Chapter 33
Chapter Thirty-Three
“It’s the only way,” Marcus stated to Con as the other Dragon Kings and Dragon Queen stood around him.
Con held his gaze, his face showing no outward emotion. “I doona like it.”
“I’ve looked at this from every angle. We all have. My plan is the only way.”
Con gave a single shake of his head. “Find another way.”
“There isna one,” Ryder said as he stepped forward. “I doona like it either, but the other option is taking Fedra’s life.”
Brandr moved to stand beside Con. “Marcus, if you do this, you’ll be as weak as a human.”
“With the possibility of death,” Eurwen added.
Marcus looked between the twins and Con. “Eurielle can also bring death. It doesna matter if I stay here or no’. If it’s my turn to die, then I die.”
“But no’ like what you’re proposing,” Evander added.
Marcus had known there would be opposition to his plan, but he also knew it was solid, with a real chance of succeeding.
The only thing that could throw a wrench into it was Fedra.
He had kept his true identity from her so far.
If he could hold out a little longer, then she would never know that she was helping the Dragon Kings.
“Trust me,” he said.
Con sighed. “It isna a matter of trust. It’s a matter of your life.”
“We’ve always put our lives on the line,” Marcus argued.
“From the first time we fought against the humans to the Fae and any other enemy who came for us. Every time, each of us knew that it could be our last. We’ve forgotten that, when our dragons were on Earth, there were always new Kings to take our places.
Most of us achieved our positions by fighting the previous Kings of our clans.
Death is part of life. I’ve lived for too long.
I’m no’ afraid of dying and seeing what comes next. ”
Brandr flattened his lips as he glanced at the ground. “But you willna be going out as a King. You’ll be without magic. We doona even know if you’ll be able to shift.”
“I’ve already accepted that I probably willna be able to take my true form. As for my magic, I can still fight without it. As long as Fedra is near, anyone who comes at me with magic will also be affected. That will put us on equal footing.”
Eurwen caught his eye. “Are you sure Fedra will go with you?”
“She’s desperate to get out of the city. She’ll agree,” Marcus said confidently. When the silence continued, he added, “Remember, with Fedra here, everyone in the city is in danger. This isna just about me—or even the dragons. It’s about all those we’re protecting here.”
Reluctance filled Con’s expression as he nodded. “You’ve made your case. The plan is sound, but I’d prefer it if you had backup.”
“It will only be Fedra and me,” Marcus stated.
Brandr pulled a face. “Do you have a death wish?”
“The Kings have always protected others.” Marcus shrugged. “This is no different.”
Con’s face became emotionless. “When do you leave? It’s only been two days since Fedra’s concussion.”
And in those forty-eight hours, everyone in the city had been on edge. They had kept Marcus away from Fedra for an entire day to make sure his wounds wouldn’t reopen. Fedra had been kept awake the entire time, and only then had she been allowed to sleep. She had yet to wake.
“We’ll head out at first light,” Marcus announced.
Marcus had spent the last few hours gathering everything he needed for their journey. He didn’t know how long they would be gone. It could be as quick as a few days or as long as a few months. He folded the map that Derek and Kora had made for him and tucked it between his tunic and leather vest.
Leaving Iron Hall meant that he needed to look like he belonged wherever they ended up.
Or at least not wear clothing that came from Earth.
So, he had traded in his jeans for brown breeches, his boots for knee-high leather boots, and his shirt for a tunic.
It had been eons since he had worn clothes like these.
He looked at the table before him, where their sacks awaited.
Two were filled with food, one with an extra change of clothes for both him and Fedra, and another with items that could be traded.
Besides those four, Sian had also gathered several types of medicine in case they were needed.
Last but not least was the bag of coins he had tucked away.
It was two hours before dawn. Time to go see Fedra. Marcus turned around and found Jenefer in the doorway. The held a sword in one hand and a bow in the other. He glanced at the weapons.
“I heard some of the other Kings saying that you couldn’t bring your sword because it was made of magic.
These aren’t. I’ve used the bow for years.
It’s solid, and its aim is true. It won’t let you down.
I bought the sword in Stonemore. The weight is evenly distributed.
I also had it sharpened,” she said as she held out the bow and sword.
Marcus made his way to her and gratefully accepted her gifts. “Thank you. This saves me time having to buy weapons later.”
“You and the other Kings have done a lot for us.” She cleared her throat. “Those with magic have long been persecuted, and no one stood with us until you. I’d offer to come with you, but I know you’d refuse.”
He smiled as he placed the weapons on the table before turning back to her. “You might no’ have magic as an , but your sword does. Besides, it’s better if I do this alone.”
“Then take this,” she said and pulled something from the belt at her waist.
Marcus took the rectangular wooden token the size of his palm and looked down at the symbol carved in the middle. “What is this?”
“If you encounter any Amazons, show them this. They’ll aid you.”
“I thought most of your kind were gone.”
She nodded, sighing. “They are, but I know some are in hiding. This is just a backup.”
“Thank you,” he said, and put the token with the map.
“Good luck.”
He watched her walk away, then headed to Fedra. As expected, Con was waiting in the corridor. Marcus greeted him before they both entered her room. She was sleeping with her back to the door.
“Who is it?” Fedra called as she sat up.
Marcus walked to the end of the bed. She once more had the bandage over her eyes. When he found her, she had removed it, and he had been certain she’d looked up at him. “It’s me.”
“Are you…healed?” she asked hesitantly.
He glanced at Con, who remained at the door. “I am.”
“It might be wise not to be around me. Just in case.”
“It’s been two days. I’m healed.”
She shifted to sit more comfortably, keeping the covers close. “You knew what being near me would do to you. Why didn’t you tell me you had magic?”
“Because it wouldna have made any difference. I’m no’ here to talk about that.”
A small frown pulled at her forehead. “What are you here to discuss then?”
“I’m going to take you out of the city.”
“What’s the catch?”
He grinned as he looked down. “Most everyone in the city has some form of magical ability.”
“And you were attacked.” She released a long sigh. “Did I…hurt anyone else when I was walking around?”
“Nay, but we want to make sure that you doona.”
Fedra licked her lips. “I understand. It’s better this way.”
The way she talked made it seem like she was used to being told exactly that. There was no time to delve into that now. He’d find out more later. “I want to leave at dawn. Are you up for it?”
“Can I ask where we’re going?”
“As far from Iron Hall as we can get.”
She curled her fingers into the blanket. “I see. Then I’ll be ready.”
“Sian will help you change shortly.”
He looked at her for a moment more before turning on his heel and walking out. Marcus paused in the corridor and waited for Con to join him after he’d shut the door.
“You were right. She didna argue,” Con said.
Marcus glanced at the door. “She wants to leave here to complete her mission.”
“We doona know for certain whether she’s regained her sight.”
“I’m going to assume she has.”
Con cut his gaze to the door. “Which means, she’ll try to get away from you.”
“She can try.” He noticed the flicker of worry in Con’s gaze. “Do you think I’ve lost what it takes to be a King because I’ve locked myself away for all these millennia?”
“You’ve no’ locked yourself away.”
Marcus grunted. “I keep to my office at Dreagan and the atrium here. I’ve locked myself away.”
“Nay,” Con stated. “I doona think you’ve lost anything. You wouldna be doing this if you had. I do worry about your other comment. That you’ve lived for too long.”
“It wasna that long ago that you thought the same thing.”
Con shot him a dark look. “I no longer think that.”
“Because you won Rhi back and found happiness.”
“You can find it, too.”
Marcus chuckled. “What makes you think I want it? I’m tired, Con.
I’ve been tired for a long time. We had to hide who we were on Earth, and while I understood it, it only made my resentment grow.
I thought we might have a second chance on Zora, but the dragons’ hatred is so deep that it’ll never happen.
Where do we belong? On Earth, where we have to hide?
We even have to hide on Zora because the humans fear anything with magic, and the dragons stay far from us.
There’s no need for us anymore. The clans are gone. ”
“Why have you never said anything to me before?”
“What good would it have done? You can no’ fix this problem. When Fedra told us why she was here, it became clear to me. I’ve always been proud to be a Dragon King and protect others, but we’re reviled everywhere we go. It doesna matter how much good we do. We’ll never be looked at favorably.”
Con put his hand on Marcus’s shoulder. “Need I remind you that the people of Highvale revere us?”
“One island.”
“There are others who doona despise us.”
Marcus dropped his chin to his chest and sighed. Then, he looked up. “All we’ve ever wanted was peace, and all we ever have is a continuous line of enemies coming for us. And no’ just to kill a few of us. Everyone wants to wipe us out. We’ll never have the peace we’ve sought.”
Con dropped his arm to his side. “We have enemies because we’re so powerful. We’ve always won against those opposing us because we band together. I didna let any of you lose hope when we locked ourselves away on Dreagan for all those years. I willna let you lose it now.”
Marcus forced a smile, not bothering to tell Con that he had lost it long ago.
“There you are,” Sian said as she headed toward them.
Marcus turned, his hands instinctively reaching out when she shoved a small bag at him. “What’s this?”
“Flares. Evander and Ryder told me how they were used on Earth. Since it’s difficult for you to communicate with your mental link when she’s near, you can use these if you’re in trouble.”
Con nodded approvingly at Sian before swinging his gaze to Marcus. “We’ll be watching the sky.”
Marcus tossed the bag into the air and caught it. “You’ve thought of everything.”
“That’s what I do,” Sian said proudly as she walked past them.