Jasper Reign
[Saturday, Umbrafall 27, 4310]
—Reign Downtown Warehouse Complex—
Our warehouses are always scent-neutralized. I understand this is a way to keep the law officials from tracking our inbound and outbound shipments, but being unable to scent my surroundings agitates my already agitated beast side. Today, I made a surprise inspection of our latest heist. We often 'acquired' technology, weapons, or medical supplies from the Ajei Enclave of the Sun Court. We…recycled their abandoned projects, obsolete weapons, or a cargo truck of medical supplies every three months. Sometimes our inside source will even slip in current prototypes for our techs to test out for our own uses. It's been a very profitable arrangement for years now.
According to the initial report, we acquired an unusually large batch of weapons this time. Which meant Draelyn would be announcing a new weapons line soon. This must be their overstock after setting aside inventory for sale and their paramilitary. I'm curious what deal Padre worked out with Second Master Keir to get this much stock. Will we even need to do another run in three months?
With my assistant Rhett at my side—capital district lieutenant, codename Uno—I watched the other twelve lieutenants and their teams inventory, then divide up the weapons. While they continued that task, Rhett placed a table before me with the only prototype included in the shipment. It was a Tempest-steel sword that resonated with the Corevein tech that was embedded in it. The Vel'Sharii runes called to be filled with essence so they could show me what they could do, but I resisted the siren's call.
This would be a very dangerous weapon in the hands of anyone with an air-aligned affinity. If they are making a set of elite elemental blades of this quality, they will certainly maintain their title as the weapons industry juggernauts. I was pleased with what I saw. This haul would go a long way in helping us keep our people and territories safe.
I handed the sword over to Rhett to examine since he would be the point person for adapting it for shifter use. He always did love a puzzle. My throbbing headache and aching joints couldn't even ruin my good mood. I rested my eyes, listening to my people open and close crates, then prepare them for transport when a female voice broke the quiet. She didn't realize her voice carried quite well in this space.
"Hard to believe," the woman said, arms crossed as she watched her men move the weapons, "the Ajei keep using the same shipment routes. They might as well just deliver the items to our warehouses to save us the trouble of organizing heists of their proprietary scraps."
A few of the men on her team shifted nervously. The other lieutenants immediately knelt before me. They wanted no part of the landmine this woman had just stepped on. "They're fools," she continued, not yet realizing she had everyone's attention. "We have been doing this every three months for years, and they still haven't been able to stop us from acquiring their cargo." The woman, who I believe is the new Cinco, finally realized the warehouse had gone quiet and still.
I opened my eyes, turning my head just enough to get a good look at her. She wrongly thought everyone was impressed with her deeply incorrect train of thought. The way she was puffing her chest out with pride made it clear she needed correction. She was trying to engage with her men, but they all distanced themselves from her and knelt where they stood, facing me. She finally realized something wasn't right. She hurriedly joined the other lieutenants, kneeling before me. Too late to for awareness now, little five. Hopefully, she will still be salvageable after her correction.
Without looking over my shoulder, I asked Rhett, "Was she not trained and briefed?" Since this was part of his responsibilities as the leader of my lieutenants, he reasonably gulped and glared at Cinco as he answered my question. "She was trained and briefed, but I can only assume she skimmed the briefing and didn't actually read it. She was promoted to district lieutenant when she won the competition to replace Larry as the new Cinco."
So, she is capable. Just ignorant. My gaze never left Cinco. I exerted the essence of my aura over everyone in front of me. I wanted no one feeling left out for this lesson. They were pushed down until their heads touched the floor. Rhett came around to kneel down and bow his head until his forehead was an inch from the top of my shoe. This is how he maintains his position as my right-hand man. He knows when to have pride and when to set it aside. Because he knelt on his own and recognized punishment was inevitable, it will be a light one.
After five minutes of suppressing them, I withdrew my aura. Using my foot, I nudged Rhett to stand. He slowly stood up, then with a flick of his fingers, he cleaned himself using wind essence. He returned to his position behind me. My focus returned to Cinco. In my assessment, she earned her position. She remained strong. She did not sweat like some of the others during my aura suppression.
"So you are strong," I finally said mildly. "And should be intelligent enough to know better than to speak when you don't understand. This is your third month in the capital. If you want to stay in the capital, you need to read the briefings. They aren't optional. They are what stand between you and a one-way trip to meeting the ancestors." Now she was sweating and realizing how badly she had fucked up. This would be the first strike against her. I only give my people two chances.
"Uno, Cinco needs to be reminded of what she should already understand as part of the main branch." I stood up while handing him the tablet in my hand. "This will be her second and last opportunity." Eleven of the twelve kneeling lieutenants stood up. Their backs were straight as they placed their fists together at chest level. Cinco came out of her stupor and followed suit.
I placed a hand on each lieutenant's head as I walked out. I gave Rhett a fist bump, leaving him in charge of finishing matters here. My guards slid open the doors for my departure. Before I stepped out, I called over my shoulder, "Welcome to the capital, Cinco." I didn't raise my voice. I didn't look back. I didn't need to.
"Safe travels, Syrinth," all thirteen subordinates intoned in unison, bowing to my back.
**************************************
The SUV door sealed with a low thud as I slid onto the backseat. I prayed to the ancestors and Creators that the drive home would be peaceful. I rested my head on the headrest, trying to let the migraine pulsing behind my eyes ease. Between the migraine and the muscle cramps, I could not stay in that warehouse any longer without risking my men and, more importantly—my secret. Having to heavily suppress my beast side for three weeks every month while simultaneously using essence for anything always came at a cost.
This curse wanted my obedience, but I refused to be controlled by anyone. The curse incited my beast—a seductive whisper urging it to push against the chains I bound it in. My rational side knew the whisper for what it really represented. Not freedom, but a collared leash would be my reward if I gave in. Death and destruction for all I held dear would be the outcome. I refused to believe there is only one way to cure me that doesn't involve that worm of a female. I adjusted my cuffs, then slipped on the tinted glasses from my inner coat pocket.
["Good evening, Scion Reign. Shadow or Dark interface?"]
"Shadow. Pull up schedule."
["Right away, Scion Reign. The next item is dinner and music at Auresk with Scion Ajei and Specialist Cress. This is your final engagement for the day. Would you like to modify your schedule?"]
I tapped my finger against the seat. I wanted to go home. Some days the suppression left me merely tired. Other days it left me hollowed out and vibrating at the edges. Today was a hollowed-out day. Tomorrow I would be leaving on my monthly week of seclusion. Just a few more hours, and I can release my beast and cultivate properly.
Decision made, I opened my mouth to cancel the appointment. If I don't see them, they can't make me come out with them. I thought I was outsmarting my friends, but just as I was about to give the command, there was a sharp knock against my window. I must have been more out of it than I realized to not realize the SUV had stopped. On the other side of my tinted bullet and spell-proof window were a set of ruby and gold smiling eyes.
Why is Lux outside my SUV in the middle of the street? Tilting my head to see out the windshield, my gaze landed on Elias standing in front of the vehicle, arms folded casually as if blocking armored transport was a recreational activity. Traffic flowed around us. The sight of my men quietly redirecting vehicles made it clear that my desire for a quiet night at home was going to be denied. Why am I friends with these two again?
Another knock came. With a sigh, I rolled the window down. "I want to cancel our night out. I want to go home." I said dryly. "Can we reschedule for when I come back?" The chuckles I received from Lux and Elias made it clear there would be no rescheduling of our monthly get-together.
Lux reached in and unlocked my door. I moved to the opposite seat, accepting with resigned understanding that my friends were not going to take no for an answer tonight. Lux slid in with infuriating ease. Elias soon followed, closing the door behind him. "Let's head to Auresk as planned," Lux relaxed into his seat. He even turned on the seat warmer. "We could all use a little unwinding while we hang out." The car did not move until I gave a small nod.
Silence settled between us—comfortable and familiar. When Elias adjusted his position and stretched out his legs, I noticed they weren't wearing scent neutralizers. I stilled imperceptibly. It wasn't unusual for them to let down their guard a bit when we were together. Lux's scent of black cypress and cold smoke was a reminder of simpler academy days and our unusual partnership. Elias's scent of tonka bean with a vanilla undertone was a calming balm to my frayed nerves. It didn't affect the physical pain, but it eased the mental and emotional exhaustion.
But a wisp of something I picked up layered over their scent tugged at my attention. Black tea and a variant of sandalwood. It surrounded Elias more than Lux. He had more contact with the source of the scent.
Wanting to decipher the scent further, I inhaled again, subtly. This time, I noticed essence woven into the scent. It took me another moment to notice that my migraine had faded into the background. Still present but now merely an irritation. I felt a pulse—faint but unmistakable—in my secondary (throat) core. How is this possible? Have I really found my cure?
My fingers curled slightly against my thigh. I shifted closer to Elias under the guise of adjusting my posture. I drew in another lungful without moving closer. My muscle ache eased, and my migraine faded away. Just like that. The pulse deepened, and my senses heightened.
What was happening? The sensations weren't overwhelming. I don't feel as possessive as I expected. I simply feel relieved, relaxed, and…aligned. My inner dragon stirred. Not violently as it usually did when disturbed. One eye opened…is that curiosity? Me too, my friend. Me too. He did nothing else. For the first time in a long while without the usual preparations, my dragon was peaceful.
Before I could ponder this development, we arrived at Auresk. Elias stepped out when the SUV door opened. I wasn't done analyzing the scent. I almost reached out to pull him back, but I locked down the impulse. Don't rush. We have all night to unravel this development. I needed to be strategic in my questioning. The scent was on Lux; this told me he had been in contact with the scent's source as well. This complicated matters. Contrary to popular belief, Lux was very much like the Crown Consort when he chose to be playful. He would deny me answers if he suspected my growing interest in the source of the scent. The fact that he knew something I did not would please him, and I did not want to deal with his shenanigans tonight.
When it was my turn, I stepped out of the SUV slowly. The scent lingered between them like a secret being kept from me. I did not like that. I would find out who that scent belonged to. My dragon was not fighting me for once. He was calm and interested. It was only a matter of time. I would not let my friends keep my possible cure from me. It would be an unfortunate way to end our friendship should they try.