Chapter 39
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
P rince Aeralis landed on the outskirts of the small town where Vesmona and the horde were gathered. Shaking his wings, he preened them quickly as he strode forward. Vesmona turned, bowing low.
“My Prince, I’ve just spoken to Druva. He’s on his way to meet us.”
“Good, I’m eager to get my hands on that amulet! And after another day of traveling, I’m famished.”
They’d been traveling the entire day, following the directions left for them by Vesmona’s tracker. Prince Aeralis had driven the Vralgari and the horde hard over the last several days to catch up to Jaxxon. He couldn’t afford to lose his trail. He enjoyed the hunt for Jaxxon and his dragon, the mystery women, and the amulet.
Prince Aeralis looked forward to the chance to meet the good people here—his loyal disciples. Like many on Crelentia, they relied on him for his mercy over the last decade. This town was filled with magic, and he and his men were hungry.
Vesmona turned, looking down the road at the man on the motorbike riding their way. His rich umber skin glistened in the sunlight, and his muscles rippled beneath his T-shirt. The biker pulled up, turned off the engine, and removed his helmet.
Getting off the bike and bowing low, their tracker smiled widely. “Prince Aeralis, it’s an honor to see you again. I’ve been in the field for a long time. I hope you forgive me for not wearing the Vralgari uniform. It would be difficult to blend in if I did.”
Prince Aeralis shook his hand, noting the firm grip the legendary tracker was known for. He was a strikingly handsome man and one of the highest-paid officers stationed on Crelentia. He ran many of their covert activities, ensuring the magic wielders of Crelentia paid their tides to the Vralgari.
And he had a temper to match Vesmona’s. Druva nodded to Vesmona and spoke pleasantries to the Vralgari soldiers and the demon horde.
“I’ve been tracking Warlords Jaxxon and Zade since they got away from the horde. They’ve been moving fast and doing a damn good job of staying off the radar. But I’ve been able to track their dragons from time to time. When I came upon this town, I heard people speak of running into the shadow masters.”
“How long ago was it they’d been seen?” asked Prince Aeralis.
“One day ago. So, we are getting close.”
“Great job! I knew you wouldn’t let me down.”
As they entered the town, Vralgari soldiers flew overhead, but Prince Aeralis walked. He savored the fear and curiosity he saw on the faces of the people when they realized a god walked among them. Some fell on their knees, and those who didn’t—well, the demon horde showed them the proper way to greet a god.
A siren blared as people began coming out of their homes. Some rode bikes to the square, while others ran. Town soldiers in blue and yellow uniforms ran to homes, knocking on doors. They shouted for people to come out and grabbed others who tried to hide.
All were required to appear when the Vralgari entered a town for a culling .
Two chairs had been hastily placed on a stage likely used for special events. Town officials stood on the stage, bowing as Prince Aeralis and Vesmona took their seats.
Prince Aeralis didn’t miss the townswomen whose eyes roved over him with excitement. Throwing an alluring smile their way, he snickered. He wasn’t surprised. Vralgari had an otherworldly beauty that often made people feel drawn to them. Beauty was a tool the Fae used well.
And so did the tracker. He had been in the village an entire day already. He’d been walking among them and collecting intelligence. Taking the stage, the tracker walked to the podium as everyone looked up.
He smiled at the good townspeople and began speaking in perfect Crelentian. “Today, you’re blessed to be in the presence of your god, Prince Aeralis.”
And then the tracker shape-shifted into one of the tallest demons known to walk the land. “Bow to Prince Aeralis!” he howled as people fell to their knees.
The townspeople began screaming and crying when they realized a demon had been staying in their town, and they had no idea what he was. Not all demons could shape-shift into various forms. But those who could wore a mask of beauty so divine it often drew people to their deaths. They never saw it coming until the beauty turned into a mask of sharp teeth.
Prince Aeralis loved the show the tracker was performing. And so does Vesmona! He saw a glorious smile on her face—one which he couldn’t remember the last time he’d seen. His pulse quickened as his nostrils flared. He swallowed, turning back to the performance unfolding.
The tracker walked among the bowed people, pointing at those he’d learned possessed the most magic during his time in the town in disguise. Those he pointed to were forced to come to the stage.
Prince Aeralis rose from his chair. Everyone grew quiet. They clutched their loved ones and shook where they stood .
“The magic tax has kept us all safe. We give you peace in exchange for giving us some of your magic.” Prince Aeralis smiled at the good people of the town.
The husband of a woman on the stage rushed forward. “Please...I beg you. Take my magic instead.” Two small children tried to run along his side, but a few townspeople held them back.
“Do you wish to leave your children with no parents?” asked Vesmona as she stood. She shape-shifted into her demoness form. Standing next to Druva, the demons were a formidable sight.
“This isn’t a magic tax! This is a vicious culling!” yelled the man. “We sacrifice our future to these monsters! We can fight them?—”
Druva took off the man’s head with one swipe of his long claws and then wiped them on the dead man’s shirt. “Shall we see if his children have magic?” he asked Prince Aeralis.
The woman kneeling on the stage begged them to take her instead. “I’ll give up my magic! Please forgive my husband. Let our children live.”
Prince Aeralis spread his wings and launched into the sky. Hovering over the people, his red crown blazed with fire, and his bloodred markings glowed.
“Your magic is filthy ! It taints your soul ! Giving it to me is your only way to salvation,” he snarled. “You should thank me. Not fear me.”
The people begged him for mercy as they shook. Their eyes never left the claws on his wings. They offered to sacrifice their magic for peace.
Prince Aeralis landed before the woman. Placing his hands around her neck, he felt the small suction pads on his palms latch onto her. Breathing deeply, he sucked her magic into his veins.
It was like a drug-infused euphoria. Where his body had once felt empty, he now felt full. But then the cravings began. He wanted more and more. As he drained her magic, her body shriveled until there was nothing left but a dry husk. Moving to the next two people, he fed until he was sated. He barely heard the townspeople screaming and crying as they were forced to watch.
Prince Aeralis was one of the few Vralgari powerful enough to feed on multiple magic wielders simultaneously. He had an insatiable hunger. But he’d learned self-control, for he could also feed on other Vralgari if he wasn’t careful. It was another reason his enemies within the Red Fae Court feared his rise among them.
The culling lasted several hours as each Vralgari fed, refueling them for the voyage ahead. Druva chose to feed on the livestock, saying he found them more palatable. Vesmona and the other demons followed his lead. Hmm, interesting! Prince Aeralis watched them leave.
As it got dark, the town lights came on. People with magic were still on their knees. The Vralgari drained a lot of the town’s magic. Prince Aeralis knew the more magic the people held, the more likely they would rise against him one day.
He laughed. They’re stupid to agree to the magic tax! Yet, people always choose the easy way out. It was why he despised them.
“Warlord Jaxxon was smart to stay on the perimeter of this town. He must have known they were weak and would have given them up if they had come inside seeking shelter,” said Prince Aeralis to one of his lieutenants.
“But if Jaxxon finds more allies, we might have a problem.” Prince Aeralis gave the sign for the townspeople to return to their homes. “That woman’s husband was defiant. We can’t have others speaking out against us like that.”
As the townspeople began walking off, he saw some of their elders pointing to the sky. “What are they talking about?” he asked the town governor.
“The people are excited about the Celestial dragons we saw fly overhead last night. It’s been so long since we’ve seen them. They were magnificent!”
Prince Aeralis shook with fury as his crown blazed red fire. He shouted, “Am I not magnificent?”
He drained the beloved governor of every morsel of magic .
Turning, he found the townspeople staring in horror and something else that shone in their teary eyes. Whatever he glimpsed on their faces quickly vanished as the people hurried off.
“Where’s that mysterious tracker of yours?” he asked Vesmona, seeing her walking back to the stage alone.
“Gone to find those magnificent dragons.”
“Oh, don’t be a smartass, Vesmona!”