Age of Dragons

by Olivia Ash

  “No,” he says quietly, still looking at me.

  Harper wrinkles her nose in disgust, really selling this. “What did you say to me?”

  “I said no!” he barks, his voice tense and commanding as he glares at her. “No honorable man or leader would ever do that, and if that's what it takes to be the general of this place—if that's what Jace had to do to get to where he is now—I want nothing to do with it.”

  Harper squares her shoulders, glaring at him as they stare each other down. Her eyes drift lightly over him as she lets the silence stretch on, daring him to change his mind.

  “Then I guess we're done,” she says darkly. “You've spent the week pushing your limits, torturing yourself, nearly killing yourself twice. Just to turn this down.”

  “That's right,” he says quietly, his fingers curling into fists at his side.

  He radiates regret.

  Disgust.

  Disappointment.

  But this is his boundary. His line. The one thing he won't compromise for anyone.

  Not even her.

  The tense silence carries for another moment or two until Harper lets out a slow breath and smiles broadly. “Thank the gods because I did not want to go through all that again with someone else!”

  Russell, to his credit, leans slightly backward, his brows furrowing in confusion as he studies the Boss’s face.

  Harper looks at me, beaming. But her smile falls as our eyes meet.

  “Why are you mad, girl?” she asks, genuinely baffled. “I told you it was a test. Look, the cuffs aren't even really working.” She pulls a small remote out of her pocket and taps a button on it. The cuffs and handles around my wrists and arms loosen, letting me free.

  That was too similar to my encounter with Ian. It was too wounding—to have a friend even feign betraying my trust like that.

  I wriggle out of the restraints, rubbing my wrists as I stare her down. I take a few menacing steps toward her, still fuming from the grueling experience she just put me through, all with barely any warning.

  Russell steps protectively in front of her, but Harper sets a hand on his arm and gently moves him aside so that she and I can face each other.

  I narrow my eyes at her, still rubbing my wrists from where the iron had dug into my skin. “You're such an asshole,” I bark at her. “And if you ever do something like this to me again, I will hit you. Hard.”

  Harper lifts an eyebrow skeptically, a wry smile on her face as she watches me. “Oh, come on. That was fun.”

  I shake my head, my lips parting slightly as the adrenaline begins to fade now that the threat is gone. I can't deny how much of a rush that really was.

  Despite myself, I chuckle, and she laughs along with me.

  The two of us—we must be crazy.

  But, yeah, I have to admit—that was a little fun.

  Russell lets out a slow breath, finally relaxing.

  “Russell,” Harper says, looking up at the man beside us. “You are an incredible candidate. Honorable, noble, skilled, patient, and above all, you're a good and righteous person.” She shakes Russell's hand, her fingers tiny compared to his. “I nominate you as my general.”

  He grins, clearly baffled, like he can’t quite believe what she said. “I passed?”

  “With flying colors,” Harper admits, setting a hand on his shoulder. “There's just one thing left to do.”

  He nods, rolling out his shoulders with excitement. “I'm ready.”

  I watch the two of them, grateful this whole ordeal is over. I'm ready for the announcement, too, because the moment it comes, Jace will be free.

  He will be mine.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  I sit on the roof of my tower, my arms around my knees as I suck in a deep breath and enjoy the sky. This is as close as I can get to flying until I finally shift.

  Someday.

  Someday, I'll fly.

  Dragons swirl overhead, trailing and snapping at each other as they soar through the clouds. There’s a celebratory buzz in the air, full of adrenaline and energy, and it reminds me of the festivals I used to sometimes slink through when on a mission.

  Sometimes, Zurie would send me to tail someone through a carnival or even an occasional wedding. I never got to enjoy the party itself—never got to be a part of the reverie—but it was at least fun to watch other people be happy.

  This time, however much I want to let my guard down and celebrate with the rest of them, all I can think about is my former mentor. She's been silent for too long, and that never bodes well for me.

  Until she's dead, I can't bring myself to truly relax. Until she and I face off for the last time, there really is nothing to celebrate. To relax right now would be to let my guard down.

  I can’t afford to do that, not with Zurie out for blood.

  I can, however, enjoy watching the Fairfax Dragons have fun.

  A dragon above me lets out a mighty barrel of flame into the sky, and heat rolls over me from the flame even though it’s a hundred feet or so above me. The dragons around him roar, cheering for the fire as he spins through the air, showing off.

  Everyone can't wait to find out who the candidate is. Today is his final test, and if he passes, he will be their general.

  Naturally, I’ve been kept entirely in the dark as to what the last test could be. The Fairfax family sure love their secret traditions and clandestine rituals, but I guess that's part of the fun.

  I lean back on the roof with my palms against the tiles as I stretch out my neck. It's bizarre how much I like this dojo, how much I consider the embassy to be my home. I spent my entire life moving around from place to place, from safehouse to safehouse, and I thought that's how it would always be.

  Just me, my sister, and our mentor, darting from place to place with whatever we can carry or steal.

  Despite myself, I try not to think of the embassy as home. I can't, not really. With the mounting political pressure, it's just not fair to the Fairfax family for me to stay much longer.

  Drew said he was finding information on Ashgrave—figuring out if the ancient home of the dragon gods is even real. If it is real, we also need to know if it’s safe. If it’s functional.

  We’ve had so much on our minds that the hunt for Ashgrave has taken a backseat to the chaos. However, I think it's time we dig a little deeper.

  After all, Jace won't be the dojo master anymore after today. There’s no reason for us to remain here.

  I frown, fighting a surge of both excitement and sadness.

  What a strange thought.

  The rustle of fabric against skin catches my attention, and I tilt my head as two strong hands grip the edge of the roof. Drew pulls himself onto the shingles, flashing me that devilish grin of his as our eyes meet. “I figured you were up here brooding.”

  Gods, not this again.

  I laugh. “Ass.”

  He chuckles and sits down next to me, planting a rough kiss on the side of my head. “Are you ready for today?”

  “As I'll ever be,” I admit, closing my eyes to drink in the warm sun.

  “It’s starting soon. Harper had chairs brought out to the balcony, so I guess we get the VIP seating,” Drew says, and I hear him stretch out on the tiles. “We'll have a better view of the fight.”

  “Oh, so the final test is a fight?” I ask. “Harper mentioned that her final test to become the Boss was a duel, but I wasn’t sure if it would be different for Russell. No one's really told me anything.”

  “You and me both,” he says with a scoff. “I did manage to find out a little bit about it though.”

  “Of course you did,” I say, grinning.

  He laughs. “Our contender will have to face off with someone the soldiers respect. He's already passed the formal trials, but this is more for them than him. It's a final proof of fortitude, to defeat someone they admire and prove that he deserves the title of their general.”

  “I think the Fairfax dragons just like competing,” I admit.<
br />
  “That too,” Drew says, chuckling.

  He sets his strong hand on my lower back, slipping his fingers beneath my shirt. The warm touch of his fingertips against my skin shoots tendrils of desire through me, distracting me from the beautiful day around us. A surge of lust warms the space between my thighs, and I impulsively stiffen as his touch trails up my spine, tender and teasing.

  It's not fair how easily he can push my buttons. How easily he turns me on.

  I peek out the corner of my eye to jokingly glare at him, only to find him smirking with his eyes shut as he pretends not to notice how my body's reacting to him.

  This man knows exactly what he does to me, and he enjoys every minute of it.

  He grips my waist possessively, his strong fingers pressing against my skin in a dominating way that suggests he has a few ideas of how we can pass the time before the fight begins.

  I almost laugh in disbelief. We have maybe fifteen, twenty minutes tops before this begins, and that's not nearly enough time for him to have his way with me.

  I'm tempted to straddle him, and it's hard to refrain. Denying him what he wants is the best way to tease him, and it's high time I get him back.

  As his fingertips possessively rove over my spine, he takes a deep breath. “Brett's on the move,” he says, trying to turn me on while simultaneously distracting me.

  Gods, this man is such a tease.

  “It seems like he's rallying troops,” Drew continues. “And the more I look into it, the more certain I am he and Zurie are somehow working together.”

  “Irena confirmed that,” I admit.

  He gasps, exaggerating the sound as he watches me with wide eyes. “Are you keeping secrets from me, woman?”

  I laugh and push him playfully. “I wouldn’t if I’d seen you at all this past week. You were always off having too much fun.”

  “Fair point,” he says, shrugging. “What else did she say?”

  “Not much,” I confess. “We’ve been chatting when she can call me, but Zurie hasn’t given a lot away.” It’s difficult to ignore the way his fingertips tease the edge of my underwear, but I manage to give a convincing show of absently looking off into the clouds. “It just seems doubtful. Last time they worked together, everything went south. We nearly killed them all.”

  “The General really hates you, Rory,” Drew points out, his tone shifting.

  He presses his palm flat against my back in a way that's more comforting than possessive, and I hear the twinge of warning in his tone. I look over my shoulder to find him already studying my face, his mouth a grim line as he watches me with concern.

  I want to tell him that I'll be careful. That I'm safe. That there's no way I'll let the General or Zurie touch me or the men I love.

  For some reason, however, the words die in my throat as I drink in his intense and doting expression.

  After all we've been through, I take the moment to simply watch him. To enjoy him. To love that he's here with me and on my side. To know that no matter what comes our way, he will be there fighting beside me.

  I open my mouth to finally say something, but as I do, his gaze darts behind me. I look over my shoulder to find the dragons beginning to land along the wall surrounding the center courtyard, while soldiers still in their human forms fill much of the space below. The bodies along the black stone leave a large circle that I suspect will act as our arena for the day.

  “It's starting,” Drew says, lifting his hand off my back. A cold chill washes over the space he was touching, and I'm a little sad to see his hand leave my skin.

  But we have a fight to watch.

  He and I slip through the window and jog downstairs toward the balcony. Before long, we walk into the parlor to find Levi and Tucker already sitting in two of the five chairs set out on the terrace.

  Bandages stick out from the sleeve of Tucker's shirt as he looks over his shoulder at me and grins widely. His eyes are clearer than they have been all week, and it would seem he's finally off the heavy pain meds.

  “Glad you two finally decided to join us,” he quips. “We saved you a seat, Rory,” he adds, patting the empty chair between him and Levi.

  I shoot Drew a playful look as I take the seat.

  The fire dragon sets a hand over his heart, letting out a mocking gasp as he pretends to be offended. “After all I've done for you, woman, this is how you betray me?”

  I laugh and nod to the seat next to Tucker. “Quit being a baby.”

  “Yeah, Drew,” Tucker says, patting the seat. “I have love enough for two!”

  Drew chuckles and shakes his head, sitting in the chair as he shoots one last mischievous glance at me.

  My eyes rove the seats on the terrace, and I confess I’m surprised to find only five chairs instead of six. I figured Harper and Jace would be up here already, but neither are around.

  That would suggest they're going to be in the arena, but even that doesn't quite make sense. I thought only one person was to fight Russell.

  “Where's Harper and Jace?” I ask.

  “I’m not sure,” Drew admits, looking around. “Harper was up here when I last spoke with her.”

  “Think they'll be fighting?” Levi asks with a nod to the arena.

  “Nah,” Drew says, shaking his head. “They've already sparred R—” He stops abruptly from saying Russell's name, briefly glancing around to see if anyone overheard. “Our contender dozens of times this week.”

  “But never as dragons,” Levi points out.

  Drew tilts his head as if he hadn't considered that yet. “That's true.”

  “It sounds like I missed a ton of fun,” Tucker says, pouting.

  “You and me both,” I mumble, crossing my arms. “These guys got all the fun.”

  “Says the judge,” Levi adds with a grin, calling me out.

  “I gave Harper a few pointers and comments,” I say, shrugging. “Nothing major.”

  Drew snorts derisively. “Harper created three tests purely based on your feedback from the first day,” Drew says, lifting his eyebrows. “You know that, right?”

  Huh.

  I didn’t, actually. That’s kind of flattering.

  Below us, the thud of wooden doors slamming against stone cuts through the courtyard. Footsteps echo off the stairs, and moments later, Harper appears below us, walking through the crowd as they part for her.

  The Fairfax Boss steps into the open circle at the middle of the soldiers and lifts her hands in welcome. “Our contender has passed with flying colors,” she says, her voice echoing off the stone. “I am pleased to give you all your candidate for master of the dojo—Russell Kane!”

  Below us, the thundering cheer of soldiers shakes the very stone beneath us. The dragons along the wall roar in welcome as Russell appears on the stairs below us, the crowd parting for him as he walks toward Harper in the center of the ring.

  Footsteps behind us catch my attention, and I look over my shoulder to find Jace entering the room.

  “Are you all ready for this?” he asks with a nod outside.

  “We thought you were going to be in the ring,” Drew says, ignoring Jace’s question. “Is it going to be Harper, then?”

  “Nope,” Jace says playfully with a quick glance at me.

  I narrow my eyes skeptically, wondering what he's playing at.

  Because this is Jace.

  He's up to something. It's just a given.

  Jace leans against the balcony railing, ignoring the chair that's been set out for him as the crowd cheers around us. “Russell's been a favorite captain of pretty much everyone here for as long as he’s had the role,” Jace says crossing his arms. “Steady promotions, beloved by all. We even went through the Academy together. Same year.”

  “The Academy?” I ask.

  “The capital's military school,” Jace explains. “Every winter we would train here in the snow to stretch our abilities and skills. He and I practically grew up here,” Jace says with a nod to Russell as he en
ters the center of the ring. “He will make a great leader.”

  Even so, the soldiers need to see him as an equal to Jace or else they might not remain, and they might not follow him. Russell's undergone intense trials this week, but I figure this last one is the most important of all—not because of the people in the ring, but because of the people in the audience.

  “Now for the final test!” Harper’s voice booms over the din. “To face and win against a master of the art. The final fight!” she adds, lifting her fist in the air.

  Applause and roars thunder through the courtyard, booming and almost impossibly loud as Russell rolls out his shoulders, ready for his opponent.

  But he’s nervous—that much is obvious. To me, anyway. Even from here, I can see the subtle fidgeting. Even with his considerable skill, he knows this will be savage.

  And considering that Jace is most certainly up to some sort of mischief, Russell absolutely should be apprehensive about the final test headed his way.

  “It's strange to think I won't be the dojo master after today,” Jace says a little wistfully, looking at me. “That this is it.”

  “It's fine,” I say, grinning playfully. “I'll find ways to keep you busy.”

  Jace laughs, as do Tucker, Levi and Drew. Jace leans forward and plants a kiss on my cheek before standing on the railing.

  Below, heads turn toward him as he spreads his arms wide. It takes a minute for everyone to realize what's about to happen, but the moment they do, the crowd roars even louder.

  “You're so dramatic,” I chide Jace.

  He did this on purpose—letting us wonder who would go into the ring, even though we suspected all along it would be him.

  My thunderbird looks over his shoulder at me and winks. “Let me have my fun.”

  He jumps off the railing, and I lean over, fully expecting to see him land gracefully on the stairs below.

  By the time I peek over the railing, however, he has already shifted. His claws dig into the stone stairs, his wings stretching over the crowd. He roars into the sky and lets loose a fierce blast of crackling blue magic that cuts through the clouds above.