CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
A WEEK AGO I WAS finally cleared by the Elemi healer, but I haven’t been able to convince myself to head to Vathia yet.
Sabish was right about this being a rebel gathering area, and I find myself intrigued by the comings and goings of things.
The four of us usually stay out of the limelight, preferring to work in the dark under our cover at Phixmery while Jesper’s brother handles more of the public details.
Seeing what the four of us started, that everything we did is actually making a difference, is healing some part of me. I just haven’t figured out what yet.
We may have planted the seed for this, but the citizens have really taken this to a whole other level. They are working to get nulls to safety, helping fae who need to escape the tyrant Lords that now rule over Damorleia with an iron fist.
My knuckles strain as my nails bite into the leather of Zaddro’s saddle when I remember what brought all this on.
The wind on my face keeps me grounded as I remember that I’m free.
My brothers and I discovered our fathers’ plans accidentally back in the late years of our fledgling-hood, thanks to Jesper’s tendency to snoop through his father’s office.
So of course the rest of us did the same, and after some digging we discovered how they plotted against the crown.
Against Maeven’s family—or well, Ravina’s family.
That they were the ones who ripped her world apart, and in turn, ours.
We assume it was because they wanted to rule, but we haven’t been able to find a solid reason why.
They destroyed a whole race of fae, for what? Greed?
We knew then that something needed to be done, so we worked in the shadows to start this—a rebellion.
One day the Lords will be ripped from this world and hopefully we can start anew.
We were struggling to find a new leader for the new realm, but now that we know she’s alive…
Well, I suppose that’s one less thing we need to worry about.
Sabish now knows about my involvement thanks to Evander.
She was shocked to say the least, but I needed a reason to stay here, to feel productive after what happened at the Craven estate.
I know the others are safe, so my main goal is to find out where we are at now that the Lords know about a new royal rider.
News coming in and out of Phixmery is slow, thanks to all the covert measures in place there, but every day they send new warriors to the battlefield along the Wraithwater Channel where the war still grows stronger each day.
It’s only a matter of time before something flips and I can only hope it’s for the better, but with those numbers it likely won’t be.
No more of the vile shadow creatures have been seen, but I don’t put anything past my father and the others. I know they are behind it, trying to pin the atrocities on Aemon and his family like usual. And, if the whispers I hear around the tavern are correct, it’s working.
These creatures destroy everyone in their path. I’ve seen the carnage with my own eyes. Burnt bodies laid strewn amongst the rubble of villages. No one was spared. Not even the young ones.
The bond I have with Zaddro pulses with rage.
My magick and bonds were restored not long after I got here, which is both a relief and a hindrance.
Zaddro was with the other dragons waiting for me when our bond went silent, and had been flying around trying to sense me anywhere.
When our bond finally returned, it took a lot of convincing for him not to breathe hallucinogenic gas all over the tavern before destroying it in retribution so he could get to me, and then another argument not to go after Lord Craven right now.
Sure, it would be easy for us to kill the Lords and rid the realm of them, but they have contingencies, and the few we know the details of are lethal for the realm so we need to be careful.
As much as my brothers and I like to think our fathers don’t know what we are up to, it’s obvious that they know more than they let on, especially after I was held hostage and almost forced to…
I shiver in disgust as my stomach clenches.
After thinking about the exchanges I had in the Craven estate with my father, it’s clear he wants another heir so that he can take me out of the picture.
Why else would he be so hard-pressed to have me mated to that vile creature they call ‘Lady’?
And since Cyn is now safe from his clutches, at least he can’t use her for breeding, which I know is what he would have done.
But if he wants another heir so bad, why doesn’t he just do it himself?
I feel like I’m missing a huge part of the picture.
“That was a good raid. It was nice to stretch my wings,” Zaddro purrs as we land in a nearby field outside of Winhol. “You know what else would really feel nice for my wings?’ he adds as I dismount from him.
A sigh escapes me. “We aren’t heading to Vathia yet.” I state, knowing where he’s heading with this.
He snorts, his chest grumbling with annoyance. “You’re putting this off for what? Because of your mate? Because you’re ashamed—”
“I’m not ashamed!” I rest my hand on my pommel as I gather my thoughts.
He’s right, how can I look my mate—Ravina—in the eyes after what was done to me?
She would be repulsed by me. Her mates and consorts are supposed to be able to protect her and I practically let myself be captured by my father.
I know he plays dirty. I shouldn’t have drunk the drink he offered.
I should have left with Killian. I should have done so many things differently. ..
A warmth radiates down the bond from Zaddro. “It’s not your fault, and your mate won’t fault you for what happened. Hiding away at this tavern and playing hero while the others wait for you is doing no one any good.”
“I’m doing good here. True good. We just stopped a bunch of warriors from getting across the border into Vathia. We saved a lot of people from the damage they would have caused. We’ve helped families and nulls escape cruel bastards. We are bettering the realm one small save at a time.”
He shakes his head before his long neck bends down to look me in the eyes.
“You have a destiny, Talyn, and it’s at your mate’s side with the others.
You are fated for greater things and you will do a lot more than petty raids.
You will help the small Queen save this realm from complete destruction.
It’s time to leave here. We’ve been lingering here too long.
” He nudges my stomach with his massive snout, almost knocking me over.
“You’re healed enough. Let your mate help you heal the rest of the way.
The mating bond is everything, and I wish to see my mate as well, before I start burning down villages,” he adds.
“I need to talk to Sabish first.” I pause, then, “Ravina’s dragon is really your mate?” He’s told me this before, but I still can’t believe him and the other dragons hid this from us. It’s difficult to wrap my mind around. It’s obvious they’ve known about this for a while.
“She was destined for me and the others since the beginning of time. As for why we didn’t tell you, it is not our place to interfere with the fates,” he grumbles cryptically.
Fucking dragons with their secrets.
I turn and begin heading back into the city.
Am I really going to head to Vathia? Zaddro has been pushing for it since I healed, but I’m not sure I can stomach the look in their eyes when they realize what has happened.
Killian’s parting words linger in my head: “Let me help. It’s safer if we’re working together.
” He had a feeling and I ignored it, and I forced him to stay away for a month…
If I hadn’t been able to escape… If I was still trapped there I may not have wanted to come back.
The horrors that would have happened are not anything anyone should ever have to experience.
I shut down that line of thinking. Zaddro is right.
I need to head back. The little things I’m doing to help the rebels are small in the grand scheme of things; the longer the Lords are left to rule, the more our realm falls into chaos.
I rub the pain in my chest—the pain begging me to go to Vathia to be near her, but the thought makes me panic and I feel like I’m fighting against myself.
Striding into the tavern, I head to the counter where Sabish is talking to one of her patrons. She sees me heading her way, whispers something to the male and heads over to me.
“I know that look in your eye, Little Craven. You’re heading out?”
I dip my head. “It’s time. I’ve lingered too long and my dragon is getting antsy to get back with the rest of his wing. I just wanted to thank you for making sure I was taken care of here. If you need anything in the future, please let me know. I’m in your debt.”
She throws back her head and laughs. “Just get rid of those evil fuckers and we’re even.
I’ll get the kitchen staff to throw together some provisions for your trip.
You’re welcome back anytime, and I’ll send word if we hear of any more of those shadow creatures.
” She shivers. “Nasty bastards, those things are.”
“Thank you, Sabish. I appreciate it, and you have my word. The fae of Damorleia will be at peace once more—even if I have to die to see it happen.” As I walk out of the bar, a sinking feeling anchors in my gut as I fear what’s to come when I arrive in Vathia.
A PART OF me is glad that Zaddro can’t fly as fast as Aemon’s beast. It’s been a long week of hard flight across the entire realm, but the closer we get to the Capital of Vathia, the more a knot twists in my stomach. Zaddro is positively delighted though.
Smug bastard.
Although there’s one thing I can definitely admit to: the tether that has been pulling me this direction is finally letting up a bit. The emotional turmoil from being so far away from Ravina is lessening and making my thoughts more bearable, which in turn makes me feel guilty.
My hand goes to touch the scarred tissue of my stomach and I swallow hard, choosing instead to cling to Zaddro’s saddle like my life depends on it. I can’t keep thinking about what happened there.
My beast pushes his calming energy towards me but sparks of volatile anger linger behind the forefront of his emotions.
He’s equally angry—angry he couldn’t sense the bond to know I was in trouble.
We’ve talked about it and he knows there’s nothing he could have done, but for a dragon that can kill and fight, a beast that’s practically at the top of the food chain, he feels as if he let me down.
The familiar sight of the cliffside castle eases something inside me.
I’m not sure if it’s because the beings I care for the most are there right now, or from all the comforting childhood memories or the scents of ocean air and florals bringing back a sense of nostalgia.
Either way, Zaddro and I circle before landing just outside the makeshift Keep for the flying creatures.
A purple dragon, the one who chose Ravina, lingers in the entryway, watching us with assessing eyes.
“My precious Treasure,” Zaddro whispers. “Get off me, rider. I wish to greet my mate properly. You should go do the same. Vasari said they should be having dinner.” He shakes as if to dislodge me—not roughly, but just enough to show his impatience.
With a burst of air I use my magick to lower me off of him, and the second my weight is off his back he moves. He approaches the deep purple beast like an excited dog before their necks entwine with each other.
Leaving them to their reunion, I figure I should get mine out of the way and head toward the dining room. Nothing much has changed here at the Zorn abode besides the absence of Lord Zorn—Aemon’s father—and it’s still to be determined whether that’s a good thing or not.
I enter the grand hall that leads to the seaside dining room when suddenly she appears at the end of the hall with Aemon and Jesper flanking her, and I know Killian isn’t too far behind.
My boot pauses mid step and the thing I thought was long dead in my chest stutters.
Something seizes in my gut, some warning system that tells me to run, to get away, but I can’t.
She’s every bit as beautiful as I remember, with her long wavy reddish-brown hair and bright sapphire eyes that hold a look of recognition. A spark of familiarity I thought I would never see again.
The boot that was paused mid-step moves backwards. I’m not sure I can do this right now.
“Talyn,” she whispers. “You finally made it. I-I remember you.” A look of confusion wars in her expression with anger that I’m not sure is directed at me.
Jesper touches her arm with ease and longing and she shrugs him off, snapping at him in a tone too low to hear. But he just seems excited by the fact that she paid him any mind.
Aemon’s gaze meets mine and I know from years of being friends—brothers—with him that she knows who we are to her and the extent of what that means.
“Now that you’re here, I think we should all talk. But perhaps after you’ve rested from your journey,” she adds, giving me an out. “Are you hungry? Dinner was just served when Vasari let me know you’d arrived.”
It’s too much too soon. Flashbacks of those few days spent in the Craven household makes my heart rate increase. An inkling of a conversation I can’t remember lingers in the back of my mind.
“I’m good. I’d rather not spend time with a female who decided to shirk her duties and live amongst the rabble, letting them do fate knows what to her.
I’ll take my dinner in my rooms thanks.” The vile words spill out of me and I instantly regret them, but I can’t seem to care at the moment.
I just need to go—to get out of her assessing gaze.
Maybe it was too soon to come back. I should have sent a letter or something to let them know I was fine.
I turn on my heels and rush off towards the quarters Aemon has kept for when we visit.
Maybe a bath and a glass of bourbon would help, then when my head clears I’ll talk to my brothers without her around, and we can finally come up with a new plan on how to remove the corrupt Lords from power so our people can move into an era of peace.