snore would leave it and every time Jared chuckled in response.
“Looks like you have a fan,” Jensen said, plopping down beside him and Jared quickly pushed himself to sit up.
The baby awoke as it rolled onto his lap. Shaking itself out, it climbed down and wandered back over to Tania.
“Jensen, about earlier..”
“When I was young I felt like I could do anything,” Jensen said, talking over Jared. It all came out in a rush, like he’d been building up the courage to talk and was afraid to lose it if he stopped. “I thought myself too full of potential and growing strength to stick around my family like a hatchling all the time. It drove my brother crazy and for awhile he chased after me, trying to talk some sense into my head. Joshua always told me that my priorities should lay with my family. I thought he was just being paranoid.
“I continued to take off and eventually he just left me to it. At the time I was just shy of becoming an adult and independence was everything to me. I would be gone for days just doing whatever. I felt like the world was there for me to enjoy, you know? I wanted complete freedom for as long as possible before I was to be mated.”
Jared remained silent, watching the orange reflection from the flames in front of them dance across Jensen’s face.
“When I finally decided to return, the attack had already occurred. My siblings were dead, and next to my sister’s corpse were the battered bodies of her hatchlings. I’d never seen so much blood. The image burned itself into my brain, and haunts me still.
“Please understand that although I believe in my clan leader, Ansem approached me about his plan while I was still in mourning. Nothing mattered except revenge.”
“Your and Ansem’s fight, was that staged?”
Jensen shook his head. “No. Ansem wanted answers about your family. Any weaknesses he could exploit or opportunities to attack. After we got to know each other I told him I wanted nothing to do with his plan anymore, and that’s why we fought. It was all real and I did it for you.”
They sat in a heavy silence for a few moments, the crackling wood in the fire the only sound. Jared plucked at a piece of grass.
“If you had been around during the attack, you might have been killed, too.”
“All the better. I have a tough time living with myself, Jared. I may have died, but there’s an equal chance that I could have prevented Josh and Mackenzie’s murders. And if not theirs, then maybe my nieces and nephews.”
Jared had always been one to offer physical comfort with hugs and the like when someone he cared about was upset, be it his family or any of the servants he’d become close to. He had been that way since he was a child, and so it was natural for him to slide an arm around Jensen’s stiff shoulders and pull him closer.
Jensen went willingly, crumbling a little as though he’d been desperate for the touch and yet afraid to ask for it. The dragon was one of the strongest individuals that Jared knew, but everyone had some weight on their shoulders that they shouldn’t bear alone.
“I’m sorry I hurt you,” Jensen murmured against Jared’s shoulder. “I don’t deserve your forgiveness after everything, but I’m going to prove to you that I’m not like that. I will admit that I’m bitter sometimes but not always, and the last thing I want is to hurt your family. I just want solid protection for my clan.”
Through wordless agreement Jared and Jensen shifted until Jensen’s head was pillowed on the prince’s lap. He fell asleep with Jared’s fingers carding through his short hair.
The early hours of the morning, sun just barely peaking over the horizon, found them curled together. Jensen awoke with his chest to Jared’s back and his arm across the younger man’s hip.
“How long have you been there, you voyeuristic bastard?” he growled, not even bothering to look up.
“Long enough to vomit in my mouth a little,” Ansem retorted. “Have you so easily forgotten what Jared’s family did to you? How they destroyed you? I remember what it was like after the attack, Jensen. But obviously although you claim to care, the truth is that you could care less. I wonder how your siblings would feel if they could see you now, cuddling with the spawn of the ones who ended their lives?”
“You don’t know Jared. He’s nothing like them.”
“No? Apparently it’s you who’ve been played, Jensen. Not him. Maybe it’s he who is trying to lure you into a false sense of security, giving into your misguided affections with a dimpled smile and seemingly innocent touch. He comes from hunter blood, a blood which deserves to be spilled just as our clan’s was.”
“You’re lying.”
Ansem laughed humorlessly. “Am I, now? Well if I’m such a liar, then why are the Padalecki family at this moment hiring dragon hunters of their own?”
Jensen looked at Ansem, his green eyes narrowing even as a feeling of dread curled in his gut. “That can’t be true. And even if it is they are hunters, why would they hire someone else?”
“Why bother getting their royal hands dirty?” Ansem shrugged. “Besides there’s only two males in that family now, and one of them is old. They wouldn’t be able to take us.”
“This is your fault,” Jensen accused angrily, peeling himself away from Jared to climb to his feet. “I told you not to take him!”
“From the looks of how I found you, I’d say you’re glad I did,” the other dragon sneered. “Did you beg for his forgiveness, Jensen? I’m surprised you’re not wearing a damn leash around your neck; he obviously owns you!”
“I don’t own anyone, nor do I want to,” Jared grumbled, his voice still thick with sleep. He stood up stiffly, body aching from sleeping on the hard ground. “I admit that I don’t know as much about dragons as I thought I did, but you know even less about humans, Ansem.”
“I know enough to keep me alive. Can you say the same?”
“Considering I’m standing here in front of you I must have done okay so far.”
“You had your family protecting you, kid,” Ansem said disgustedly. “Like a little hatchling. And now you have Jensen doing the same. Did he change your dirty diaper and wipe your ass as well?”
“Screw you.”
“No thanks. I stick with my own kind. Speaking of, hey Jensen you want me to find a dog for you to have sex with next? Since you’re feeling your way around the species with lower brain capacities and all.”
Jared stumbled back in shock just as Jensen lunged, knocking Ansem to the ground. It was all too reminiscent of the fight they had before, and even in their human forms they made the same angry, animalistic sounds.
Springing into action Jared grabbed Jensen and yanked him off Ansem just as Chris, Tom and Mike arrived to help. It took the two of them each to hold the snarling males away from each other, Chris helping Jared with Jensen while Tom and Mike blocked Ansem.
“What the hell is your problem!” Mike demanded. “We hardly have time for this petty bullshit, there are more important matters!” He shot Jensen and Ansem a dirty look. “Like the fact that there’s dragon slayers gathering at the Padalecki castle.”
“You mean it’s true?” Jared paled, horrified. “But father would never--!”
“Your brother’s in charge now, Jared. Remember?” Jensen shrugged Chris off. “The dragon hater. Guess your plan’s working out after all, isn’t it Ansem? I hope you’re damn proud, you just sentenced more of us to death!”
Ansem wiped the back of his hand across his lips, smearing the bit of blood that had gathered there from one of Jensen’s punches. “The only ones who are going to die are those damn humans. And I’d love to start with the one in front of me who’s currently tainting our home with his presence.”
“You’re the one who dragged me here!” Jared snapped back.
Chris threw up his hands. “Stop! This isn’t helping anything. Jeff sent me to get you, Jensen. Given the circumstances a bunch of us have no choice but to head to the castle.”
“It could be a trap.”
“I know, but if we don’t go everyone here is sitting ducks. We don’t have a choice.”
“I’m going too,” Jared announced, stepping towards Chris.
Jensen dragged him back by the arm. “Like hell you are!”
“This is still my family, Jensen! I’m not letting anything happen to them. Besides, if I return then I can talk some sense into my brother and get him to stop the hunters. It’ll work!”
“And if it doesn’t?”
“What choice do we have?”
They stared each other down for a few long moments, tension radiating between them in waves but neither willing to back down. Finally Jensen sighed.
“Fine, but you’re staying with me. There’s no way I’m letting anything happen to you.”
Chapter 9