I turned toward my mates and was immediately swept up into Jasin’s arms. He gave me a kiss so full of passion that my cheeks grew red at the thought of my father watching us. I laughed and pushed him back. “I’ll miss you too, Jasin.”
“Be careful,” he said, before stepping away.
Auric embraced me next, before giving me a warm kiss that was a lot less embarrassing but still wonderful. He’d spent much of his free time scouring the temple’s library, but he hadn’t been able to find any real information about the Spirit Goddess. “I’ll be counting down the days until we meet again.”
“Me too.”
Slade gave me a strong hug next, his muscular arms squeezing me hard. I was so proud of him—Slade had worked day and night to practice flying alongside Reven, and Doran had decided they were both ready to travel. I pressed a soft kiss to his lips, and then he rested his forehead against mine as he simply held me close.
“Come back to us,” he said.
“I will.”
Reven was last and he stepped forward slowly, then took my face in his hands and kissed me hard. “I’ll see you soon. Watch your back.”
His words were casual, but I knew what he meant. “I love you too,” I whispered to him.
He gave me a wry smirk, before stepping back. My chest tightened as I stared at the four of them, wishing we didn’t have to be apart for so long. But my bond with each of them was stronger than ever, and even though we’d be far away, we’d still be together.
My mates said goodbye to each other next, while I turned toward my father. He was already in his dragon form, and one of Opea’s priests had fastened some of our supplies to his back. He swung his head toward me. “Are you finally done with your tearful goodbyes?”
“There were no tears,” I said, as I climbed onto his back. He snorted, and then we watched as my mates transformed too. As they stood before me, four glorious dragons with a rainbow of shimmering scales, pride and love filled my chest. Saying goodbye to them and sending them into possible danger was tougher than I expected. Okay, now the tears might come.
My father dashed into the water before I could start crying, preventing me from saying any more sentimental words to my mates. He was probably worried if I stood there any longer, I’d call this whole thing off. I wouldn’t, even though the idea was appealing.
The bubble of water surrounded me as Doran swam up toward the light. My mates followed, with Reven and Auric shielding Slade and Jasin. We breached the surface with a huge spray of saltwater, with Doran leaping straight from the ocean to the sky. I heard the others emerge and climb onto the small island, and soon we were all flying high.
At the sight of so many wings catching the wind currents, I longed for my own dragon form too. Soon, I hoped.
We circled each other in one last goodbye, and then everyone took off in separate directions. I watched my mates as their shining bodies got farther and farther away, until I could no longer see them at all.
Doran and I headed south toward the Fire Realm, where he said the elementals had their capital city. I wasn’t thrilled to go back to the Fire Realm, which held some bad memories from our encounters with the Onyx Army, but Doran had assured me we wouldn’t run into any trouble there.
Over the next few days, Doran soared high in the clouds to avoid anyone catching a glimpse of us and reporting back to the other Dragons. They were still out there somewhere looking for us, and I could only pray that my mates were staying out of sight as well.
When we weren’t flying, Doran spent a lot of time training me to use my magic, especially water and earth since I’d had little chance to use them yet. I had the easiest time learning water, which Doran said was due to his blood running through my veins. I wasn’t sure if that was true, or if I’d just gotten better at magic overall after using three other elements already.
While we ate, Doran told me stories about his childhood and his life as a pirate, alternating between making me hang onto his every word as he spun a thrilling tale and laughing as he recounted some trouble he’d gotten himself into. I especially liked his stories of his sister Kira, and I could tell they’d been very close all those years ago. But he hardly spoke of anything after he’d been chosen by the Water God and said little about his time with Nysa and the other Dragons. I couldn’t tell if the memories were too painful, or if he was purposefully hiding things from me about them.
He asked me a lot of questions about my own past too, although he already knew a lot about it. He’d watched my entire life from the shadows, including during my childhood in the Water Realm, my time with the merchants and the bandits, and when I’d lived in Stoneham for the last few years.
“I saw you once,” I said, one night over supper. “When I was fourteen.”
“Ah, yes. I was making sure those merchants were looking after you.”
“And if they weren’t?”
He shrugged. “I would have found a new place for you.”
“When I saw you, I was terrified. The only Dragon I’d seen until then had been Sark, and I worried you were looking for me so you could finish his job. I ran away the next morning.”
“Yes, I remember. It took me some time to track you down again.” He sounded almost…proud. But his response only made me angry.
“For the next few years I was on the run, all alone and living in fear, struggling to find my next meal. Why didn’t you help me at any time?”
“I wanted to, many times. All parents want easy lives for their children. If things were different, I’d have made sure you were raised in a palace, with everything you could have ever desired, but I knew that would harm you in the end. An easy life wouldn’t have prepared you for what you’re going through now. You had to learn to be a survivor and a fighter on your own. So I stayed back and let you find your own way, even though it was torture for me.”
I sighed. “I understand, but I can’t help but wish I’d known you all my life. Even if I didn’t know you were my father, it would have been nice to know someone was on my side.”
“It was too dangerous. I couldn’t risk Nysa or the other Dragons finding you.” He reached over and patted my hand. “I wish things could have been different, but I’m happy I get to spend this time with you now.”
He didn’t say it, but I knew underneath those words was the sentiment that our time together would be short. My throat closed up and I had to look away before I started crying. I was starting to wish he would betray us—otherwise there was no way I’d be able to defeat him when the time came.
And if I didn’t? Then Nysa would win.
25
Kira
When I spotted Valefire, the volcano where the Fire Temple was located, Doran said we were getting close. He continued past it, out over the ocean, toward an island he’d claimed few knew about. Except him, of course.
Hours later, a wide expanse of bright green land came into view in front of us. Mountains stretched high into the sky and smoke rose from one of them. But as we approached, we heard something behind us. The snap of wings.
Doran spun around, his fangs bared, preparing to fight—except when the sunlight caught the other dragon’s scales, we saw they were nearly the same shade as Doran’s.
“Reven!” I called out, both excited and relieved to see him.
“What’s he doing here?” Doran growled, though I couldn’t tell if he was annoyed or not due to his dragon voice.
Reven hovered beside us, looking glorious as a dragon. “I finished my discussions with the Assassin’s Guild early and decided to join you here. They said yes, by the way. For a price.”
“That’s good,” I said. “We’ll find a way to pay their fee, somehow.”
“You didn’t trust me with Kira, did you?” Doran asked Reven, his eyes narrowed.
“Of course not,” Reven said. “And this way, I can take her into the elemental city instead of you.”
He huffed. “You think you can do a better job convincing them than I can?”
/> Reven stared him down. “Neither one of us is doing that, but Kira will be a lot more convincing if she isn’t seen working with the enemy.”
“He’s right,” I said. “Arriving with you was always going to be a problem. It would be better if you waited back by Valefire while Reven and I spoke to the elementals alone.”
Doran bared his fangs and I could tell he didn’t like this idea, but finally he relented. “Fine. But if you’re not back within a day, I’m coming to get you.”
“That’s acceptable,” I said.
The two dark blue dragons landed on the water, folding their legs under them and bobbing up and down on the waves. I carefully switched from Doran’s back to Reven’s, and then reached out to touch my father’s snout.
“We’ll meet up with you soon,” I said.
Doran grumbled, but then wished me luck before taking off. I leaned forward and wrapped my arms around Reven, pressing my face against his sun-warmed scales.
“I’m so happy to see you again,” I said.
“I love you too,” he replied. I laughed as he launched into the air.
The island where the elementals lived was huge, but Doran had already told me where we needed to go, and I directed Reven toward the northern end. Crystal clear waters surrounded the island, which was covered in thick green plants everywhere except at the center, where a volcano that rivaled Valefire spewed heat and ash into the sky. We passed it by, flying high overhead, and spotted various structures made of stone dotted across the land.
As we approached the northern end of the island, we spotted more structures below us, forming a large city. Reven swept down toward it, and we began to make out elementals of every kind moving about the streets. Heavy rock elementals trudged alongside floating air elementals, while scorching hot fire elementals spoke with ones made of ice. I’d never seen so many in one place before and had never seen the different types interacting together. I’d always thought elementals stuck to their own kind, and that was that. Clearly I had a lot to learn about them.
Reven swept down and landed at the edge of the city to not cause a panic, but we drew attention anyway. Dozens of elementals surrounded us, their glowing eyes menacing, and I held up my hands in surrender.
“Please don’t attack,” I called out. “We come in peace and only wish to talk.”
“Dragons,” a water elemental hissed. “You are not welcome here.”
I climbed off of Reven’s back and he shifted into his human form. “I know the other Dragons are your enemies, but we are not them. We are the ascendants, and we want to stop the Black Dragon and bring an end to her reign.”
“Impossible,” an earth elemental grumbled.
“All we ask is that we have a few minutes to speak to your leaders.”
The elementals began to speak in their own language of sounds I didn’t understand. I heard a crackling, a splash, a gust, and the scraping of stone, and though it seemed they were arguing with each other, it was hard to tell for sure.
“Come with us,” a fire elemental finally said, allowing me to breathe again.
A few of the elementals began to lead us inside the city, toward a tall pyramid that reflected sunlight. Made of glass, I realized, as we drew closer. The stone buildings around us were not especially intricate, but they were sturdy and functional. Humans thought elementals were little more than animals, living in caves and attacking cities for resources, but this confirmed my belief they were more like us than people knew.
We were brought inside the pyramid into a large room where four statues of the Gods in their dragon forms stood over their elements. I spotted a fire slowly burning in a pit of coals, a serene pool of water, a garden with fresh dirt, and an altar with incense and wind chimes that released a light tinkling sound. A large chair sat in front of each statue, facing toward the center of the room.
“Wait here,” a fire elemental said.
Everyone else left the room then, taking much of the light with them as heavy doors closed and trapped us inside. One beam of light stretched down the top of the pyramid from high above us, dimly illuminating the room from the center.
Another door opened and four elementals entered, each with a small silver circlet on their heads. They took the chairs in front of their God’s statues, while Reven and I stood in the center, under the beam of light. Each elemental’s glowing eyes pinned us with a stare, though it was difficult to read the emotions on their faces. I tried not to squirm under their gaze, standing tall and facing them with as much confidence as I could muster.
“Spirit Dragon and Water Dragon,” the air elemental said. It looked like a barely-contained whirling tornado with arms. “Why are you here?”
“We’ve come to discuss an alliance,” I said.
The fire elemental leaned back in its chair, its body made entirely of flames and radiating heat. “Why would we want such a thing?”
“Because you want the same things we do—to rid of the world of the current Dragons and restore peace between humans and elementals.”
“We tried peace before,” the water elemental said, with the body of an upside-down tear that shifted like waves. “In your grandmother’s time. It didn’t work.”
“That was a long time ago, and it might have worked if not for the shades and the Black Dragon. I think it’s time we tried again. Or at the very least, let us unite against our common enemies for a short time.” I stepped forward and glanced between each of them, putting my heart into my words and hoping they heard my sincerity. “Humans and elementals do not have to be enemies. We’re more alike than anyone realizes, and we can learn so much from each other. When I become the next Spirit Dragon, I will be an advocate for both humans and elementals. I only want peace and balance—that’s the task the Gods have given me.”
“We’ve heard a tale of how you saved one of my kind,” the rock elemental spoke up. Like the one I’d rescued, it resembled a giant boulder more than anything, except it had arms and legs. “We owe you a debt, which is why you were allowed to arrive in Divine Isle unharmed. No other human has been so honored in hundreds of years. But that does not mean we trust you.”
“I’d like to hear her proposal,” the air elemental said.
“A battle will be held at the Spirit Temple on the day of the Fall Equinox. The goal is for my mates and I to get inside the temple, defeat the current Dragons, and take their place. We’re looking for allies to fight with us, as we know the other Dragons will have the support of the shades and much of the Onyx Army.”
“An impossible battle,” the fire elemental said. “You will all be destroyed.”
The water elemental waved a fluid hand at the fire elemental, as if trying to shush it, before turning back to me. “Who will fight by your side?”
“The Resistance,” I said. “And soldiers from the Air Realm.” Probably.
“The Assassin’s Guild has agreed to join us as well,” Reven added.
“We’re also contacting others who might be willing to assist us.” I decided it was better not to mention they were bandits. “But we fear it won’t be enough, especially against the shades. Not without the aid of the elementals.”
The rock elemental crossed its arms. “What you ask is too much. Many of our kind would perish.”
“And how many more will perish if things continue as they are?” Reven asked. “The humans, shades, and Dragons all see your kind as an enemy, something that should be wiped out from the world. By helping us, you will begin to change the minds of humans, and remove the Dragons and the shades from power.”
“I don’t want to put anyone in danger,” I said. “But this is the only way to stop the Dragons for good. The Gods chose me and my mates to do this, but we need your help.” I swallowed, then added, “Please. For the good of the world.”
The elementals began speaking to each other in their strange language, while Reven and I waited. It was clear they were arguing by the raised voices and frantic gestures, but we didn’t understand any of
it. The earth elemental’s grumble made the floors vibrate like an earthquake, while the fire elemental flared so hot it made us step back. The water elemental whipped its arms about, sending cold droplets across the room, while the air elemental’s passionate words made our hair and clothes fly back.
When the elementals calmed, they all fixed their glowing eyes on us again. “We cannot help you,” the rock elemental said, its voice low and final.
My heart sank. I’d really thought they would agree to help us. After all, we wanted the same things, or so I’d thought. Without the elementals, I wasn’t sure if we would stand a chance.
“We cannot get involved in the affairs of humans,” the fire elemental said. “Especially when there is no obvious benefit to our kind.”
The water elemental nodded. “If you succeed, we will speak to you of a potential alliance then. If not, then none of this will matter anyway.”
“But the outcome of this battle affects all of your kind too!” I said. “You can’t stand by and do nothing while the world slips further and further into darkness. This is your chance to help bring back balance and peace, for both humans and elementals alike.”
“We have given you our answer,” the air elemental said. “It’s time for you to leave our lands.”
“But—”
Reven took my arm. “Come on, Kira. They’ve made their decision.”
I drew in a shaky breath, trying to accept that I had failed. I wanted to yell at them, beg them to help us, plead with them to reconsider, or whatever it would take, but I knew they wouldn’t change their minds. The division between humans and elementals was too strong and too old. I’d been a fool to think I could end hundreds of years of conflict so quickly. I’d hoped they would see that we could change, and that I was different from my mother, but they couldn’t.
Her Elemental Dragons: The Complete Series Page 57