CHAPTER FORTY-ONE #2
I can see Nero from here puffing his chest up at the beast, and it makes me shake my head in amusement. I swear that bird feels no fear. But like him, I want to dismember anyone who even looks at Rav the wrong way.
Vasari snaps at the dragon’s neck, sinking her razor sharp teeth into the tough flesh. She growls—a warning.
The beast doesn’t give up, and swings around Vasari, going straight for Ravina.
My heart climbs into my throat and her name threatens to leave my mouth, but I know I can’t distract them.
Fuck this, I’m not going to try to not feel the fear.
Instead I’m going to take a page from Killian’s book and tan her ass for making me feel this way.
I know he still needs to dish out his punishments from what happened in the Nairiden Woods.
Knowing him, he’s probably saving up all her infractions so he can cash them all in at the same time.
Time seems to slow down as the beast inches toward her.
Ravina leans backward until she’s almost flat against her dragon’s back.
Vasari swings her body out of the way and goes in for the kill.
Her teeth and talons grab onto the red beast and slam it toward the ground before a resounding crack echoes through the space—the snapping of its neck.
Her eyes narrow as she dares another to try her, and when no one else does, she flies to the top of the stone dais and we are moving again. Tisur positions himself on her right flank, and we overlook everything from up here.
The others surround her and the room falls silent. “It’s time,” Ravina states, sounding slightly out of breath, nerves most likely from almost becoming dragon food.
Yeah, definitely taking a page out of Killian’s book.
Evisdor and Ivna step forward and suddenly the room is full of movement as dragons herd other dragons across the room.
I watch in fascination as at least forty of the one hundred and fifty beasts here are separated from the group into a deep alcove.
They seem apathetic, like they’re waiting for a command.
These must be the ones that are brainwashed, made to be nothing but lap dogs until given the order to kill.
The white dragons and Vasari blow out hot breaths of shadowflame and I watch in fascination as the three of them work together quickly to meld stones together, creating a wall that will keep the beasts imprisoned until we can figure out a way to clear their minds of the Soul Stone corruption.
I glance over at Killian, Talyn and Roz to see they are just as amazed as I am. Well, one problem down, only a million more to go.
Vasari flies back up to the dais and stops beside me.
Rav is breathing heavy but still looks like her magnificent self, even if she’s covered in a smokey residue.
Nero is perched on her shoulder, looking as if he killed the red beast himself and locked away all the other dragons, and it’s hard not to smile.
“We did it,” I laugh.
But she doesn’t. “Jesper… Kill…” she glances over at him and I see his back straighten, sensing something is wrong. She takes a deep breath. “So good news: when Vasari and I entered the main room, the dragons were mostly happy to see her back. But we discovered something.”
“What is it?” Killian asks, the rough smokey timber of his voice rolling over Rav in a way that makes her shiver, and I want to use my tongue to get her to do it again.
“Both your fathers are here.”
The heat fades and I feel like I’m drenched in a cold shower before my anger reignites a different kind of heat. “Here? At Phixmery?” I confirm.
She nods. “Yes. According to the dragons they are here monthly to collect more cadets.”
“What about the dragons?” Kill asks, seeming unbothered by the information, but the white knuckle grip he has on his sword tells a different tale.
Rav clears her throat. “The dragons have been trying to keep away, but the lords have managed to change one or two a month. It’s time for the next part of the plan, but I thought you should know about your fathers in case we should change the plan…”
“They’re dead,” I hiss instantly. “No need to change any part of the plan. They just walked into their end-of-life party, and I’m here to deliver the Fate’s invitation to the void.”
“Agreed,” Killian grumbles. “Let’s wipe those bastards from this realm once and for all.”
OUR DRAGONS GUIDE us down the farthest they can go under the castle until it’s only sized for fae and smaller creatures. They’re going to head back up and wait for our call, and hopefully this all goes smoothly. I definitely feel better that Ravina is now within my grasp.
We carefully climb over rocks and through tight tunnels until the path smooths out into the familiar passages directly under the castle.
Ravina turns to Talyn. “Where would Ashbluff be at this time of night?”
He crosses his arms and tilts his head. “Either in his room or running patrols with the third and fourth years.”
She nods thoughtfully, tilting her head toward Nero. “Once we get up there, I’m going to let you out, and I want you to search the grounds for him. If you don’t find him, we will check his room.”
“I can fly by his room if I know what floor it’s on. Even better, if someone has some parchment, I can drop him a note, telling him to meet us.”
Ember pulls out a parchment and some charcoal and scribbles down the meeting place, keeping it as vague as possible, while Talyn relays the room’s location to Nero.
Ember passes the note to Rav who is careful to roll it up so it doesn’t smudge before taking out a spare leather strand, tying it to his leg.
Memories jump to the forefront of my mind.
The last time we were in these tunnels felt like another lifetime—stalking my little mouse through these halls, trying to discover her secrets.
But she isn’t a mouse anymore. She’s as deadly as any beast in this realm.
She’s mine. Ours. And I can’t wait to turn this academy on its head as we take it back for her, out of the hands of the lords. More like traitors playing dress-up.
We weave through the tunnels and up the stairs until we reach the hidden entrance into the castle itself. Killian cracks it open and peers out, making sure the coast is clear before opening wide enough for Nero to fly through.
“Be safe,” she reminds him as Killian shuts the door.
“I always am. Be back before you know it!” he chirps back.
Ravina stares at the door and I can feel her anxiousness creeping through before she says, “I’m going to jump into his mind. I need to know he’s safe. Cover for me?”
“I don’t think anyone is going to find us here,” I remind her. “We’ve got your back.”
She nods and closes her eyes, then smirks. “He feels like he’s being babysat,” she murmurs.
Rozen shakes his head. “Well he would take this as a chance to seek out more eyeballs, especially if he sees Bracken.”
My eye twitches at the fucker’s name. I regret not gutting him when we had the chance. I never liked that dragon turd.
“He’s outside and flying up to the tower; it looks like Ashbluffs light is on,” Rav says.
We all settle into the quiet, waiting for more of Ravina’s updates. “Ashbluff recognized Nero and opened the window. Nero, don’t peck his finger, he needs to read the scroll. Let him have it… Nero,” she warns.
I’m holding in my laughter—he really is the most delightful, murderous creature.
“Okay, he’s read the scroll and is coming to meet us. We are on our way back. I’ll let you know when to open the door.” She pauses. “Cadets are being mobilized outside; Jesper’s and Killian’s fathers are on the podium waiting. This doesn’t look good…”
Aemon grabs her shoulders. “Get back here now Ravina. Don’t let Nero be seen if you can help it.”
“We ducked into an alcove. It may be a moment until it clears,” she whispers, not an ounce of fear in her voice. That’s my mate.
Killian grumbles, “I don’t like this…”
Aemon’s hand reaches up to his shoulder. “Me either Kill, but she’s got this.”
“You know she would kick our ass if we continue to be overbearing assholes,” Talyn adds, watching our mate with adoration, but you can see the tension in his body—he isn’t unaffected by her being in danger either.
“The coast is clear, on our way,” Rav says.
We all let out a breath, but we won’t feel better until Nero is back in here and our mate is back in her own mind.
“Now,” she hisses and Killian opens the door for Nero, who lands promptly on his fae’s shoulder.
Her eyes open and she takes a deep breath, looking grim.
“The information we received was right. It looks like mostly first and second years here. The academy also seems to be running on a skeleton staff.”
We exchange glances just as we hear someone outside. Three knocks, just as we instructed—it must be Ashbluff. Talyn nods at Killlian who pulls his sword from his sheath, and Talyn summons flames. Kill pushes open the door to reveal just the male we were looking for.
Aemon grabs him by the tunic and pulls him in, and the door is shut behind him. “Do you have any intent to hurt us?”
“No, why would I want to hurt you?” he raises his brows, glancing around at us.
I laugh. “Oh just because the lords are basically using a shiny red stone to brainwash fae and make them do their bidding. Have you seen any shiny red stones lately?” I ask, tipping his chin up with the pointy side of my blade.
He shakes his head. “No, but that would make sense. Not long after you left, some of the cadets seemed to be acting differently. And some of the dragons weren’t behaving as they should. Is Lord Craven behind this, too?”
“All of them are behind this. Tonight it ends,” Killian growls. “How many cadets will fight against their peers if they have to?”