Dragon Blood 2: Wyvern

by Avril Sabine

  “As if I’d argue it in front of a witnesses. But we both know better. I was dying and you risked yourself to save me. Why?”

  Chapter Fifteen

  Amber pushed off the vanity to pace the small confines. She finally turned to face Ronan who leaned against the door, his arms crossed over his chest. She could have given him a reason he understood, but it wasn’t the main one. “Because I can’t walk away from anyone.”

  “That’s a liability.”

  “In your world.”

  “In any world.” Ronan stepped forward, taking her by the shoulders. “Don’t you understand? You could have been out of there in minutes. Flown home and been safe.”

  “That’s if the chain didn’t break my wing.”

  “That wasn’t your only option. You still could have gotten out of there easily on your own.”

  “You would have been dead.”

  “And that’s your problem, why?”

  Amber shrugged, dislodging his hands. “I don’t know.” She turned away. “I know I should have left you. It made sense to get out of there. But I couldn’t do it. You’re the worst father, a complete bastard, but…” her words trailed off and she turned back to him. “I couldn’t leave you to bleed to death.”

  “You keep trying to see me through your modern eyes.”

  “Then how should I see you?”

  “I’ve made sure people think there are older dragons than me. But I am the oldest, Amber. Only you and I know that. I was born in the Dark Ages. I am what those times made me. A survivor.”

  “Dark Ages.” The words were a whisper as Amber stared in disbelief.

  “We didn’t mark off the years so you’ll have to forgive me if I can’t give you an exact date. But let’s say it was the year 500AD. I learned to fight against Vikings. Does that give you a clearer picture?”

  Amber opened her mouth. No sound came out. She closed her mouth and tried again. “Vikings?” She sat heavily on the toilet lid, her mind wanting to shut down. Instead it jumped tracks as it often did and she looked up at Ronan, a smile forming. “Do you think you can hide in the Void and help me with my next history test? You could pass the answers along to Rian who I could station outside and he could tell the answers directly to me.”

  Ronan stared at her for a moment before he laughed. “You’re a natural. Stop fighting against yourself and enjoy your power. You could have nations at your feet, Amber.”

  “Only if I let you stand beside me to enjoy the adulation I’m guessing.”

  “We would be unbeatable.”

  Amber shook her head. “No, Ronan. That really isn’t me. I just want to live my life, not run everyone else’s.”

  “You would make an amazing queen. You could rule forever.”

  “And why would I want to do that? What’s the point in living forever?”

  “Point? Why do you need a point? You humans and your imbecilic quest for the meaning of life.”

  “Then why have you struggled to stay alive all these centuries if there’s no point or meaning?”

  Ronan stared at her for a moment. “If there ever was a meaning it’s been lost in the passing of centuries. Now,” he shrugged as a smile formed. “The desire not to let someone else win after all this time is what drives me. Even the ones who are long dead. I won’t let them win either.”

  “Is that enough?”

  “Obviously. I’m still alive, aren’t I?”

  Amber laughed. “Yeah, I guess so. Although if I was better at following orders you might not be.”

  “Which brings us back to them.” Ronan gestured towards the spill of jewels. “This is for you alone. I don’t care how attached you are to your family, but if you can’t promise to keep this secret between us, I won’t give it to you. They aren’t like you. They don’t push themselves past the point of good sense.”

  “It’s not deliberate.”

  “Do I have your word?”

  “I don’t know. What if it would help them too?”

  “This is for you alone. Do I have your word or will we forget I ever visited today?”

  Amber stared at the jewels that looked like there were twice as many from being reflected back at her from the mirror over the vanity. Keeping secrets from Crystal hadn’t worked out very well last time. “I don’t know, Ronan. I’m not good at keeping secrets from Crystal. She knows me too well.”

  “Then how about we make it essential you keep this secret. If she finds out our earlier deal is made void.”

  “Then no. I can’t risk everyone like that.”

  “Even if what I have to tell you has the potential to not only save your life but others?”

  “Then why not just tell me with no strings attached?” Amber glared at Ronan. It was at moments like this she couldn’t believe she’d saved his life.

  “You’ll inherit my journals if I die. For now, the knowledge is mine to do with as I wish. And I wish to attach strings.”

  Amber was torn. Did he tell the truth? Could she ignore something that might save lives? She thought of Rian as he lay at her feet, surrounded by his own blood. Of Ronan’s blood spilling onto the dungeon floor. No wonder she had nightmares about a lake of blood. She met Ronan’s eyes. “This bargain has nothing to do with any earlier ones made. I’ll keep it along with all your other secrets, Ronan.”

  “You only hold one secret. That of my birth year.” Ronan’s eyes were ice cold.

  “I’m not colour blind, Ronan.” She refused to be cowed. “There’s a big difference between gold and bronze.”

  Ronan stood in front of her, taking hold of her chin. His voice dropped low. “It’s safer to be colour blind.”

  “Just like it would’ve been safer to leave you there to die?” Amber left her words hang, waiting for Ronan to answer.

  Eventually he turned away from her, grabbing a handful of jewels with his right hand. He let them spill into his other hand. “Your life is the price for breaking your word.” One jewel was in his right hand. A blood red teardrop. He held it out to Amber. “Deal?”

  Her life. She smiled at the irony of it. Only Ronan would offer her something that could both save her life and cause her death. She wasn’t about to tell anyone and risk their first deal too. She wouldn’t have even considered accepting if she wasn’t so worried about keeping everyone safe. She took the jewel, her fingers closing around it. “Deal.”

  Ronan held up another jewel, tossing it to her. Amber caught the diamond in midair. She looked at him with a question in her expression. He grinned. “You’re going to learn to wear jewellery.”

  The questioning look became one of confusion. “And how will that save my life?”

  “Mages once learned how to put their power into jewels so they could draw on it when they needed extra. Only the mage who had put it there could see the power in the jewellery. And only their power could be drawn back into them. There were a rare few who could use the power stored by others, but not many had that ability.”

  “How will that save lives?”

  “If all your friends lay dying, who would you save? As it is, you have a limited amount of power. Would you choose Crystal? Kade? What about your brother? If you were surrounded by a sea of their blood, how would you be able to tell which one needed help the most?”

  The imagery of a sea of blood was too close to her nightmares. She grasped the diamond tighter, her hand moulding to the facets. “How do I do it?”

  “You practice.” He took the ruby from her and tucked it into her jacket pocket. “Not with this one.”

  “Practice? That’s it? No explanations? No magic spells?”

  Ronan laughed. “I couldn’t walk through the Void back when there were Dragon Mages. When it was decided no more should be made, their secrets died with them. I only have my observations.”

  “When did they stop making them?”

  “Middle Ages.” He gestured towards the jewels on her vanity. “Practice. When you learn I’ll give you jewellery to wear.”


  “That’s going to be difficult to explain to Mum.”

  “I’m sure you’ll manage.” Ronan turned, reaching for the door.

  “Ronan?”

  He faced her again, leaning against the closed door. “What?”

  “What do you really look like?”

  “You ask the oddest questions.”

  She stepped closer. “I know you change at least your eye colour. What do you look like?”

  Ronan changed before her eyes. He was only a little taller than her, more muscular and younger, as if he and Rian were the same age. His pale blue eyes were flecked with gold and his hair was white blond. The lack of age made him look less dangerous. “Curiosity will probably be your downfall.”

  “Thank you.”

  Ronan nodded, changing back as he turned and opened her door. He didn’t even acknowledge his son as he strode across the room, opening the French doors. He stepped into the Void as he walked out onto the balcony. Amber continued to stand there, her mind tangled with a million thoughts.

  She looked at the diamond she still held. How was she meant to practice when her every moment was watched? Her eyes moved across the room to where Rian stood by her door. Unable to bear any more scrutiny, she closed the bathroom door and turned off the shower.

  Amber surveyed her bathroom. How much time could she spend in here without feeling like the walls were going to close in on her? It looked like she was about to learn.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Kade tapped softly on the bathroom door several hours later. “Amber? Are you okay? Can I come in?”

  She pushed her hair away from her face, staring at the shards that littered her vanity and floor. This was impossible. She couldn’t figure out what to do. Every time she tried, the jewels exploded.

  “Amber?”

  She wrenched the door open. “What!”

  Kade glanced behind her. “What are you up to?”

  “I thought it was time to take up a new hobby. What does it look like I’m doing?”

  Kade glanced at Rian, which annoyed Amber even more. She pushed past him, striding to her bed. If they wanted to discuss her let them. She was tired. Not to mention exhausted. Ronan had left her an impossible task. Forming a ball of fire in her hand, she felt the energy within. It was too much. The jewels were too fragile for so much power.

  Amber pulled a thread out of the fire. The rest started to follow, rushing to join the thread. That was the problem. The force of the power shattered every single jewel it came in contact with. What could she do different?

  Rian came to stand beside her, the black drawstring bag held up. “What would you like me to do with your confetti?”

  A smile tugged at the corner of her mouth but she refused to let her anger go. “Find a bride to throw it over.” She frowned. Maybe that was it. The jewels might be too small. But Ronan had said the power could be stored in jewellery. For all she knew, they wore necklaces the size of boat anchors back in the Dragon Mage era.

  Pulling out her phone, she ignored Kade who joined her on the bed. She watched Rian put the bag of jewel shards away in her duchess before she flicked through her contact list and dialled Ronan’s number.

  “Don’t tell me you’ve figured it out already.”

  “I need more. Try something around the size of a soccer ball.”

  Ronan laughed. “And where would you wear it? In your crown?”

  “They’re too small. They keep shattering.”

  “Then slow down.”

  “I’m trying. Just get me more, Ronan.”

  “Yes, Your Highness.”

  “And you can shove your crown where the sun don’t shine.” She hung up on his laughter.

  Kade leaned over her. “Do you want to tell me what you and Ronan are planning?”

  Amber shook her head. “I can’t. He promised to kill me if I told anyone.”

  “Are you mad? He’s dangerous. And I don’t care if his Gold informs him that I think he is. Every sane dragon believes exactly the same. How many people, Ronan included, have to tell you he doesn’t have friends?”

  “Keep your voice down,” Amber hissed. “Do you want my mum up here? It’s my first day home. I don’t want to get grounded already.”

  “It might keep you out of trouble.”

  Amber pushed him away so she could sit up to glare at him. “I doubt it.”

  Kade’s glare became a grin and he chuckled. “You’re probably right.”

  Amber dropped back onto her pillow so she didn’t give into the temptation to return his grin. Her effort was in vain when he followed her. “Go away,” she muttered.

  “You don’t really mean that. You’re just tired and hungry. That always puts you in a bad mood.” Kade moved closer, his body half over hers.

  Amber could feel her anger start to evaporate. She tried to hang onto it. “Then leave me alone so I can sleep.”

  “Not even a kiss goodnight?” Kade’s lips were close enough she could feel his heat.

  Her anger finally faded and she reached up to pull him close. Seconds spun into minutes and Amber even forgot they had an audience, until the French doors were flung open. She nearly grinned at the sight of Hound, hands held out in a sign of surrender as her and Kade sprang apart to land on the floor, ready for battle and Rian held a gun pointed at him.

  Amber extinguished the balls of fire in her hands. “Where the hell did you get that from? Put it away, Rian.” She waved towards the gun before she turned back to Hound. “What do you want?”

  He withdrew two items from his jacket and held out a drawstring bag identical to the one Ronan had given her. In his other hand was an emerald the size of an emu’s egg. “Errand boy.”

  Amber’s mouth dropped open as she stared at the emerald. It took her several seconds to regain the power of speech. “Didn’t he have one the size of a soccer ball?”

  Hound grinned. “His message for that comment is that you can have the soccer ball when you learn how to keep it intact.”

  Amber smiled as she imagined Crystal’s expression at seeing a jewel the size of a soccer ball. They all turned at the knock on Amber’s door. She searched the other side of the door and relaxed when she sensed it was her mother.

  “What?”

  “Dinner’s ready. Didn’t you hear me call up before?”

  At a glance around the room, Amber guessed it had been when Hound had entered. “No. I’ll be down in a minute.” She motioned to Rian to take the jewels and lowered her voice. “Put them in the ceiling. Including the other ones. Mum’d freak if she found them.”

  Hound handed over the jewels. He held a sealed envelop out to Amber. When she didn’t take it, he said, “Here,” shoving it into her hands before he left.

  ‘Read without prying eyes.’ Amber smiled at the words scrawled across the front and retreated to her bathroom. She tore it open and grinned.

  ‘Enemies are less costly. Burn this.’

  It was so typical of Ronan. Very little that he did was straightforward. Everything had to be hidden. She held the letter and envelope over the sink and called fire to her hands. The paper darkened and flaked apart to fall in the sink. She washed it down before she headed downstairs for dinner, ignoring the curious looks of Kade and Rian as she shut her bedroom door on them.

  Amber paused in the doorway to the kitchen. Her grandmother sat at the table, her back to Amber, her mother was at the sink rinsing off some dishes. Neither knew she was there yet.

  “Inconsiderate. Never thinks of anyone but herself. Are we meant to eat a cold meal?” Helen’s fingers drummed on the table.

  Donna continued to silently rinse dishes. Amber wished she had that ability. It just wasn’t her. Was it too late to run back upstairs and beg Kade to take her to his family’s castle? She straightened her shoulders. No. That seemed too much like giving in. She mightn’t fit here, but that didn’t mean she was going to let her grandmother send her running. She wouldn’t hide. That definitely wasn’t her.

  She
strode into the room and dropped into her seat. “Did you miss me, Grandma? I was tempted to steal the silver and bring it back for you. I bet you would have loved it. But I kind of think the castle servants would’ve missed it.”

  “You stayed in a castle?” Donna joined them at the table. “You never said that. I thought you were staying at Kiani’s home.”

  “That is her home.” Amber picked up her cutlery.

  “If you don’t talk that boy into marrying you on your eighteenth birthday, you’re an idiot.” Helen pointed her fork at Amber.

  “We’re not even dating,” Amber said.

  “Then what are you waiting for?”

  “Mum!” Donna glared at Helen. “Please. We talked about this. I thought we decided you were going to stop pressuring Amber.”

  “I never agreed to anything.” Helen turned to Amber again. “Well, are you an idiot?”

  “Probably. You’ll have to blame Dad. He must have read me too many fairytales when I was a kid. You know, Prince Charming, dragons, love and happily ever after.”

  “The love and happily ever after come once Prince Charming slays the dragons,” Helen said.

  “Hmm, maybe I had different fairytales to yours.” Amber took a mouthful of the well-cooked steak. She would have to remind her mother again that she only liked it medium these days.

  “Dragons are always evil.” Helen pointed her fork at Amber again. “Don’t you forget it.”

  Donna slammed her cutlery down. “Do you pair have to argue about everything? Even fairytales?”

  Amber said “Of course,” at the same time as Helen said, “Yes.”

  “You couldn’t get through one day.” Donna rose to her feet. “And you’re just as much to blame, Mum.” She pushed away from the table. “You pair can clean up. I’m going to bed.”

  Helen ignored Donna, turning her attention to Amber again. “Where was this castle you stayed in?”

  “Europe.”

  “That’s a big area. How about being a little more specific.”

  Amber shrugged. “I gave up trying to pronounce the name. They all kept laughing at my attempts.”

  “What’s on your necklace?”