“Any idea how long it will take to go into effect?” He hiccups.
“No idea. I only hope it’s incredibly fast,” I say as a funny feeling takes over my entire body. It almost feels as if my very blood is on fire. It feels as if my bones are cracking, breaking, and just as fast, repairing themselves. A roar rips through my lips, an unstoppable pain ripping through me.
Elian makes a noise very similar, his face contorted, his arms reaching out.
The pain stops almost as fast as it began. Seconds later, the prince looks relieved as I feel.
“Are you ready?” Lily touches my arm. “Whoa!” She jumps back, startled.
I look down. Skin like dragon scales, stronger than armor. Without a mirror, I can only guess how the rest of me looks. Based on Elian’s appearance, very human with scales.
“Let’s go.” The three of us, side by side, march toward the gates of Tivor. The approaching army can be seen nearing fast.
“Raise the gate!” Elian yells to the guard at the station.
“Your Highness, Captain Armando has given clear instructions that no one is—p”
“I said open the gate! Close it as soon as we’re through,” Elian demands.
The soldier visibly gulps before doing as he was told by his prince and future king. I have a newfound respect for Elian—able to walk toward an oncoming army, give concise orders, and doesn’t take no for an answer.
The gate slams closed behind us, causing a tremor to work its way up my spine. There’s no going back now. “For Tivor,” I say to the both of them, who each glance at me. Elian quickly looks back to the oncoming enemies. Lily holds my gaze, taking my hand in hers and giving it a gentle squeeze before letting go again. “For you,” I whisper before charging forward.
Elian is quick behind me. We meet the men head on.
Every man before us is just as much beast as Elian and I. Their skin shimmers in the sunlight. Their armor, only for decoration.
“Derrick!” Cordae yells. I had never again wanted to hear my name shouted with such fury. But seeing Cordae here at the front of the lines causes me to smile. Easier to kill him if he isn’t hiding away and allowing others to do his work for him.
Elian is standing in front of Lily, protecting her like a shield as he fights off the front line, letting others run past him only to die on the princess’s blade.
“It appears this kingdom will easily fall into my hands. Did you really think that the royal children, a prince and a princess,” he laughs, “could defend an entire kingdom against my thousand men?”
“No.” I grin, looking out at the horizon as no less than a thousand dragons descend into the valley, flying directly for us. “However, I advise you not to so easily underestimate the princess. If not for your stolen powers, she could easily best you.” I sneer.
“Then I’m ever the more glad I have these forsaken abilities, for with them, I would easily choke the life out of Princess Lily——if I’m not mistaken, the woman you betrayed me for.” There is no question in his accusation. “I hope she was worth it. Now you will stand by and watch as everything you gave up destroys everything you’re fighting for.”
“I gave up nothing of value. Torture and death are all that remain if I had stayed.”
“A world of power lay at your feet. You could have ruled by my side. You were like a son to me and I gave you everything, despite Saar’s constant attempts to make me hate you as he did.”
“You were never my father. You had him killed. Remember?” I draw my sword, done with the verbal battle.
“You know, I was going to allow him to live. Just as I was going to let your mother go free. I didn’t even know about you. It was Saar who decided Brentley needed to die. You were the price your father paid by not keeping good on his promises. Don’’t hate me for that.”
“There’s no reason to try to turn my rage toward Saar. He’s already dead. And now I’m coming for you.” I charge, knowing his every move.
He pulls out his sword and blocks the blade in my right hand. I pull the smaller weapon from my left hip and slash at his right arm. The blade sparks as it grinds against his almost gray skin—no longer skin, but scales.
“One of the many benefits of being the most powerful, Derrick. I told you I was that of a dragon. You never understood. I should’ve known then that you would one day choose the lesser side.” He pulls his blade away from mine and slices my left thigh.
The pants are all that are damaged. Cordae looks down at the tear in the fabric quizzically.
“You thought someone cheated you out of one of your precious vials. I’m happy to say I stole it, no longer sure where I stood with you. Two can play at this game, Cordae. After all, isn’t that all it’s ever been for you? A game that you continue to lose? Well, don’t plan on a change in your luck.”
Cordae takes a couple of steps to the right. I follow his moves, taking a step each time he does. “Eat your own words, dark assassin. It looks like you’re about to lose the one you never had.” His laugh is sickening, but I can’t risk Lily getting hurt.
I look over Cordae’s head and see that he has intentionally maneuvered between us. I look just as she trips over one of the corpses littering the ground. Dragon fire burns the bushes and trees. The roars of all the winged beasts fill the air.
Chaos surrounds us. Men slashing at dragons. Dragons sweeping through men as if they are no more than blades of grass.
Cordae jumps toward me and charges, catching me off guard. I trip backward and fall to the ground. I scramble to my feet just in time to watch as he stabs Elian in the back.
The sword bounces back, and Elian turns to defend himself. Before he can swing with his blade, Cordae thrusts his sword up into Elian’s sternum, straight through his heart.
“No!” I scream, though it’s hardly noticeable over the yells and cries of Cordae’s army being picked off by Fuentes’s dragons.
I run forward just as three of Cordae’s men step in front of me.
I watch as my brother falls to the ground, Cordae ripping his sword from Elian’s chest. Tears form before I can scream. I march toward the man who has now hurt everyone I care about. He looks at me gleefully, too happy with the destruction he’s caused.
“Come to join your brother, Princess?” he taunts.
I kneel down at Elian’s side, taking his hand in mine. The tears drip one by one, uncontrollable, unstoppable. The pain is something even Gavin couldn’t have taught me to control. My breathing is uneven.
Without spite, without anger, I look up at Cordae. “No.” I shake my head and pull Elian’s head up on my lap.
“You’re not even going to try to stop me? Kill me, perhaps?” He laughs, walking closer.
He circles around us once. The hairs on my arms and the back of my neck stand on end.
“No.” I shake my head. “But he is.” My breath catches.
“Ahhh!” Gavin screams as he charges forward.
Cordae’s brows draw together in confusion. He turns at the oncoming yell just as Gavin gets closer, stepping on a rock and propelling himself forward. With another outburst, his sword plunges into Cordae’s heart.
Gavin falls on top of him as they both collapse to the ground. Gavin grunts as he gets back to his feet. He limps toward me, slumps down by Elian, and looks me in the eye.
“I’m so sorry. Elian was a good man.” He bows his head.
“Yes, he was. And he was going to make a great king.” As selfish as it may be, I worry what king of ruler I will make now that the throne falls to me.
“Gavin.” We both look up to see Fuentes, king of the dragons, bowing his head in honor of my brother. It surprises me how softly he can speak for his large stature.
“I’ll be right back.” Gavin gets to his feet and walks a few steps away from where I kneel in the mud, surrounded by death and destruction, holding on to my lifeless brother.
“We have destroyed every dragon-like soldier but one,” Fuentes says. Even speaking quietly, it
’s hard not to overhear him.
“If you must destroy them all, do so now and get it over with. I told you I would pay whatever price necessary to right my wrongs,” Gavin replies, dropping his sword on the ground.
An anger I didn’t know I carried sweeps over me, filling me with adrenaline and rage. I pick up my fallen sword and approach Gavin.
“This isn’t about what you did!” I swing at him. Furious at Cordae. Angry with Gavin. No longer able to keep my emotions in check.
He ducks, collecting his sword and holding it up to defend himself. I wail on him, sword against sword, hoping to bring him down with time. Metal to metal, sparks flying everywhere, I work swing until my arms feel weak, like my bones have gone soft and my calluses turn to blisters.
I swing again, only finding no strength left to keep myself going. The sword drops. He catches me and pulls the sword from my fingers, letting it fall to the ground as he wraps his arms around me.
Tears pour down my cheeks, soaking his tunic as he holds me to his chest. “Shhh. It’s all right.” He kisses the crown of my head.
“It seems your punishment is now out of my hands, Gavin. I know this is not the best time, but I must warn you; it will be best for all if the world knoweth not of your abilities. Speak with Hera. She should be able to mask the scales and make it so you may live with your newfound power without attracting unwanted attention.”
“Thank you. I shall.” I can feel every word Gavin speaks, and though it is not enough to stop the grief overcoming me, I find comfort in it.
A black veil covers my face, for which I am grateful. It hides the tears I cannot cry, for they are dried up after crying for the last sennight. Mother stands beside me, her matching veil pushed out of the way as she wipes her tears.
The ceremony lasts what feels like only a moment, but I know the pain will be forever. Having Gavin by my side helps lessen the eternal agony.
He reaches down and intertwines our fingers. Though it may not be proper or expected, I do not care; I rest my head on his shoulder, allowing myself to feel whole and safe with him.
“This day, we mourn the loss of our beloved son and prince. Elian was brave and kind and strong. He gave his life to protect all of us. He did so without question, without price. He will forever be in our hearts,” Father says.
A sea of tear-streaked faces turned upward to Father. Then, as he bows his head, they follow him, bowing their heads as one, united in tears.
I stand in front of the floor-length mirror, doing up each button on my shirt. The red isn’t my color of choice, but it doesn’t look too bad, honestly.
I straighten the sword at my side and pull on my sleeves at the cuff. I stand a little taller, just a bit straighter. I am confident, I am strong—who am I trying to fool? I’m nervous. My palms are sweating, my foot is tapping, and I can’’t quit messing with my clothes. They are fine.
I am not. “You can do this, Gavin. It’s all right. There’s nothing to worry about,” I say to myself.
“No, there isn’t.” I turn at the sound of Lily’s voice. She comes up beside me and rests her hands and chin on my shoulder. “And you look magnificent.” She kisses my cheek.
“Thank you.” I turn my head so I can kiss her lips.
“Are you ready?” She takes a step back and appraises me, making sure I didn’t miss a single detail.
“I think so. Are you?” I look her up and down, appreciating her flowing red dress, a phoenix pendant at the base of her throat, one that perfectly matches my own.
“Of course. There are only three other days I am looking forward to more than this one. Today you become a knight. The next, we will wed. One day, you will be king.”
“That’s three days, including today. What is the fourth day you so look forward to?”
“The day I become a mother and you a father.”
“I too, look forward to those days.” I lean down and kiss her, having never been happier.
About the Author
Konstanz Silverbow has always been a dreamer . . . but not a writer. She was dragged into being an author. But since that day, she hasn’t stopped. It has become more than a hobby—it is a passion.
During the day, Konstanz works at Rockpit Legend Co. making jewelry, and during her free time she can be found playing the violin, collecting dragons, and learning all she can about medieval weapons. But at night, she creates made-up worlds and places where those dragons come to life and the weapons are used in battle.
Young adult fantasy and paranormal author with a dash of romance, Konstanz Silverbow is the proud creator of magical worlds, fictitious creatures, ideal super heroes, and sarcasm since 2007.
To connect with Konstanz, visit her blog: nothought2small.blogspot.com
Once Upon an Assassin (Finding Gold Book 3) Page 17