Dragon Mark

by Kit Bladegrave

  He shrugged, his fingers stilling in my hair for a few seconds before continuing their soothing motion. “I was before, but not so much anymore. No matter what they say, I have the sworn oaths of the clan leaders to fight beside us. Dealing with the Council is more of a formality than anything else since they are technically the ruling party.”

  My eyes closed, and I felt his arms wrap more firmly around me, drawing me in close.

  “Do you want to go back down?” he asked, but I shook my head.

  “I missed hearing you talking these last few days,” I murmured.

  “Then I shall continue to serenade you with my voice,” he teased. “What do you want to talk about?”

  For a while now, I’d wanted to ask him, but never seemed to find the right time. “Tell me about your parents, your real parents. What were they like?”

  His chest stilled, and I expected to look up and find him angry, but instead, he was smiling sadly. I leaned back and held his hand as he ran his thumb over my knuckles.

  “They were incredible,” he started, his words quiet with reverence. “And they cared so much for the clan. They were the ones who started the Light Guard in the first place.”

  “Really?”

  “Yeah. Their personal guard ordered them time and again to leave the other dimensions instead of keep sending out refugees and those that would be trained to fight. They refused. Every time, they refused to get out because their clan would still be forced to live in that nightmare of a place.”

  His hand tightened on mine. “Do you hate them for staying?” I asked, failing to read the mix of emotions on his face.

  “At first, I think so,” he confessed bitterly. “Right after they were killed. I hated them for not listening, but now that I’m in their place… I understand their decision.”

  “You would’ve stayed?”

  “I did stay,” he mused. “Until it became too dangerous for me to be amongst the enemy, I was there every day bleeding right along with them. But the family in charge of keeping me safe, once they were killed, the ones who knew who I was reached out to Jenny and Preston and that was when they came for me. Zara and the others.”

  He wove our fingers together, and I rested my shoulder against his, doing what I could to comfort him. “What were their names, your parents?”

  “Pierce and Leora. Two strongest people I’d ever met in my life, until I met you that is.”

  “Don’t give me too much credit, I’ve been knocked down pretty low lately.”

  His body tensed beside mine, but if he was going to scold me for pushing it, he kept it to himself. “They would’ve liked you, loved you really for all you’ve done.”

  “And hopefully, I’m just getting started. We both are. You’re going to make them… so proud… Slade… you… you really are.” I opened my eyes wide, fighting to keep them open.

  It felt just like the sensation when Mom had given me another dose of that sedative.

  I gripped Slade’s arm, and then I was screaming as that mark on my side burned fiercer than it ever had before.

  “Everest? What’s wrong, what’s happening?’

  I tried to tell him, but the words were lodged behind another scream as my body thrashed in agony.

  “Help. We need help up here,” he yelled. “Everest, talk to me.”

  My hand shot to my side as the pain pulsed in time with my racing heartbeat.

  He frowned until he took the hem of my sweater and lifted it up. He spewed curses, and his eyes widened at the mark on my ribs… right where Radnak had struck me.

  Clenching his jaw in fury, he scooped me up into his arms, holding me tight against his chest as I flailed, unable to keep myself still from the pain coursing through my limbs. He rushed me to the lower level.

  “What happened?”

  Mom, that was her voice, but I couldn’t open my eyes wide enough to see. It felt like someone was trying to yank my ribs out one after the other, and I clung to Slade’s arms, digging my nails into his skin.

  “Sorry,” I whispered, and he shook his head.

  “Why didn’t you tell me?” he demanded, not seeming to care that I was making him bleed. “Why? Everest, damn it answer me.”

  “Didn’t want… want you to worry,” I gasped. “Slade.”

  I curled in on myself before my entire body went rigid and my back arched off the cot. A scream tore from my throat, and all I wanted was for it to be over.

  Slade was yelling, but his words were drowned out by my screaming until I fell hoarse and collapsed back to the cot. I released Slade’s arm and clawed at my side, desperate to get rid of the mark.

  “Grab her hands,” Mom ordered.

  Slade snatched my wrists, but I fought against him, crying and begging for him to let me go.

  “Just knock her out. Do something.”

  I didn’t want to go under, afraid I’d never open my eyes again.

  I tried to tell him, but when he looked at me, all I saw was the same fear in his eyes.

  Then Mom was pouring something down my throat, and I gagged and choked on it.

  The room started to spin around me and then there was nothing.

  I felt Slade holding my hands and clung to that feeling in case I forgot what it felt like.

  In case I never came back to him.

  Eight

  Slade

  Each time I took a breath, I waited to wake up from this nightmare, but nothing changed. Everest was passed out on the cot, her screams echoing in my ears. I refused to let go of her hands, afraid somehow that meant I was really letting her go.

  But that mark on her side… I knew when Radnak attacked her, it did something to her, affected her somehow and all this time, she’d hid it from me.

  “Slade, let me see it,” Mahlia said, her voice shaking.

  I squeezed Everest’s hands one more time then laid them by her sides and moved to lift her shirt to reveal the mark that was burned into her ribs.

  The exact same mark that was on my arm, placed there by one of Radnak’s Blood Moon Priests. Somehow, he’d marked her in the last attack.

  Marked her because she jumped in front of the attack. That should be on me right now. Draining me of life. Taking everything I had.

  “We have to get it off her,” I whispered harshly. “It’s draining her, making her weak. Sick.”

  “I’ve never seen a mark like this, not until you came back from the Fell Gates.” Mahlia ran her fingers over it, stopping when Everest grimaced in her sleep. “I have no idea how to remove this. This… this is beyond my magic. It’s blood magic, Slade. I doubt anyone here can stop it.”

  This was all my fault. That attack was meant for me. Guilt slammed into me, followed by anger at her for keeping this a secret from all of us. She let it hurt her day in, day out, and endured whatever it did to her until she couldn’t take it anymore.

  I refused to lose her and saw the mutual feeling in Mahlia’s eyes.

  “I’ll gather the witches, see what we can do, but Slade…” She choked back a sob, shook her head, and said she’d be back with whatever she could find. She kissed Everest’s forehead then hurried off, Amelie following after her, both women wiping at their eyes.

  “She’s going to live,” I told myself, as well as the others who had gathered around her bedside. “She’ll make it, you’ll see.”

  Tank brought me a chair, and I sat down, taking the shirt he handed me next.

  “Thanks,” I mumbled and as soon as I had it on, I took Everest’s hand back in mine.

  “You said it yourself, she’ll make it,” he said encouragingly, patting me on the shoulder.

  “Why wouldn’t she have told me?”

  Tank sighed as he sat on the cot beside Everest’s. “You were dealing with the other clans, and our kidnapping a Black Diamond, and accepting the fact that the truth was out,” he said. “I don’t know, man, I guess she thought she could handle it.”

  Every time she avoided my gaze, or disappeared, she’d been
in pain, and I missed it. I hung my head, begging silently for her to open her eyes and tell me what to do to get rid of that mark. Or have her yell at me or scold me. I wanted to hear her laugh, just one more time… just in case.

  “Slade,” Jenny called out as she ran toward me. “What happened?”

  I pointed to Everest’s side, and she frowned. “She never told me,” I growled.

  “Radnak, is he draining her life?” she asked horrified.

  “I don’t know. She was fine and then she started screaming,” I rambled on. “She was in so much pain and then she was clawing at it, trying to get rid of it. Mahlia gave her something to knock her out, but I can’t…” I bit back the rest of the words and sucked in a deep breath, furiously rubbing my eyes. “I—uh, I’m sorry I just… I could’ve dealt with her just being sick or something, but now, I don’t know what to do.”

  She squeezed my arm in sympathy. “I don’t know either, but she’s in good hands. And I know this is terrible timing, but Charlette is here.”

  “The Council?” I snapped bitterly. “They finally replied.”

  “And they will be arriving within the hour. I know you don’t want to leave Everest, but we need you down there. No one else can show them what you can,” she said. “I’m sorry.”

  “No, no, I’ll be there.”

  “Take your time, you still have a few minutes at least.” She took a breath like she was going to say something else, then stopped and walked away.

  Everest’s breathing was steady, but that mark on her ribs was bright red and angry as if she’d been freshly burned.

  I sat on the edge of her cot and smoothed her hair back, smiling down at her despite the fear threatening to strangle me. I thought I knew what it felt like to lose someone I loved, but right now, it was like someone dug around in my chest with a dagger, attempting to remove my heart. I hated to leave her, but Jenny was right, no one else could show the Council the truth I could.

  “You always did have great timing,” I whispered to her. “I have to go, but Tank here is going to keep a close eye on you. And if anything happens, I’ll be right back, I swear it.” I rested my forehead against hers; it was burning up again. I softly kissed her lips and fought against falling apart completely. “You come back to me, Everest. You and I are far from done with each other. Got it?”

  “If anything changes, I’ll send for you,” Tank swore. “I won’t leave her side for anything.”

  I tried to thank him, but the words wouldn’t come. My eyes lingered on Everest, but the Council would be arriving, and I needed to be standing beside the clan leaders when they did. After a couple of backward steps, I turned around and walked toward the portal, not allowing myself to look back for that one last look.

  I’d come back, and she’d be awake, and everything would be fine.

  Everest would be fine.

  The portal created by the Council was brighter than normal, and I winced, shielding my eyes.

  I stood in the town square beside Charlette, Quinto, and Orella, but mentally I was back in the base with Everest. I trusted Tank to come fetch me if the situation got worse. I hated wasting time on these bastards, but my hands were tied.

  “You sure they won’t come out ready to kill me?” I muttered to Charlette.

  “Faith, Slade. Besides, they don’t even know you’re supposed to be here.”

  “Doesn’t mean they don’t know.”

  “Don’t put so much confidence in them. Many of them are well beyond their years to think clearly and the sixth, well, that’s why you brought him along.” She pointed to Jared standing off to the side with Jenny, Preston, and Aiden. He hadn’t looked so bad until I told him what happened to Everest as I caught up with him here. “His father will listen to him, I’m sure of it.”

  “And if you’re wrong and this plan goes south?”

  Charlette waved away my worries. “You think too much, Slade. Time to let go and see where the chips fall, eh?”

  That was not at all close to what I felt like doing. I glanced at the other portal leading to our base again, and Charlette smiled softly as she patted my hand.

  “Everest is a Descendant, and she’s strong as hell. That girl will not go down easy.”

  I knew she wouldn’t, and that worried me just as much. How much pain could she endure before it destroyed her mentally? She was being tortured from the inside out, and there was not a damned thing I could do to stop it.

  Two figures emerged from the portal followed by two more, and two more, until the entire Council spread out in a line before us. Their guard was right behind them, a mix of thirty dragons, witches, and warlocks, in all. The portal stayed wide open, and I wondered how many guards they had waiting to charge in at a moment’s notice.

  I realized, as Charlette stepped forward, representing us as we agreed a few days before, I only knew one name amongst the six standing before me: Jared Winchester II, also the youngest out of them all. I kept my gaze lowered, but I sensed the instant they realized who I was, and who the other dragons were scattered around the town square for my protection were.

  “Charlette,” Mr. Winchester snapped as their guard drew their swords as one. “What is the meaning of this treachery? You dare bring that bastard here? You dare bring any of them here?”

  “Yes, I dare,” Charlette replied calmly. “I dare for very good reasons.”

  “Take him into custody,” one of the other men called out. Several guards moved forward as if to snatch me up and carry me away, but Preston and ten Shadowguards emerged from beneath the trees and surrounded me. “Take them all.”

  “You will not touch them,” Charlette warned and snapped her fingers. “You do, and you will be facing more than just a little treachery on our part.”

  The guards brought by the Council were quickly surrounded by Emerald Petites, Hollow Wells, and Sphinx dragons, cutting off their retreat back to the portal, too.

  I stared each member down as they all, in turn, glared at me.

  “You, you’ve done this,” the same man accused me.

  “No, he didn’t Thornhill so shut up for five minutes, or I’ll make you shut up,” Orella said sounding bored. “Some of you have been keeping this truth from us, and the rest of you failed to mention that Black Diamonds and Blood Moon Priests were the ones who actually attacked you.”

  All six of them didn’t even try to lie about the second part of what Orella said, but it was the way Thornhill and the black-haired woman both suddenly took a half step back that lifted red flags in my mind.

  “Those two,” I stated loudly and pointed. “They know.”

  “Bethilda and Thornhill,” Charlette called them out loudly. “You have much explaining to do.”

  “We know nothing,” Bethilda, insisted. “All I do know is we were attacked in our dimension by him and the rest of his horrid clan.”

  “I was trying to save you all,” I argued, remembering how Everest had been involved in that fight too, and all that she did to protect me and the others. “You covered up the truth. And what else have you known for years and done nothing about? What else?”

  Mr. Winchester, the other man, and the two women, closed in around the two members of their Council. “Answer him,” Mr. Winchester said calmly, but it was that tone of calm that indicated there was trouble coming. “Now.”

  “You can’t honestly be listening to him. He’s a Shadowguard,” Thornhill pointed out, as if it wasn’t obvious already.

  “He’s not just that,” Jared said, stepping forward and standing right in front of me. “He’s the Lost Heir.” He crossed his arms, and I worried for a second, he’d lose his nerve when his father turned that steady gaze to his son, but instead, Mr. Winchester’s eyes softened, and a flicker of regret appeared. “He’s brought the clans together to try and put a stop to a war that never ended.”

  “Jared, I suggest you get your son under control,” Thornhill demanded.

  “You know, I think I’ve heard enough from you for the p
ast few years,” Mr. Winchester said as he turned back to the warlock in question. “I’ve heard enough from you and Bethilda constantly shoving your own agendas down all of our throats.”

  Jared’s arms fell to his sides, and when I stepped forward, I saw the stunned look he was giving his father.

  “After we were attacked, I asked you, all of you, if you had any idea the Black Diamonds were still alive. Each and every one of you said no.” He was a few inches from Thornhill now, and the much shorter warlock was visibly shaking. “I said when I first joined the Council I wanted to make changes, to stop this cycle of violence and for years you beat me down until I gave in and swallowed all your bullshit. No more, none. I will hear this Lost Heir out, and I will listen to my son. You two, you should be locked away for what you’ve done.”

  Bethilda reached for the other two women who immediately pulled back in disgust. “Selma? Morana? Please, you have to understand why I couldn’t tell you.”

  “You couldn’t tell us that there was still a war going on?” Morana, the Hollow Well snapped.

  “They were killing each other, and we wanted both clans gone. It was an easy win,” Bethilda went on, and my blood ran ice cold. “There was no reason to get involved, and there still isn’t. They are not our problem. Not anymore.”

  Morana’s hand moved faster than I could follow, but I heard the sharp crack as she slapped Bethilda across the face, sending her to the ground in a heap. “You… you horrible witch. We brought up changes to how we treated the Shadowguards so many different times and each time, you swore up and down they hadn’t changed. You are a disgrace. You and Thornhill.”

  “We are the two oldest Council members,” Thornhill stated, his chin thrust high in the air. “You can’t just get rid of us.”

  “We have four clan leaders standing before us, claiming to have proof of your crimes,” Selma told him quietly. “That is more than enough for us to disband you both, forever.”

  “What proof? There is no proof,” he bellowed.

  I stepped forward. “And if there is? If we can show you without a doubt that what we say is true?”