The sea dragons nodded once then took to the air, sailing low so they wouldn’t be seen above the treetops.
Catalina tossed her red hair to the side, then crossed her arms. “You really think it’s a good idea to have her on the “reasoning with the humans” team? She could ruin the whole thing with one smartass comment.”
I glanced at Alanza, who was smirking.
“No, not really. But I’d rather keep her where I can see her.”
Catalina chuckled. “Makes sense.”
“Plus she’s a guard,” Arlo added. “I’d feel better knowing I was leaving my queen with a properly trained warrior.”
I raised a brow. “Malisa is highly trained as well. I’ll be perfectly safe with both of them while you find a way inside the palace.”
Arlo bowed. “Then shall we proceed?”
I nodded. “You three stick to the outskirts away from sight. We’ll go straight up the path we took last time. I have a feeling that with dragons circling the air above our heads, they’ll clear an even wider path than before.”
“All right, team,” Arlo said to his brother and Catalina, “let’s move out.”
I turned to Malisa and Alanza. “Ready?”
They each drew a weapon, clearly ready to kick some ass. I hoped it wouldn’t come to that, but if it did, I probably wouldn’t be too heartbroken. They’d been assholes to us. Knocking them down a few pegs would be my pleasure.
I inclined my head toward the sky where my dragons swooped over the sea, snapping at stray fish. “Feroz! Bravo! It’s time to rise!”
Feroz let out a screeching cry that pierced my ears and set my teeth on edge. Bravo followed suit—I had a feeling he was the younger brother, following the eldest’s lead—and let out another screaming roar that rattled the leaves of the trees around us. The next second, their massive wings were pumping hard, propelling them high into the air with massive gusts of wind that kicked up the sand at our feet.
I shaded my eyes with my hand, watching as they rose higher and higher. Faint cries began sounding in the distance as the humans no doubt started noticing their presence in the sky.
I nodded to Catalina and Alanza. “Let’s go.”
Chapter 7
We followed the path to the edge of the city, unsurprised to find the place in a tangle of chaos. People were scattering like krill, screaming, gaping, sprinting, crashing. In their panic to escape, they’d completely lost their minds.
I passed through the bedlam like a self-satisfied ghost. No one seemed to even notice me as they shrieked and pointed at the two dragons flying above us, and yet, they somehow managed to give us a wide berth as we passed. Catalina gripped her sais on my left, and Alanza squeezed her sword on my right, but it was overkill. No one was throwing stones this time. At least not the citizens.
I peered ahead to where the palace stood, silent and still. No one appeared to be stirring inside. It was odd. I narrowed my eyes, suspicious that it might be a trap of some kind. Would they soon start firing weapons into the sky? Were they waiting for my pets to fly just a little bit closer before counterattacking?
I took a deep breath and led Malisa and Alanza halfway up the stairs before I planted my feet and took a stand.
“Let me say this one more time,” I shouted at whatever humans were hiding behind the door, and to any people listening outside as they ran. “I want to speak to your rulers and the mages who dwell in this city. If you refuse, I will burn it all to the ground!”
Still, no reply came.
I closed my eyes, feeling half-sick at step I was now forced to take.
“Incendio!” I shouted to my dragons.
Feroz screeched before letting out a stream of fire that nearly doubled his body length. Bravo circled around, and let out another burst of fire in the opposite direction. A cyclone of fire blazed from his maw. My mouth went dry. I was intimidated, and they were my pets. I couldn’t imagine what the humans were thinking.
It was mesmerizing, the sight of fire. We had glowing undersea lanterns filled with bioluminescent algae, but due to a lack of resources—mainly magnesium and thermite, thanks to me—fire was a virtual impossibility for us. I knew my dragons had the ability to spew flames, but I’d never seen anything like this.
The cries of the citizens rose louder. People who had been hidden inside now ran out into the streets, fleeing for the woods where they no doubt assumed they’d be safer.
“This is your final warning!” I shouted at the palace door. “Let’s discuss what we came here to talk about, or your city will crumble into a smoldering pile of ash and ruin!”
Suddenly the front doors swung open, revealing Catalina’s smiling face.
“Welcome to the Palace of Alotenango, your queenliness. We’ve been expecting you.”
I smiled wide, jogging the rest of the way up the stairs. “Thank Poseidon! Where are Arlo and Kayo?”
She jabbed her thumb over her shoulder. “They’re in there keeping an eye on the humans who were dumb enough to hang around. Most of them ran off.”
“Of course they did,” I said, scoffing. And we were supposed to be the cowards. Hopefully, someone was left who could actually help us.
I walked through the building in awe. The floors were cold and reflective as glass. Low relief carvings accented the walls, painted in vibrant colors, telling stories without words. A fountain spilled into an indoor pool, and exotic fish swam languidly through the waters. Potted plants were situated in various locations to add a bit of jungle flair.
Catalina led the way into a hall and then ushered us into a huge room at the very back. A throne room. A king sat fuming in his gold and red velvet chair, while a queen sat silently beside him, watching me as I approached.
“Allow me to introduce Queen Liliana Acosta,” Kayo said to our captives. “Leader of the sirens, Tamer of Dragons—the very ones threatening your city.”
I stepped closer, eying them intently. They were older than I expected, and had a snobbish air as if the whole world owed them something. I had a feeling these humans chose their rulers based on some God-given right, rather than any genuine aptitude to lead and protect. Not that I could talk. I had technically done nothing to deserve my crown, either.
I crossed my arms in front of me. “I need your cooperation in securing the head mage of the city.”
The king waved a flagrant hand at me and rolled his eyes. “Secure away. I don’t see what’s stopping you at this point.”
Arlo poked a trident into the side of his neck. “We’re not exactly from here,” he growled quietly. “We’re gonna need a little direction.”
The king swallowed hard, his Adam's apple bobbing shakily. “Straight down the road about a mile, take a right and follow it past the coffee bean farms, and—”
“No, little king,” I said, strolling closer. “I’m not going on a hunt to find some elusive mage. This is your city, you bring him here to me.”
He sighed but didn’t nod. It probably had something to do with the trident at his throat.
“Release one of the guards,” the queen said, speaking up. “Send word to the Academy and alert Magdalena that the queen of the sirens is here to speak with her.”
Kayo released the man he’d been restraining, who then bowed to his queen, and rushed out of the room.
The human queen forced a smile. “Tell me, little queen,” she said, mocking the title I’d given her husband, “why are you here threatening my citizens with terrifying creatures of the deep?”
I narrowed my eyes and strolled a bit closer. There was something about the snotty woman that irritated the hell out of me.
“I came once before, in peace, but was turned away by a servant at the door. Then, I was chased from the city by a mob of rock-wielding human peasants.” I smiled sarcastically. “You thought you could dismiss me so easily? That I’d simply give up? I won’t.”
“What do you want?” she snapped. “Our thrones? Our kingdom? What could a siren possibly want with a human
city?”
I scoffed. “I don’t want your city, and I don’t want your thrones. I want to speak to the head mage—this Magdalena woman—and get her help in finding the Legacy Stone.”
The queen’s keen eyes narrowed. “What is that?”
I contemplated whether or not to answer her. They were already doing as asked by calling for the mage. Did I really need to appease them by telling them my secrets? Then again, if I told her the truth, maybe she’d be more willing to help and less anxious to stab me in the back as soon as I turned around.
I sighed. “A cure.”
She blinked and all the tension from a moment before vanished. “Come again?”
I nodded. “The seas are dying. Animals are mutating. There’s dark sorcery invading from the depths, and this Legacy Stone is apparently the only way to stop it. According to the message I received, it even has the capability of healing a bit of the dry land.”
“Why should we help the likes of you?” the king droned.
“Silence, you fool,” the queen said, cutting him down a notch. “The sooner they find this stone, the sooner they return to the sea and leave us alone.” She glanced at me. “Correct?”
I nodded. “Correct. Besides, I’ve heard the stories. I know that most lands are completely uninhabitable, and those that are yield no food. You rely on the sea for sustenance as much as we do. If all the fish are dead, then that’s a very real problem for all of us, don’t you think?”
The king narrowed his eyes. “Fine. Send for Alexandre. If you’re going on a mission to find a stone, you’re going to need a navigator. Alex is your man. But he’s the only one I’ll spare.”
The queen sighed. “We’ll send Zia too.”
The king smacked his hand on the arm of his throne. “Quit demeaning me in front of our enemies. You’re going to make me look weak!”
“We’ve been captured in our own palace!” she hissed. “We already look weak! Besides, we’re supposed to be a team. You shouldn’t appear to have dominance over me—especially in front of a foreign ruler who is clearly from a matriarchal society.”
I glanced between them, almost amused at their squabbling.
“Then let’s agree on this together,” the king said in a huff. “Alex and Zia?”
The queen nodded. “Alex and Zia.”
An uncomfortable hour passed in deep silence as we awaited the arrival of Magdalena, Alex, and Zia. By the time they all showed up, I was ready to get the hell out of there and get moving. Unfortunately, not everyone else shared my opinion.
Alex, the navigator, entered first. He had dark blond hair, a rugged face, and seemed to have seen his fair share of war and tribulation. He was dressed in a black muscle shirt and camo pants that had a utility belt stocked with guns and ammo.
Zia entered next. She was smaller than I was expecting, and was carrying a large duffel bag. Wavy dark hair framed her pretty face which boasted a pair of deep brown eyes and a gentle smile. Not what I was expecting as the queen’s choice. I had no idea what good this girl would be at all.
Magdalena entered last. She had her hair wrapped up in a colorful turban, and her nails were long and painted black like a cat’s claws. The paisley maroon dress she wore might’ve actually been a robe, and she was covered from head to toe in gold jewelry. There was a certain aura about her that made her presence known without a single word leaving her mouth.
Then, to my complete and utter surprise, one more person entered. A man—tall, ripped, and gorgeous. A tight white shirt and dark denim jeans hugged his silhouette in all the right places. He had golden skin, dark hair, and luscious lips made me sway on my land legs. I had to tighten my muscles to keep myself steady. Too bad I couldn’t squeeze my fluttering heart.
“What is this about?” Magdalena snipped at me, throwing her ring-covered hands in the air, and rattling her plethora of bracelets. “We mages have already told you sirens—No. More. Magic. Whatever problem you have, you must grow up and solve it yourself.”
I blinked and cocked my head, taken aback. “I don’t expect you to wave a wand and magically fix all our problems, mage. But I do expect a little respect and cooperation. I’m not a child. And I sure as hell wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for the good of my people.”
She sneered, but unlike the humans, she kept any further snide remarks to herself.
“What do want from me, then?” she asked.
“I need to know if you’ve sensed any magical disturbances in the area...ever.”
She glowered. “Ever? How could I possibly answer a question as vague as this?”
“I don’t know,” I said, keeping my voice unflinching, “but the stone has been out there all this time. It has probably been wreaking havoc for centuries.”
“What stone?” Magdalena shook her head, jostling the long earrings dangling from her lobes. “Forgive me, siren, but I have no answer for you. Things have been going awry on land since the icecaps melted, and they’ve only gotten worse since the meteor. Pinpointing a solitary disturbance would be like finding a needle in a haystack.”
Alexandre chose that moment to chime in. “Listen. I can only help navigate if I have a place to lead us to. If you don’t even have a location, then I won’t be able to help you.”
I glanced at Zia, waiting for her excuse to come next, but she just shrugged. “I’m a royal healer. As long as I’m getting paid, I’ll tag along for a while.”
So that’s why she was important. I guess the human queen knew what she was doing, after all. I hadn’t once entertained the possibility of getting hurt or needing medicine.
“Yeah, well,” the king sputtered, “you’re getting paid for a month. Not a day longer. If the siren queen hasn’t found the stone by then, she can pay you with seashells for all I care.”
Zia smiled. “Unfortunately I don’t accept seashells as currency.”
I had no desire to discuss money in front of the human king and queen. If I mentioned the treasure chests we’d stolen from pirates over the years, full of jewels and precious coins, they’d probably half-assed drown trying to hold their breath and rob us.
Hmm. Then again, maybe that was a good idea.
“Well then,” I said to Zia, “we’ll just have to find the stone in a month or less.”
“Good luck with that,” Magdalena said, then turned to walk away. “Come on, Cruz.”
I stepped forward in her direction. “No.”
She glanced at me over her shoulder. “What did you say?”
“I said no. I can’t allow you to just walk away. We didn’t come all this way for nothing. I need you to help me find the Legacy Stone. The sea depends on it. You might not care about helping me and the sirens, but if the sea life dies, then you’re just as fucked as we are.”
She studied me up and down with a disapproving glare.
“I do not have time to help you, siren. But I don’t want to risk the damned apocalypse either.”
She growled a bit, then heaved a heavy sigh and glanced at the good looking guy on her left.
“Cruz, you will go with them.”
“What? No way! I’m not ready. I still have another year of schooling.”
“And when you return, you will simply pick up where you left off. I’m the head of the academy. It won’t be difficult for me to work this out.”
He ran his hands through his dark hair as if he was nervous. “It’s not about making it work, Mother, it’s about the skills required for a journey of this magnitude versus the skills I have.”
“This is final, Cruz. You will help the siren find her stone, then return to the academy. The faster you do it, the less likely you are to fall behind.” She took his face in her hands. “May the gods bless you for the sacrifice you’re about to make, and may they shine favor upon this despondent journey. I love you, my son.”
She kissed both of his cheeks, and he sighed. “I love you too, Mother.”
And with that, she spun on her heel and marched out the door.
Alex tried to follow her, but Cruz put out an arm to stop him.
“Not gonna happen, ranger. Now that I’m around, the siren queen will have a destination, and she’ll need your help in finding the fastest and least dangerous route.”
He grunted but stayed put.
The king stood and gestured for us to shoo. “Be gone with you. The sooner you find this Legacy Stone, the sooner you return to the sea. I, for one, already can’t wait.”
I rolled my eyes, then forced myself to face Cruz. It was unfair that a human mage should have such a beautiful face. “Do you have a destination in mind?”
He grinned and his features softened. “I do. Ever since the meteor struck, there’s been a particularly nasty volcano in a near-constant state of eruption. I think we should check that out first.”
“Where is this volcano?”
“It’s called Fuego, and it’s located in Alotenango.”
“That’s a four-day journey on foot,” Alex said, and I couldn’t tell if it was in protest or not. Eventually, he sighed. “All right. Let me collect my things, and I’ll be back within the hour.”
“Perfect,” I said, and I couldn’t help but smirk.
I had a crew; albeit an unwilling one. I had a destination; albeit a dangerous one. And for the first time in a long time, I had hope. Not much, but a little was better than nothing.
I just hoped everything went as smoothly as possible.
Chapter 8
The journey to Alotenango was unnaturally calm and quiet. It set my nerves on edge. No sounds met my ears but the slight rustling of leaves when my dragons flew by, and no smells tickled my nose but the rich scent of the earthen terrain as we marched over it.
The dry land was supposed to be perilous... where was the peril?
Alex led the way through misty rainforests with a gun in his arms. His eyes were narrow and alert. It was like he trusted no one and nothing. He seemed prepared for an attack at any moment. It both worried and comforted me at the same time.
Cruz stuck close to Alex and kept quiet, which really only left Alex or Zia to talk to. I was glad he’d chosen the ranger to stick to rather than the healer. For some reason, it irritated me to think he’d talk to the human girl and not me.
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