Chapter 24 Lily
LILY
I was in the courtyard when Scion came in for a landing. Viper was in his armor and cape, probably tired from his quick journey there and back. He slid down Scion’s side like he’d been riding dragons for years rather than weeks. “Your father says we need to leave imminently.”
“Yes. Are you ready?”
“As ready as I’ll ever be,” he said dismissively. “My brother denied the use of the army, so I support this plan.”
When I glanced toward the castle, I saw Callum and my father standing together in identical armor with their heavy swords across their backs.
But the difference between them was my father’s cape, which signified his status as king to anyone who didn’t know.
But Callum’s height and size made him look like a general or his private guard.
“Before we join the others, I need you to know that Callum and I have decided to make it work. So I don’t want you to risk your life on this journey in the hope of a future for us, because there won’t be one.
” I delivered the truth quickly and coldheartedly, but there wasn’t time to be delicate.
Viper contained his reaction. “I understand.”
It was that easy?
“But from what I understand, the outcome of this battle affects everyone. So of course I’m not going to abandon this task because of… What does your father like to call it? Our little love triangle.”
“It was never a love triangle.”
He gave a quiet chuckle. “I tried.”
“There are only seven of us,” I said. “It’ll be dangerous and chaotic, and I really don’t know what to expect. So I just want you to be sure—”
“We’re friends, are we not?”
“Of course.”
“Then I’m sure.” He nodded toward the castle. “Let’s go.”
The awkward conversation seemed to be over, so we headed to where Callum and my father stood. Aunt Eldinar and Uncle Ezra appeared a moment later with my brother Hawk, completing the team of seven.
“We’re ready to go,” I said as I joined the group, feeling my emotions rumble just because Callum was standing there. “We’ll need a couple of dragons to take us there.”
“I know,” my father said. “Just having an issue with that.”
“Why?” I asked. “What’s the issue?”
“I am,” Callum said simply, looking at me with empty eyes.
“They all refuse to let Callum upon their backs,” my father said quietly. “Khazmuda says no dragon killer will ever touch his scales.”
“This is ridiculous.” I turned toward the open courtyard as if I expected Khazmuda to be there.
I felt his mind, the barrier shielding his mind from my entry like stone, but in my violent rage, I broke through it with steel knuckles and shattered it like glass.
We’re trying to save the world and everyone in it, and you’re being stubborn?
I’ve witnessed the stubbornness of a dragon firsthand all my life, but this is a new feat.
Your feelings are more important than being alive?
We do not have time for this, Khazmuda. If I could breathe fire, the castle would be smoldering right now.
I felt his rage push back against me, but no words were communicated. Just pure, unadulterated fire. How dare you speak to me this way.
How dare you put us all in jeopardy with your bullshit.
My father seemed to know what was being relayed between us because he approached me and gently grabbed me by the arm. “Zunieth—”
I twisted out of his grasp.
A moment later, Khazmuda appeared, his shiny black scales visible in the sunlight, rising up over the edge of the courtyard, a massive creature, and he hovered in the air momentarily as he looked down at me like he might rain down fire.
I took another step forward.
He suddenly dropped down and landed with a thud that made the stone tremble beneath our feet.
Then he opened his massive jaws and roared directly at me, making my hair fly back from my face in the heat of his warm breath.
“Rooooaaaaaarrrr!” He closed his jaws, and then his nostrils released little clouds of smoke.
I stepped forward then slammed both of my fists into my chest until I released my own roar, a low-pitched scream as I moved toward him, making his eyes shift back and forth in uncertainty at my ferocity. “Ahhhhhhhhh!”
Khazmuda stepped back and blinked.
“You aren’t the only dragon here, Khazmuda.
I have the blood of dragons in my veins and hard scales within my fingernails and a monstrous temper that can spark a fire.
I’m devastated by all the dragons that we lost. I had to stand here and survey the battle, watching them drop out of the sky like birds wounded by arrows.
You are not the only one who grieves. We’ve all lost those we love, Khazmuda.
And I’m sorry for Callum’s involvement in that, but his heart is pure and not filled with malice, and he did not cause this on purpose.
He can see the past but not the future, and there’s no way he could have known the destruction a single deal would cause.
You don’t have to forgive him or like him, that’s your prerogative, but he’s the man I’ve chosen for the rest of my life.
He will be my husband and the father of my hatchlings, and if you decide you don’t want to be a part of our lives, that’s your choice.
But right now, we need to work together to defeat these assholes once and for all.
The hours grow short, and I don’t have time for your irrational, childlike stubbornness.
We all need to get to the island, and you bet your fucking ass you’re taking all of us—including Callum.
So let’s fucking go.” I slammed my gloved hand into my chest as I lunged at him slightly.
Khazmuda released two more plumes of smoke from his flared nostrils as he stared me down. You remind me of your father, making demands like he expects the world to bow to him—
“Do you want Zehemoth and Movack to live?”
His black eyes narrowed further.
“Because I’m trying to save their lives, and you care more about making your demands. That can wait until this battle is over. This is the last time that you might see any of us, yet you’re choosing to focus on a past event that no one can change.”
“I’m sorry.”
I stopped when I heard Callum’s voice from behind me.
Khazmuda’s eyes shifted to the left of me.
“I’m sorry for my part in all of this,” Callum said from outside my line of sight.
“I’ve made deals with lots of evil men that led to insubstantial consequences.
I didn’t expect to love a woman through this journey…
and her family…and her dragons. And I’m truly sorry for the pain and sorrow I’ve caused all of you.
When Lily took my place in the underworld and I woke up on the sand, I saw her dragon crying over her body.
And that was the moment I realized just how truly special and magical you are as creatures.
That the love in your hearts matches your size.
I know an apology doesn’t make it right, but I issue it anyway. ”
Khazmuda lowered his head farther to regard Callum, his piercing eyes taking him in with hostility. His nostrils flared, and he released a plume of smoke before he issued a low growl.
“Khazmuda.” This time, it was my father who spoke from behind me.
He walked forward past Callum and then me, reaching Khazmuda’s snout and pressing his palm to his snout with affection.
The wind moved through the courtyard and blew my father’s cape slightly, his presence regal even from behind.
And he was so tender as he touched Khazmuda, gliding his ungloved hand over the soft scales of his face and making Khazmuda’s eyes close.
I knew they spoke in private, their thoughts hidden from everyone else because of the intimacy of their bond. The conversation seemed to last a while, and Khazmuda kept his eyes closed as their discussion continued.
We didn’t have time for this, but I didn’t interrupt them in case my father was making a breakthrough.
Khazmuda eventually opened his eyes again and stepped back slightly. Zehemoth suddenly rose from the cliffs to join us, like he’d been waiting nearby for his father’s call. He glided and came in for a landing, and then Aunt Eldinar’s dragon joined.
“Hawk, you’re with me,” Dad said. “Let’s go.”
My eyes turned to Khazmuda, wanting to know what was said but knowing I couldn’t ask.
My father walked to my mother, the only one of us who would remain behind, and he cupped both of her cheeks and kissed her in front of everyone.
She leaned her forehead to his as her hands cupped his neck. “Come home—and make sure you bring our children with you.”
He nodded then stepped away.
Hawk and I said goodbye to our mother, and then we started to mount our dragons.
Viper rode Scion alone, and Callum and I shared Zehemoth.
Aunt Eldinar and Uncle Ezra rode Macabre, the biggest dragon of the bunch.
One by one, the dragons launched into the sky, and we made our way to the dead island—hopefully for the last time.
We arrived nearly a day later, the dragons landing on the eastern beach. We made our way to the center of the island but stopped in a clearing of dead trees, an ominous fog hovering low to the ground.
Riviana’s fiery red hair was like a beacon of light, and her presence immediately vanquished the mist toward the trees that circled us. She stared at each of us before her gaze focused on my father. “He knows I’m here. We don’t have much time. Are you prepared?”
My father stepped forward. “Yes.”
“You will have but a moment,” she said as her hair floated weightlessly around her head. “Do not delay.” She disappeared like a ghost, just the way Callum had instantaneously faded from my life.
Callum took the lead, choosing a distinct path through the trees, away from the open spaces, heading toward the north side where the rear of the skull rock was located. We wordlessly moved along the path, silent except for the war drums that thudded in our hearts.