Xander #2
Jaw clenched, I fight against my instincts and sheathe it at my hip as I focus on slowing the beat of my heart.
When I’m near enough to observe Aria and the fae, I take in the way they rest as if they’ve fallen asleep in the safety of their homes instead of out here, in the middle of a battlefield.
Daje reaches down to pick Aria up, leaving me to walk closer to the fae female.
But when the tips of my boots brush against the bottoms of her black ones, the dragon’s wings snap out wide as it stands to its full height and releases a skull-shattering roar.
“I don’t think it wants me to touch her,” I shout over the pounding in my head.
The dragon snarls as it curls its tail closer to us, prompting Rhea to lift her hands up again.
“We won’t touch her,” she says, to which the dragon lets out a huff, sliding its foot closer to its rider. “They will show you how to get to the palace, but you can carry her there.”
Hefting Aria up into his arms, Daje immediately retreats to Nox, the latter ensuring she is secure and covered appropriately before returning his attention to us.
Rhea’s chest heaves as she gives a broad sweep of her hand. “This is my family. I trust them to take care of my sister, Aria. To bring her somewhere safe. You can trust them to take care of your rider.”
A low growl, as if in answer. Stars above, she really is talking to this dragon. With some sort of plan made, Rhea shoos me back towards Nox, following behind until she is close enough to him that he pulls her into his arms.
“Daje, lead them to the palace. Keep your ears covered once you enter the forest just in case there are sirens still hunting.”
Daje nods, adjusting Aria in his grasp. “What about your father? Do you want me to inform Bahira or—”
“No,” Nox interrupts. “It should be me who does. Get them to the healers and wait for us there. Once we can confirm that the beach is clear, we’ll make our way back.”
Goodbyes seem pointless, considering we will see them both soon enough, but Rhea still says the words, prompting a quirk of my lips.
Turning to follow Daje towards the edge of the forest, I watch as the dragon takes note of what we are doing and, despite the impossibility of it all, seems to understand that it’s time to leave.
Carefully, it scoops its rider up with one of its front feet, its claws curling precariously around the fae.
Then it launches into the air, stirring up debris in the city center as the harsh thumping of its powerful wings bring it higher into the sky.
Once we cross into the trees, Daje maneuvers his magic over my ears, the sensation similar to Nox’s as he draws Aria in closer to his chest. There are no other words spoken as I follow him through the thickly wooded forest, occasionally catching a glimpse of the dragon through small gaps in the treetops. How it can see us, I have no clue.
The trees here are the widest I’ve ever seen, and though I had read about how the mages utilized them to build homes and businesses, it’s still jarring to see windows carved into the trunks, warm light glowing from within them.
Daje’s steps quicken as the path we are on grows wider, and before long, we come upon a collection of guards clad in leather armor with their weapons drawn and magic floating in their hands.
Standing in front of a beautiful multi-level structure anchored between two extraordinarily large trees, the guards look less than happy about our approach.
The warmth around my ears dissipates, and I again cringe as the noises surrounding us abruptly rush in. Including that of pumping dragon wings.
“Stop!” one of the guards shouts, holding a hand with green magic glowing from it out in front of him while the other clutches a silver sword, the blade gleaming even in the dim light trickling in from above.
“I need to get her to the healers,” Daje says, attempting to push past the guards only to be stopped. My hand goes to my sword as more surround us. “Markian, you know I am trustworthy.”
“What I know is that earlier today we were ambushed by sirens.” His gray eyes drop to where Aria is still limp in Daje’s arms. “And I’m no expert, but it appears you have a siren you’re attempting to bring into the royal home.”
“She is a siren, but she wasn’t with the group that attacked.” The guards look unconvinced, not that I blame them. I’m not sure I’d let us pass either. “Please, it’s on the orders of King Nox that—”
“The king is missing,” Markian snaps, his dark brows lowering over his eyes. “We are under strict orders to not let anyone in or out—”
“It’s fine!” A feminine voice breaks the tension, and Daje’s shoulders relax as a woman sprints down a set of white stone steps, her curly brown hair bouncing over her shoulders as she makes her way to us. “It’s fine. Let them pass.”
“Your Majesty, I don’t think it is wise,” Markian says, though he does motion for his guards to lower their swords. They step back in unison, and then the former queen, I assume, is cupping Daje’s face, tears streaming down her cheeks before she looks down, confused, at the siren in his arms.
“Nox is alright. He and Rhea are making sure there are no more sirens, and then they will be here.” Her shoulders round as she lets out a whimper of relief. A shadow passes over the speckled sunlight on the ground, and my eyes immediately lift to the treetops. “And Bahira?”
“Bahira? I thought she was here.”
“No,” she rasps. The guards around me shuffle on their feet, turning their gazes upwards. Shit. “She wasn’t here when the attack started.”
“Hate to interrupt,” I say, swallowing roughly, “but I’m pretty sure the dragon is getting ready to land.”
“Did you just say—”
“Everyone, take cover!” My shout is lost to the sound of snapping branches and a rumbling roar, the black dragon crashing into the trees on our right, splintering the tall limbs and sending wood flying in all directions.
I drop to the ground, the leaf-covered soil rumbling beneath the impact, the dragon’s disapproval at having to enter through the trees this way evident in the way it releases another harrowing bellow.
Blinking away the dust that clouds my vision, I stand, taking in the very angry dragon with the still-knocked-out fae clutched within its talon-tipped toes.
The guards shift their position, surrounding the queen as they help her up. “Daje, what is this?” she whispers.
“They are friends of Rhea’s,” he says, and I can’t help the choked sound that leaves me at that. His blue eyes meet mine, and the wince he sends me is enough of a hint of what he’s going to say. “Guess that one is yours.”
I bite the inside of my cheek as I look at the dragon, those menacing eyes locking with mine.
I have a feeling if anyone else approaches this dragon, or dares to get close to their rider while she’s still in its grasp, they’ll be dead before they even know what dragon fire looks like.
Blowing out a breath, I push my shoulders back and slowly approach, my heart skipping in my chest when the dragon wings flare out wide.
When I’m close enough that I can make out the sleepy expression on its rider’s face, I stop, holding my hands out just like Rhea did.
“I have no magic,” I say out loud, hoping to the gods that it can understand me.
“But I promise I will make sure your rider is taken to the healers.”
The dragon huffs a hot breath in my direction, a sharp hiss slipping between its clenched maw.
Deep in the recesses of my mind, I think of Siyala.
Of her moonlight hair and those piercing eyes.
Of the way her voice caressed my skin as she called my name.
“It is a horrible thing to have done,” she said before kissing the scars at my back.
Scars that ache now beneath my clothing.
Gods, I miss her. Have never stopped missing her since she left, and if this is to be my last moment, then let it be filled with only thoughts of her.
Black scales glisten over a powerfully muscled body as the dragon carefully deposits the fae female on the ground.
It lingers, head slithering from side to side as it looks at the people frozen in fear around us before it shoots back into the sky, wings pumping as it disappears over the treetops.
I quickly pick the female up, surprised by the solid feel of her in my hands.
This is no ordinary woman, but one packed with muscle.
Daje joins me, the queen taking up the spot behind us, and together, we climb up the white stone steps to what I assume is the palace entrance, a set of double doors with a wide tree emblazoned in the center of them.
“Welcome to the fucking Mage Kingdom,” Daje says, before the doors are pulled open.