by Lili Zander
I’m yawning half-way through the fourth movie. Harry has just gone up against the Hungarian Horntail, and predictably, all the dragons are offended by the scene. Except for Casius, who’s seen the movies before, and knows what to expect.
“The only thing they got right is the appetite,” Mateo grumbles. “We can control our fire, and contrary to what people think, we don’t go around eating people.”
I giggle at his expression. “Once again, you do realize this is fiction, right?”
He just shakes his head. I watch the dragon snap its chains and take off in the air after Harry. It reminds me, there’s something I’ve been curious about. “I have a question. Why don’t you fly more often?”
Bastian sighs. “After the curse, there was a lot of resentment among the other magicals,” he says. “They blamed us.”
“I thought the curse wasn’t public knowledge?”
“Not the specific details, but they all could tell that something had changed. And of course, only dragons could manipulate magic. The blame fell on us. Rightly so.”
“The dragons retreated,” Casius adds. “The thirteen families were being hunted by Zyrian, and the lesser dragons were forced to take sides. Those were dark days. I think it’s still affecting us, to be honest. We’re still secretive, and we keep to ourselves. We only fly when we won’t be seen.”
“I’m going to bed,” Erik says, standing up abruptly. Too late, I realize that Erik really doesn’t like talking about the past.
His departure leaves an awkward silence in the room, and not even the roars of the CGI dragon on the screen can fill it.
81
Rhys
Monday morning, everything goes to hell.
The Griffith family home is a castle, of course. Located off the south-west coast of Wales, the stone castle has stood on the tiny island of Ynys Dewi for generations.
There are no wolves on Ynys Dewi. Just one fox shifter family whose members have acted as caretakers of the castle for as long as it’s been there.
Monday morning, I get word that Arwel Tannor and his wife Elinor have been found in their den. Slaughtered.
And there’s a message on my phone from Zyrian. It’s short but effective. Surrender your mate and the Bloodstone, or I promise you, this is only the start of the massacre.
Bile rises in my throat. Arwel and Elinor never hurt anyone in their lives. They were kind and gentle, devoted to their children and grandchildren.
Wordlessly, I hold my phone toward Bastian. He reads the message, and his expression turns grim. “Maybe what happened to Mateo wasn’t just a random act of violence,” he says, his voice vibrating with tension.
Aria takes the phone from Bastian, and her eyes scan the screen. “Zyrian,” she says quietly. “Oh Rhys, I’m so sorry.” She puts her arms around me, and I hold her tight, but for the first time, it doesn’t provide comfort.
I’ve always been able to see the positive in every situation. Always been quick with a joke, a laugh. I’ve pushed Bastian and the others to stop taking life so seriously. Reminded them that duty is all very well, but we can’t forget to live.
Not now.
“I’ve got to go to Wales,” I mutter. “There’ll be a funeral. I’ve got to make sure Arwel’s family is taken care of.”
“No,” Bastian says flatly. “Call them. Send flowers. But you can’t go to Wales. Not now. It isn’t safe for us to get separated.” His expression turns troubled. “Please don’t make me pull rank on this, Rhys.”
I glare at Bastian, but deep down, buried under the sea of pain I’m in, I know he’s right. The only way we can defeat Zyrian is if we all act together.
82
Aria
Rhys’ news puts a damper on us. At noon, Bastian hauls me to his study. “I’m going to call Tomas,” he says quietly. “I thought you might want to talk to Silas as well.”
I give him a grateful smile. “You knew I’d be freaking out?”
“You’re not the only one who’s concerned.” He dials New York. Even though it’s six in the morning back home—I’ve become really good at time zone calculations since I’ve been here—Tomas picks up on the first ring.
Bastian puts him on speaker phone so that I can hear the conversation. “Lord Jaeger, how can I help you?”
“Castle Griffith’s caretakers, Arwel and Elinor Tannor have been found murdered this morning,” Bastian says bluntly.
“The fox shifters?”
Bastian closes his eyes. I wonder if he knew the Tannors. He must have. Rhys, Casius, and Mateo act like they’ve known Frau Ziegler and Wilhelm all their lives.
God, this sucks. Fucking Zyrian.
“Yes,” Bastian confirms wearily. “Double the guards around Silas Archer. You probably should tell Lukus Hyde what’s going on too. Just in case the violence spills over to his pack. And the Norm girl, Aria’s friend…”
“Bea,” I interject helpfully. “Hey, Tomas. It’s Aria.”
“Hello, Ms. Archer,” he replies. “How are you enjoying Castle Jaeger?”
“I’ve only gotten lost twice in the last two days,” I reply dryly.
Tomas laughs. “The castle is a maze,” he agrees. “Wilhelm has a map. Ask him for a copy. It’ll help. And don’t worry about things here,” he adds reassuringly. “We’ll take care of Ms. Connelly and Mr. Archer.” Tomas’ tone turns wary. “Lord Jaeger, there’s one more thing.”
“Should I go?” I ask.
Bastian shakes his head. “I don’t have secrets from you, little thief.” He puts his arm around me, and I rest my head on his shoulder. “What is it, Tomas?”
“There’s talk around Eclipse Pack that Alpha Hyde is going to ask Silas Archer to join them. Word is that Silas might be considering it.”
A smile grows on my face. For Silas to even think about joining Eclipse Pack—after all, he’s never thought very much about Lukus Hyde—things must be going really well with Sarina, so much so that he’s giving serious thought about the future.
I’ve asked many nosy questions every time I’ve spoken to him, but Silas has been surprisingly evasive about discussing his relationship with the wolf-shifter. Well, well, well. Good for Silas.
“It’s about time,” Bastian replies, sounding relieved. “The protection of a pack will be good for Silas. Especially now. Any word on Raedwulf and his associate?”
Tall, Dark, and Deadly. With everything going on, I’d almost forgotten about him.
“They’re still in Wyoming,” Tomas replies. “But I can’t get my team too close without risking getting caught. Sentinel Pack is secretive and reclusive. We’re using Norm technology to keep track of them from a distance. Would you like us to apprehend them, Lord Jaeger?”
“No.” Bastian’s expression turns frustrated. “As much as I want to get my hands on Raedwulf, I have a bad feeling that war is coming. We’ve got to stay focused on Zyrian’s threat. Guard Silas and Beatrice Connelly.”
Bastian’s right. War is coming. I can feel it in my blood. All I can do is hope no one else gets hurt.
More people get hurt.
Another week goes by. Sunday night, we’re watching another movie—Jason Bourne, this time, which all my guys have seen, of course, since it involves blood and shooting—when we receive word of an attack on Pack Helferich. Bastian, Casius, and Rhys rush out to help. When they return, they’re tired and dispirited. “We managed to beat them off,” Casius says gloomily. “But the damage was already done. One dead, seven badly wounded.”
My phone beeps. It’s a message from Zyrian. He can’t enter my dreams as long as I’m in Castle Jaeger, and he can’t probe my mind, but he can still taunt me through my cell phone.
How many people will have to die before you find the courage to face me?
I read the text. Rhys, who’s standing right next to me, catches a glimpse of the display. “He’s baiting you.”
“I know.”
“You can’t approach him. If he gets his hands on you, and on the B
loodstone, who knows what might happen. You can’t let Zyrian win.”
“I know,” I repeat wearily.
And I do. It’s just not easy to sit back as people are being attacked.
It doesn’t make it any easier the next day when we formally visit Pack Helferich to offer our condolences to the husband of the woman that was killed in the fight. It doesn’t make it easier to realize that she has a son, a little boy that will grow up never knowing his mother.
“This is not your fault,” Bastian says fiercely to me when he sees my expression. “If anything, it’s mine.”
“Are we playing ‘Take the Blame’ roulette?” I retort, a bitter tinge in my voice. “I know it’s not either of our faults. It’s Zyrian’s. But Bastian, we’re getting nowhere figuring out the curse. Mateo and Casius spend all their time in the library, and they’ve got nothing. How long do we wait before we take the fight to the Dark Dragon?”
“I will not risk you, Aria,” he replies firmly, his eyes sliding away from me.
I clench my fists in frustration. He’s right. Going off half-cocked, without weapons, without a plan, is the height of foolishness.
But cowering behind Maija Essen’s wards doesn’t feel right either.
83
Erik
Monday was Rhys’ turn for bad news. The Sunday after that, it was Bastian’s.
And on Wednesday, I get mine. This time though, it’s a message from a dragon, one I haven’t spoken to in almost five hundred years. Luka Mettler, Gisele’s father, wants to talk to me, and he’s just outside the Königsforst, waiting for my reply.
“It’s a trap,” Casius says at once. “Mettler is over twelve hundred years old. He’s been sulking in the Alps for centuries. Why this sudden need to talk to Erik? And at midnight?”
Bastian nods. “I agree with Casius.”
“As do I,” Rhys says promptly.
“Who’s Luka Mettler?” Aria asks.
I wince. “He’s my mate’s father,” I reply. “I haven’t spoken to him since Gisele’s funeral. He blamed me for Gisele’s death, and for the death of the unborn child.”
Aria’s face goes white. “She was pregnant when she was killed?”
Fuck. Of course she didn’t know. It’s not like I’ve discussed any of this with her. “I’m sorry,” I murmur. “I should have told you.”
“That’s okay. I get it. It’s hard to talk about.”
But hard though it is, it needs to be done.
I’ve changed in the last few weeks. It’s not just Aria. Hanging around with my fellow dragons feels good, much better than the isolation of Castle Valder. For the first time in centuries, I look forward to each day.
Aria deserves to know everything. As much as I will always feel a twinge of sorrow when I think about Gisele, the honest truth is, I’ve barely thought about my long-dead mate in the last few weeks.
Instead, I’ve thought about Aria. Infuriating. Brave. Stubborn. My mate.
I’m finally ready to move forward, ready to look to the future instead of dwelling on the past.
But first, I need closure. And for me, that’s a conversation with Luka Mettler.
“We can’t even be sure that this message is really from him,” Casius continues.
“Who else can it be?” I ask. “I mean, look at this. The note is written on parchment, and it’s stamped with Mettler’s wax seal.” The dragon has ignored everything that’s gone on in the world since the death of his child. Cell phones have not invaded Luka’s world.
Mateo, who’s been silent so far, speaks up. “I have a bad feeling about this.”
I give him an irritated look. “You’ve been saying that for weeks.”
“And I’m right every time,” Mateo retorts.
I get to my feet abruptly. “Thank you for the advice. But I need to do this.”
“I’ll come with you,” Bastian says. “If that’s okay?”
He’s worried. And so am I. Gideon’s on a rampage. Innocent people are getting attacked. Magicals are starting to talk, to panic. Bastian’s kept everyone on a pretty tight leash ever since he came of age, but I wouldn’t put it past other dragons to use the chaos for their own nefarious purposes.
And if Luka Mettler turns out to be a pawn in someone’s sinister chess game, then I’ll be foolish to go alone. “I’d appreciate it.”
Aria bites her lower lip. “I want to come too. If Zyrian is involved in this, he’ll bring magic to bear. I can be useful.”
“No,” we all say at once. “It’s too dangerous, princess,” I tell her.
She narrows her eyes and glares at me, but I’m unmoved. When it comes to her safety, I’m never going to relent.
“Tesoro, you’ve made great strides in the last few days,” Mateo says gently. “But you’re not powerful enough to face the Dark Dragon.”
“He’s in Alaska, not Germany.”
“He can send his spirit walking abroad while his body is protected,” Mateo replies. “Remember our lesson this morning? Time and space are not constraints for a mage of Gideon’s power.”
Rhys puts his arm around my shoulder. “I’m sorry, love,” he says. “I know you want to help. But if you go, Erik and Bastian will be so busy worrying about you that they’ll be distracted.”
She sighs heavily. “Damn it, that makes sense.”
Rhys grins. “I’m more than a pretty face, love.”
“It doesn’t mean I like it,” Aria says pointedly. “Fine.” She puts her arms around my neck and hugs me tight. “You beat me at pool last week,” she whispers. “And I want revenge. You better stay safe, you hear me?”
I take a deep breath, and the light, floral scent of her washes over me. “Princess,” I smirk in an effort to lighten the mood. “You’ve been trying to beat me for weeks and failing miserably. When are you going to learn to give up?”
She punches my arm in reply.
As she hugs Bastian goodbye, I give Mateo a sidelong glance, and he nods slightly. We both know that there’s a good chance that Aria will try to follow us.
Mateo, Casius, and Rhys need to make sure she fails at that task.
84
Aria
I quietly make my way down the hallway, determination marking my every stride. The dragons might tell me not to worry, but I can’t let it go. Call me stubborn, but I should be helping Erik and Bastian. The need to just do something is too strong to ignore. So, despite the fact that I said I’d stay behind, I’m sneaking out to help.
A dark figure steps out of the shadows causing my heart to pound furiously in my chest. Mateo steps into the light, and I relax slightly.
“Where are you off to?” he asks casually. Too casually. He knows what I’m doing. Can I bluff my way out of this?
“I couldn’t sleep.” I shrug. It’s not a lie. It’s just not the whole truth.
“There seems to be a lot of that going around tonight. Right, Rhys?” Mateo asks over my shoulder.
Rhys has managed to sneak up on me with silent feet. I turn to find him only a few feet behind me. Damn it. They definitely know.
“Very true,” he replies. “So, Aria. Let’s cut to the chase. You’re running off after Bastian and Erik.”
I glare at the two of them. “Fine,” I admit. “That’s what I was doing. They don’t have magic, Mateo. What if Zyrian attacks them?”
Rhys puts his arms around me from behind. “You do them a disservice, love,” he breathes into my neck, his lips rasping against my skin with each syllable. “Bastian and Erik will be back before you know it.”
“I—” My breath catches as his hand slides up my body, resting just underneath my breast. His thumb rubs gentle circles on the underside of my breast. Even that relatively innocent touch has my insides clenching. Rhys is using our connection through the mating bond to distract me, and it’s working.
Mateo closes the distance between us until I’m caged between my two mates. It takes more willpower than I knew I possessed to push away from them. “I can�
�t do this,” I clench out. “Not when Bastian and Erik could be in danger.” The feeling that something’s wrong is growing. I give Mateo an imploring look. “Remember what happened to you,” I tell him, silently begging him to understand.
“You’re right,” he agrees. “Anything might happen. But Erik Valder and Bastian Jaeger are two of the most powerful dragons in the world. They are more than capable of taking care of themselves. Besides, we’re jumping to conclusions. Chances are that the meeting is exactly what it appears to be.”
“You don’t think the timing’s odd? This dragon hasn’t spoken to Erik for five hundred years, and all of a sudden, he wants to drop by for a chat?”
Mateo doesn’t reply. The door beside me opens revealing Casius, clad only in a pair of dark gray boxer briefs. “What is going on out here?”
“Aria’s sneaking out to help Valder and Jaeger. She doesn’t like being left behind.”
Mateo’s frustration rings loud and clear in his tone. I’m fairly certain he’d like to throttle me right now.
“Is that true, little thief?” Casius asks, quirking an eyebrow at me.
“Maybe?” I meant to say yes. I also meant to sound like a confident, magic-wielding, sword-using badass. Epic fail.
He just shakes his head, grabs my hand, and leads me into his bedroom. Crap. I must’ve gotten turned around again because I totally didn’t realize I was so close to his guest suite. Resigned, I follow him.
I know they’re right. I’m acting like an idiot. An impulsive fool. But my skin is itchy with worry, and I can’t shake the ominous feeling that is threatening to suffocate me. I pace at the foot of the bed. Wearing out a hole in the carpet might not be productive, but it’s an outlet for the chaotic energy inside me.
“Tesoro.” Mateo’s smooth voice cuts through my cloud of fear. “Would you like for me to help you calm down?”
“How?”