Dragon Unbound Page 12
Mother: Cecilia Mocenigo
Father: Giustiniano Tiepolo
Siblings: two
Mate: none
Took control of the sept: 2007
Previous Wyvern: Pierozzo Blu
Green Dragons
History: With its Celtic origins in Northern Europe, the green dragon sept has had a violent and often tragic history. Torn apart frequently by internal strife, the sept suffered from a lack of leadership for several centuries until in 1447, when the internal troubles were put to an end by the arrival of Alhazen Vireo.
A mage and mathematician, Alhazen brought stability and order to the tumultuous sept, rewriting the sept coda, and setting down rules which are kept to this day. Alhazen originally opposed participation in the Endless War, seeing no need to either claim supremacy over the other septs. When the red dragons, led by their wyvern Chuan Ren Lung, attempted to take over the sept, Alhazen reluctantly entered the war and successfully protected the sept from obliteration. Following the Endless War, Alhazen was the first to suggest a democratic structure to the weyr, with each sept receiving equal representation.
The sept again fell into confusion and disarray when Alhazen was assassinated by a red dragon. The two septs declared a private war, which waged with bloody purpose until the turn of the twentieth century, finally ending when the current wyvern agreed to a trial by combat to determine the outcome of the war. The green and red dragons have had an uneasy peace since the red dragons’ defeat.
Traits: The green dragons are thieves, and as such, are very adept at getting in and out of close quarters, smuggling, and upon occasion, shape-shifting. They have a natural skill with puzzles and locks, and although they are amongst the most feared fighters in the dragon world, their strengths lie in close-quarter improvised battle rather than involved strategizing.
Population: 91
Current Wyvern: Drake Vireo
Born: 1 January 1615, Érd, Hungary
Mother: Doña Catalina de Elférez
Father: Cziriak Toldi Fekete
Siblings: one living
Mate: Aisling Grey
Took control of the sept: 1 January 1857
Previous Wyvern: Fodor Andras Vireo
Red Dragons
History: The red dragons have a unique history in that one wyvern has, in effect, headed the sept for most of its existence. Although her origins are lost, it is rumored that Chuan Ren Lung was the daughter of the previous wyvern, a man she murdered along with the remaining family members in order to ensure there were no other claimants to wyvern.
Regardless of her origins, Chuan Ren Lung had an iron grip on the red dragons for more than 1500 years. It was her desire for supremacy that caused two of the three major dragon wars, including the Endless War, and the private war with the green dragons (in which more than 60 percent of the red dragons perished). Forced by lack of resources and Weyr pressure to accept peace accords, the red dragons learned to live in (relative) peace with the other septs...until the sept was all but destroyed by the demon lord Bael. A new wyvern was created to bring the sept back from extinction.
Traits: The red dragons are fierce warriors, and masters of all combat arts. They believe might makes right, and lack diplomatic skills and abilities that come naturally to other septs. They have little tolerance for fools or weaknesses, and have a history of periodically purging their sept of members who don’t meet their high standards. They are bold and confident, unquestioning in their loyalties to their sept, and do not hesitate to challenge anyone who stands in their path.
Note: information about the previous wyvern is provided here since the new wyvern has no history with the sept. Previous wyvern’s name: Chuan Ren Lung. Born: 1 January 412, Shanxi, China. Death: 2012. Mother: Lei Su. Father: Hao Lei. Siblings: Unknown. Mate: Li Jiaxin. Took control of the sept: 1 January 670.
Population: 6
Current Wyvern: Rowan Malley Dakar
Born: 1 January 1980
Mother: Angharad Malley
Father: Alpha Ndakaaru
Siblings: Bee Dakar, Aoife Dakar
Mate: Sophea Long
Took control of the sept: 2016
Previous Wyvern: Chuan Ren Lung
Silver Dragons
History: Not a great deal is known about the silver dragons outside the sept, due mostly to their close-knit clan, the members of which are reluctant to make public information they consider to be private business.
They are the youngest of the five dragon septs, formed when a branch from the black dragons gathered to protest the rule of the dread black wyvern Baltic, known for his ruthless and bloody attempts to dominate the five septs. The black dragons did not take kindly to their offspring leaving the sept, and spent several centuries trying to win them back–first by bribes, later by force.
The first wyvern of the silver dragons, Constantine Norka, was successful at keeping the sept autonomous, although he paid a high price for that freedom–Baltic cast a curse on the sept that promised no mate shall be born to any of its members until a black dragon was accepted as wyvern. The curse was broken in recent times.
Traits: The silver dragons are renowned healers, and as such, are very much in demand in both the mortal and Otherworld. Some silver dragons also have empathic abilities, a trait that has been exploited by other septs. They have a particular affinity with nature, and many spend time with earthier beings such as wood sprites, elves, and sylphs. They are cautious and careful in battle and politics, and while they hold honor and loyalty to be among their most valued traits, they are formidable in their revenge if you cross them.
Members: 107
Current Wyvern
Name: Gabriel Tauhou
Born: 1 January 1702, Papetoai, Moorea, French Polynesia
Mother: Kaawa Savé
Father: Ra’iarii Tarapu
Siblings: 2
Mate: May Northcott
Took control of the sept: 1 January 1947
Previous Wyvern: Sial Fa’amasino
Light Dragons
History: The light dragon sept was formed when the wyvern of the black dragons was killed, and later resurrected. He then formed his own sept, which was only recently admitted to the weyr.
Traits: Baltic refuses to answer our requests for information. We suggest readers count stubbornness as one of the traits of the light dragons.
Current Wyvern: Baltic
Born: information missing
Mother: Maerwyn
Father: The First Dragon
Siblings: 5
Mate: Ysolde de Bouchier
Took control of the sept: 1 January 1977
Previous Wyvern: none
Traits
Indigo Dragons
History: The indigo sept was created by Constantine Norka upon his leaving the light dragon sept. Currently, there are only two and a half members of the sept: Constantine, his mate Bee, and a disembodied head named Gareth (honorary member, since he’s not actually a dragon).
Traits: Constantine is very close-mouthed about the indigo dragons, but from what we can glean, they tend to be irreverent, headstrong, and single-minded. They also are soft touches when it comes to taking in strays, be it animals or people or disembodied heads.
Current Wyvern
Name: Constantine Norka
Born: 1088
Mother: Elisabeth of Norka
Father: Kashi
Siblings: none
Mate: Bee Dakar
Previous wyvern: none
GLOSSARY OF DRAGON TERMS
Aisling Gray: Thirty-something mate to the Green Dragon Sept wyvern, Drake Vireo. Aisling is a Guardian (demon wrangler), and technically a demon lord since she is responsible for Jim, the demon she inadvertantly summoned in the first Aisling Gray novel. Aisling and Drake have two children.
Anduin: Baltic and Ysolde’s son.
Aoife Dakar: mate to Kostya, and sister to Bee and Rowan
Baltic: The dread wyvern Baltic is the first generation child of the First Dra
gon, the demi-god who created dragons many millenia ago. He is the former wyvern of the Black Dragon sept, which ceased when he was killed by his heir, Kostya Fekete immediately after his mate Ysolde de Bouchier was struck dead. He was recently resurrected, and found his beloved mate Ysolde (also resurrected) in the first Light Dragons book. He formed the Light Dragon Sept upon his resurrection.
Bastiano (Bastian) Blu: The wyvern of the Blue Dragons sept. Bastian is the uncle of the former blue wyvern, Fiat Blu, who is pretty much insane and running around causing havoc.
Bee Dakar: mate to Constantine, and sister to Aoife and Rowan
Brom Sullivan: Ysolde’s child by Gareth Hunt, her former husband. Brom has an unnatural interest in mummifying things, and is claimed by Baltic as his son.
Charity Doe: siren and latest mate to the First Dragon.
Constantine Norka: The former heir to the Black Dragon wyvern Alexei, Constantine refused to stay in the black sept when Baltic was later named wyvern, and left it to form the Silver Dragon Sept, He spent many centuries at war with the black dragons. He was resurrected as a shade (corporeal spirit) at Ysolde’s request.
Dragon heart/shards: The dragon heart is one of the most powerful artifacts on earth, and consists of five shards, which are scattered amongst the various dragon septs. The heart can be brought together and reformed, but this has only happened two times in the last millenium. Dragon shards are immensely valuable relics of the First Dragon, and thus valued beyond almost anything else.
Dragon mate: The man or woman who was born to be the mate to a dragon. Wyvern’s mates are much more rare than dragon mates, and can handle and control the wyvern’s fire, which would destroy an ordinary mortal.
Drake Vireo: The wyvern of the Green Dragon Sept, and a master thief. Drake has homes in London, Paris, and Budapest, and alternates his time between the three. He became a green dragon despite his black dragon father via his grandmother, who was a reeve (a special type of dragon with unusually pure bloodlines). He has three children with Aisling Gray, his mate.
Effrijim (Jim): A demon sixth class who is bound to Aisling Gray. Jim’s preferred form is that of a Newfoundland dog, and he complains non-stop if he is forced into human form. Jim resides with Aisling and Drake, has a passionate love for an elderly Welsh Corgi named Cecile, who lives in Paris, and greatly enjoys eating.
First Dragon: The demi-god who created the dragonkin, he can be summoned by means of the dragon heart, or in extremely rare cases, by those who have wielded the dragon heart.
Gabriel Tauhou: The wyvern of the Silver Dragon Sept, and mate to May Northcott. As a silver dragon, Gabriel was cursed by Baltic to never have a mate born to him until a black dragon ruled his sept. Luckily, he found May, who as a doppelganger, was created rather than born. Gabriel has houses in London and Australia, and alternates his time between the two.
Dr. Kostich: The current head of the L’au-dela (Otherworld), as well as the head of the Magisters’ Guild. He is an archimage, and thus extremely powerful. He is the father of Violet, and the grandfather of Maura Lo Bartholomew. Ysolde de Bouchier was apprenticed to him for several decades before he threw her out of the Magister’s Guild upon discovering she was a resurrected dragon.
Konstantin (Kostya) Fekete: Named for his godfather Constantine Norka, Kostya is the wyvern of the Black Dragon Sept, and brother to Drake Vireo. His mate is Aoife Dakar
Maura Lo Bartholomew: Half-dragon Summoner, and granddaughter to Dr. Kostich, she is a part of an ouroboros dragon tribe under the lead of Thala von Endres, and is wife to Savian Bartholomew.
May Northcott: Doppelganger and wyvern’s mate to Gabriel Tauhou. May is an identical twin to Cyrene, although she does not cast a shadow, and has no reflection in a mirror. May is a shadowalker, and can slip out of the view of most people when she desires.
Rowan Dakar: newly made red dragon wyvern, and brother to Aoife and Bee. His mate is Sophea Long.
Savian Bartholomew: Thief-taker and tracker extraordinaire. Savian is the only person who was ever able to catch May Northcott when the L’au-dela put a price on her head. He later became a friend to both May and Gabriel, and occasionally does work for them. Husband of Maura Lo Bartholomew.
Siren: being who can, by means of singing, influence people into various actions. They are very rare beings with only two known living, one of whom is Charity Doe.
Sophea Long: mate to Rowan, the new red wyvern.
Weyr: The collection of dragon septs. The wyvern of each sept can call a sarkany, a meeting of all the wyverns, to discuss weyr business. The weyr laws govern each sept, and has diplomatic relations with the L’au-dela.
Wyvern: The leader of a dragon sept, wyverns have one human parent, and one dragon parent.
Ysolde de Bouchier: Born to the silver dragon sept some five hundred years ago, she was raised as human, and later claimed as a mate by both Constantine Norka and Baltic. Although she appears to be human, she has a dragon self who is dormant inside her psyche. She has two sons, Brom and Anduin, and is the long-lost mate to Baltic.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
For as long as she can remember, Katie MacAlister has loved reading. Growing up in a family where a weekly visit to the library was a given, Katie spent much of her time with her nose buried in a book.
Two years after she started writing novels, Katie sold her first romance, Noble Intentions. More than fifty books later, her novels have been translated into numerous languages, been recorded as audiobooks, received several awards, and have been regulars on the New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly bestseller lists. Katie lives in the Pacific Northwest with two dogs and a cat, and can often be found lurking around online.
You are welcome to join Katie’s official discussion group on Facebook, as well as connect with her via Twitter, Goodreads, and Instagram. For more information, visit:
Official website
Official Facebook page
Official discussion group
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OTHER BOOKS BY KATIE MACALISTER
Dark Ones Series
A GIRL’S GUIDE TO VAMPIRES
SEX AND THE SINGLE VAMPIRE
SEX, LIES, AND VAMPIRES
EVEN VAMPIRES GET THE BLUES
BRING OUT YOUR DEAD (novella)
THE LAST OF THE RED-HOT VAMPIRES
ZEN AND THE ART OF VAMPIRES
CROUCHING VAMPIRE, HIDDEN FANG
CUPID CATS (novella)
IN THE COMPANY OF VAMPIRES
CONFESSIONS OF A VAMPIRE’S GIRLFRIEND
MUCH ADO ABOUT VAMPIRES
A TALE OF TWO VAMPIRES
THE UNDEAD IN MY BED (novella)
Aisling Grey Guardian Series
YOU SLAY ME
FIRE ME UP
LIGHT MY FIRE
HOLY SMOKES
DEATH’S EXCELLENT VACATION (short story)
Silver Dragon Series
PLAYING WITH FIRE
UP IN SMOKE
ME AND MY SHADOW
Light Dragon Series
LOVE IN THE TIME OF DRAGONS
THE UNBEARABLE LIGHTNESS OF DRAGONS
SPARKS FLY
Dragon Fall Series
DRAGON FALL
DRAGON STORM
DRAGON SOUL
Time Thief Series
TIME THIEF
THE ART OF STEALING TIME
Matchmaker in Wonderland Series
THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING ALICE
A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S ROMP
DARING IN A BLUE DRESS
PERILS OF PAULIE
Contemporary Single Titles
IMPROPER ENGLISH
BIRD OF PARADISE (novella)
MEN IN KILTS
THE CORSET DIARIES
A HARD DAY’S KNIGHT
BLOW ME DOWN
IT’S ALL GREEK TO ME
Noble Historical Series
NOBLE INTENTIONS
NOBLE DES
TINY
THE TROUBLE WITH HARRY
THE TRUTH ABOUT LEO
Suffragette Historical Series
SUFFRAGETTE IN THE CITY
Paranormal Single Titles
AIN’T MYTH BEHAVING
DEATH’S EXCELLENT VACATION (short story)
MY BIG FAT SUPERNATURAL HONEYMOON
(short story)
Mysteries / writing as Kate Marsh
GHOST OF A CHANCE
Steampunk Romance
STEAMED
Young Adult / Writing as Katie Maxwell
CONFESSIONS OF A VAMPIRE’S GIRLFRIEND
EYELINER OF THE GODS
Emily Series
THE YEAR MY LIFE WENT DOWN THE LOO
THEY WEAR WHAT UNDER THEIR KILTS
WHAT’S FRENCH FOR “EW”?
THE TAMING OF THE DRU
LIFE, LOVE AND THE PURSUIT OF HOTTIES