29. The First Battle pt. 1
29
THE FIRST BATTLE PT. 1
T he chain clinked like little bells as King Vale delicately spun Luella away from his embrace.
An excellent dancer , Luella thought with no small amount of disgust.
Luella’s eyes flicked down to surreptitiously watch his feet, his steps sure and head held high as he folded her back into his arms just as perfectly as he had directed her to spin away.
King Vale was careful of Az, the demon still tethered to her, and in turn, the King, by the length of chain he had wrapped loosely in his fist. Az sulked behind her, not quite close enough to touch but not far enough that she wasn’t well aware of his presence. The force of the spin made the very ends of her golden curls flutter about behind her back, brushing against the demon’s chest as the chain grew taut between them, then slack as she gracefully fell back into their orbit.
It was strange. A dance with not two, but three.
With a soft brush of his finger, the King tucked a piece of hair behind her arched ear, eyes locked with hers as he held her to him.
"I’ve heard stories, you know," King Vale started. "Princess Luella Eritrais of Solis, the forgotten and shunned heirus. There was much talk about you, why you never showed your face. When you were younger, everyone brushed it off, assuming you were perhaps sickly. But as the years went by, and still no sign of the coveted Princess of Solis…" The King clicked his tongue against the roof of his mouth. "Some thought you had a tryst with a low-born fae, or even worse, a human, and grew to be with child, leading to your isolation. A few theorized you didn’t inherit the beauty of your parents. Others simply speculated that you were born with a disability."
Luella raised a delicate, blonde brow as she listened to him. It had never been something she had given much attention to—what others thought about her locked away, treated like a stain upon the lineage of Solis.
"But I knew better…" King Vale trailed off, sweeping the back of his hand down her spine before settling it over her lower back, brushing his warm fingers along her bare skin above the curve of her backside.
She inhaled a shallow breath at the touch.
"What about you? What did you think?" Luella asked.
She peered up at him, neck straining as she met his gaze. From this close, she could count the flecks of emerald in his eyes. Little pinpricks of shimmering brightness offset by the deep forest shade near his pupils. Tiny dustings of glitter settled on his cheeks, raining down around them.
Not for the first time, Luella found herself wishing she were here under different circumstances. Not as a captive but as a visitor. She would have loved to relish in the sights and truly enjoy herself, not with fear for her life and every step taken with trepidation.
"I thought the conspiracies about you being born with a disability weren’t far off. But not a disability of the physical or mental sort," King Vale revealed.
While one hand was settled on her lower back, the King placed his other palm firmly over the space below her breasts. Her back straightened at the touch, awareness sparking on her skin, and he leaned in, filling the scant space between them with his scent of burning wood and crackling embers.
She barely noted Az’s warning growl sounding from behind her as the King whispered between them, "A disability of the soul."
Luella jerked back.
He couldn’t possibly know…
Could he?
King Vale pulled away from her, lifting her arm above her as he spun her gracefully. As if by invisible strings held aloft over their heads.
As she turned, she met Az’s amber eyes. The demon’s lips were downturned, a tiny line between his dark brows. His features softened ever so slightly as their eyes met before she was again pulled back into her captor’s arms.
Luella barely caught the way Az intensely scanned over the entirety of the room, too wrapped up in the male before her to give it a second thought.
Her eyes narrowed as she looked up at King Vale. The King’s steps were sure as he tracked footsteps in the golden shimmer of the floors, forcing her to follow after him lest her arm be torn away from her body by the chains keeping her tied to him.
"My soul is perfectly well, King Vale," Luella muttered. "But I thank you for being so concerned over me."
"Would you bet your fate on that?" the King retorted.
Something about the way he said that… Fate. It made Luella’s stomach clench in worry.
And that worry was only magnified when King Vale’s green eyes suddenly grew wide in a look she had never before seen on his face—one she didn’t think the King capable of experiencing. Shock.
It started off small, with a whisper, as all dangerous things do.
The ground rumbled under Luella’s bare feet, and she looked down, curious.
"What—?" The word fell from her lips quietly, and a loud, ear-splitting roar cut off the rest of her question.
So loud, she couldn’t even hear herself think.
Luella had never heard anything like it before.
But she had heard stories.
Those stories did nothing to relay the all-consuming fear that washed over her from the sound. Realization struck her.
A dragon.
The roaring grew louder, and Luella clapped her hands over her ears.
Her knees felt weak from the thundering cries of the dragon’s wings. It was so loud she worried her eardrums would rupture.
King Vale placed a hand on her shoulder, urging her to straighten.
She hadn’t even realized her knees had bent under the force of the noise, shoulders curving inward as she was forced down, down, down.
His lips moved, but she couldn’t hear herself. Nothing over that keening cry. A beastly, inhumane thing, declaring death.
From behind her, a warm hand pressed over the side of her head, pulling her into a bare chest and keeping her ears protected.
In a daze, Luella’s head tilted up, and she met Az’s eyes. The demon’s lips were pinched thin, and his head whipped around the room, the muscles in his broad shoulders rippling. He curled his body around her like he could guard her with the sheer force of his presence alone. He was so warm, and her ears hurt. A whimper was pulled from her, and she felt—but didn’t hear—the answering growl from deep in Az’s chest.
The courtiers were utterly still. The bow of a harp hanging limply from a musician’s fingers, the female’s mouth parted in shock as she staggered back against the wall.
From the shadowed edges of the room, as if materializing from thin air, an army emerged, enclosing the circumference of the throne room and completely trapping the revelers within.
A ragtag collection of common creatures. Not soldiers, though some were. An amalgamation of shifters, humans, and mages.
Luella swore she even saw a few fae in their midst. But it couldn’t possibly be true.
No. The shock was making her see things.
Her eyes flicked to the musician again. Luella didn’t know why, but her attention was morbidly drawn to the shell-shocked shifter; the bow in the female’s hand was visibly shaking, the harp discarded against the ground. Luella could see it even from across the room.
The musician was the first to fall.
In the shadows behind the female, a young male crept. He wore a thin, ragged shirt, and blood and dirt marred his youthful face. The candlelight slanted over his features, revealing a shining pit of onyx for his eyes. His mouth parted in a cry, and he raised a blood-encrusted sword, it wobbled in his grip, far too big for his young frame, and he plunged it into the female shifter’s back.
Luella’s legs grew unsteady under her, and if it weren’t for Az, she would have fallen completely to the ground. She clawed weakly at the demon’s hand. King Vale closed in on Luella’s other side, keeping her tightly tucked between the pair. She barely registered the chains cutting into her wrist. It was as though all her senses had shrunk, leaving her with only one: her hearing. She could do nothing but tremble under the weight of that thundering boom that pierced the air.
As the King and Az pressed tightly into her, she felt rumbles emitting from their chests as they spoke. Then, as quickly as they had moved to cover her, King Vale broke away, Az leaving her just enough to move her head from his chest. His large palms cupped her cheeks, tilting her face up to his.
Maybe she was just used to it now, but the booming noise wasn’t as painful as it had been. She was adjusting, and more sounds were coming back to her.
As cries, pained moans, and wails echoed throughout the throne room, Luella wished she still couldn’t hear.
King Vale anchored both of his hands on her shoulders, stooping to stare into her eyes.
"Go with Azgorath," the King commanded. His voice held no space for a rebuttal.
Luella barely had time to nod before King Vale shoved her back into the demon’s chest. The King unwound the chain from his grip, almost throwing it into Az’s awaiting hands, as he said, "Don’t make me regret this."
King Vale gave Az and Luella one last, pointed look before something that could only be described as extraordinary took place.
The air grew thick with power, and the King tilted his head back and let loose an inhumane sound, tendons in his neck straining from the force of it. Scales black as pitch crawled along his skin. His clothes tore and fluttered in tattered shreds to the ground, his golden crown falling from his head.
Up, up…
And up.
The creature that lived within King Vale grew right before her eyes.
Until no more, stood the male caged within skin and bones, but in his place, a pure onyx dragon.
Luella staggered back into Az, the demon pulling her far away from the sweep of the dragon’s tail, the tips of his pointed wings dragging against the floor and knocking into marbled pillars along the walls. A few pieces of stone fell loose and crumbled to the ground, like mere putty under the dragon’s sheer size and strength.
"Dear gods," Luella breathed.
Her voice sounded warped to her own ears like she was underwater.
The only speck of color on the dragon’s pure black body was those familiar eyes. A shade of green Luella could almost paint from memory.
He was massive.
Now, Luella realized why Solis hadn’t even had a chance of winning against Serpentis.
The dragon gave a mighty roar, tail swiping, and more pieces of wall crumbled. Those large wings flapped as they stretched out, cutting off the light of the moon from the skylight above and casting the throne room in total darkness as he rose higher.
The dragon’s head neared the ceiling, and still, he did not give pause.
He was going to break through the glass skylight.
"Az," Luella breathed quietly. The demon did not move. " Az !" she yelled.
A second before the dragon shattered the skylight with a loud bellow, Az completely enveloped her, ripped from his stupor as he forced her to the ground. He almost crushed her to the floor, a strong arm wrapping around her tightly as he hugged her to him, covering her with his body.
Glass rained down from above, large chunks and smaller shards. It fell in her hair and sliced the exposed skin of her arms with tiny, stinging cuts.
She pressed her hands on the floor to hold her weight, and Luella pushed herself up, bucking against the demon who threatened to crush her.
"Down," he hissed into her hair. She could barely hear him over the sound of the falling glass and beating dragon wings.
"No!" Luella twisted her spine, hips pushing back into Az’s as she wriggled to be let free. "You’ll be hurt!"
Didn’t he have any care for his safety? He wasn’t the impenetrable shield he thought himself to be.
He let out a low groan into her hair and rumbled a curse under his breath at her movements.
"Settle, Lu!"
The resonating shatter of the glass petered out; the room was still and quiet, save for the roaring calls of the dragon and the harsh, thundering boom of beating wings.
Slowly, Az lifted away from her, not giving her any time to get her bearings as he pulled her up by the elbow and tucked her into him. His bare torso was littered with small cuts from the glass, tiny shards stuck to the skin of his upper arms and back. She shuddered, her lower stomach growing tight at the sight of his blood.
The throne room was in total disarray as a battle raged around them.
Bodies were strewn about the room and fists flew, screams echoing in tune with the sounds of twin dragon cries—King Vale and the mysterious dragon.
A female scrambled back on her legs, scales overtaking her as she attempted to shift, but she never made it. Before the shift could overtake her, an assailant ran her through with a sword, nearly cutting her in half. Blood sprayed from the wound, and she fell into a soundless heap on the gore-soaked marble. Just another felled body joining the quickly growing mass of dead courtiers.
Throughout it all, the enchanted embers of the chandelier continued to fall.
"We have to get you out of here," Az called, tone urgent.
He scanned the room with a wild look in his eyes, likely coming to the same realization as Luella—there was no way out if they didn’t want to fight.
It was a miracle they hadn’t been attacked yet, but their luck was running short. The soldiers grew closer to the middle of the room with every passing moment. Closer to them.
Luella’s heart thundered in her chest. "How?" She stumbled back into Az, her whole body shaking like a leaf.
"I’ll get you out, Lu. I swear it on my life." Az carded his fingers through her hair, careful of the chain. The action was delicate and sweet, a momentary reprieve from the harshness around them. He used his grip on her hair to pull her face up to his. "You have to trust me."
Luella gave a shaky nod, and for Az, it was enough.
He started to pull her away. But not to the grand, double doors they had entered through, but the tiny door nestled near the throne, which she knew led right to the dungeons.
Craning her neck, she looked up to the open sky above. The glass dome was ruined. Jagged edges of broken glass at the outskirts of the dome, while the middle was completely gone. The night sky was clear; she could see no sign of the dragons, but she could hear them.
"Come." Az tugged her, but Luella’s bare feet dug into the ground. Glass cut into her feet.
"What if he’s hurt?"
He appeared exasperated at her worry for her captor. "He’ll be fine."
Just when she was going to allow herself to be pulled away, something sparked within her. Luella dove for the heap of tattered clothes on the floor, fingers digging as she pulled the King’s crown free and cradled it to her chest.
She didn’t know why, but she thought King Vale might not like it if he were to lose his crown.
The thought was absurd. She could not justify her reasoning?—
But maybe she could use it as some bargaining chip or a way to earn his favor. Every little bit would help.
Az pulled her up by the neckline of her gown. It cut into her skin, but the demon—who usually would never harm a hair on her golden head—didn’t pay her sharp inhale of protest any mind.
Without a second to spare, they were off.
Az expertly tracked a path through the carnage, Luella stumbling after him. He had an iron-like grip on her wrist. The demon’s strides were too large for her smaller legs, and she struggled to keep up. But still, Luella did not say one word.
She tried not to stare too hard at the blood coating his sweat-slicked, tanned back or the small, jagged pieces of glass embedded in his skin.
Luella sent a quick prayer up to the gods in thanks that she was barefoot. It allowed her to have better traction on the floor, and she used it to her advantage, lithely stepping over fallen bodies and hopping over puddles of blood so she wouldn’t slip. Every step made her wince, glass stuck to her heels, but the adrenaline welling within her made it a distant feeling.
Her fingers gripped the chain as Az pulled her with it like a leash.
He didn’t turn, just kept pulling her along, barreling through bodies, both friend and foe, without a second glance. He shoved everyone in their path out of the way with preternatural strength—barely tempered by the enchantments of his shackles and collar that locked his Body magic—but still far stronger than the average creature.
If this was Az with subdued strength, Luella would hate to see him at full force.
He dodged swinging swords and falling bodies, keeping her close to him so he could protect her. Her ears rang from shock. It was all so surreal; her body did not feel like her own. Golden curls stuck to her nape with sweat, and her head swiveled, watching the path and dodging blood on the ground, staring gape-mouthed at the attackers in the room—the utter violence.
It didn’t look like a normal army. It was such a strange mix of creatures, male and female, young and old, virile and weak. Some were skilled in combat and did not die quite so easily. Others were snapped like twigs, not even having a moment to realize death greeted them before a sword was plunged into their stomachs, or a serpent shifter coiled around them and squeezed until blood dribbled out of their mouths and nose.
A muscled female jumped in front of Az, a mighty war cry falling from her lips, teeth gnashing like she wished to bite. Her palms were raised, a rush of water swirling between them as she was poised to hurl it right at them. An Aqua fae.
Her eyes were dark with shadows. Unnatural.
Almost… possessed.
Luella choked out a warning, her breath ragged. With a sweep of his leg, Az kicked out the feet of their would-be attacker, all without barely stopping his pace.
The fae crumbled to the ground.
Az didn’t hesitate before driving his heel down right into her windpipe. A sickening crunch resounded, and the female’s eyes were wide with shock as she took labored breaths. Her hands clawed at her broken throat, spurts of water flicking from her fingertip as she weakly attempted to save herself.
But it was no use.
The light dimmed from the female’s eyes. Those shadows flickered in her irises before growing dull, her body still with death.
Az swept a cursory glance over Luella, just enough to make sure she was unharmed. She gave a nod. And they ran again.
Her feet hurt with every slap against the marble, and her body was worn out. She wasn’t equipped for battle or running.
The assailants wouldn’t stop. When one was felled, another seemed to pop up in their place.
A hand gripped her untethered arm, pulling her harshly to the side. It caused her chained arm to pull in the opposite direction Az was running, her arm screaming in pain.
Fire ran up her arm, radiating out from her socket.
A choked scream was torn from her lips. Az came to a screeching halt, teeth bared in the beginnings of a snarl as he turned.
Luella was pulled back into a large chest.
"Hello, little heirus." A masculine voice whispered over her hair.
She shuddered.
"Get the fuck away from her right now," Az threatened. The demon was menacing. Large and unyielding. Chest bare and slick with sweat and blood—both his own and from the attackers. His horns curled above his head of dark curls, and his amber eyes shone with deadly intent.
"Or what?" The male asked. With a long breath, a woosh of air blew her hair away from her neck, and he nosed along the skin of her collarbone and under her jaw, teeth scraping as he drank her in. "Gods, good enough to bite. Wouldn’t you say? I could… eat her up." She felt the male smile against her neck.
There was something more to his words.
Luella didn’t feel the prick of fangs against her skin—only blunt, normal teeth—so why would he threaten to bite? Power thrummed as the male kept her trapped with his magic.
"G-get off of me," she whimpered.
Az tugged on the chain, making her arm throb anew. Sparks of fury ignited in his gaze. But he was stuck, unable to help her if he didn’t want her to be harmed.
Fingers dove under the neckline of her gown, and the male who was holding her gripped her with such ferocity she felt like he had the power to tear her in two.
Another soft puff of breath, and suddenly, the air was stolen from her lungs.
Luella gasped, feeble as she clawed against the male’s forearms. She couldn’t breathe.
She couldn’t breathe.
Her mouth opened as she attempted to cry for help, but all sound was stolen from her lips as the male used his air magic on her, robbing her of breath.
Her lungs seized, empty.
Little pinpricks of black spotted her vision, and the sounds of battle and crying dragons grew faint.
A ferocious snarl ripped through her dulling state of awareness. The chain on her hand keeping her tied to Az grew slack, and the golden links snapped as if they were made of clay.
Knees thudding to the ground and shoulder crying out in pain, air rushed into Luella’s lungs as she was released from the male’s grip. Sweet with dizzying relief. She inhaled greedily, gulping down so much her chest ached.
She gave a weak cough, sounds coming back to her in a rush as she gained her bearings.
" Run ! Lu, run!" Az barked at her.
Through wavering sight, she watched as the demon fought the male who had hurt her. His hair was cut closely to his scalp, displaying arched ears. Thick, black tattoos were etched onto the side of his skull, and it reminded her of Tharen. A mage.
Hands scrambling for purchase against the blood-slicked floor, Luella stood, careful not to move her aching shoulder.
The loose end of her chain dangled from her wrist. Az had snapped the links, untethering her and leaving him to freely battle her attacker.
The demon kicked at the male with his bare foot, using the shackles and chains to his advantage as he hooked them against the male’s neck and pulled back on them tightly. The male choked, eyes bulging as the air was stolen from him just as he had done to her.
"Hide," Az screamed at her, muscles in his neck straining as he strangled her attacker to death. The male’s feet kicked out, body slowly slumping as Az didn’t let up.
She jumped to obey.
Her knees felt wobbly and head light with fear as she slipped on the floor, diving into a nearby alcove.
And Luella was enveloped by the shadows and quiet.