Tallulah could feel the fear lacing her body, the way it made her limbs like jelly, and how her heart began to race. Kelwin had played her and his mate, Lunea, like fools. He was never going to let her live. He had allowed her to be carried from his keep just to see who was a betrayer to his cause, and then to use her to defeat Atlas. Had she not been mated to Atlas perhaps he would've killed her a while ago, or made a political match with her, but knowing that female dragons could only have children with their mates would've made any union of hers a fraud.

Although she was in a state of panic, she couldn't let Benna and Rika see. She had to be strong for them. Once Atlas told her they would be under attack, they collected knives from the rack of weapons Atlas kept in his tent; Tallulah stayed put in Atlas’ tent while Rika left to find more suitable armor from nearby tents. It was standard issue that all soldiers had at least two sets of armor; one basic, with boiled leather and steel plates to reinforce, and the other was a full set to include chainmail, greeves, bracers, and additional arm guards for those who used bows.

Rika returned with several sets of chainmail, belt, greaves; one for each woman. Tallulah required help getting into the armor as raising her arms above her head was not an option. It was a game of careful maneuvering in order to get into the chain main. The support of her bindings helped, but didn’t eradicate the pain lancing through her. The greaves and bracers did not require as much movement, and were less painful to put on. When they finished dressing her, she was panting from the exertion. Benna and Rika dressed themselves shortly after, and Tallulah gave them tips on what was supposed to be worn where and how throughout the whole process.

By Atlas’ reckoning the main fight was almost two leagues away from their camp, meaning that it would take time for anyone to reach them… Atlas included. The wait for such an event left all three women in a state of anxiety and panic. Benna and Rika could wield their own weapons well enough, but Tallulah was utterly useless, and shifting in her condition was not an option. The anxiousness was not only coming from her, but also from Atlas; she could sense his anger as well, and fear for her.

They waited, tallulah was almost scared to breathe too loud in case it meant they’d find them sooner rather than later once they entered the camp.

“I have an idea,” whispered Benna, “Where are your old clothes, the ones you were wearing when you came to camp?” Tallulah could see the wheels spinning in the other woman’s head.

“They’re in a heap in the back corner of the tent,” Tallulah replied, understanding what Benna was up to.

“Okay, I am going to shred the old tunic and trousers you were wearing and spread them throughout the camp. If the felines are showing up in their shifted forms, their sense of smell will be what they rely on to find us, as long as we stay hidden,” her plan was a good one, and the best they could do with their given situation.  It did not take her long to do what she’d proposed, and soon enough they were back to waiting. This was worse than the time Tallulah spent in the dungeon. There, at least, she had an inkling of what they might do to her. In this moment, all of their worst fears could come true, or could not.

After what felt like an eternity of bated breathing, and a gut full of roiling snakes, tallulah heard voices and the clatter of armor. Rika shared her look of horror and fright.

“-and they left so much behind. We could raid this place and forget about the little queen,” someone said. Shivers raced down Tallulah’s spine, and she saw both Benna and Rika grip their weapons harder.

“I told you all of this already, we just need to find Tallulah and get this over with,” Tallulah knew that voice, very well in fact, as she had spent the better part of many weeks with the person. Benna and Rika were just as stunned by this.

I am going to slit that whore’s throat. Came the unexpected side note from Atlas. I trusted her with you and this is how she betrays us? Us, not him, not Tallulah, but us. He was right. The betrayal stung greatly, and Tallulah fought back the rising emotions in herself.

Their position was compromised if Aurora was with the intruders, and all three women knew it would only be a matter of moments before they came for this tent.

“I still can’t believe she actually believed you were a confidant,” a gruff voice spoke.

“It isn’t hard when your life depends on it. She actually thought I was sending all of those messages to Atlas, but only a few went to him, most were for Lord Kelwin,” Aurora’s voice was so smug, so honey sweet, that Tallulah wanted to gag and go into a rage fit. She had no right to name Atlas so informally, and boast of her vindictiveness.

Benna, silently, moved towards Tallulah, while Rika went to the front flap of the tent; she made herself ready to strike if anyone were to come through.

“Are you sure you know which tent she’s in?” the same gruff voice said.

“No, someone must have warned them we were coming, and they’ve made things harder,” tallulah could have kissed Benna for her thinking ahead on this matter.

I would hope the only lips you kiss are mine, my mate. Despite all that was going on in that moment, Tallulah couldn’t help but stifle a groan at Atlas’ behavior. She was met with a deadly glare from Rika. We are close to the camp now, hopefully what Benna has done will keep them occupied just a few moments longer.

Just then, she heard rustling behind her. It was coming from outside of their tent. Tallulah’s heart nearly made its way from her body as it took all of her focus and energy not to scream at the sudden noise.

“I think we have something over here!” Tallulah jolted away from the edge of the tent; she could feal her inner being rise within her. Now was not an appropriate time for her to shift…but maybe she wouldn’t. There were the two times before when she blacked out after a partial shift. Rika could only lunge forward and stab whatever came through the front flap.

Benna shrieked as several men came barging through, Rika was able to stab into one man’s throat before she was caught; Tallulah was not given any option but a sword to her throat. 

“That was easier than expected,” the lead soldier said. “I really should take your head off right now, and leave the bastard king to suffer and die, b-” his head was promptly removed from his shoulders.

“Gods above, all you do is talk and talk, It was any wonder they didn’t hear us sooner,” Aurora stepped around the body of the man. “She is MY prize for the taking; I have risked everything to ensure she was right where we needed her,” Aurora hissed at the body.

“You’ve made a grave error, and for what?” Tallulah asked, once free of the blade.

“Because, as you’ve demonstrated many times over, we females will do anything for our mates,”  this was not the same Aurora she’d spent months with, it couldn’t be.

“If I could get up right now, I would have your head like you had his,” Tallulah spat, pointing towards the lifeless body.

“I am aware, but in your condition, we could kill you easily.” The look of utter disdain Aurora served would make a normal person quiver, but Tallulah wasn’t normal, she never had been.

“Thank you, lady Aurora, I will take from here.” Gareth stepped into the tent from there and all hope flooded from Tallulah. This man would forever haunt her.

“Did you not take enough when you had me in the dungeon? I think Lord Kelwin was quite disgusted with your actions,” a brazenness overswept any other emotion in Tallulah.

“No, I did not,” he sneered, and added, “If it happened how I intended, you would have died in that dungeon,” Tallulah gathered as much, and he was here to finish the job now.

Not if I can help it

The words were spoken both aloud and in her mind, and the utter relief at Atlas’ entrance into the space sent her high with happiness. His demeanor was calm and collected, but she could feel the turmoil, anger and immense rage boiling in their shared connection.

“You dare threaten my mate? My other half? My queen? You, who has been her haunt and her ruin since I have known her. How dare you,” the power rolling from Atlas made nearly all present persons cower, but not her, and not Gareth.

“You know nothing of her deceits towards me, or her rightful family! You know a lie!” Gareth seethed towards his king.

“I know everything. I know her pain, and her refusal to accept fate because of her pain. I know her strength, and unlike you, I have known her power, her faithfulness, and her loyalty,” Atlas said.

“Bah! Loyalty? Where? Did she tell you how she drugged me? How she stole from me?” Gareth was seething, and for the first time in a very long time, Tallulah felt no fear for what was about to happen.

“Admittedly, no, but her gift with healing herbs would suggest she’s had to patch herself up more than once, and not due to training mishaps in the capital,” Atlas kept a calm composure as he spoke. “When we first met, I had no inkling of who she was to me, or to this kingdom. I knew within the first few days that she was abused in her previous life, as she let loose an unspeakable rage when I asked her to spar for the first time. And then a story was shared with me after her capture on the border. That you would mutilate your own wife because she was unable to bear children. Did you ever stop to wonder why? Because I can tell you why: she wasn’t destined for you, female dragon kin cannot reproduce with anyone aside from their mate,” a pin drop could be heard by the deafening silence that filled the tent. Atlas’ words were calm and collected, where Gareth was holding back a barely contained rage.

“I demand a challenge for her,” snorts of derision filled the silent space at Gareth’s words. Tallulah’s own snort was among them. I am glad you find this funny, my mate, I will allow you the honor of running him through once I have him on his knees. She sent overwhelming gratitude towards him at those words.

“Fine,”

“If I win, she’s mine,” as if she would even think of returning with that scum.

“Fine,” Tallulah didn’t miss how Atlas’ grip tightened on the hilt of his sword that was still aimed at Gareth’s throat. “Reylan, you are in charge of this traitor,” Atlas spat at Aurora, who flinched. “Rika, Benna, help my mate outside. She will witness this fight,”