Fyrian landed a few feet away from him with a thump. I slid down her foreleg, strode over to where the witches held him in place, and stood over his twitching body. “This time, I’ll do what the fairies couldn’t do,” I said.
“What?” he rasped.
Color leeched from his arms and from his torso, transforming him into a grotesque, emaciated statue. I unsheathed my regular sword and held it in a two-handed grip. Its blade gleamed in the moonlight, making it appear all the more sharp.
“No…” whispered the fairy.
My nostrils flared, and I sucked in a deep, fortifying breath.
“Do it,” said Fyrian. “It’s the only way to free the dragons.”
Her words were all I needed. I brought it down over the Forgotten King’s neck in an executioner’s blow, dislodging his head from the rest of his body. He was so dried up and withered, only a few drops of silvery blood oozed from his wound.
The Forgotten King’s eyes bulged out of his head, and a pained gasp escaped his lips. A sick bout of guilt and pity stirred in my belly, but I pushed them aside. He’d never felt any compassion for his victims, and I wouldn’t go easy on him now.
Speaking slowly to keep my voice even, I said, “Once your head has turned to stone, I’ll smash your body into pieces and have it sent to different corners of the Known World.”
“No…” he rasped.
“Then, I’ll hunt down every remaining spriggan and have them destroyed or transformed back into humans. No one will find you. No one will remember you. And you will lie awake helpless for eternity and be erased from history.”
“Why?” he gasped out. “I only ever wanted… to expand my knowledge.”
“At the expense of others,” I spat. “How many humans, fairies, and innocent animals did you use up to make the dragons? How many human babies did you steal to turn into spriggans? And how many did they rip from their parents to expand their numbers? You deserve this much and more.”
Gladius stepped forward, shoulders shaking with rage. “I will dispose of you personally. Enjoy your torment, Master.”
He blew out a stream of black flames over the disembodied head, making the Forgotten King scream himself hoarse.
I held his gaze through the fire until he rasped out his last breath.
“All the other teams have finished their battles,” said Fyrian. “Enchanted humans attacking the other side of the wards just threw down their weapons.”
My shoulders drooped with relief. “Right. Let’s return to Mount Fornax and tell everyone the siege is over.”
Gladius placed a hand on my shoulder. “I owe you a debt of thanks, Fairy. Without you and your friends, the Forgotten King would have used my power to bring down the wards.”
I smiled. “We would never have gotten this far without your help. It’s Mount Fornax that owes you the debt.”
He bowed his head. “I must leave this place and dispose of his pieces, so no one will ever put him together again.”
“Ummm… Do you still remember his name?”
Gladius smirked. “A fairy as wretched as he is easily forgotten.”
Strong arms wrapped around me and lifted me off my feet, making me squeal. Niger turned me around and planted a huge kiss on my lips. I relaxed into his embrace, closed my eyes, and kissed back, heart soaring at the freedom to show my affection to him in public. He drew back, obsidian eyes shining with admiration. “I had no doubt you would be victorious.”
“How did you get here so fast?” I asked.
By now, everyone crowded around us. Stafford beamed and gave me a thumbs up. Evolene stood beside him and wrapped both arms around his torso. King Magnar stood next to his sisters, each giving me grateful smiles. Phoenix stood to their side, his lips curved in a smile of approval. Even Byrrus and Fulmen’s eyes shone with happiness.
Evolene raised her hand. “Fyrian asked Phoenix to bring him here to celebrate our victory.”
I raised my head and met her huge, crimson eyes.
“Well, this version of Niger is much better than the one from that spriggan dream,” said Fyrian.
“You saved the day as much as anyone else,” I said.
She sniffed. “Maybe now people won’t act like they’re better than me because of my age.”
“Let them try. Then you’ll ask them where they were during the defeat of the Forgotten King.”
“The who?” she said, mischief lacing her voice.
I stepped out of Niger’s embrace and glanced around. “Has Gladius gone already?”
“He left to dispose of some rubbish.”
“Alba!” Father galloped out from the wards with Mother perched on his head. Aunt Cendrilla jogged behind him, her face radiant with joy. The crowd parted, letting him through.
Mother flew down, transformed into a fairy, and hopped on her feet. I threw off my cloak, and she enclosed me into a wildflower-scented embrace. “You did it!”
Father wrapped his arms around both of us. “Of course, she did. Our daughter is capable of anything.”
Closing my eyes, I inhaled his camphor wood scent. I couldn’t remember the last time the three of us were so close. I turned to Aunt Cendrilla, who hovered a foot away, stretched out an arm, and pulled her into the hug.
She placed a kiss on my cheek. “I’m so proud of you. Dr. Streamer and Madam Maritimus let us watch through the wards. You dealt with him faster than I dealt with the Snow Queen.”
Warmth spread through my chest. “Thanks, Auntie Rilla.”
“Make way.” Dr. Streamer’s sharp voice pierced the happy chatter. “I need to check Princess Alba for injuries.”
Father and Aunt Cendrilla stepped back. Mother transformed into a bluebird and perched on my shoulder. The older witch raised her staff and bathed me in yellow light.
“Your verdict?” asked Father.
“She needs a decent meal, a few glasses of aqua vitae, and a good night’s sleep, but apart from that, she’s in excellent condition.”
I stared at the shorter witch and swallowed. Now that the battle had ended, she’d probably leave for the palace, and I wouldn’t get a chance to see her until the holiday. “Umm… Dr. Streamer, there’s something I’d like you to check.”
She raised her brows. “Yes, Your Highness?”
“Could you perform the Libra Familia for me, please? I asked Dr. Duclair, but she said she didn’t know how to adjust it for fairy physiology.”
Father narrowed his eyes and turned his glare to Evolene. “I thought Stafford was courting the Galloway girl.”
“He is!” Evolene glared back and wrapped both arms around Stafford’s arm.
“Magnar?”
King Magnar’s shoulders drooped. “Unfortunately, no.”
“Who, then?” Father snarled.
He turned his glare to Phoenix, who jumped back with his palms out. “N-not me, Your Highness. I’m a dragon!”
Niger stepped forward. “Me.”
Dr. Streamer tilted her head to the side. “Is there any point to this? With the amount of power Princess Alba has been gifted, she’ll be compatible with nearly everyone.”
Aunt Cendrilla shook her head. “If you don’t perform the spell, he’ll be ranting about her choice for months.”
The doctor bathed us both in pink light and whistled. “It is as I predicted. Princess Alba and this young half-ogre…”
“Niger,” I said. “Niger Griffon.”
“Princess Alba and Niger Griffon are a compatible match.”
“C-Congratulations!” Evolene stepped forward but stopped herself, casting Father a nervous look. “Is it all right if I hug my friend, Your Highness?”
He tightened his lips. “I now understand you are nothing like your wretched family. Congratulate the girl if you wish.” Mother flew up and pecked him on the head. “Ouch.”
“Congratulations, Alba!” Mother chirped.
Father grinned. “It is an honor to have a Griffon as a son-in-law.” He snatched Niger’s hand and crush
ed his fingers in an ogre handshake. “Congratulations, Alba, and welcome to the family, boy!”
THE END
Dear Reader,
Thanks so much for reading the Dragon Mage Academy series. I hope you enjoyed it!
Have you read Aunt Cendrilla’s story? It details how a down-trodden stepdaughter broke her shackles and became the Warrior Queen. You can read it for free here.
My upcoming series is called Dreamer of Dragons. It’s about a lonely orphan who finds an injured dragonet in a country where dragons are illegal.
Take care,
Cordelia
P.S. Here’s the link to Aunt Cendrilla’s story: https://BookHip.com/FJHXXN
P.P.S. Preorder Dreamer of Dragons: https://readerlinks.com/l/953307
Cordelia Castel’s Books
The Seven Kingdoms Series
The Seven Kingdoms series is Cendrilla’s story set seventeen years before the events of the Dragon Mage Academy series.
The Magestaff
The Academy
The Witch-Hunt
The Betrothal
The Usurper
The Banishment
The Kingdom
The Frozen Heart
The Bluebird
The Princesses
Dreamer of Dragons
Consorting with dragons means execution, but Ashira Longblade rescued an injured dragonet. Her friendship will reunite a broken kingdom.
The Dragonet
Dragon Academy Trials
The Dragon Academy wasn’t my first choice of college, but when a dragon took my little sister, I had to go rescue her.
First Trial
Dragon Mage Academy Box Set Page 147