Black Ruins Forest (The Elder Series Book 1)

by Karen DuBose

  He pulls me into his arms and holds me tight. “I believe the visions will come when you need them.”

  If only we weren’t involved in all this crap. We wouldn’t be here. We would be somewhere private, and I would be showing him just how much I love him and need him right now. All of this needs to be over with. I can’t wait to spend alone time with my dragon.

  I turn in his arms and look up in to his eyes. “You know, if we were alone, I would be showing you just how much I need you and love you.”

  He brings me closers. “Who said we had to wait? It will be awhile before they come back. We could slip away for a few.”

  “As tempting as that sounds, I would feel bad. They’re out there risking their lives, and here we are getting it on. I know it sucks. I can’t wait until all of this is over.”

  “You’re right. It is a crappy time, but I don’t think they would mind. We’re newly mated. They know how it is, and my dragon is getting restless. He wants his mate.”

  “I am starting to feel my dragon, she feels angry. Like she isn’t liking me telling you to wait. Ok, twenty minutes, and we come back here.”

  He doesn’t need to be told twice. I’m on his shoulder in a flash and back to where we were last night in less than a minute. I laugh at his excitement. I can’t lie I’m excited to. I will never get enough of him.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Jamel the Bear

  What the hell just happened? The plan was to take Dariya and use her. How did I get outsmarted by dragons of all species? They’re stupid creatures. The only thing they have going for them is their strength.

  “I can’t believe you let them take away the only thing I had over that little twit. How did you even let that happen? I had her…then she’s gone? Damn near snatched away by the air! Leave me so I can think,” I’m yelling at the men surrounding me.

  I pace back and forth in my study. What am I going to do now? I need to think of something if I’m ever going to take my rightful place. I need to out think them. It shouldn’t be hard.

  First: How was she taken? By dragons.

  Next: What do dragons do? Dragons fly.

  Question: What do I do? Avoid the flying.

  Query: How? …

  Hm… How do I avoid their flying? There has to be a way. Everything has a weakness, other than myself. They’re clearly not as stupid as they appear, but I know they’re not clever like me. I can do this. What do you do when you want to avoid a flying bird? You shoot it down and maybe clip its wings for extra measure. That’s just common sense. But how can this be done with a mighty, but stupid, dragon? A really big bow and arrow? Maybe… Yes…yes! Of course! How have I never thought of this before? It’s brilliant!!

  Plan: Kidnap Dariya…again.

  Tactic: Shoot down and clip the dragons.

  Brilliance Level: Exceeding expectations, as always. I’m so clever.

  I walk into the room where my stupid followers are. How did I end up with the weak bunch? I don’t even know the names of most of them.

  Before I even have a chance to enter the room fully, I hear a question.

  “What’s the plan this time, Jamel?” is the first thing asked as I enter the room.

  “If you stop your incessant babbling, I’ll explain it to you dunderheads,” I replied harshly as I set down a few papers onto the table. “It has to be my most brilliant plan yet.” I grin at them to show them my confidence.

  This should be registered as a trademark for a set of miscellaneous adventures that are absolutely guaranteed to fail.

  “I have a question for all of you: What do dragons do?”

  “Um…protect people?” one of the lion shifter says.

  “Look scary?” one of the bear shifter says.

  “Shit on houses?” an elf says.

  “What?” I scrunch my face in response.

  “Well, if I was a dragon, that’s what I would do. What’s funnier and better than quite literally shitting on people to ruin their day?” the elf says.

  After a moment of silence, because I need to let this sink in before responding, I pick up a book and throw it harshly at his face.

  “No, you idiot!” I scolded. Then I spread my scolding expression to everyone else. “Fly! The answer is fly!”

  “Ohhh,” came the reply in unison.

  I nod, giving a smug smile at their daftness. “Yes, Dragons fly. That’s how you twits lost Dariya when I had her in the palm of my hand.” My scold is quickly replaced with a look of tired disappointment. My followers can be truly stupid. “So, to keep all of you from fowling up again, I’ve come up with a brilliant solution: We take away their ability of flight.”

  “But how do we do that? They’re dragons! They fly like birds, but bigger!” a fae asks.

  “I’m aware of that, you fool!” I yell. I throw another book. “And just like a bird, we will take away their ability of flight by shooting them down and clipping their wings. It’s that simple.” I give them a triumphant smile.

  One of the goons holds up his hands. What, are we back in school now? He waits for me to acknowledge him.

  “Why, are you holding your hand up?”

  “I have a question.”

  “What is your question, you idiot?”

  “How are we going to take down the dragons?”

  I walk up to this idiot, who seems to be lacking any common sense, and slap the back of his head. I wish doing that would knock the stupid out of him.

  “You. Shoot. Them. Down.” I make sure I say it slow enough so that everyone will understand.

  “Ooooh!” they all say.

  I swear I’m working with idiots who can’t even seem to get dressed on their own. I need to find new followers that know how to think for themselves. I’m just glad that I do have some fae I can use to find out where Dariya’s group is, so I can put this plan into motion.

  “Where is Bellamore? I need her here now!” I yell.

  The damn tinker bell will have to find them for me. She and her fae friends are the only ones who can sneak up on them. She had just better do as I say. Fae are the most stupid species we have. They have their positive traits, mostly just being sneaky, but they have a very short attention span. That’s what I’m worried about.

  “You wanted to see me?” Bellamore says in her tinkly voice.

  “I need you to go find out where that twit and her stupid dragons are.”

  “What do I get in return? I don’t work for free.”

  “You get to see another day and tell about it,” I say through my teeth.

  “If you think your threats are going to work on me, you are mistaken.”

  “Let’s put it this way: If you don’t, I will destroy everything you love.”

  She stares at me for a few minutes before she answers. “I will do this for you, but it will be the last thing I do for you. Don’t forget, I got most of these asshats for you. They are loyal to me, not you.”

  If she thinks they’re loyal, she is mistaken. Well, yeah, they’re loyal to themselves. I can always find more followers, and I really do need to. I’ll get nowhere with these dumb asses.

  “If you want them, take them. They are no use to me. I’ve never seen a bigger bunch of idiots in my life cycle. Now go and do as I ask, and don’t return until you find them.”

  As soon as they’re located, my plan will go into motion, and I will have that little twit. Then I will use her, kill her, and take my rightful place as ruler.

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Dariya

  “You know the first thing you should do when you become ruler is throw a huge party and invite everyone,” Kira says.

  “You would say that. You are the party freak. I’d rather just ease into it.”

  “How boring is that? Just leave it to me, and I’ll set everything up. You can’t become a new ruler and have no one know about it. Plus, it’s a great way to get to know who we need to get rid of. We don’t need Elder followers trying to take you down, or any other
person for that matter.”

  I look over at her with a frown. “Do I have a say in any of this?”

  “What do you think?” she says with a smile.

  “Fine, but don’t go overboard. I don’t want people thinking I’m a party girl. They’ll never take me seriously if that’s what they think.”

  “I will take that into consideration.”

  “Thank you. That’s all I ask. Oh, and if I think it’s too much, I’ll never let you do anything like it again.”

  She sticks her lip out. “You are so mean! I don’t ever do too much.”

  “Oh, like my sixteenth birthday or prom when you were in charge… Or how about your parent’s anniversary party?”

  “What? They were perfect!”

  “Perfect for you, but to everyone else it was overboard. So, please don’t go overboard. If you think it’s boring, that’s where you need to stop.”

  “I don’t know what you are talking about. I don’t do boring, and I’m not going to start now.”

  “Woman, if you go overboard, I will lock you up and make you wear out of date fashion.”

  She gasped and put her hand on her chest. “You wouldn’t.”

  “Test me,” I say with a serious face.

  I love her to death, but she’s a little extreme when it comes to parties. I just hope someone will stop her, because she won’t listen to me. She’s like a wild fire that can’t be stopped.

  Isobel slowly approaches me. “Can I talk to you?”

  “Sure, what’s up?”

  “Can we go somewhere private? I have a message I want you to hear before anyone else.”

  I hear Kiernan growl. “She is not going alone with you. I’ll be going with her”

  “I figured as much.”

  I cross my arms across my chest. “I think everyone here needs to hear this message, so whatever you want to say they can hear it as well.”

  “Ok, I just got word that Jax is on his way here, and Niko is on his trail. I know the Forest won’t let him in, but this would be the perfect time to take him out. He’s alone.”

  “What do you mean? He’s leading Niko here? Why would he do that? If Niko finds this place, the others will know and will break down the magic walls. You guys just signed our death certificates!” Desean yells.

  “No, he’s not leading him here. There’s another forest that replicates this forest. He’s taking him there. He’ll lose him there and come here. He’s not that stupid. He would never lead him here. Here, read the message.”

  I am coming, Niko is on my trail. I will lose him at the other forest. Be prepared for my arrival. Make sure you tell Dariya and her dragons I am coming. I do not want to surprise them with my arrival. I don’t want them thinking I am the enemy. I will see you soon my love.

  Love always,

  Jax

  I’m lost for words. I don’t know if we should bring everyone back and put up our defenses or welcome him. I want to trust Isobel, but how can I when she hasn’t giving me a reason to do so? I really need to talk to my dragons. I send out a message mentally.

  “I need all of you to return now. Jax is on his way here, and I don’t want you guys apart from us. I need you to hurry. I don’t know when he will be here…. I’m really loving how we can do this.”

  I look at the dragons that are still here, and I see the awe in their eyes. I guess they weren’t expecting me to give out orders, but it really wasn’t an order. I just knew that I needed them here.

  “Did you feel the pull of that command?” Desean asks the others.

  “Yes, I felt it. I’ve never felt such a strong pull before, not even from the Elders,” Aidian says.

  “I guess that answers all of our questions. She really is supposed to be the next ruler. Dariya, you are a very powerful ruler. I’m happy to be bound to you. I rather not see the wrath you will do to your enemies. You’re going to do great things. I can already tell,” Alums says.

  “I didn’t do anything but reach out and tell them to get back here.”

  Kiernan sits next to me and pulls me into his side. “You used your power to call to us. That wasn’t a suggestion, that was a command.”

  I didn’t mean for it to be like that. I just wanted them back here. I really need to learn to control that.

  “I really didn’t mean to command you. I will never take your free will away.”

  “It wasn’t a command like that. You need us, and that is why there’s a pull to get to you. Don’t ever think we’ll ignore your call,” Alums says.

  “If I ever get to demanding, please tell me. I don’t want to be like the Elders. I will listen to all of you.”

  “We have bound ourselves to you because we can tell that you’re not going to make us miserable. We also sense that you are pure at heart,” Hiram says, laughing.

  I just hope I don’t turn out like the Elders. I would take my own life cycle if that ever happened. Yes, that’s how awful they are. I still don’t know how I’m even going to defeat these asshats. I really wish that Oceana would show up and help me figure out what I need to do. I haven’t even had a vision in a while, and that’s not like me. I’m starting to worry that this place is messing with me. I don’t want my defenses down. What if this place is blocking me from having visions? That wouldn’t be a good thing. I need to find out answers soon.

  Kira nudges me. “What are you thinking about?”

  “Why I haven’t had a vision since we’ve been here⸻at least, not one that wasn’t magic induced.”

  “What do you think it is?”

  “I’m really hoping it isn’t this place. What if I’m missing important things? I mean, what if this guy Jax is really going to kill us all, and I don’t even know. It worries me a lot.”

  “Do you want to meditate and see if you can get a vision? I think it would help you relax if nothing else.”

  “I’ll give it a try. I’m wound up too tight as it is.”

  “I’ll do it with you. I think we both can benefit from it.”

  We both sit across each other, with our legs crossed, and take deep breaths. Then we close our eyes.

  I open my mind like I was taught. I’m not expecting the magic to rush into me like a tidal wave. I’m knocked over by the force. I have no control over myself anymore.

  The magic is talking to me, telling me that there’s danger coming our way. I need to be prepared for the danger. It will come from the east. That’s where Jamel is. He must be planning on another attack. Without warning, I’m thrown into a vision. This time, it’s not magic induced. Thankfully, I can feel the difference now.

  Jamel is with his followers. He’s yelling at them. “We are going to take down the dragons!”

  “How are we going to do that?” one of his followers asks.

  “What do dragons do?” he probes.

  I can’t hear the responses. There are too many, and everything is muffled.

  Jamel throws a book at one of them.

  “They fly, you twits! We shoot them out of the sky and clip their wings so they’re defenseless,” he says.

  Things fast forward, and I see him talking to a Fae woman.

  “I want you to find her. You are the only one that will be able to go unnoticed. I want that little twit back.”

  The vision ends before I can see the fae’s face. It doesn’t matter. I now know that we need to take down any fae that come our way.

  I need to tell everyone what I just saw. I open my eye and they are all gathered around me. They’re all looking at me with worried looks. Did something happen while I was in the vision? I look around. Everyone is accounted for.

  “Why do you all have worried looks on your face? What happened?”

  I didn’t notice I was laying in Kiernan’s lap. “We were worried about you. You were knocked across the cave and wouldn’t wake up.”

  “I had a vision. Jamel has fae looking for us. He also wants to take you guys down.”

  I go on and explain everything I saw. Needless
to say, none of them are happy. I don’t blame them. I know a dragon needs to fly, or their dragon will force the shift, so they can fly. I know they’ll be extra careful when flying now, and I really hate that they have to be. This Jamel dude needs to either die or be put in prison for the rest of his life cycle. Why do people have to have evil flanees in them?

  “You called us here. Do we know when Jax is supposed to show up?” Bruno asks.

  I look up at him and shook my head. “Ask Isobel. She’s the one who received the message.”

  Isobel didn’t hesitate to answer. “If he’s leading him to the other forest, he should be here in three or four days.”

  We need to get prepared for his arrival. We have no idea what he really wants. I’m going to give her the benefit of the doubt. I’m going to trust her for now. As much as I don’t want to, I have to trust my dad.

  They all look at me and give me a nod, telling me they’ll follow my lead.

  Mom let’s out an aggerated growl. “Ok, that communication is getting on my nerves. I want to know the plan as well. We shouldn’t be left out.”

  I had to giggle at her. “I’ll tell you in a minute. I promise.”

  I stand up from sitting in Kiernan’s lap and walk over to my mom and Kira.

  “Let’s go take a walk.”

  The four of us start walking through the cave. I already know that Kiernan won’t let me get far from him. I’m happy he’s here with me. I’m a very lucky shifter.

  Before we were even out of ear shot, Kira asks. “So, what’s the plan?”

  I tell them what I said to my dragons.

  Kira is hesitant this time. “Do you really think we can trust him?” She is fidgeting with her hair. Twisting it and letting it go.

  I place a hand on her shoulder. “I don’t know. If he comes alone, I’m sure everyone here can take him down.”

  Mom is shaking her head. “I don’t like this.”

  I give her a sad look. Because I know she want to trust my dad, but she also doesn’t want me to get hurt or worse. “We’ll just have to go with it right now. What choice do we have?”