by L J Andrews
Though he was reluctant, Thane stood at the head of the fire. “Tonight is our night to pay homage for those who died—those who died for our people. Who will begin?”
It was quiet for a moment, but slowly, Ruby rose from her spot next to Athika and Onyx’s two brothers. “I honor Onyx. Loyal, fierce, and true.”
Ruby tossed gold dust into the flames.
Raffi stood next. “My brother, my friend, my most trusted ally, Dash.” The flames shuddered when he tossed his dust.
Several mages took their turn. Mostly the older mages died when the lindworms invaded the cave. Some died beneath Bron’s assault. A few warriors announced their fallen friends. I was heartbroken when one woman honored her mate, who was also a warrior. It didn’t seem fair. The pit silenced when Ced stood up. No one sneered at him, most watched him curiously. “I would like to honor my lead warrior. My friend, Magnus. He died in place of me. I will always be indebted to his goodness.”
My stomach tumbled for several more minutes of tributes, until finally, I rose from my place. “Aunt Liz. She raised me when I couldn’t be with my family. She took care of me, she loved me. I hope I always make her proud.”
Jade kissed my shoulder when I returned to my seat, and Mitch slapped my back. After the professions of honor, the night lightened. Memories were shared and laughter dared filter back into the cave.
Thane was sitting near the mouth of the cave long after the fire fizzled from the pit. “Hey,” I muttered.
Thane smirked and signaled for me to sit next to him. “I find a sense of peace looking at the stars.”
I chuckled. “I do, too, except you can hardly see the sky with the monstrosity I built.”
Thane smiled, but shook his head. “You saved us,” he said easily. “Your quick thinking, knowing when to abandon a fight, saved many lives. I cannot remember a time when I faced a battle with so hazy a mind as this one. It is beyond my ability to explain how difficult it was to leave you out there alone, but I hope you know I could not be prouder.”
“Thanks, Dad,” I whispered, glancing at the ground. Thane looked at me, his smile widening. “What?”
“You called me Dad,” he nudged my shoulder.
I scoffed and looked at the dark walls trapping us away from the darkness that lay beyond. “You are my dad,” I said, fearing my voice might break again. I’d done more crying (mostly in private) than I’d done in my entire life. “I made sure everyone heard it too—Bron knows how deep the loyalty goes. He’s afraid of you, of Mom, of me. I know it. He beat me out there. I had to run, but I sensed his fear of us.”
“He’s a coward, and he isn’t going to break this family apart ever again. She’ll wake up.” I heard his desperation. “She must wake up.”
“Look, I know…I can understand how devastating this is for you, but you have to promise me, if…if she doesn’t, you won’t give up. You won’t give up because…I still need you. Alright?”
Thane studied me long and hard. “You think I would leave you—that I would will my life away?” He shook his head, his jaw pulsing. “I promise you I will never do that. I promise. Though I may not speak for a few years, and I might be incredibly brooding, I would never do that.”
I smiled. “Good,” I said simply. “That’s good.”
Jade was awake when I came back into the small sleeping space. Slowly, I sat on the edge of the blankets, running my hand through my hair. Her gentle fingers trailed along my back, until her chin rested on my shoulder. “Everything as okay as it can be?”
“Very careful wording?” I teased.
“Well, because things aren’t okay,” she whispered.
I shook my head, reclining back and breathing in her sweet scent when she nestled against my chest. “I’m okay with you. Right now. Jade, this has taught me we aren’t invincible, but we’re strong together. I want to always be together, through everything. Having you at my side against Bron, you’re the reason I even escaped with my life. I need you to know, I love you. With every ounce of energy I possess. I love you.”
Jade’s mouth found mine in the dark. Her palm warmed my cheek and held me fiercely as she kissed me deeper and deeper. I knew things weren’t okay. We both did. There was a chance my mother might never wake up. Bron knew where we were hidden. It was only a matter of time before we met again. I didn’t know if I would win. It was a real possibility that I might die at his hands. But tonight, this night, I would hold Jade close. I would give her my heart, and I would live to fight another day.
King Nag’s Manor—Three days later
Bron stomped down to the lower prisons. Nag was displeased with his worthless warriors who failed to return his sniveling son. The prince was the last of Bron’s worries, but he refused to remain near the king with his ridiculous moaning and slaughter of his own people. His temper would destroy the entire lindworm race before victory could even be acknowledged.
He thought of her—the way her golden eyes hated the very sight of him. The longing she once had was gone. Now, only to be replaced by a disgusting mating with—the warrior. Bron declared in his mind he should have killed Thane before the war against King Lux had ever started. But still Gaia had faced him—for the first time in years, he’d stood face to face with his former wife. She was still as fierce as ever. There was a lost part of him that was a breath of remorseful for poisoning her with the blade. It was a price required to win this fight.
Nag raged for hours over losing the chance at all the elemental stones. The lindworm king’s vision was too narrow. He wanted to wipe out the mages; Bron wasn’t a fool. When the stones were returned, he would rid the world of Nag, and he would rise to the head of all energies. The wyvern, the mage, even the humans would bow to him.
Throwing back the heavy door, Bron shoved a mage out of his path. The man slammed against a cell door, his nose gushing in thick blood in moments. With a wave of his hand, the back cell opened. The man groaned on the floor, his body broken, poisoned, corrupted. It brought a satisfied smirk to his face.
His fierce eyes rose to face the High Priest. Bron knew he was labeled dark, but to him he was just the High Priest—the true leader of the mage race. Bron lowered to his haunches, clutching the man’s chin. He hated him.
The disdain was shared by the way his prisoner’s eyes narrowed and he backed away. Drawing out the black dagger Bron kept in his waist sheath, he enjoyed a little too much the way the visitor squirmed and tried to break away.
“Shhh, now the more you struggle the more I’ll force into your blood.” He gripped the man’s dark hair and carved the blade across his forearm. His painful screams satisfied such a primal part of his soul. The poison would take hold. It would confuse the prisoner, it would change him to where he could be especially useful. When the man slumped against Bron’s chest as the poison took hold, Bron chuckled. “There now. Why don’t we try again? Tell me where you hid the stone, Onyx. If you wish to protect your fellow royals, you’ll tell me.”
When Onyx responded with a hateful hiss, Bron wrenched his head back and dragged the poisonous, burning blade across his pitted collar bone. The smile was refreshing when the lower prisons echoed with agonizing screams. Bron could do it all night—and he planned to until he got exactly what he wanted.
Dear Reader,
The War of Ages begins once more. Bron and his dark mages nearly destroyed everything. Lives were lost, and it means war officially begins.
Teagan and Jade learned the painful lesson that they can’t fight this alone. There are hidden mages, lost dragons, and they need their help winning this war.
But perhaps the biggest question on everyone’s minds—do the elemental dragons still have the power of the High Priestess on their side? Or did she fall to Bron?
Teagan and Jade’s lives will change in more ways than one as the battle wages. Secrets will be kept, hearts will break, and legends will become a reality in the final installment of the Dragon Mage, The Mage of Kings. Read the exciting conclusion February 2019.
Thank you for taking this journey. Prepare for one EPIC ending.
May we all be the good,
LJ
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