Queen of Jade: a dragon shifter fantasy (The Dragon Mage Book 2)

by LJ Andrews

  I rose to my feet. “Teagan is different, but that shouldn’t cause anyone concern. Before I even saw his face, Athika, I knew a greater power had come to Wyvern Willows. I knew it here.” I pounded my fist over my heart. “The moment I saw him, I was bonded with Teagan Ward, even if I didn’t realize it.”

  “Jade, I don’t mean to—”

  “No, I have one thing more to say,” I said, my voice cool and direct. “I love Teagan. Not from a bond, but because I fell in love with his heart. Now, from that love, my own body sealed to him.” I slid my sleeve up to reveal the seal in my skin for her to see again. “You cannot come here and pretend you understand what has happened to us when you have no idea. And let’s be honest with each other, you wouldn’t mind if Teagan spoke the words he says to me, to you. That’s what this is about.”

  Athika scoffed, her mouth open as she looked away, but she didn’t deny my accusation. We fell into an uncomfortable silence for a long time before she stood, brushing off bits of dirty snow from her sweater.

  “You’re right, Your Highness,” Athika said slowly. “I don’t know what has happened here. What I do know is Teagan is your first encounter with a mage—he’s your mage. That bond is powerful. And you are his first encounter with a wyvern. Feelings are bound to get a little muddled when a bond is so fresh.

  “You’re not wrong. I do think Teagan is an incredible mage—that’s what he is—a mage. I’m not afraid to admit we’d do well together, and don’t forget, my bond with someone like Teagan isn’t forbidden.”

  Athika bowed her head before returning to the house. Again, I found my voice had abandoned me. Resistance had faced Teagan and me since we’d confessed our deeper feelings for each other, but I’d never used the word forbidden.

  Wasn’t that what Aldwin insinuated? Glancing once more down the slope, I caught Teagan’s eye. He rolled one of the jade blades in his grip and smiled at me. My heart soared, but also plummeted in weary sadness. What more would try to tear us apart?

  With a soft smile in return, I turned away, urging my skin to peel back into scales. Before anyone could stop me, my wings burst from my shoulders, and I took to the skies.

  The ledge where Teagan had released my ability to shift had become one of my most peaceful refuges. I enjoyed watching the town from above. So many humans and magis lived amongst us—they were our neighbors, but did they know what risk my family, my people were bringing to their lives? I was fooling myself if I believed Nag would spare their lives should he attack. In the silence of the afternoon, I vowed we would find a way to rid the town of the families, the people, the shop owners. Everyone must leave, and if the tremble of urgency in my heart meant anything, it would have to be soon.

  I shifted to my human form, wishing to feel the breeze along my burning skin. The gown was sheer in places and revealed a lot of my body. It was perfect for the moment. Breathing deeply, the frigid winter air soothed the last of my fiery lungs, bringing me to a calm.

  Until I wasn’t alone.

  In a rush of wind and wings, I whipped around. My heart plummeted to my feet when I saw the ancient dragon fold his wide, clawed, white wings. Elder Aldwin’s body was gray like ash, with milky eyes and long, curled fangs that bent over his lips. His shift wasn’t as swift as my own, but when his human skin molded over his sharp scales, the elder stood with arrogance and satisfaction.

  “Elder Aldwin,” I gasped. “It’s been some time since I’ve had the honor.”

  “Yes, my queen. Some time. And it would seem much has happened in my absence,” he wheezed. His white hair billowed in wild tufts about his face, and I thought his beard had lengthened in our time a part.

  “Is Frenrir with you?” I asked, scanning the skies for the smaller, yellow dragon.

  Aldwin shook his head, folding the dark robe around his bare chest. “No, I am making this visit alone. I sensed your troubled heart.”

  Rising to my feet, I took a few cautious steps closer to the elder, my heart wild in my chest. Something on the breeze whispered to proceed cautiously. “I am all right, thank you for your concern. It is just the unknown that causes me worries, but aren’t we all unnerved at the unknown?”

  “That we are, my queen,” Aldwin sighed, staring at the distant horizon.

  The sooner he said what he’d really come to say, the sooner he would leave. I straightened my shoulders and forced a grin. “What else brings you, Aldwin? I know my wellbeing is not the only thing on your mind.”

  “Very perceptive.” The smile he wore wasn’t kind. “Your senses are sharp, just as your mother’s once were. I come with a determination from the council. We’ve made a final decision regarding the jade mage.”

  My breath pitted in the space between my ribs. Pressure pulsed down on my shoulders, and my throat tightened and scorched with fire in my lungs.

  “Regarding Teagan?” I whispered. “What sort of decision?”

  Aldwin faced me, his expression like ancient stone—for he was ancient. “The council only puts the benefit of the wyvern race in the forefront of every decision. After our observations, and from Frenrir’s reports, we have determined it is for the benefit of our queen and all royals if the mage be removed.”

  “You cannot do such things.” The hair on my neck standing on end. My fists curled, and my fingernails dugs so deep into my palms they drew blood.

  “We can, Highness,” Aldwin said sharply. “I understand you have a mage bond with the boy, but such things fade given time. This bond has confused you, my queen, and you do not see reason. You do not remember the bloodshed of the first battle. It is unwise to keep an unknown mage in the presence of our most powerful royals.”

  “He will not leave,” I snapped. “Teagan will refuse.”

  “Oh, we will not leave him with a choice,” Aldwin said through a chuckle. “He is of the jade bloodline—the lineage coming from our greatest enemies. If we cannot find the dark High Priest to charge for his crimes against our people, then his son shall pay the price.”

  I stepped directly next to the elder, my nose pressed into his wrinkled, haggard face. “What are you saying, Elder Aldwin?”

  “The mage is to be executed. It is the only safe decision for our people, Highness. Or have you misunderstood what your role will be once you ascend the throne?”

  Words turned to ash. Every limp, every nerve ending trembled, seething in anger. No. In blinding fury. Never had I experienced such debilitating hatred for a living being.

  “I will never allow it,” I said through clenched teeth.

  “I’m afraid as it stands, the elder council is the final word on such matters. I’m sorry to cause more distress to your day, my queen. I’m certain, within time, you will see this was for the benefit of our people. No doubt, his true intentions will be made known, especially if the dark High Priest attempts to save him from execution.”

  “You are using him as bait to ensnare Bron!”

  Aldwin chuckled and tracked two falcons sailing through the clouds. “In a way, I suppose you’re right. But if the dark High Priest doesn’t show, well, then at least we will have one less threat of the mage against our people. I bid you a pleasant day, Highness.”

  Aldwin bowed his head briefly, a disgusting, arrogant smile on his thin lips. I wanted to tear out his throat, but in a matter of moments the old one transformed to his expansive, ashen form and took to the skies. I was left in a stunned state, my heart ringing in my ears and my blood flushing through every inch of my body.

  With a deep breath, my human flesh folded into hard scales, and the wind soon brushed rapidly over my wings.

  I hardly had time to shift before I burst through the doors of the mansion. Onyx and Ruby were in the front room, and both jumped from their seat on the sofa. Peran was speaking with Frenrir. I snarled at the elder’s spy, but I wanted him to witness what came next.

  “Konrad!” I shrieked. “Eisha, where are you!”

  “Jade,” Raffi’s voice drew my attention to the dining room wh
ere Teagan sat, an ice pack pressed to his lip. He studied me with a worried brow. Athika sat across from him at the table, between the two warriors who were once again eating. I was so angry, I didn’t even care that she was there. “What’s wrong?”

  Eisha and Konrad rushed into the room.

  “Jade, you’re so flustered,” Eisha said, clutching one cheek as she studied my face. “What has happened?”

  “I claim the throne,” I snarled. The room silenced so that a pin could be heard dropping from the upper floor. “I claim the throne. What must I do to rise as queen?”

  Sapphire stepped forward, his dark eyes determined and, I thought, slightly proud. “We hold the ceremony. You will be our protector, Jade. It could disintegrate the protection of the willow. Remember what I said. Everyone will know our location.”

  “Fine,” I snapped. “We evacuate the humans.”

  “Magis?”

  I nodded. “We relocate everyone. Tonight. Tomorrow we make it known the Queen of Jade is on the throne and all decisions are once more given to the royal wyverns.”

  Eisha clutched her chest, and I saw glistening tears brim along her eyes. “You are your mother’s daughter.”

  I was. I was queen, and as my eyes landed on Teagan, only he could see something truly had happened to bring such a rabid decision. It was for him—I would risk it all for him. Something in the back of my mind told me I was about to risk everything. I also knew I might possibly lose everything.

  Chapter 13

  Manipulation on the scale of evacuating an entire town was agonizing. My body trembled every time I touched one of the doors of each home along the roads. Teagan clutched my hand when I felt as though I might not be able to go on. Our connection added strength to the task. Five homes remained on the final street on the human side of the district, but there were a few straggling magis, on the other side, too.

  My chest burned, as though the mountain had been placed on top, and I gasped for each breath.

  Teagan’s arm around my shoulders offered comfort, but even as I clutched his waist and rested my head on his chest, it seemed as though I would die from lack of energy if I touched another foundation.

  “Jade,” Mitch said from behind me. “Maybe I can help.”

  I lifted a brow. “You?”

  One corner of his lips twisted into a grin. “I’m pretty good and have manipulation magic.”

  Why hadn’t I thought of Mitch before? I could’ve kissed him. Hot tears blurred my eyes as I nodded. I held firmly to Teagan, refocused. Mitch faced the magis barrier. He raised his hands and a ghostly pale light coiled around his fingers.

  I faced the last human houses. With the burden of the final magis folk off my shoulders, the energy trickled down the hillside with ease. In the distance taillights disappeared down the roads. Fading fireflies, as humans and magis had the sudden urge to abandon their homes, to visit family, to flee to other districts. Whatever thought would motivate them most, I forced them to have it.

  “Here comes those stubborn pissants,” Mitch said with a laugh. A rumble of rusty, bumbling pickup trucks came into sight. The shudder of the magis barrier glowed as the last pack of wolvyn sped away from the willow, some howling, some whimpering outside their windows. Hard as it was to leave, at least they would be safe.

  Mitch clutched his middle, a little unsteady on his feet. “Take that forest fae. Tell me again, changelings can’t mesmerize!”

  I grinned, empowered. Five more homes to go. My hand trembled as I reached out.

  “No more, Jade,” Teagan whispered, pressing a kiss to my head.

  “I can’t leave them.”

  “Let me do it,” he replied.

  Teagan released my body and my knees buckled a bit. Sapphire took hold of me, helping me stand straighter. Teagan stepped forward, his gaze finding Athika. My heart sank. I was going to become queen, I should be able to finish this task without pushing Teagan to Athika. I squirmed, but Sapphire wouldn’t release me.

  “Jade, let it be,” he whispered. “It doesn’t show weakness knowing when to ask for help. I would think you weak if you insisted on doing this all on your own.”

  “I won’t be able to do it as pleasant as Jade,” Teagan shouted to the group. “Does anyone have any issues with how we have to get these people out of town?”

  No one protested.

  With a final glance in my direction, Teagan lowered to his haunches and placed his hand along the earth. Athika followed suit, though at a greater distance down the road. When Teagan closed his eyes and focused, the ground slid. The soil rumbled, and the entire mountainside burst to life. Thundering rocks tumbled down the hillside landing precariously close to the homes. The road split in two. Teagan shouted to Athika to push harder. The wood siding along the cabins split, some logs ripping from the walls. All the porches shifted and sagged from the pulse of energy ripping apart the neighborhood.

  Next came the screams.

  Teagan held up one hand, and a hydrant near the end of the road burst with frigid water spraying like a geyser into the sky. An odor of gas perfumed the air. The scent so strong the back of my throat ached.

  In the corner of my eye, Onyx went to the hydrant. He bowed his head but touched nothing. The geyser ceased, but the ground rose in standing water. He sent it to the homes below us, flooding their lower windows and basements.

  Ruby followed the example. She rolled her palms, and when her fingers were once more aimed at the sky, each palm cupped a flaming ball of white fire. Ruby sniffed the air and moved to where the scent of gas was greatest. In an explosive blast, the fireballs erupted into wild flames. Ruby drifted to the shadows where she could contain the fire so it wouldn’t approach the innocent people, but it would be enough to frighten them.

  The first house lost its door when a shouting father tore outside, a young child against his chest, followed by a large, barking dog and a mother with two older children. They darted for their cars, not noticing Teagan and Athika slipping down the street to take cover in the dark forest. All the people noted was the fire, the water, and the broken earth.

  While others escaped their crumbling homes, I knelt against the cold grass, and with what final strength I had, manipulated their ideas so the people might never return. It seemed so drastic, but in the deepest parts of my heart I didn’t know how a battle with Nag would end.

  Wyvern Willows was ghostly quiet. Darkness engulfed the town, but it was empty. Only those who understood what was coming remained.

  “Well done, my queen,” Onyx said lightly.

  “I’ve never seen you control your elements,” I whispered to Ruby and Onyx.

  “I don’t often,” Ruby admitted. “But I enjoyed it.” With a wave of her hand, the fires eased. “I thought Konrad might blow the fires about too much if he joined in.”

  Sapphire scoffed. “I once enjoyed showing off my talents with wind, but I’m not a fool.”

  Teagan came to me and brushed a lock of hair off my face. “It’s all done. You did it, now Nag can’t hurt anyone.”

  “My queen,” Frenrir’s nasally voice broke through the tender moment. “I really wish you might allow me to announce to the council.”

  “No, Frenrir. I forbid it—trust me, they will know soon enough, and frankly, I want nothing more to do with those relics.” Frenrir eyed me as though I’d stabbed him through the heart. Even Teagan met my eye with surprise at my bitter tone. “You have a choice, Frenrir. Scurry away and tell the council I will ascend. Or stay and serve your queen.”

  “Be wise for the first time in your life, Frenrir,” Dash grumbled. “The council would rather bury their heads in the sand than face King Nag. Admit it. They want us to rid the world of mages all because of the High Priest. You’ve seen how desperately we need all the help we can get to fight against the lindworms. What’s your choice?”

  “If you choose the council, I’ll personally volunteer to be your escort back to their cave,” Raffi muttered with a mischievous glint in his eye.


  Frenrir swallowed hard and took in every peering eye surrounding him in the night. “I am not your enemy,” he snapped. “Of course I support the royal lines. I was merely suggesting the council be made aware. I’m certain they will be thrilled the throne will be once again intact.”

  “Sure, Frenrir.” I linked my arm with Teagan and turned away. “I’m certain they will be overjoyed.”

  As soon as dawn dusted over the mountaintops, I stood in Eisha’s room as she wrapped a gilded robe around my shoulders.

  “You look beautiful,” she crooned. “Are you certain you want to do this in human form?”

  I nodded. “I don’t mind if everyone else is in true form, but I want Teagan and Athika to understand what is going on.”

  “As you say,” Eisha whispered. “I will remain in human form to explain the proceedings. Are you ready?”

  “I don’t wish to waste another moment.”

  Outside on the lawn there was a beautiful archway lined in jade drapes. Onyx and Ruby stood with their focus straight ahead, Sapphire on the other side of the arch. Each royal was in wyvern form, and their unique, colorful scales gleamed beautifully beneath the rising sun. Raffi and Dash were on either side of a satin runner that began at the steps and spanned the lawn toward the archway. Both warriors were strapped in warrior chains around their thick necks. The warrior symbol of an open-mouthed wyvern breathing torrential fire had always been one of my favorite markings of our people.

  Raffi lowered his head, his eyes closing and his massive russet wings folding in submission when I stepped onto the front porch. Dash followed suit, his black wings resting along his back scales until I took the ceremonial steps ahead of my warriors.

  How it was explained to me, in days long gone, the ascent to the throne would have the entire wyvern army on each flank of the rising royal. I wouldn’t want any other warriors walking one step behind me other than Raffi and Dash. Their heavy wyvern forms shook the earth as they tromped behind me.