by M Guida
“Raven, you can go first.”
All eyes were on me and I wished I could have gone last. The first one always had problems. I swallowed some air and picked up my trusted crossbow and arrows.
“I want you to aim for the farthest target.”
The targets hadn’t even been set up yet, and we were clear across the arena. I didn’t think I would hit one. I closed my eyes.
“Call on your dragon, Raven. She can infuse some of your power into the arrow.”
Please, help.
My dragon flashed in my mind. She nodded her head as if granting my request.
I pulled back on the string. Tingling sensations went from my arms down to my fingers.
Whooosh
The arrow whizzed through the air and struck the center of the target.
Dad smiled. “Very good. Excellent. Is that natural for you to do this or have you practiced this?”
Lucien blurted, “She’s a natural when it comes to the crossbow.” He put his arm around me and hugged me. “No one can match her.”
His faith in me sent heat rushing toward my cheeks.
For the next hour, he tested the others. Lucien and Bo battled swords, thrusting and parrying.
Clank, clash, bing.
But always, no matter how much Bo put up a good fight, Lucien defeated him. I didn’t think anyone else could defeat Bo except for Lucien.
Bo sat on the bench and rested his head in his hands. Defeat was always hard for him to swallow, even in practice.
Dante got some admiring comments from Dad for his ability with the ax. He could throw the ax farther and fastest than any of us.
Rhys had his bow and sent several arrows into the targets. He hit the mark several times.
After Poppy and Katona finished demonstrating how good they were with their daggers, Dad clapped his hands. “Good. I’m impressed. This is better than I had hoped.”
Anton crossed his arms. “I told you they were good. They have been trained well.”
I could detect a bit of defensiveness in his voice. Anton didn’t like to be challenged, especially in his skill as a Headmaster or teacher.
“Now, Anton has told me you have been practicing a spell that combines your powers into one blast. I want to see it.” He pointed toward one of the targets on the other side of the field. “I want you to destroy that target.”
We all looked stunned.
Lucien frowned. “We’ve destroyed nothing. We’ve only moved things.”
“Like what?”
“A pop can,” Bo said as he lifted one hand. “I know, pathetic, but we barely could do that.”
He looked over his shoulder. “Ebony, are you finished with your pop?”
She cocked her eyebrow. “Yeah, why?”
“Bring it over here, please.”
She gave him her best crusty look and brought the can over. Up close, she had the same features of Mom and the same eyes. But her regal white hair and clear blue eyes were her own. Where had she gotten that? Her horns reminded me more of a goat’s than a dragon’s, but on her, they made her look like a badass.
She handed the empty can to Dad. “Here.”
“Thanks.” He took it and put the can in the middle of the field. “Now, move it.”
We approached the can.
He held out his palm. “Stop. What are you doing?”
“We usually fan out around the can,” Lucien said. “And then we touch our weapons.”
“You really want to get up close to a dark demon who wants to kill you?” His words made us stop in our tracks.
“No,” I mumbled. “We don’t.”
“Then move the can from where you are.”
Once again, we formed a semi-circle and pointed the tips of our weapons toward the center until they touched.
In a loud voice, I said, “Puriforgio Virtueus.”
Sparks flew where our weapons touched and sizzled toward the can. The can hovered for a few minutes and bounced up and down on the ground and then skidded toward us.
Dad rubbed his beard and didn’t answer right away. “Have you tried doing this when you were in your supernatural forms?”
“Dragons and wolves can’t hold weapons,” Xavier said.
Dad headed toward us. “Maybe you don’t need your weapons.”
Anton frowned. “What do you mean? How can they do the spell without it?”
“My team can do many things without our weapons, but our numbers have been depleted. I want to see if you possess the same power. You have Raven. She’s more powerful than you can imagine. She’s the key.”
I felt two inches tall and wanted to melt into the ground. “I’m no better than any of them, Dad,” I protested. “We’re the Defenders and we work as a team. Divided we fall.”
“But you are the cornerstone of the Defenders. You didn’t all form as a team until you arrived, am I correct?”
“No, you’re right,” Bo blurted. He sheathed his sword and undressed until he stood there in all of his magnificent glory.
Xavier, Poppy, and I stripped down as well. The cool air brushed over my skin and goosebumps broke out over my flesh and my nipples budded. I didn’t look at Lucien, knowing I’d be a mess if he looked at me with open desire.
Ebony’s mouth dropped. “What the hell are you all doing?”
I laughed. “Don’t worry. You’ll get used to it.” She was making the same face I had when I saw everyone strip for the very first time in Dragon Magick class.
“Now shift,” Dad said.
Xavier and Poppy shifted into their wolves while Bo and I shifted into our dragons. Drawing on their vampire powers, Dante’s and Katona’s eyes turned bright red. Lucien’s beautiful golden wings emerged from his back.
Dad folded his arms and smiled. “Now, I want you to touch each other. Look at the target at the end of the field. Destroy it.”
I wasn’t sure how we were going to do this, but I moved my until it lay on top of Bo’s. Lucien put his hand on my side. Dante and Katona held hands, and then Dante put his hand on top of Xavier’s furry back. Xavier nuzzled his snout against Poppy’s, and she leaned into Bo. Rhys was the last to touch. He put his hand on Lucien’s shoulder.
Bam Bam Bam
Something happened. Something terrifying. Something electrifying.
Power surged through me––power I had never experienced before.
My dragon formed in my mind. An orange and yellow aura erupted around her.
Please.
She nodded, and my heart burned, but it didn’t hurt.
Each of us emitted our aura and mine swirled around as if capturing the others. I let out a loud shriek and focused on the target.
Light sizzled and streamed across the field, slamming into the bullseye which burst into flames and exploded.
“Yes.” Dad lifted his fist into the air. “Yes, damn it.”
The power that had drained from us was replaced with a weariness that sucked the life out of me. I gasped for breath. Katona swooned and collapsed. Dante caught her, but he fell on one knee. The wolves whined and fell on the ground. Lucien’s legs gave out.
This wasn’t good. We’d be sitting ducks in battle.
Ebony’s face paled and her horns sank back into her head. She stepped closer to our father. “Dad, what happened?”
“Their energy is drained, sweetheart.” He put his hand on her shoulder. “They need to regroup. The first time is always the hardest. What they have to learn is how to replenish their energy.”
She looked up at him. “How do they do that?”
He smiled. “Your sister has to do it. She has the power, but she doesn’t know it yet.”
Me again?
“What happens if she doesn’t?”
“Then in the heat of battle, her friends would be vulnerable to the dark demons.”
Icy fear ran from the tips of my horns down to the end of my tail. My blood turned to ice and I couldn’t move or shift.
Anton uncrossed his arms
. “Vincent, Ryker would have felt this last blast of power.”
Dad’s face turned grim. “He’ll be gathering his forces. He’ll attack soon.” His grave voice sent a freezing ball of terror falling from my paralyzed heart all the down to my twitching tail.
“You can shift back,” Anton said. “We’re done for today. Raven, your father and I need to talk with you alone.”
“Not without me, you’re not.” Lucien’s tone left little doubt that they had a fight on their hands if they tried to keep him out.
Dad cocked his eyebrow, but something flickered in his eyes as he looked between us. Shit, was he figuring it out between Lucien and I?
The others shifted like always. I did, too, but tried to shield myself from Dad’s prying eyes. I knew what he was looking for, and I didn’t want him to see Lucien’s mark. I threw on my clothes and partly hid behind Lucien.
The guys and girls headed toward the locker rooms. Bo kept looking over his shoulder, and curiosity and concern flickered in his blue eyes. He had nothing to worry about. Whatever Dad told us, I wouldn’t keep it a secret from the Defenders.
Dad waited for the others to disappear into the locker rooms before he spoke. “Raven, your schedule has changed now as of today.”
Lucien clutched my hand. “What do you mean?”
“Based on what I’ve seen and I’ve heard, you’re only able to use Magic Absorption and Magic Negation in the heat of battle. That won’t be good enough anymore. Ryker will be expecting that. And you don’t want to absorb either Gunnar’s or Kara’s powers. I’m not sure you’ll survive.”
“Last year, she almost died.”
“And Gunnar and Kara weren’t even there. You must learn both magic reflection and magic replication. It’s imperative you master these skills.”
“And what happens if I can’t?”
“Daughter, Ryker and his forces are coming. I suspect they’ll be here in less than a month.”
Lucien and I both blurted, “What?”
He motioned with his hand. “You’ve mated, haven’t you? Lucien, you have claimed her?”
Anton groaned and scrubbed his face.
Lucien didn’t falter. “Yes, she’s my life.”
“I’m afraid Ryker knows this, and it is another reason for these vicious attacks. He did the same when I claimed Raven’s mother.”
“But why does he care about whether Lucien and I mated?”
Dad smiled. “You two haven’t released your full potential yet. Your mating is different than that of the two vampires. Like Joanne and I, you’re not pure.”
Lucien gritted his teeth. “What do you mean not pure?”
“I mean your blood. Ryker’s obsessed with supernaturals staying pureblood. No mixing of races.”
Lucien blinked. “What are you talking about? My bloodline is pure.”
Dad smirked. “I suggest when you return home, you ask your parents.”
“How am I going to learn magic reflection in less than a month? I haven’t even started practicing it.”
“That’s where I come in.” He put his arm around Ebony’s shoulders. “But first I need to get this little one to King Gregori.”
Ebony glared and lifted her chin. “I want to fight. I want to avenge Papa’s and Mama’s death.”
“You’re not yet ready,” Anton said. “But your time will come. This is not your fight. You’ll find your own way.”
Ebony threw up her hands and her horns grew out of her head. “What does that mean?”
“Good luck in prying the information out of Anton,” Lucien said.
“You might as will give up,” I said. “He won’t tell you anything. He’ll just drop more cryptic tales.”
Anton gave me a haughty stare, but didn’t disagree.
He turned to Dad. “When will you leave?”
“Now.” Dad tore off his clothes. I noticed he had a long ugly red mark running from his shoulder down to his belly button. He shifted into a stunning purple dragon that was twice the size of Bo’s. Dad had the same horns as I did and a long, spiked tail.
Ebony crawled up on Dad’s back instead of shifting. I realized I hadn’t shifted myself until I had turned eighteen. Maybe that was something that ran in our family.
Dad lurched into the air and flew faster than I’d ever seen a dragon move.
Anton put his hands behind his back. “All of your classes have been canceled, Raven. You will train with your dad in the morning and then practice with your team in the afternoon. I suggest you feast at dinner and get a good night’s sleep. Food and rest will help fuel your power.”
I felt like the weight of the world had just been dumped on my shoulders. I didn’t answer him and headed to the locker room with Lucien at my side.
“What if I can’t do this?”
He lifted my chin. “You’re the key, remember. You did it last year at Mount Elbert and you’ll do it again. We’ll fight side by side again.” He kissed me, erasing some of his fears. He whispered in my ear, “You have to have faith in yourself. It’s only the way to defeat Ryker.”
I shuddered. What if I didn’t? Would it cost the life of my friends?
Chapter 28
For the next few weeks, I met my dad in the arena and the only thing we worked on was magic reflection. Dad threw everything he had at me. I learned the power was only effective against magical attacks, and I had to be on the offensive.
By the time afternoon came, I was exhausted, but I refused to give up. Everything in my bones told me Ryker was coming soon and I had to be ready. We all had to be prepared.
In the afternoon, my team joined us. I had to put myself in harm’s way to protect my team. Lucien didn’t like it, but I didn’t care. I was the one who had to go up against Kara, Gunnar, and Ryker.
We had to practice using our psychic shields and performing the Puriforgio Virtueus spell. It took everything I had to draw on magic replication. The other thing I learned was that there was a limit to how long I could replenish my team’s powers, and that we had to be in close proximity, but for it to be really effective, we had to be touching, which might be difficult in the heat of battle.
After a hard day of practicing, Dad allowed us to rest on the bench. I was exhausted and had no idea how I could do this in a true battle.
“I need to share something with you. Have you wondered why I have come here now?”
I stilled. “You’re going to drop a bomb on me. Aren’t you?”
“You saw the big wound that ran from my shoulder down to my gut?”
I nodded. “Yeah.”
“It’s not healing. I have asked the other healers to help me in the other kingdoms, but their skills aren’t working.”
“Oh, shit. You need Lucien’s brother, Armond, don’t you?”
“I believe so. Between your mom and I, I’m the one who has the Golden Demon blood.”
I swallowed a lump of dread. “Are you dying?”
“No. But I won’t be as effective in battle. I’ll do what I can to help , but my powers have been compromised. You will have to lead us. Not me.” His words hit me like a boulder, smashing my heart, my will, and my nerves. I wasn’t ready for this. I wasn’t Bo. I wasn’t Lucien. I certainly wasn’t the Golden Phoenix.
I couldn’t believe this was happening. “Are you serious?”
He nodded. “I am. That’s why I’m training you so hard.”
Tears of frustration and exhaustion slipped down my face. “Dad, I can’t do this. I’m not you.”
He clasped my hands. “You’re my daughter. You’re your mother’s daughter. Our powers bubble inside you. You and Ebony will change the supernatural world.” He squeezed my fingers firmly. “I knew when the time came you would rise to the challenge.”
His prediction didn’t bolster my confidence, but I knew one thing for sure, I’d die protecting my friends.
That very night I was put to the test.
Mina and I woke to a loud pounding on our door.
“Ge
t up. Get up. The Dark Demons are here. They’re attacking Legacy.” The Baron’s terrified voice sent us scurrying to get dressed.
Boom Boom Boom
Something nearly shook Wyvern Tower, and that never happened.
We burst out of our room to find chaos in the hallway. Girls were crying and screaming.
“We’re going to die.” Someone yelled.
“I don’t want to die,” another cried.
“What are we going to do?”
Baron cupped his hands to his mouth. “Don’t panic. Proceed to the basement. The Golden Phoenix and his team are here.”
Some of the cries ceased.
“I’ve got to go,” I said.
Mina grabbed me. “I want to help.”
“You can. Help everyone get to the basement. The Baron is going to need help to calm their fears. You can do that, too.”
“That’s not what I meant, and you know it.”
“I know. Remember, you’re still a Defender and always will be. There will be other battles. Stay strong.”
She dropped her arm, but a tear slid down her cheek. Mina just wanted to defend her dad’s honor, but this wasn’t the time. She hadn’t practiced with the rest of us and would be a liability.
I ran out of the tower. Overhead, hordes of shadow demons circled ominously.
Whoosh Whoosh Whoosh
Fire balls smashed into Anton’s invisible wards.
The Defenders, Dad, his team of warriors, and Anton had gathered in the courtyard.
“You all have to lure them away from Legacy.” Anton scanned each of our grim faces. “I’ll stay here and keep my wards, but they won’t last forever.”
“Mt. Elbert.” I looked at Lucien. “We must lead them there.”
“I’ll carry our weapons,” Lucien said. “The dragons can carry the wolves and Rhys on their backs.”
Dante looked up at the sky. “Let’s do this.”
Dante, Katona, and some of dad’s team changed into enormous bats and flew out of the courtyard, heading toward Mt. Elbert, drawing the shadow demons.
The rest of the shifters stripped off their clothes and shifted. Rhys climbed on top of my back.
“After we win, it’s High Tempest time.”
I hoped he was right. He was light on my back.