by Tyler Wild
Her eyes glazed over, and the tension released from her body.
“Stand down,” I commanded.
“Never!” she said, fighting the compulsion. For a moment, I thought she was going to incinerate me. Then she mellowed and laid down.
“Shift into your human form,” I commanded.
Before my eyes, she transformed into the gorgeous redheaded woman that I remembered. She was covered in blood. The wounds I inflicted on her wings now appeared on her back. Her arm was broken and her body was black with bruises.
I wasn’t sure how long the fairy dust was going to work on her. I had to storm the citadel before she became a threat again.
While I was off careening through the sky, fighting the dragon, the trees had crossed the moat. They climbed atop one another, scaling the walls of the cliff, reaching the top of the battlements.
I swam across the moat and joined the girls at the base of the cliff. They were still alive and in one piece. Grombly had taken a hell of a beating, but he didn’t suffer any serious injuries.
There was no time for a joyful reunion. I started climbing the trees, making my way toward the battlements. Several of the trees had already scaled the walls of the castle and were busy devastating Evron’s guards.
By the time I scaled the parapet, bodies lay strewn about the court. Sensing victory, the citizens had revolted against the guards, and they showed them no mercy.
I knew there was only one place Evron could be—locked safely in his chamber. He was never one to lead from the front. Even with the dragon at his side, he would stay sheltered from the fray.
I stormed the palace and spiraled my way up the tower to what once was my father’s chamber. There was a small cadre of guards posted at his chamber door.
“Stand aside, and I will spare your lives,” I shouted.
The guards exchanged a wary glance and hesitated.
“The dragon is no longer under Evron’s command. His reign is over.”
Their faces went pale. They exchanged another glance, then dropped their swords and ran. The metal blades clattered against the tile, and I couldn’t help but grin.
I strolled down the hall and put my shoulder into the door, ramming it until the wood splintered and the hinges bent. I burst in the chamber to see Evron cowering in the corner.
His sword shook in his hand. He screamed, and his voice trembled as much as his hand, “Aurora!”
“She’s not coming to save you.” I gripped Asgoth tight. I’m not quite sure who was more excited, me or my sword. We both quivered with excitement. Revenge would taste sweet for both of us.
Evron was horrible with a blade. This fight wouldn’t last two seconds, and he knew it.
Evron tossed his blade aside and knelt before me. “I beg for your compassion and mercy! Spare my life. You can lock me in the dungeon for all eternity, but please do not kill me. It was Malvina’s idea. She made me do it. She compelled me with her evil magic. Please brother! You have no idea the pain I feel every day. The sense of loss. The horror and shame. I have slain my father. My own flesh and blood. It haunts me.” He glanced up at me with sad puppy dog eyes. “Do not make the same mistake, brother. We are family.”
I stared at the sad pathetic man.
“You’re not going to go soft on me, are you?” Asgoth said.
Evron reached into his pocket and pulled out a handful of the green powder he used to knock me out before. He wouldn’t be successful this time.
“Hell no,” I muttered to Asgoth.
With all my might I swung the sword, severing my brother’s head before he could blow the powder in my direction. His body smacked the floor, and his head rolled underneath the bed. Blood oozed from his neck.
Aurora no longer had a master. And Pernberry was no longer ruled by a tyrant.
I grinned. I felt no remorse. No guilt. I only regretted that I hadn’t killed him sooner.
Fuck that guy.
90
Kron
With a fistful of his hair, Evron’s head dangled from my grasp. I held it over the balcony for all to see and announced that I had taken the throne.
There was much rejoicing.
I tossed his ugly mug to the street below. It splattered like a watermelon, and people kicked it about like a ball.
Malvina was nowhere to be found. If she was smart, she would never cross my path again. But I was sure I hadn’t heard the last of her. Her greed and wickedness were too great. She would find a way to challenge my reign.
I welcomed the challenge.
The girls joined me in the chamber and we each shared a long embrace. A few minor cuts and scraps, but my warriors were still alive, and in one piece. My little demigod was frazzled, but in good spirits.
“This is a much nicer palace than Phaedra’s,” Jayna said. I could get used to this. She smiled.
“I could too,” Cassandra said.
“Does this mean...”
She smiled. “Well, I am a princess. It seems only fitting that I should become a Queen.”
That drew the ire of the other two.
“I’m his Queen,” Jayna insisted.
“You are all my Queens,” I assured.
“I couldn't care less what my title is,” Sophia said. “Just as long as you keep me satisfied.” A naughty smile curled on her luscious lips. “But Queen doesn’t sound too bad.”
“I want a title,” Grombly said.
“How about the general of my army?”
The little goblin smiled. “It would be an honor, my Lord.” He bowed before me.
“If you’ll excuse me, I have one last thing to do.” I marched out of the chamber.
“Where are you going?” Cassandra asked.
“To see if I can right a wrong.”
Cassandra’s face crinkled with confusion.
The girls and Grombly followed.
We marched out of the castle and found Aurora. She still lay exactly where I told her to stay.
She didn’t look well.
Her face was pale, and she had lost a lot of blood. Her thoracic cavity was full of edema and swelling. The poor girl struggled to breathe. Air wheezed through her lungs, then she drew her final breath. Her eyes went blank and her body lay still.
The last dragon shifter had left the earthly realm.
I knelt beside her and pulled the resurrection potion from my pocket.
“What are you doing?” Cassandra asked.
“This wasn’t her fault.” I said.
I grabbed her jaw and parted Aurora’s lips.
“Didn’t we just use all of our efforts to destroy her?”
“She’s not an evil person,” I said. “She was only doing Evron’s will. She’s innocent.”
I got her into this situation, and I felt like I owed it to her to do everything in my power to save her life—even though I wasn’t sure what that would mean in the long term. Where would her allegiance lie now? And would she want revenge on me?
Rage boiled on Cassandra’s face. “This innocent girl killed my family and destroyed my home!” Her cheeks reddened and tears streamed down her face. “Don’t you dare bring her back!”
“She didn’t have a choice in the matter. Hasn’t there been enough death?”
“Bringing her back will only create more.” Her eyes filled with betrayal. “I can’t believe you would even consider this.”
“I’m just trying to do what’s right.”
“Fine. Bring her back. But you’ll lose me.” Her hair twirled as she turned around and stormed back the castle.
“Cassandra! Wait!”
“Way to go, slick,” Sophia said.
I grimaced.
91
Kron
“I’ll go talk to her,” Sofia said.
“No. This is my mess,” I said. “I’ll fix it.”
I chased after Cassandra. “I know you’re totally against this. And you got every right to be.”
She ignored me and kept walking. I ran in front of
her and blocked her path. “Just listen to me.”
She folded her arms and glared at me.
“Make a choice. Her or me?”
“You. Without a doubt. But—”
“No buts. We’re talking about my entire race. Gone because of her.”
“Because of Evron.”
“One and the same. She is no longer loyal to him now that he’s dead.”
Her eyes narrowed at me. “Why do you want to bring her back? So you can have a dragon to control? Or do you just want to fuck her?” She flung her hands in the air. “I mean, I’ve come to grips with the fact that I’m not going to be your only one, but you can’t expect me to share you with someone who has caused such harm?”
“Whoa! Hang on. Who said anything about that? I just want to give her a chance at life. I have no designs on her. She can only be bonded once. She will never again be able to transform into a dragon.”
Cassandra arched a curious eyebrow. “I didn’t know that.”
“The girl has been enslaved since she was a child, stolen from her mother. I think it’s time she lived life on her own terms.”
Cassandra thought about it for a long moment. She took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and tried to center herself. She fumbled for words. “I guess this is an… opportunity for me to learn… forgiveness.”
I felt relieved.
“But if anything goes wrong, it’s your ass.”
I grinned. “What could go wrong?”
Cassandra rolled her eyes.
We returned to Aurora’s corpse. I poured the potion into her mouth and waited. Nothing happened for a few moments.
Suddenly, the lacerations on Aurora’s back healed before our eyes, leaving no scar. Her bruises faded. Her broken forearm straightened.
Aurora’s eyelids fluttered open, and she took a deep breath. She looked around, dazed, not sure what happened.
I took Aurora’s hand. “You are free now. Your master is no more.”
“I know,” she said, able to sense it. She still looked weak and frail. “You brought me back? Why?”
I shrugged. “Glutton for punishment, I guess.”
A soft smile curled her lips.
“For the first time, you are free to choose your own destiny. You may stay here in Pernberry, if you like. Or you may venture out, in which case I will provide you with a horse and the necessary supplies.”
She looked at me with a degree of skepticism. “Why would you be kind to me after what I’ve done?”
“It’s time for all of us to heal from this tragedy.”
I scooped her from the ground and carried her in my arms into the citadel, taking her to a spare room in my castle. I placed her in bed and stayed with her for a while. She dozed off, and I watched her sleep peacefully.
I left Aurora in Grombly’s care and took the main stairwell, descending to the dungeon. I knew that anyone loyal to me would likely be executed or imprisoned.
I was hoping for the latter.
Executing a slew of people wouldn’t have looked good in the public eye. Evron would have wanted to maintain a smooth transition of power without upsetting the residents of the citadel.
At least, that was my hope.
Every cell in the dungeon was full. The putrid stench of humans packed in a small space with little to no hygiene smacked me in the face the minute I opened the door. The air was hot and muggy from sweaty bodies packed tightly. Coughs and sniffles echoed throughout the chambers. Any time masses of people were packed so tightly in unsanitary conditions, disease ran rampant.
I looked through the cells and recognized many familiar faces. Since I had no way of knowing who had been imprisoned in the dungeon for valid reasons, I released everyone.
Amid the crowd, I saw Carvin, slumped in a corner, leaning against the wall. I was relieved to find he was still alive, but he was pale and sickly.
His eyes brightened when he saw me, and I helped the frail man to his feet.
“I never thought I’d see you again,” he said. “I’m glad you’re back.”
“I thought they might have killed you,” I said.
“I think Evron was trying. The slow painful way.”
I helped him out of the dungeon. He looked like he hadn’t eaten since last I saw him. “Are you hungry?”
“I could eat a troll.”
We laughed.
“Good. Because tonight we feast!”
The first thing Carvin wanted to do was step outside. After weeks in a dank dungeon, he was in desperate need of sunlight and fresh air. He squinted in the bright sun as he stepped into the court. He took a deep breath and filled his lungs, then exhaled. “It’s good to breathe free air.”
“Indeed, my friend.”
That night we threw the most extravagant feast Pernberry had ever seen. The banquet hall was filled to capacity. We indulged, and overindulged, in food and drink. With our bellies full, we enjoyed music and watched the revelers dance. Grombly drank twice his weight in ale, and Carvin never stopped eating.
Cassandra and Sophia sat on either side of me, each one vying for my affection. Jayna pouted, the odd one out.
“Don’t forget what you promised me,” Cassandra said.
My curious eyes gazed at her. I fumbled for words, having no clue what she was talking about. “I would never forget any of my promises. Which one in particular are you referring to?”
“My ring. It is still with the innkeeper in Locsava. With any luck, he hasn’t pawned it yet. I want it back.”
“I will get you ring back if I have to travel to the underworld and back,” I said with a smile.
“And I want to go to Zenduria. I need to see it for myself.”
“We will set out tomorrow, if that is your wish?”
Cassandra smiled. “Not tomorrow. I think we should have a few days of rest and relaxation.”
“I think we should have a lifetime of rest and relaxation. After we get your ring back.”
I was surprised to see Aurora join us for the feast. She took an awkward seat beside Cassandra. The elf’s body tensed, and her hands balled into fists. She took a deep breath to steady herself.
I whispered in her ear, “Forgiveness, remember?”
Cassandra forced a smile. “Easy for you to say.”
The elf took a deep breath and turned to the dragon-shifter, and put on a happy face. “Welcome to our table. Please, make yourself at home.”
I know it must have been like pulling teeth for her.
Aurora burst into tears. “I’m so sorry for what I’ve done.”
She stood up and ran from the table, too embarrassed to stay.
“Great. It seems I’m going to be looking after a sensitive dragon.” Cassandra stood up and placed her napkin on the table.
“Better you than me,” Sophia said. “You are more nurturing than I am.”
Cassandra rolled her eyes. “Why do I have to be the responsible one?”
“Because I’m the fun one?” Sophia smiled.
Cassandra rolled her eyes and chased after Aurora.
Jayna took the opportunity to take her seat next to me. She wrapped her arm around me and snuggled up. “Finally! She’s been hogging you all afternoon.”
“There is plenty of me to go around,” I said with a grin.
Before long, Cassandra returned with Aurora. She did her best to be kind and forgiving, but it was going to take a long time to truly heal.
I lifted a glass, toasting my companions. “To Lily!”
The girls’ raised their glasses. “To Lily!”
“Who’s Lily?” Jayna asked.
“A dear friend we lost on the journey,” Cassandra said.
“A journey that you wouldn’t have been on if not for me,” Aurora added. She hung her head in shame.
Cassandra smiled. “Lily would want us to be happy and love one another.”
“I’ll drink to that,” Sophia said. A naughty glint flickered in her eyes. “I say we get busy with the loving.”
“Is that all you think about?” Cassandra asked.
“Yes,” Sophia replied. “Basically.”
“So, you two share him at the same time?” Jayna asked.
“On occasion,” Sophia replied. “Isn’t that right, Cassandra?”
Her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. “Yes,” she stammered. ”On occasion.”
Jayna arched a curious eyebrow. “Interesting.” She thought about it for a moment. “What the hell, I’m game.” Then she paused. “Wait. You didn’t have sex with my dad, did you? Cause, that would be weird.”
“No,” Sophia said. “He tried. But I was the one holding all the strings.”
Sophia grinned mischievously.
The celebration would continue into the wee hours of the morning, but it was time for me to spread my affection about my girls.
“Kron, can I speak with you for a moment? In private?” Aurora asked.
We excused ourselves and stepped out of the banquet hall.
“I want to thank you for bringing me back from the dead, and offering your hospitality,” Aurora said. “It’s not every day something like that happens. But I don’t know if I can face those people every day, knowing what I’ve done.”
She had a grim look on her face.
“I think if you stay, it will give you an opportunity to face those demons. If you leave, they may haunt you forever. But the decision is up to you. Take your time and think about it. I’m sure the right choice will make itself clear to you in time.”
She nodded. Aurora lifted on her tiptoes and kissed me on the cheek. “Thank you.”
She returned to her guest room.
I told Grombly to look after Aurora, then grabbed the girls from the banquet hall and retired to my chamber. That’s where the real celebration began.
“I’ve never had a foursome before,” Jayna said.
Sophia rolled her eyes. “Save it, sister. I’ve seen what goes on in Valinsmor.”
“Well, I may have had a few youthful indiscretions,” Jayna said, feigning innocence.
“Loose the dress, cupcake,” Sophia commanded.
“Well, if you insist.” She slipped her gown from her shoulders. Her beautiful breasts bounced free.