by Larisa Long
Blist stands in front of Raks. They’re about the same height, but Raks must have an extra fifty or sixty pounds of muscle on him.
Blist glances back at me.
I swallow hard, but Blist is super lean with the shifter eight pack and is much more handsome. I’d definitely bet on him in any fight. Plus, he’s a powerful jaguar who takes my breath away. “There? You just needed to let me finish.”
He grins before putting his smile away as he taps Raks on the shoulder. “Remember me?”
“Sure. You’re Blist. A jaguar shifter. No hard feelings, but Zalia and I were fated long ago.”
Vax and Masimu rush past us. “They’re starting to breach again.”
The dragon shifters pull Raks into the common room where Zephyr is barely conscious. I move around him. “Can you anchor me, Raks?”
“Anything for you, beautiful.”
Blist stretches his neck around and tenses.
Raks smiles at me. “Tell me what to do.”
“Sit there.”
Raks immediately plops down on the floor. He looks at Zephyr. “Who’s this?”
“My brother.”
“Cool,” he says, still smiling. “Welcome me to your family.”
I grab Raks’ hand.
“Where do you want my other hand?”
Blist growls beside me.
“Over his heart.”
“Cool.” He places his hand on Zephyr’s heart. “It’s beating fast and then slow and then fast. Can yours do that?” He takes his hand off Zephyr’s heart and tries to put it on mine.
There’s a blur as dragon shifters grab him and toss him to the other side of the room. Some of the wolf shifters shift into full wolves and stand their ground snarling and barking at Raks.
Blist stands between Raks and I, and to say the room went from witch weird to shifter tense in a half a second would be an understatement.
“He didn’t mean anything by it.” I move around Blist. I know Blist is super protective for obvious reasons. The dragons and wolves are protective because I have the blood of dragon and wolf shifters flowing through me. “We don’t have time for this. We have to help my brother.”
The dragon shifters plop Raks back in place.
The wolves keep their distance but don’t take their eyes off Raks. “You try to touch her again, and I’ll end you,” one of the shifters hisses.
“Cool,” Raks says, grinning a little less enthusiastically than before.
I look at the dragon shifters and wolves all hovering. “We’ll need a bit of room for this.”
The dragon shifters step back immediately. The wolves take one step back, but keep their teeth bared at Raks.
I close my eyes and take a deep breath. I put my hand over Raks’ hand and ignore his giggles. I envision Zephyr, our connection, his strength and power, his wounds and him healed.
I feel my own heart stop and start. Then it stops and takes a few beats to start. It stops one more time, and darkness pounds around me like I’m going to pass out.
I can almost make out someone standing on a cliff in a long dress shaking her head. “Stop, Zalia. It will kill you.”
I lean back and try to catch my breath. “He’s right. It’s a powerful wound.”
“Do you need another anchor?” One of the dragon shifters asks.
I look at all of them and think. “Zephyr’s a hybrid.” We have a pure witch. “Maybe we need a pure dragon shifter. Someone he is closest to.”
Everyone makes way for a woman about Zephyr’s age. She steps forward. “What can I do?”
I look at her. I don’t want to be rude and ask who she is.
“I’m Sheel. I’m his shifter’s soul mate.”
I notice another dragon shifter puts his head down and sighs.
“He …” she points to the dejected dragon. “He is my choice. My heart. My love. My everything.”
He smiles at her, and I see the heartache in their glances. She looks at me. “It’s complicated.”
I nod. “Put one hand on Zephyr’s head and another on Raks’ hand over Zephyr’s heart.” I think about that. “Pure witch. Pure dragon shifter. Then me. His blood.” I nod. “Gotta work.”
When everyone is in place, I look at both of them. “This might hurt. A lot.”
She nods. “I can take it. What about you?” She taps Raks who still hasn’t stopped smiling.
“What? I’m fine. Just jazzed to be here.”
I start again. I place my hand over their hands and can feel them anchoring me as our hands almost mold together.
“Ow, hot,” Raks says.
After some anger, some harsh language and a few shoves, the witch in Raks and the dragon in Sheel finally agree to help. I feel both my shifter blood and witch helping me. I feel the pulling like a warning, but I don’t stop. His wound is strong. Would have killed a lesser one.
“Relax, Zalia,” the same woman on the cliff says. “You’ve got this.”
I concentrate everything I have as I picture Zephyr. The boy he used to be. The man he is now. Our leader. Our King. I see his wounds healing. Picture him leading us. Picture our realms in peace again.
There is a loud whoosh as air is sucked out of the room. I open my eyes and Zephyr is watching me.
“You did it.” Zephyr sits up and looks at his wound. “You did it Zalia.”
“I had help. The shifters.” I look to Sheel who shakes her head telling me not to name her. “Raks.”
Zephyr takes my hand. “But you did it.”
Sheel steps back as her choice steadies her. Raks still hasn’t stopped smiling.
“This the famous Raks?”
I nod as Blist helps me up and holds me. Didn’t realize I was so weak.
Raks puts his hand out. “Already have felt you up, man, but I was taught to be polite.”
Zephyr looks at me. “Is it a spell?”
I shrug. “Don’t think so.”
Zephyr frowns at Raks. “Can’t really be mad at him.”
I shake my head, and Blist helps me sit down.
Zephyr is at my side in an instant. The blur makes my head pound. He grabs my wrist and feels my pulse. “It’s speeding up and then slowing and stopping and then repeating.” He feels my forehead. “You’re burning up.”
“I think I saw mom,” I blurt.
Zephyr tightens his grip on my wrist. “I did too.”
I nod. “She really is gone, isn’t she?”
“We’re never gone,” one of the dragon shifters says. “Just on another plane.”
Blist wipes my tears away.
I can’t think about her now. It’s too overwhelming. Not when my brain is trying to turn itself inside out. I conjure a chocolate malt and sip. Chocolate heals anything.
Elevator screeches to a halt outside the room. Sounds of explosions are getting closer. I look at Zephyr. “Go.”
He takes his dragon shifters and heads towards the sounds of violence. The wolves continue their harassment of Raks.
Vax stays with me as she watches Masimu rush to the other dragon shifters.
“Just sip it,” Blist says, as he massages my forehead. “That was powerful.”
Just then, Xury screams in my locked room. “Forgot she was in there.” I flip open the door, and she and Borgles rush out.
“What the fae?” She looks around. “What happened out here? I heard screams, and I thought I heard Raks’ voice.” She glances over at Raks. “It is you. Why is it you? And there are wolves. Actual wolves?” She looks at me for an explanation.
I shake my head. “Shifter wolves.”
“What’s wrong with you? What are you drinking? Do you have more?”
“Where are the pixies?”
She shrugs. “In times of emergencies we wait in the pixie safe zone.”
I glance up at the faeries who nod at me. “You need to get back to the pixies.”
Xury shakes her head. “Nope. Staying with my besties.”
Blist looks at me. I know that lo
ok.
I snap my fingers and Xury and Borgles are back safely with the pixies.
Blist kisses my forehead. “Just breathe. I’m right here.”
Vax sighs. “Thanks. I know she’s your friend, but what the fae is she always on about?”
“It’s a pixie thing.” I shrug.
Another explosion rocks the building.
“We can’t stay here.” Blist looks up at the ceiling as tiny cracks appear.
I stand up and grab Blist for support as I almost pass out. My head is splitting, but I’ll live. I take another sip of the malt. I know we might be at end times, but I refuse to waste chocolate.
“Are we going to conjure?” Vax asks.
“We have to get to the dragons.”
Chapter 8
We rush to the dragons who are trying to prevent the walls from caving in.
“We have to get out of here,” Zephyr says. He looks at me. “Are you strong enough to transport?”
I nod. “Where?”
The faeries appear above me, and mime out.
“What are they saying?” One of the dragon shifters asks.
“The King and Queen are here.” I wait for the faeries to act out more. “The Academy is surrounded. The realms are falling.”
There’s some foul noise on the other side of the wall.
“Stalykes,” Vax hisses. “They’re trying to keep us in here.”
“Where should we go?” I ask the faeries.
They consult each other.
“Clock tower.”
Zephyr thinks about it. “It’s in the middle of the school.”
“It’s open ground,” Blist says.
Zephyr nods. “But we’ll be able to see them coming.”
Blist thinks about it. “We’ll have room to shift.”
The walls start to cave in.
The dragon shifters surround Zephyr. The wolves surround me.
“I’ll take the dragons. You take the others.”
I step back and glance at everyone I have to transport. Blist, Vax, the wolves. “Raks?” Forgot he was still here.
“Huh?”
“We have to go.”
“Cool.” He disappears.
I don’t even have time to roll my eyes.
“We’ll wait til you go,” Zephyr says.
I concentrate on everyone and picture the middle of the school. Clock tower. I open my eyes and we’re all there. Zephyr and the dragon shifters appear a second after we do.
For being in the middle of a battle, everything is eerily quiet. The Academy is deserted. I know pockets of witches and warlocks are hiding in various buildings.
Something’s off. I look at the faeries. “Can you check on the pixies?”
They nod and disappear.
The dragon shifters fan out. A few shift and take to the sky. Zephyr approaches me. “You feel that?”
Blist tightens his grip on me. “What is it?”
I glance around. “I don’t know. Something. It’s like the air is compressed or something. Heavy.”
Vax paces back and forth. “I feel it. Stand back. I have to shift.” Instantly, she’s a bear.
Blist grabs my hand. “I’ll hold off as long as I can.”
I nod. “Shift when you need to.” There’s something off. I can feel it, but I can’t place it.
Zephyr motions for the remaining dragon shifters closer to us. “You guard her with everything.” He points to the wolves, both those who’ve shifted and those who haven’t. “Do not let them hurt her.”
“Me? But you’re the King.”
He shakes his head. “I won’t be if we lose here. Our father was the heir of this kingdom. Our mother was the heir of hers. We are both the rulers.”
Hearing that makes my stomach hurt. I’m not a leader.
Zephyr’s eyes betray his worry which he quickly shakes off when he realizes the dragon shifters are watching him. “Everyone here, if you doubt, leave now.”
No one leaves.
I shake my head. “You’re dealing with shifters. Did you really doubt their loyalty?”
Zephyr grins. “No. I always thought I’d say that before a battle. What about the witches? Will they help?”
I snort. “What do you think?”
“Where are the rest of the shifters?”
Blist grins. “They’ll be here.”
“What about your followers? The ones outside the Academy?” Surely he has an army.
Some of the dragon shifters bow their heads. “I told them not to rise until they hear from me. They won’t get close to the school. There are too many barriers. If we lose the Academy …” he trails off as if lost in his own thoughts. “I can’t risk anyone else’s life.”
Somebody hits me with a bubble. I turn around to see the faeries trying to get my attention.
“Fae. They’ve enclosed the school. No one in or out.”
“We’re it.” Zephyr grabs me. “If I fall, you run. Don’t stop running. Take whoever you can. Stay in the hidden realms.” He looks at Blist. “Promise you will keep her safe.”
Blist nods. “With everything I have.”
A few of the dragons above us roar and motion behind us.
They’re coming.
Instantly, the King and Queen appear before us. They are joined by hundreds of warlocks - most of the warlocks in the school. Many of the professors. Warlock’s Fate. All of the Academy administration and various other creatures.
I notice Professor Yeru, my botanicals teacher. “I’m surprised the botanicals hadn’t turned on him by now.”
Blist motions to someone, something.
I look at him. “They have all the warlocks. We only have two witches.”
“And the shifters,” he says, as shifters appear from all directions.
The remaining dragon shifters shift, except for two. One who steps closer to me and the other who stays by Zephyr. I glance at Harst and the rest of the wolves and nod. They all shift and stand their ground.
Liam rushes into join us. “Sorry, got caught outside when those fae’ing mushroom things attacked. What’s going on?”
I steady myself. I try to control my breathing. There’s no point trying to put up a shield because the warlocks would be able to dismantle instantly. I know I’ll have to remain watchful when the battle starts in order to heal.
I conjure an extra chocolate malt with several shots of espresso.
Blist looks at me and smiles.
I shrug. “Gonna need the fuel.”
The King steps forward. “My nephew, Zephyr, it is time to end this foolishness.”
Zephyr also steps forward. “I agree. You will step down. You are not the rightful heir. You have abused your powers and your rule.”
The warlocks laugh. Even with hundreds of warlocks and weak witches and various stalykes which I refuse to make eye contact with, the Penn brothers still manage to find me and smirk.
Blist tenses beside me. “I guarantee this is their last day.”
The dragon beside me hisses in agreement.
Zephyr waits until the laughter dies down. “You are guilty of murdering the rightful King and Queen, my parents. You tried to murder me, the heir. You have tortured my sister, your own niece, for years. You have abused everyone in your realm. Step down quietly and you will be exiled in peace.”
The Queen whispers something to one of the warlocks beside her.
I notice the warlock look up at the dragons in the sky. “Do not do that.”
The warlock flips his wrist, and one of the dragons screams in pain and starts falling.
The dragon beside me puts his hand on my shoulder.
I say a spell that slows her descent and revives her before she hits the ground.
The dragon breathes a sigh of relief beside me. “Thank you. That is my fated and chosen mate.”
“You’re welcome.”
Queen Ama glares at me, and I flinch when one of her spells hits me.
“Are you alright?” Blist gr
abs me to keep me from falling.
“Don’t know. Feels like something pinched me.”
She’s grinning at me, so whatever it is must be icky.
Zephyr returns the glare, and I can tell he’s starting to chant something.
“Stop,” I tell him. “That’s what she wants. We can’t be distracted.”
The air thickens as thousands of tiny stinging insects are sent our way.
“Reverse,” I say, as the insects are sent back to their source.
Zephyr looks at me. “I said that six times, and it didn’t work.”
I shrug. “I’m good with bugs.”
The ground beneath us starts to swirl. The shifters panic.
“Ignore it. Just a trick. It’s not happening. Don’t look at it.”
Blist puts his hand on my shoulder. “Easier said than done.”
Zephyr motions to the skies as more dragons appear. “Step down, King Philock.”
The warlocks laugh again.
King Philock sighs. “Step back from this lunacy, Zephyr. Do you want to see your sister hurt?”
Zephyr’s body tenses. “Do not ever threaten her.”
“You will leave us no choice, if you do not back away from this treason.”
Zephyr looks to me, and I shake my head.
“Never.”
“You’re soon to reach a place where you can’t easily come back from.” King Philock steps back, and several powerful warlocks step forward. They are chanting.
Zephyr looks at me. “Can you tell what they’re doing?”
I try to read them. Try to anticipate what they’re doing. Then I realize I can do something about them. I close my eyes and visualize the row of warlocks and then I visualize where I want them to go. They vanish instantly. The King and Queen step back. There’s confusion as the warlocks consult each other.
Zephyr smiles at me. “Where’d you send them?”
I shrug. “The bog realm.”
He laughs. “They don’t like warlocks in the bog realm.”
I put my hand over my mouth and gasp. “Really? That’s a shame.”
All of a sudden all the dragons in the sky start to fall. I put out as many spells as I can to keep them from falling too fast and to revive them before they hit the ground.