by LJ Andrews
I nodded, feeling a suffocating ball tighten in the back of my throat. “I’ve thought poorly of her ever since I learned she might be alive.”
Thane stopped walking and squared his shoulders to me, his strong hands holding both my shoulders.
“You should not feel any shame,” he growled, as though he sensed every guilty emotion. “Don’t feel shame for thoughts you’ve had when you didn’t know the truth. You didn’t know why your mother left you then, but you know the truth now. You were loved. Gaia risked her life to keep you safe. And I promise she would do it again.”
Thane released me, his eyes bright with passion. I swallowed hard and followed him into a large hut.
Inside there were at least a dozen people. I recognized them as mages immediately. Most had similar markings like mine along their skin, though the colors weren’t vibrant. Instead the armor was gilded and brown, like the earth. I’d never given it a thought, but it was obvious not all mages had a bloodline color. Fascinating.
“Thane,” I whispered before we went any further toward the curious eyes. “I don’t want to be called the High Priest.”
Thane lifted a brow.
I licked my lips and went on. “That was Bron’s title. Can’t I just be Teagan, or the Jade Mage, or something?”
Thane nodded, a pleased grin on his face. “Of course.” He faced the small huddle of mages. “I know you’ve all been wondering. I’d like to introduce you to Teagan, the Jade Mage and son of Gaia.”
One mage glanced at us with tearful eyes. Thane stepped back, leaning against the wall with his powerful arms folded over his broad chest. He simply laughed as I was surrounded by mage after mage. Most lifted my sleeves to inspect my jade markings. One woman kissed me square on the mouth before patting my cheek like she’d known me her entire life. An ancient mage tousled my hair and pressed my cheek in the folds of her robes. It was strange, slightly awkward, but I’d never felt so at peace with the idea that I was a mage and I had the support of every mage in the cave. With their help, with Thane, I dared believe I would find Jade. And King Nag, Bron, all lindworms would be out of our lives forever.
Chapter 21
Mitch twirled a knife with a black hilt. The steel blade was lined in gold, much like Raffi’s blade he kept on his waist. Thane hadn’t accepted his sword from Raffi.
“Your charge isn’t over,” Thane explained. “I gave you the sword to protect the queen. Is she protected?”
Raffi’s cheeks flushed deep crimson at the question. I found it interesting how the warriors spoke sometimes. Responding with questions to give the warrior time to think. Raffi gripped the dragon pommel with pride and woke the next morning with a new determination to find Jade.
We lined the table that was spotted with other warriors and mages, all eating and going about the day as normal, but I couldn’t shake the occasional curious glances. Most of the warriors said nothing, the mages though—the entire morning I’d randomly be pulled into a fierce embrace, or my face would be coated in kisses.
“Why do they act like I’ve come back from the dead?” I asked Thane when he and Leoch joined us at the table.
He laughed, eyeing a gaggle of mage women whisper and wipe tears from their eyes when they walked behind me. “They remember you. I thought you realized—all of us lived with you when you were small. So, in a way, you have come back from the dead. Gaia raised you for years before hiding you.”
My brow furrowed and my heart pounded in my chest. “How is it I can’t remember?”
Thane leaned back in his chair, tapping his fingers along a golden goblet. “Gaia’s protection kept the truth from you. The more you knew, the more energy you would emit. She worried Bron would find you before she was supposed to reunite with you.”
I didn’t ask any more questions, but Thane occasionally glanced at me as though trying to determine my reaction. Honestly, I wasn’t sure how I felt. I tried to grapple with the idea Gaia left me to protect me, but it was still a constant ache to think of what might have been had we never been separated.
“Jade will be fascinated to hear everything you’ve learned,” Raffi mumbled through bites of meat. “When we get her back, of course.”
“What about the other royals?” Mitch asked, tapping the blade of the knife along the edge of the massive wooden table. Too large to fit inside any normal room. But the cave was endless; I was starting to think the mages had manipulated the earth somehow to create such a place. I hadn’t asked, but there was a powerful energy surrounding the warriors’ haven.
“What do you mean?” Raffi asked.
“I mean, is there a way we can find out if Sapphire and Eisha made it to Onyx’s place? Have none of you been worrying about them?”
I bit the inside of my cheek and glanced at Athika, who wrapped her arms around Mitch’s shoulders and said, “I’m sorry, I never thought to tell you. I’ve spoken with Ruby.”
Mitch’s eyes narrowed and he leaned closer. “When and how?”
Athika laughed, even Thane smirked a bit. “We have the mage and royal bond, Mitch. We can feel things. I told Teagan, I suppose I should have informed you and Raffi.”
Raffi shook his head. “Dash already sent word to me. Same thing. Warrior bonds, I guess you could say.”
Mitch sighed and tossed his hands in the air. “Look, I’m the only one without some supernatural dragon connection, so you guys need to make a little effort to keep me in the loop!”
Thane chuckled and glanced at Leoch. “I like this fae.”
“Yeah, everyone likes the fae, just no one tells the fae anything,” Mitch grumbled, tapping the edge of the knife in a rhythm.
“Sorry, man,” I said. “I’ll personally remember to let you know if anything changes.”
“Good,” Mitch snapped. “I care too, you know. Sapphire has practically raised me the last few years.”
“I promise.” Glancing across the table to Thane, I leaned forward and lowered my voice. “So, since we’ve come, you seem to believe we can find the High—I mean, Gaia, now. Why is that?”
Thane smiled, and he seemed completely different since that first tense meeting. He was relaxed and spoke with me easily. In a lot of ways, Raffi reminded me of Thane. Both were fierce but had a soft soul when the layers were pulled away.
“Because of you, Teagan.” Thane placed his hands on the table. “We’ve been searching for the lost mages for years, as you know. Gaia is no fool, she surely has been trying to break through Bron’s prison. Every so often I would sense some sort of power she was emitting—calling to us, I guess you could say.”
“But you don’t feel it anymore?”
Thane sighed. “The reason I hadn’t changed forms in so many years is because I can feel mage power easier when I’m in this form.”
“Thane is an empath, like the High Priestess,” Leoch explained.
“I’m not near the empath Gaia is, but I am sensitive to emotions,” he said. “But back to your question. I haven’t felt the jade power for so long. I think distance and time, possibly Bron’s interference, has something to do with it. Until a few months ago—something shifted, and I sensed Gaia’s power as though she were right outside.” Thane smiled, his eyes locking with mine. “But after Yaba returned with no news of the High Priestess, I’m certain the power I felt was you. If you’re curious, Yaba’s correspondence she was bringing to me spoke of Bron and that he’d returned. When you came here we were in the process of deciding how to stand against the dark High Priest once more. Most of us in this cave have a score to settle with that mage.”
I leaned back in my seat, pushing around a few small grapes I’d taken for breakfast. “So, my power feels like Gaia’s?”
Thane nodded. “Nearly identical. Though now that you’re here, I can see and feel differences. We all can.”
“I still don’t see how we can help find her,” I muttered.
Athika groaned, her sly grin finding me. “Teagan, you have the same power. That’s what Thane is s
aying. He can sense her power because he is an empath, but it would be nothing compared to what you would feel. If she is still emitting her energy, you could find it and follow the trail. Am I explaining it right, Thane?”
He nodded and focused on me, his smile fading. “It’s true. We have a general direction before Bron’s warding disorients us from going any farther. You could break through his enchantments. You could help us finally find the mages. If you’re willing, of course.”
I nodded, my heart thudding like stomping hooves in my chest. “Yes.” I would help immediately if Thane asked—she was my mother, after all. “I’ll help. I’ll do anything to free them, but what happens when we find them? Gaia is the High Priestess, and she can’t escape Bron’s prison. What’s to say I’ll be able to help release her even if we find her?”
Leoch took a long gulp of his drink. Thane cleared his throat, and his easy smile returned. “There is a power when families are united entirely. I can’t know for certain, but what the mages have told me—if the power of your connection is reunited with Gaia’s and . . . well, it would be more powerful than anything Bron could conjure.”
My stomach flipped with a thrill. This was happening. I could practically taste the end when we would have the entire wyvern army, the High Priestess, and her people. I would see Jade again. I would meet my family I’d lost so long ago.
I beamed stupidly at Raffi. “We’re going to get Jade back. The lindworms won’t be able to stop us.”
Athika let out a long, irritated sigh. “You should be thrilled to meet your mother.”
“What’s your problem?” Mitch asked, nudging her shoulder.
“As I’ve explained to Teagan, Jade most likely is already mated with Prince Ced—”
“Athika,” I warned, fists clenched.
“No,” she insisted. “I’ll have the mage and warriors to back me up on my feelings now. Teagan, we must protect the queen if she wants to be protected. But you must be ready to accept that the romantic bond will not be the same. You already said you don’t feel the connection with her energy. Perhaps it’s how she wants it. Maybe it’s time to realize you have a mage bond and that’s all. I don’t want you to be disappointed.”
“You’re crossing a line,” Raffi grumbled. A first, really, to hear Raffi defend my love for Jade. I hoped he’d do it more often.
Athika was undeterred. “Mage and wyvern don’t unite as couples and mates. It’s never happened, and I feel you should focus your energy on finding the High Priestess. That is all I’m saying, Teagan.”
“Athika,” I said. “I’ve told you exactly how my bond is with Jade. What’ll it take to get you to believe it?”
“You’re blinded by an emotion. Not a bond! It’s time to realize it was a muddled and confused by the power of your mage and dragon magic.”
“What was muddled?” Thane asked.
Athika sighed, but Raffi spoke instead. “Athika is convinced Teagan and Jade confused their deeper feelings with the destined bond between mage and royal.”
“I believe that because I’m not sure Jade wants to be saved,” Athika said. “I think she saw a powerful union with the Prince of Night and took the opportunity.”
“Hey, Jade isn’t like that,” Mitch said. “You make it seem like she used Teagan until she found another bed to take.”
Athika shrugged and took a drink. “Fight me on this if you want, but romantic bonds don’t happen between races—they’ve never happened.”
Thane stared at Athika, then slowly rose from the table, Leoch following.
“You’re wrong,” he said, piquing everyone’s attention. “It has happened. I’ve seen it.”
Thane backed away, offering a glance at the table that silenced any questions, though at least a hundred tumbled in my head.
“Wait, Thane,” I called, shoving back from my seat to catch up to him. “What did you mean back there?”
Thane paused, a fierceness in his gaze. “All I will say is I’ve seen the mage and wyvern race join as mates. As you have with the queen.”
“When? Who was it?” I asked.
“It was a long time ago, Teagan. What’s important is that it happened. So don’t worry what others might say about you, or Queen Jade, or anything like that,” Thane said through a small grin.
I smiled—how could I not? Eisha’s fears about Thane being unwilling to save Jade faded faster than a brush of wind. Clearing my throat, I finally dared ask what had been on my mind through most of the night. “Thane, I have to get Jade back, but I can’t do it alone. I’ve been thinking, if Bron trapped Gaia, then it will be a challenge getting her out. There could be protections around her.”
Thane nodded. “I’m positive it will be lined with lindworms and possibly mages who followed Bron.”
I swallowed hard and stepped a few inches closer. “I’m anxious to find her like I’m anxious to find Jade, but I’m not stupid enough to think I can waltz in and just take them away. I have a lot to learn. This is all still pretty new to me.”
“What are you asking, Teagan?”
“Will you teach me to fight? Like the warriors. Raffi and Dash have taught me a lot, but you’ve fought with mage before. You’ve fought against Bron and King Nag. Will you help me?”
Thane smiled and shifted on his feet a bit, as though the request pleased him above all else. “It would be an honor fighting with the jade mage again. Yes, I will train with you. We don’t have much time, so be prepared for grueling schedules.”
“I’m up for it,” I insisted. “I’ll do what needs to be done.”
Thane clapped my shoulder again and nodded. “Then go get your weapons. We’ll start now.”
Chapter 22
Raffi was overjoyed to be donned in heavy steel and leather armor, standing in the wide battle den. The space was more than a den. It was an enormous arena. The pit was deep into the cave, so the top of the cavern was at least a mile above us. The mage coming to spar ignited numerous iron sconces with brilliant, colorful flames. I smiled, running my hand through a fierce blue fire. The flames embraced my skin, but didn’t burn any flesh. An invigorating pulse of power erupted along my arm, and I watched as the jade marks glimmered like gold on my skin.
“The energy responds to you,” said Thane. The lead warrior had once more covered his arms entirely in thin furs, but had added leather bracers around his taut forearms. Thane had an enormous sword sheathed on his back. The pommel was a piece of amethyst cut so the different hues gleamed like magic in the colorful firelight. Thane looked exactly how I would picture a wyvern warrior.
I tugged my hand from the flames and checked the sheath on my back where the blades crossed over my shoulders. “I’m sure most of the mage here could do that.”
Thane shook his head. “You haven’t embraced how powerful you are. Never second guess what you can do.”
I stiffened when Thane pressed a finger against my chest, pointing to my heart. A shuddering rush of energy seared my blood to the point I had to hold my breath until the sensation passed.
“You will know inside what to do if you accept your ability. Understand you are unique to all the mages. You’re Gaia’s son, but you also restored a bloodline that was severed. It may not seem like it now, but I would bet my life you’re more powerful than Bron and your mother. But you must believe it.”
“How do you know so much about the mage?” I asked as I followed him into the center of the arena.
“I’ve lived among them most of my life and was in constant contact with Gaia after the divide.”
“The divide?”
“It’s what we call when the royals went into hiding. The divide of our people—our races.”
“Right,” I said, feeling sheepish. I’d heard the term many times before.
Surrounding us were numerous warriors in full wyvern form. Each one unique. Some were coated in black scales like Dash, others more earth-toned like Raffi. Then there were some that were electrifying in yellow, or fiery reds. I even
saw an ashen warrior whose scales shifted from taupe to black, then to a sooty color depending on where the light struck his scales.
At Thane’s side, Leoch shifted for the first time since I’d come. He was enormous, with long fangs that spilled over his blue lips. His color almost reminded me of Sapphire, but it was darker, like an undisturbed lake. Sapphire’s color was rich and regal.
Raffi remained in human form—though I suspected if Thane would have shifted, Raffi would immediately change his body. Athika stomped into the arena with Mitch. She hadn’t said anything to me since Thane had dissolved her argument about Jade. Perhaps it was a little vindictive, but I really enjoyed the way her face had fallen.
“You keep clear of warriors in full form,” Thane muttered to Mitch.
Mitch chuckled. “I’m pretty good at dodging things. Athika promised she’d teach me how to handle knives a little better.”
“How did he get involved?” Thane asked once we drifted away from Athika and Mitch. “Were you friends before the armor appeared?”
I glanced at Mitch who threw a knife—pretty accurately—at a thick wooden beam. “Yeah, but just barely. We met at Sapphire’s reform house.”
Thane furrowed his brow. “As in Konrad Sapphire?”
I smiled, realizing even more how cut off the warriors had been from their people. “Yeah, while he was trapped in his human form he started a house for . . . those with a rebellious nature, I guess.”
Thane studied me, unsheathing his blade slowly. “I’m intrigued. Tell me, what exactly brought you to Wyvern Willows?”
I wasn’t sure why I was so nervous to admit that I’d landed in Sapphire’s care because I’d been arrested. Raffi had told Thane about Aunt Liz, but never mentioned the twisted fate of how I ended up with the royals to begin with. I’d blurted it out to Leoch, but clearly he hadn’t relayed it to the lead warrior.
Thane stalked me in a circle. He rolled the heavy blade in his hand like it was nothing but a twig.
I rolled my shoulders back. “I got into some trouble, was arrested, and sent to Sapphire. He was supposed to straighten me out, I guess. Instead, I became a mage.”