Chapter 18
M arthen tried to pull Tanis away at the same time trumpets began to sound in warning.
She refused to go. “You need me, beast.”
In his human body, Dash refused to listen to her. “I know how to fight a dragon, and I have your fire.”
“Who better to fight them than one of their own?”
“But you’re not a dragon right now. You’re human, Tanis.” Dash cupped her face in his hands. “Please... I don’t want to watch you die. Do you understand?”
She glared at him. “I’m a warrior. Fully trained.”
“I know that. This isn’t about your skill. It’s about my staying focused during this battle. I will lose if I know you’re under fire.”
“Yet you expect me to standby while you’re in harm’s way? How fair is that?”
Dash winced at the fury he heard in her tone. He respected that anger, just as he respected her skill. But this wasn’t about either of those. “I’m not asking you to be fair, little dragon. I’m asking you for my sanity. I can’t fight if I’m worried about watching you die.”
Tanis ground her teeth, needing to argue with him. But the turmoil in those dark green eyes made her ache. She more than understood the pain she saw there. Because she felt it, too.
One of them had to give ground.
If she were a dragon, she would stand strong in this. But she wasn’t.
He was in the form that he was used to fighting in. She wasn’t. His powers were whole, and her powers weren’t.
If he was more worried about her safety than his, he would die in battle. Or be severely wounded. He wouldn’t be focused on those attacking him. He’d be more focused on those running at her.
Only an absolute, selfish moron wanting to die would continue to argue, and she loved him too much to do that. “Don’t you dare break my heart, beast. I swear to the gods if you do, I’ll have Ambrose bring you back from the dead just to torment you.”
He gave her a tumultuous smile. “I know you will.”
She fisted her hand in his hair and pulled him close to kiss those irresistible lips. “Remember, I don’t love my sister as you do Renata. I will shed no tears for her. Do whatever you have to and use my fire to keep yourself safe. A dragon’s throat glows for a few seconds before they emit fire. Slit it when it glows, and they’ll die easily.”
Dash turned to Marthen. “Keep her safe, wizard. Whatever it takes.”
He inclined his head to Dash before he led her toward their underground shelter.
Dove and Ryper gave him a curious stare.
“Should I ask about that kiss?” Ryper asked.
“Shut up. I need to focus.”
The dragons had taken to the sky again and were circling above while the elves were conjuring water to soak everything that could catch fire, including themselves.
Their elders were working spells to protect them from dragon fire.
Tova, Baldur and Hinrik met Dash in the center of the courtyard. Baldur let out a low growl. “They’ve trapped us here. The dragons are above, and centaurs have us surrounded. My gryphons are standing by, but we don’t have enough to counter the dragons, and I’m not sure if they’ll fight for us... or the dragons.”
That was a good and valid fear.
Dash led the elves along with Dove and Ryper toward the parapets.
“Tanis said there were other troops with them.” Dash climbed the stone steps so that they could see how many stood outside the gates.
“Looks like it’s just mercenaries. At least from what we can tell.” Tova was right behind him. “They’ve positioned fairy archers in the trees.”
“And Stonemen,” Hinrik added. “Not many, though. I’m thinking these are all mercs. Except for the centaurs, it doesn’t look as if they’re actual armies or soldiers sent by the kingdoms.”
Dash agreed as he reached the parapets and saw the motley bunch of warriors who were gathering outside the gate.
What he didn’t see was the queen herself.
“Who leads this assault?” Baldur shouted down to those preparing to battle them.
A centaur wearing unblemished armor rode forward with a standard bearer following three steps behind him. He wore his long brown hair loose around his shoulders, mostly because he knew he wouldn’t be fighting in battle. With an impeccable mustache and short beard, his aristocracy was an affront to every creature surrounding him. They’d been paid to bleed in his stead.
Prince Ferox. Dash remembered that bastard well. Meara’s eldest son and the one centaur besides Meara he’d like to gut and leave bleeding at his feet.
Flea bitten little shit. Which was the color of his equine half. From tail to hoof to torso. Shit brown.
And it took everything Dash had not to take the bow from Tova beside him and send an arrow straight into the centaur’s throat.
With the pompousness that could only come from someone who’d never been told no, Ferox made his demands. “We have no issue with Alarium, King Baldur. We just want a word with King Dash. If you’d be so kind as to inform him that we’re here to speak with him. Thank you.”
Baldur laughed at his request. “Princess Ragna said that she wanted to speak with her sister. I’m very confused with so much royalty visiting my humble kingdom without any warning. Wish word had been sent on ahead. I’d have prepared a feast and declared a national holiday.”
“No need to put yourself out. Dash and I are old friends.” He smiled coldly. “Please fetch him.”
Old friends, my ass. Dash exchanged a smirk with Dove who rolled his eyes in response.
Yeah... the fury in Dove’s eyes said it all.
He was having the same fantasy of ripping the centaur apart. Ferox had no idea that he was standing in front of three creatures who had spent years trading stories on how they’d end his life if they ever had the opportunity.
Dash had no idea how they were restraining themselves either. It was taking an act of supernatural strength for him. He could only imagine how difficult it was for Dove and Ryper. Especially given the fact that Ryper had the power and ability to land a blow even from this distance.
Baldur sighed heavily. “Well, Ferox, sorry you traveled all this way in vain. You just missed him. Sadly. He left last night. Again, had you sent word...”
“He’s lying! I saw the king when we arrived.” Ragna flew lower. “I don’t see him now, but the unicorn was there earlier.”
Baldur arched a brow at Dash. “How did they know you were here?” he whispered.
“That’s the question, isn’t it?” Dash glanced around at the group.
Someone, probably a gryphon, had sent word to his enemies that he was here.
Question was which one.
Baldur’s cheeks reddened as he realized that he had a traitor inside their gates. Maybe more than one.
Someone who could be unlocking said gate for their enemies even as they were talking.
Ferox came a bit closer. “Where is King Deciel?” He looked straight at Dash.
How fun that he had no idea. Then again, it’d been a long time since they last saw each other, and even then, Dash had only been in human form very rarely.
And only when Meara had tortured him into it.
While the elves present were all aware of his shape - shifting abilities and forms, not all races knew unicorns could shift. Because unicorns and centaurs were both equine races, the unicorns didn’t usually fight centaurs as humans. They never had. Unicorns had considered it dishonorable. Same with dragons. Since unicorns were weaker as humans, they’d never fought them in human skin.
But when it came to fighting a race like the elves who used magick and swords against them, there were advantages to shifting from unicorn to human and back. A human body allowed them to have certain attacks they couldn’t manage as a unicorn.
And even those races that knew they could shape shift didn’t necessarily know what a unicorn looked like in human form. At least not as a rule. Most unicorns kept their human features secret from most non-unicorns. Hence why the wanted poster wasn’t a good likeness.
Hidden in plain sight.
Baldur held his hands up. “I’d be glad to let you in to look about if you want, prince.”
Ferox snapped his fingers. Another centaur stepped out from the group to prance to the prince’s side. Dash didn’t recognize the older soldier. If he had to guess, he’d assume it to be an advisor or general the prince was conferring with.
Tova eyed them suspiciously. “What do you think, Sire?”
Dash shrugged. “No idea.”
Ferox had the centaur next to him run at the gate. As soon as he reached it, he flung an extra large bag over the wall at them.
Dash winced as he saw that familiar gesture. There was only one thing that could be.
Someone’s head and, judging by the size of the bag, there was more than one in it.
Rolling his eyes, Ryper sighed. “Why do they all have to do this? It’s really old.”
He wasn’t wrong. And the only question was who those heads belonged to.
Everyone around him held their breath as Tova’s son, Viggo, walked to the bloody sack and opened it.
Honestly, he expected one of the heads to be his own general, Kronnel.
It wasn’t.
When Viggo pulled the head out, he was glad he’d ordered Marthen to pull Tanis away.
It was her father’s. Shit. That was the last head he’d expected inside. Poor Iagan.
And so much for the treaty they’d signed. It only covered Iagan and Davin, which was probably why they’d both been murdered. Whoever did this, knew the terms of the treaty.
Ferox reared up proudly. “The centaurs and dragons stand united. We are done being ruled by unicorns. Stand with us, elves! Hand over the High King.”
“Shit,” Ryper said under his breath.
Halla tucked herself over by Dove where it was safer in case the elves turned on them.
Well, this was an unfortunate series of events. Dash could feel the target forming on his back like a living, breathing creature.
The elves had no reason to stand with him now. He was seriously regretting cutting down their mother tree.
Ryper and Dove stepped closer, letting him know they were willing to take an arrow if need be. Well maybe not Halla who was the size of his fist.
But even so, he was grateful for their support. Even so, the last thing he wanted was to see one of them die for him.
One by one, he exchanged glances with the three elfin leaders, waiting for them to make a move against him. Or shout an order for him to be taken.
In truth, he didn’t feel right asking them to fight and die for his worthless hide. Not when they had their women and children at stake. This was their homeland. How could he ask them to make that sacrifice?
If his own brethren had allowed Meara to take his throne without a fight, then maybe he should he let her have it. It was one thing to march into his territory with an army and fight on a battlefield in defense of unicorn lands and homes. It was another to ask the elves to invite an army into their homes to have their families slaughtered.
He held his hands up.
Tova slapped them down. “Don’t you dare insult us. You think for one second we’re afraid of them ? We’re the children of gods. They’re farm animals.”
He arched a brow.
She grinned at him. “Unicorns are made of better stock.”
He snorted at her mental gymnastics. “Nice save.”
“Archers at the ready!” Hinrik called out. “Warriors, stand and prepare! Magicians, reinforce the wards.”
At those orders, the last of the children and women ran to the underground shelters.
Baldur gave a curt nod then turned back toward Ferox. “Again, I’m the only king here.” He ignored the protests of Hinrik and Tova, who were technically prince and princess, respectively. “If you insist on your stupidity, we will defend our lands. You can leave now on your hooves or be carried out on a litter later. Your choice.”
Ferox was aghast “You’re really willing to fight us when you’re clearly outnumbered?”
“Who says we’re outnumbered?” Baldur asked.
“I do,” Hinrik said under his breath. “I can count.” He started scraping his leg against the ground as if he were a horse.
Dash stifled a laugh.
Until he heard the command to attack. Then all hell opened up on them. The centaurs and their army ran for the gate as the dragons sprayed fire down on them.
Ryper slammed his staff against the ground. Light shot out from the crystal in all directions, to help fortify the shield.
For a few minutes, the shield held. But the dragons continued to hurl their fire.
Nothing came through. Nor did the arrows from the centaurs and fairies breach their wards.
Or the centaurs, or their mercs.
Dash scowled as he saw one small errant child running across the yard toward the tunnel.
Without thinking, he teleported to the little girl to help guide her to the tunnels that would see her safely away from the war zone.
Scooping her up in his arms, he ran her to safety. Tanis met him just inside the doorway.
She took the girl and ushered her deeper inside then turned back to face him. “I feel like I should be out there fighting with the rest of you.”
He kissed her cheek. “I know. But you’re human and I can’t change that. Keep the others safe. They need a leader.”
She nodded. “Don’t get hurt.”
“Don’t get dead.”
Tanis pulled him close.
Dash savored that one perfect moment of being held by her. But the sounds of war echoed outside in his ears. Time for them had run out.
With one last kiss, he left her to vanish into the tunnel with the others while he rushed to rejoin the elves at the parapet.
The moment their enemies broke through the shield rang out like a scream. And the instant they did, the elves used their magic to reinforce their armor. Arrows filled the sky so thickly that it darkened the light.
The dragons flew low, laying down fire to cover their soldiers as they swarmed the palace grounds.
Dash threw fire balls at them, shocking them with the intensity that was reinforced by Tanis’s fire. Desperately, he wanted to change into his unicorn body to fight, but he knew better. The moment he did, they’d unify to come after him.
Then, it’d be over.
His only hope was the fact that in a human body, he blended in with the elves.
Suddenly, Viggo appeared by his right side. Tora was on his left. Tora caught a blow and drove a centaur back. “We were told to protect you, Sire.”
Though he admitted they were capable, they were still children. “I can do this on my own.”
But they hung tight to his side like Halla. No matter how hard he tried to break away, they were there.
Ryper came out of nowhere to take position at his back. “Why am I always saving your ass, brother?”
“I seem to recall I was the one saving you last time.”
“That doesn’t count.”
Dash snorted. “I’m counting it.”
“You’re both idiots.” Dove hefted his axe over his shoulder as he nudged Viggo aside. “Ragna killed her father. Who’s in charge of the dragons now?”
Dash kicked back the centaur that came at him. “I assume Ragna thinks she is.”
Being the eldest daughter, it made sense. But technically, Marla would be the regent until Davin’s eldest son reached maturity. Which meant Marla and her children were in danger. No wonder she’d fled north to her father for protection. She must have suspected her sister-in-law was behind her husband’s murder.
Poor Tanis that she’d never once considered Ragna’s part in her brother’s death.
“Duck!”
Dash did so without hesitation.
Ryper sent an ice blast to catch the flames that would have torched him had they reached him.
Changing into a unicorn, Ryper drew the dragons further away from his position.
“No!” Dash started after him, but Dove grabbed him.
“He’s distracting them.”
“They’ll think he’s me.” While Ryper had a dark purple horn, he was still a black unicorn. And his purple horn could appear black in certain light. Especially to idiots who weren’t paying attention.
As Tanis had noted, most non unicorns wouldn’t be able to tell them apart. One black unicorn would be the same as another.
It would be easy to mistake them.
“Damn it, Dove! Protect that stupid asshole!”
“I am!” He shoved Dash in the opposite direction Ryper had taken.
Never had Dash wanted to slap Dove and Ryper more than he did right then. Normally, Ryper was as reluctant to take his unicorn form as Chrys was to leave her crow body. Of all the times for him to find his inner equine, this wasn’t it!
Fuck me! Ryper was going to get himself killed. Why would he do this?
My mother will kill me.
If that wasn’t bad enough, he felt a sudden rush of hot air fly over him. Turning, he saw a dark shadow emerge from the tunnels where Tanis had been.
It was a huge dragon. One he’d seen in a meadow standing over him when he’d been captured in a net.
Tanis.
What the hell?
Stunned, he watched as she flew straight toward her sister and the other dragons that were fire bombing the palace and elves...