by SJ West
List of Books in the Watcher Series
The Watchers Trilogy
Cursed
Blessed
Forgiven
The Watcher Chronicles
Broken
Kindred
Oblivion
Ascension
Caylin’s Story
Timeless
Devoted
Aiden’s Story
The Alternate Earth Series
Cataclysm
Uprising
Judgment
The Redemption Series
Malcolm
Anna
Lucifer
Redemption
The Dominion Series
Awakening
Reckoning (Spring 2016)
Other Books by S.J. West
The Harvester of Light Trilogy
Harvester
Hope
Dawn
The Vankara Saga
Vankara
Dragon Alliance
War of Atonement
©2016 S.J. West. All Rights Reserved.
Contents
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
CHAPTER NINETEEN
CHAPTER TWENTY
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
EPILOGUE
Note from the Author
CHAPTER ONE
Freedom rarely comes without a hefty price having to be paid. Those who enjoy it don’t realize what they have until it’s snatched away from them, and those who have never tasted its sweetness walk through an existence that is only a half-life. As I sat on Vincent’s back, enjoying my own form of freedom, I knew the joy I felt as we flew towards Vankara would be short-lived. In only a few days, I would have to lead a war against people who should be my allies, not my enemies.
It’s strange that both Vankarans and Fae have lived on the same island for hundreds of years yet want absolutely nothing to do with one another. Surely, there is a better way for both people to coexist. Perhaps if we had been friendlier neighbors to the Fae, they wouldn’t be attacking us now. People who feel oppressed by others have a tendency to become resentful, which can lead to rebellion. It was true that Vankarans were far wealthier and more technologically advanced than the Fae, but the Fae could have been just as wealthy since we now know they possess magic that can turn iron, a plentiful mineral on our island, into gold.
As I considered this fact, I realized wealth isn’t what the Fae desire most. What they want back is the land that they felt was unjustly taken from them in the first war. Perhaps they even felt as though it was stolen in that long-ago peace treaty that was signed by the Vankaran and Fae leaders. Intellectually, I could understand their need to reclaim what once belonged to them, but I couldn’t condone their method of retribution. However, I seriously doubted Nuala consulted her people on what they wanted. It could be that many of the Fae would have chosen diplomatic measures instead of war. I couldn’t condemn all of them because of their insane leader’s unilateral decision-making.
“War is never an easy thing to go through. There is rarely ever a true victor,” Vincent said to me, having sensed the path of my thoughts.
“In all honesty, it’s a foreign concept to me,” I told him. “I understand the basics, of course, but the reality of having to live and fight in one scares me.”
“It’s natural to be frightened of something that you’ve never experienced before,” he consoled. “But as a leader, you must never let your people see your worry. Sharing your concerns with others is not a luxury you can afford. If you want Vankara to be victorious, you must display strength, even if you don’t necessarily feel it. Sometimes a war can be won or lost because of how a leader reacts to the chaos around them. Your citizens need to feel comforted by the fact that you know what to do.”
“But I don’t. …” I admitted, feeling the weight of the world suddenly fall across my shoulders like a mantle of burden. “I don’t have a clue, Vincent.”
“Then put your trust in those around you who do know what should be done,” Vincent advised. “But from what I’ve seen, you are much wiser and stronger than you give yourself credit for, Sarah.”
“Vincent is right. You should listen to him. Plus, Fallon will help you make the hard decisions,” Aurora said confidently, tilting her little head up to look at me from her warm spot inside the front of my leather coat.
Queen Sora’s gift to me was proving to be quite beneficial in keeping both Aurora and I warm on our journey home. The helmet had been designed in such a way to keep my face shielded from the cold wind as Vincent flew us towards the mountains of Ledmarrow, and the multicolored leather outfit itself was more comfortable than I originally expected it to be.
“I’m counting on Fallon to guide me,” I replied to my little dragonling, allowing myself a comforting moment to think about John.
“And …” Aurora paused as if she were hesitant to say what else was on her mind, “Gabriel will most likely know a thing or two that should be done to win the war.”
“Perhaps,” I agreed. “Though, I think he is better suited to deal with the political fallout we may have to face once the war is won.”
Aurora remained silent, but through our connection to one another, I could sense she wanted to say more to me.
“You might as well tell me what’s on your mind,” I told her. “Otherwise, your silence will just end up bothering the both of us.”
“I was just wondering if you’ve determined the best way to approach Gabriel about everything that you’ve learned,” she finally said.
I closed my eyes and instantly saw a picture of Gabriel’s face in my mind. I had always admired his handsome features and gentle nature with me. Now, knowing what I did about our common past, I couldn’t help but think of him in a slightly different light.
“No, I haven’t,” I answered, letting that simple word sum up my confusion about someone I once only considered my friend. After finding out I was once married to Gabriel in my first life as Dracen’s daughter and also knowing that he could very well be the one who fathered Queen Emma’s child, I was uncertain how to broach either subject with him.
How do you tell a man that the woman he was married to and thought dead is actually alive? How was I supposed to explain that Kira simply traded in her life for a chance to live a new one, forever leaving behind the pain of losing their one and only child? And then, in the same conversation, tell him that the child who was transferred to me during my transformation into Queen Emma could be his? It was an impossible situation to have to deal with, much less have a rational conversation about.
“You will figure it out when the time comes, Sarah,” Vincent reassured me, sounding far more confident in my ability to juggle the topics with Gabriel than I felt.
Trying to take my mind off what was to come, I let my gaze wander to the horizon where the sea met the sky. Silhouetted there was a large, three masted frigate.
“Which island nation are we closest to?” I asked Vincent.
“Chromis,” he answered. “The ship is also from that nation. I can see the lion’s head on the flag; it is flying on the middle mast.”
I knew the emblem of Chromis was composed of a shield with a lion’s head on it and flames in the shape of wings jutting out from either side. Hovering over the top would be an imperial crown. From this distance, I couldn’t see the flag myself, but I knew the material of the banner would be black and the emblem would be stitched with gold thread.
“I didn’t realize dragons had such good eyesight,” I commented.
“We can see quite far,” Vincent confirmed.
“Can you see the people on the deck of the ship?” I inquired.
“Yes.”
“Do you happen to see a tall blond man with shoulder length hair?”
“Yes,” Vincent said, a note of surprise in his voice. “He seems to be peering our way through some sort of device made of brass and glass.”
“The device is called a telescope,” I said, providing Vincent with the appropriate name of the contraption. I weighed my choices on how to handle this chance encounter and decided to act as the queen would. She wouldn’t shy away from what needed to be done.
“Vincent, can you fly us over to the ship? I would like to speak with the King of Chromis and find out why he is sailing home.”
Before we even reached the ship, Aleksander must have figured out why we were heading towards him. The boat’s sails were quickly dropped. The anchor must have been lowered because the ship was stock-still in the water when we reached it. Vincent landed on the starboard side, and I noticed my dragon friend was almost as large as Aleksander’s ship.
Vincent extended one of his wings onto the deck, startling some of the sailors on board.
“Easy men,” I heard Aleksander say as he walked up to the tip of the wing. “It’s only Queen Emma’s ride. You have nothing to be frightened of here.”
I stood from my saddle on Vincent’s back, only then realizing how stiff my legs had become after the journey so far. We had been traveling for a few hours, but I didn’t realize until now how much my body needed a good stretch.
“I will go eat some fish while you have your talk with the King of Chromis,” Vincent told me.
“All right,” I replied. “I probably won’t be very long.”
“Call to me when you are ready to continue our journey. I won’t be far,” Vincent reassured.
As I walked across Vincent’s wing onto Aleksander’s ship, I could feel the eyes of every member of the crew watching me closely. Aleksander’s gaze was especially intense as he focused on my progress. The situation felt a bit awkward and doubt began to enter my mind.
“Hold your chin up and meet his gaze with your own,” Aurora said to me almost like an order. “You are Queen Emma Vankar. The ruler of a great nation stepping off an immortal dragon who is her ally and friend. Who else in the world can make such a claim? No one else. Only you.”
I did as Aurora instructed, feeling her own pride infuse me.
“Thank you,” I said, grateful for her encouragement.
“Someone has to remind you how great you are,” Aurora teased me. “And there is no room for self-doubt when dealing with someone like Aleksander. He will respect you more if you act like you deserve it.”
“Queen Emma,” Aleksander greeted, as he held out one of his hands to help me make the small leap onto the deck of his ship from Vincent’s wing. “This is an unexpected pleasure.”
I took Aleksander’s proffered hand until I was standing in front of him. His grip on my hand lingered for a moment longer than it needed to, but I acted as though I didn’t notice.
“Yes,” I agreed, “it is unexpected. How were you able to leave Vankara by ship without Nuala’s dragons sinking it?”
“I took a chance,” Aleksander said with an easy grin and nonchalant shrug. “Once I raised the Chromis flag, they left us alone. I suppose Nuala knew that if she attacked me, I would view it as a sign of war against Chromis itself.”
“Still,” I replied, feeling as though there was something important Aleksander wasn’t telling me, “I’m surprised she didn’t destroy you.”
“I suppose she should have since I’m only going home to rally my troops to come help you win your war.”
“You are?” I asked, truly surprised by his announcement. “What about your ultimatum?”
Aleksander shrugged again. “I decided your answer could wait. You won’t be able to think about my proposition clearly while your country is under siege by the Fae. I can understand that as a ruler and appreciate your tenacious single-mindedness.”
Aleksander’s gaze was drawn from me as he watched Vincent swim away from his ship.
“I see you were successful in gaining the support of the dragons,” he mused.
“Did you doubt that I would be able to?” I asked.
Aleksander looked back at me and grinned. “I never underestimate the ability of an intelligent woman. How did your negotiations go in Kamora?”
“Their troops should be sailing towards Vankara soon to aid us in our fight.”
“How long before they arrive in Vankara?”
“Be vague with your answer,” Aurora cautioned me. “I sense his motives in wanting to know are not completely honorable.”
“I’m not certain,” I said, taking Aurora’s advice. “I am on my way to Ledmarrow Mountain before returning to Iron City to meet with the armada.”
“Why are you going back there?” Aleksander asked. “I thought the plan was for you to return directly to Iron City.”
“The dragons will be meeting me in the mountains,” I answered. “They fly faster than the ships can sail, so we decided Ledmarrow would be the best place for them to stay until the troops are prepared to retake Iron City.”
“Sounds like a sensible plan,” Aleksander agreed. “My troops will be at your service when we arrive. With the Chromis and Kamoran armies fighting for you, it shouldn’t be too hard to drive the Fae back over to their side of the island … or annihilate them.”
“I have no desire to perform genocide,” I was quick to inform Aleksander. “To my mind, Nuala is the one who should shoulder all of the blame for this war. I simply plan to force her and her troops out of my city and retake what rightfully belongs to the Vankaran people.”
“Whatever you decide to do in the end, you will have the full support of the Chromis Empire,” Aleksander said with a slight bow in my direction.
When Aleksander met my eyes again, his gaze soon wandered down the outfit I was wearing, making me feel as though he could see right through the tight-fitting garment.
“Not your usual style,” he commented with an appreciative grin, “but I can’t say it doesn’t suit you since you are a true dragon rider now.”
“It was a gift from Queen Sora,” I informed him, forcing myself not to flinch and give away how uncomfortable I felt under his scrutiny. “It’s more practical than wearing a dress while riding a dragon, especially on a long journey.”
“Well, I heartily approve of it,” Aleksander said with a twinkle in his eyes and a growing smile.
“If he doesn’t stop looking at you like that, I’m going to claw his eyes out,” Aurora warned rather heatedly, tightening the grip of her claws on my shoulder.
I quickly decided to change the subject.
“How were things in Vankara when you left?” I asked.
“Gabriel was rounding up the few members of parliament that he could find and bringing them into the school to await your return. Other than that, not much has changed. Nuala’s forces still have Iron City under their control and seem to be spreading out slowly to take over the rest of the country. Time is not on your side, Emma. The sooner you have your troops in place to attack her, the better.”
“And how long before your troops make it to Vankara?”
“Since Chromis is half the distance from Vankara than Kamora is, I would imagine my troops will make it there around the same time as Sora’s.”
“Then, I shouldn’t delay you any further,” I said, finding it to be a good excuse to leave. “And thank you for deciding to com
e to our aid. Your generosity isn’t going unnoticed, Aleksander. I am very grateful to you and the Chromis people.”
“All I ask in return is that you consider my proposition to you with the thoughtfulness it deserves, Emma.”
I nodded my head, silently letting him know I understood his meaning. It wasn’t exactly a topic we could discuss openly in front of his compatriots. I was glad of that. I didn’t want to have this particular discussion with Aleksander just yet. My mind was still in turmoil over everything I had gone through in Kamora and what I learned about myself with Vincent’s help. It was a relief to know that gaining the might of the Chromis Empire was no longer contingent on me marrying Aleksander.
“Why would he willingly give up the only leverage he had to force a marriage?” Aurora asked me. I could tell from her tone that she felt he was still up to something nefarious. “It doesn’t make much sense to me.”
“I don’t know why he changed his mind, but I’m sure we’ll find the answer out soon enough,” I told her.
I called to Vincent, and he soon returned to the side of the ship.
Aleksander extended his hand out to me once again to help me step onto Vincent’s wing. As I took it, I caught sight of something out of place on a ship full of men. Just as I turned my gaze away from Aleksander to Vincent’s outstretched wing, I saw the hem of a skirt disappear behind a door that led underneath the bow of the ship.
“Who was that?” Aurora asked, having noticed the same thing as me.
“I didn’t realize you allowed women on your ships,” I told Aleksander.
“A what?” he asked, sounding genuinely surprised by my statement.
“I don’t sense that he knows what you’re talking about,” Aurora confirmed. “Could we have been mistaken in what we thought we saw?”
“Vincent,” I said, “can you sense a female aboard this ship?”
“Thoughts and feelings do not come to me with a specific gender attached,” he told me. “I’m sorry, but I cannot discern the difference, Sarah.”
“I thought I saw someone wearing a skirt go through that door,” I told Aleksander, tilting my head towards the door near the front of the ship.