by J. L. Weil
Should we do something, strike her now? I didn’t dare speak, didn’t dare distract any of them. This was when they needed to rally their focus and powers.
Tianna strutted toward Jase, her bright, calculating eyes meeting his. “Took you long enough.”
Jase cut her a glare. He didn’t dare look away. “What do you want?” his dragon voice boomed into our heads.
Tianna’s answering grin was a slash of white lightning across her attractive features. “I see you got your pet back. I hope I didn’t break her too much.”
Four growls erupted from different corners of the castle.
The witch hadn’t spared me a single glance, but she knew I was here. My blood brimmed with a cocktail of panic and wrath.
She clucked her tongue at the fierce protectiveness rumbling from my dragons. “I heard the four of you liked to share. I didn’t think you’d mind if I borrowed, Olivia.”
Borrowed, my left asscheek! As if I were a cloak or a pair of shoes.
“Release the spell,” Jase demanded, refusing to play her little games.
Tianna pouted, disappointment radiating in her silver eyes. “Not so quick, Tranquility Heir. You can have your precious little kingdom when I get my star. I want the Star of Fire,” she stated, finally laying out her cards—her demands.
“And if I refuse?” Rage darkened Jase’s violet eyes to near blackness.
“Let’s just say that would be very unfortunate for all the little trophies you’ve collected over the years. How disappointed your father would be to see his legacy collapse.”
Oh, how I longed for the power the Star of Fire would grant me. I’d light her ass up right now if I could.
“We don’t have the Star of Fire.”
“No?” she sung, tilting her head to the side. Her lips curved into a new smile, while she tapped a sharp nail against her lips. “But your pet knows where it is. Don’t you dear?” And for the first time since the mountain, Tianna’s gaze slid to mine. My skin felt as if a thousand spiders were crawling over it, shadows and darkness unfurling around my soul. “Such a remarkable thing she is,” she mused.
I lifted my chin a fraction in defiance and schooled my features, refusing to let a flicker of emotion show. A cool mask of indifference slid over my face, but the dragon under me didn’t show the same restraint. Zade let his roaring fury loose, unveiling a river of fire down toward the witch.
When the flames reached Tianna, they went right through her. The edges of her form rippled like water before stabilizing.
Another spell. She was fond of tricks and illusion.
Tianna threw her head back and laughed, a haunting sound. “You didn’t think I’d actually show up, did you?”
Jase inclined his angular head. “Too afraid to face the four of us. I’m not surprised.”
“It’s you who fears me, sons of dragons, as you have for the last century. My reign has just started, while yours is ending before it even began.”
“Our time isn’t over yet,” Jase seethed.
She tapped at her wrist. “Yes, tick tock.”
“Release the spell on the castle. You’ve had your fun.”
“Such impatience. You have until the end of this month to bring me the Star of Fire, or another kingdom will fall to their knees before me.” Her eyes once again shifted toward the tower where Zade and I were perched. A smile of wickedness bestowed on her lips. “Olivia dear.” She savored the sound of my name on her tongue. “You are so much more than I bargained for. I have plans for you. Big plans.”
Heat itched along my cheeks and neck, and my body betrayed me, trembling at her dark promise. Never again, I told myself. Never again would I let her break me.
This war against Tianna had become mine. A mere human I might be, but I alone had been chosen by the stars. Who knew why they spoke to me, why they gifted me with their powers. I couldn’t say I was happy about it, but I was grateful if it allowed me to save the descendants.
“Don’t touch her!” Four different, yet equally grim voices resounded in my head.
“The choice is yours. Live under my command, or don’t live at all. Either way, you will not win. It will take everything the four of you have to fight me—which as I understand isn’t much—and even then, it won’t be enough to beat me. So you see, the decision is simple. Give me the remaining two stars and I give you my word your pet will live. If you refuse…” she shrugged, her slim shoulders lifting in a careless, bored manner. “I’ll make her my pet.”
The kingdom trembled under the deafening roars that exploded from a deep and primal part of my dragons. She had threatened what they considered theirs. Me. And the instinct to protect, ingrained in every scale covering their fierce bodies, flared to life.
“You have quite the mess to clean up. Give me the star and I’ll make sure the other kingdoms don’t suffer the same fate.” Then with a wave of her hand, she was gone.
Chapter Thirteen
Jase’s unyielding gaze roamed over his castle entombed in Tianna’s spell, grieving all those inside now frozen by her magic. Issik dropped down beside him, the sun glittering off their scales.
My eyes circled Wakeland, seeing the destruction Tianna had left in her wake. Never had I witnessed a battle. And nothing could have prepared me for the aftermath, for the lost lives, for the fallen stone buildings, for the blood.
A grueling moan of despair thundered from deep within Jase’s chest, leaving him powerless to do anything to aid those trapped inside his home. I wanted to run into his arms, offer him what little solace I could, but I knew it would do hardly any good. He was suffering from grief, helplessness, and uncontainable wrath.
The worst part was that this war wasn’t over. It had only just begun. Tianna hadn’t been defeated, and the events of today would stay with me long after it ended, regardless of who won. I would never forget. Coming to the Veil had changed me forever, just as this first battle had left a different kind of scar on my soul.
A trembling hand lifted to touch the side of my cheek, where Tianna’s mark marred my tender skin. More proof that I’d never be whole again, though I was more concerned about the internal damage left behind, than my vanity. If a visible scar was the worst affliction I received, then it was a small price to save those I loved, to save the land that had become my home.
“Will he be okay?” I asked Zade, staring down at the purple dragon who paced back and forth outside the castle, searching for the tiniest whole in Tianna’s hex.
“Since the curse was cast, this has always been our worst fear. That she would attack our homes, the people we protect. We won’t let her win. That is the only way any of us will be okay.”
Heaviness settled into my heart.
We could do nothing to help those inside the castle, but the village beyond the lake was in need of aid. Kieran stayed behind with Jase, while Zade, Issik and I went to see what we could do for the others. The quiet lake still ran red as we flew over, and the little village was a flurry of panic and commotion. My heart stumbled in my chest. It would take months to rebuild what Tianna had destroyed in mere minutes.
When my feet touched the ground my knees nearly buckled, but Issik was there to lend me his sturdiness. He slid an arm around my lower back, catching my elbow with the other, and hauled me against him. “I got you, Little Warrior. You did well, for your first battle.”
He had shifted before Zade and I had landed, tossing on a pair of pants that was always stashed in the villages. Blood crusted in speckles over his face and chest, but I didn’t care how dirty he was. I used his shoulder as a pillow, resting my cheek on him. “All those people…” I murmured.
“We’ll rebuild,” Issik promised quietly.
I recognized a few of the faces among the throngs of people. Women limped along, seeking the healers. The air reeked of blood. I did what little I could to help, tending and cleaning wounds with fresh water, while Issik and Zade made arrangements for any of those who were displaced from their homes.
It wasn’t
until much later when Zade flew us back to Crimson Keep, and tears streamed down my cheeks only to be whisked away by the blustering wind. Every part of me ached. My legs. My arms. My back. My soul. My heart. Not a section was untouched by what had unfolded. I gave in to the exhaustion and lay onto of Zade’s powerful dragon body, the scales brushing against my cheek.
I must have dozed for a bit, for when I woke, Kieran was lifting me off Zade and into his arms. “You’re safe, Blondie,” he whispered near my ear.
“Is he here?” My voice was raspy. I needed water, I needed sleep, but not until I knew they were here, together with me. Only then could I see to myself.
“No. It might be some time before he is able to get away. His kingdom is in ruin. He needs to see to his people’s safety. They rely on us.”
Just as I relied on them to keep me protected.
I stifled a yawn. “What time is it?”
He moved with grace and ease through the castle, not in the least burdened by my weight. “It is late. You need to rest.”
“So do you,” I added, watching a few green strands of his hair fall to frame the sharp angles of his face. Pieces were stuck together with a dark substance. Blood. My nose wrinkled. “But first you need a bath.”
Those full lips curved. “Aye, I do. And I’m not the only one.”
He carried me upstairs, to what I thought might be his room, fetching a glass of water and ordering me to drink. I obeyed, taking a long sip from the onyx goblet. My fingers were slightly unsteady, clenching the cup. “Thank you,” I murmured. “What do we do now?” I asked, looking up at him expectantly.
“There is nothing more we can do tonight. Let’s get you cleaned up and in bed. Tomorrow we’ll regroup. Decide what needs to be done.” Kieran held out his hand for me to take.
I nodded, not knowing what else I could say and put my hand in his.
He led me into the bathing chamber, and I followed him on wobbly legs, seeing him flip on the spray of hot water that cascaded from a spout in the stone, like rainfall. Kieran was quiet as he stripped the clothes from my body, not in a sensual way, but with loving purpose, and yet, my body tingled on the places his fingers grazed.
Steam had begun to fill the room when I stepped into the opened shower. The water hit my skin and my bones whimpered. Kieran sauntered in behind me. “It will be quicker if we bathe together,” he replied at my drawn up brows, a bit of light coming back into his emerald eyes.
“You don’t say?” I stepped back, allowing him more room in the space and dropped my head back into the cascade of water, soaking my hair and face.
Kieran watched me with male appreciation.
He was so tall and perfectly formed that I couldn’t help but watch him as the water ran off his body, stained a pinkish-red. Not from his blood, but those of the enemy.
I took a piece of cloth hanging on a rack and lathered it with a bar of soap to wash the dirt and grime from his golden tattooed skin. I studied the ink, a painting of his life, of memories he held dear. Vibrant roses with sharp thorns, tangled with vines. A snake winding up his entire arm with glittering gems for eyes, much like the one carved into his castle.
Each tattoo told a story.
“Let me help,” I offered, my voice hardly above a whisper. I took the soapy cloth, dragging it over his arm, and circled around to his back. My breath caught. A splotch of purple marred the skin on the top of his left shoulder. “You’re hurt.”
His eyes glanced over at me. “The bastard got a lucky shot. It will be gone by morning. Nothing to fret over.”
I’d be the judge of that. With tentative fingers, I brushed over the bruise and unease pitted in my belly. They could have been seriously hurt today. The thought made me sick. How would I ever manage if something did happen to one of them?
Drawing up on my toes, I pressed a soft kiss to the bruise.
A long breath escaped him, his body letting go of the tension for the first time in hours. “Olivia.” My name became a worship on his lips.
He turned to face me, so much gentleness radiating from his eyes. “You worry for nothing. I will be fine. So will Jase.”
I gnawed at my lower lip, his eyes tracking the movement. “I don’t like it when we’re separated. It makes me feel vulnerable.”
He took my face in between his damp hands and kissed me. When he pulled his lips from mine to brush his fingers down the column of my neck, his face was grave. “We’re only stronger because of you. We can’t win this war without you. The Veil needs you.”
I only hoped I didn’t disappoint or let them down.
The sun was once again shining when I awoke, rested and starving out of my mind. I rubbed at my eyes, and blinked at the bright light streaming in through the wall of windows. It was only for those first blissful moments of clearing my mind from sleep that I was at peace, and then the terror of what happened steamed rolled through me.
Jase!
Had he returned?
Was he alone?
I rushed from the bed, flying out of the room and into the corridor. It didn’t matter that I scarcely knew my way around Crimson Keep. I had to see him, needed to confirm with my own two eyes that he was okay. My bare feet padded over the cool marble floor and down the steps, until I reached the main level outside the kitchen.
Deep voices came from inside the room, and without hesitation, I pushed open the double doors to find Zade and Issik at the long island—a mess covering the tabletop.
Is that flour on the Ice Prince’s cheek?
My eyes darted around the room, searching for Jase. He wasn’t anywhere to be found, but neither were any of the staff. “Where is everyone?” I asked, gradually walking further into the room.
Zade paused his task of slicing a loaf a bread to look at me. “I’ve given them the day off. Some have traveled to Wakeland to help, others are taking time to grieve.”
Issik expertly cracked an egg into a bowl. “We’re making breakfast? Are you hungry?”
“Uh, I’m starved. Is Jase back?”
Shadows flickered into both of their eyes, and I almost regretted asking, but I had to know. “He returned a few hours ago,” Zade finally answered.
“And the castle? Was he able to find a way to break the spell?”
Zade only shook his head.
Dread spread inside of me. Poor Jase. I thought about all those who lived inside Wakeland Keep, including Harper. Where they terrified? Could they even feel in their frozen state?
“And Kieran?” I inquired, plopping into one of the chairs situated alongside the center island. Issik placed a cup of coffee in front of me, and I offered him a meek grin of thanks.
“He went to put his kingdom on high alert, and then we’ll do a sweep of the Nameless Lands,” Issik said.
Warming my fingers on the sides of the cup, I mulled over his words. “Is it wise for him to go alone?”
Zade’s hand tightened on the knife. “We don’t have much of a choice at this point.”
“Did you warn your household?” I directed at Issik.
He nodded. “My lands have been on locked down from the beginning.”
I gave him a funny look. “What does that mean?”
“I’ve enclosed my villages and castle in a tomb of ice,” he explained.
“We all have our own defenses,” Zade added, seeing the astonishment creep into my face. “Safeguards to protect the people during war. I only wish we would have done so sooner. If we would have known that Tianna…” His voice trailed off, but I didn’t need him to finish.
I placed a hand over his on the counter and squeezed. “You can’t blame yourselves. In nearly a hundred years, the witch has not made a volatile threat to your kingdoms. To you directly, yes, but not your homes.”
Issik’s jaw tightened, steeling himself for what was still to come.
I ate the food they put in front of me without tasting a bite. My eyes kept straying to the doors, waiting for Jase to come strolling in, midnight hair disheveled fro
m sleep. As much as I wished it, he remained behind closed doors.
Days wasted by and with them, my frustration grew. For once, I knew the location of the stone, but the dragons forbade me from retrieving it. The atmosphere in the castle was grim, and although the emotional bond between Jase and I was only one-sided, I swore my heart felt his pain, his suffering. I couldn’t explain it, but I knew he needed me.
Jase didn’t feel the same way.
An impenetrable armor had suddenly erected around him like a fortress of night. Anger and vengeance simmered close to the surface. It was difficult to see my born leader dragon become a man I didn’t recognize. Gone was the starlight in his violet eyes. Gone were the once annoying dimples I longed to see.
I knew little of war, and even less about evil witches. But this, the waiting for the right time, the right place, or whatever it was the descendants were holding out for, felt like waiting for rain during a draught.
By the third day, I’d made up my mind. I knew what I must do and who I needed to ask for help.
The women in white. In this case, Zade’s mother.
Summoning one of them was tricky. They didn’t always come when I asked, and she might very well not appear, but I had to try. This was one secret I hadn’t shared with the descendants… I had no doubt if they knew what I was up to, they would insist on coming along, and I couldn’t let that happen. With them there, the late queens wouldn’t be able to show themselves. Life on the other side wasn’t something I even wanted to comprehend.
Rain plummeted from the heavy clouds sweeping over Crimson Kingdom and had for the better part of the day. It showed no signs of letting up, but that suited my needs. The difficult part of my plan would be getting outside without a dragon shadowing me, or noticing I was missing. They’d given me extra attention since the attack on Wakeland.
I waited until the castle had gone to bed and Zade was sleeping beside me, the last few days wearing on all of us. “I’m sorry,” I whispered against his lips right before I pressed my mouth to his, blowing a stream of tranquility into his lungs. Insurance to make sure he didn’t sneak up on me in the middle of my chat with his mom, assuming she answered my request.