Chapter 76
CHAPTER SEVENTY-SIX
Brian, Bella, and Ryker were back in the West Dragon Kingdom trying to snuff out the traitors. It was hard for Ryker to be away from Raine, especially now. Dragon children were precious to their kind. His beast stirred in agitation, torn between duty and love.
Raine was the one who insisted he go and help Brian.
She told him she was safe in Elysia, that she was well protected behind the barrier.
It was the first time he felt himself wanting to push his duty to the side.
But Brian would need his help flushing out the traitors.
So he reluctantly left Raine and his unborn child, and he’d been anxious every moment since.
After doing some research and talking with the Great Sage, they figured out something interesting about Fisher.
Fisher was a relative of the King of the South, Weston.
He was the son of one of Weston’s cousins.
In fact, according to the Great Sage, his mother had pretended to be Levi’s mistress.
Weston had punished her and her sister and exiled them from his kingdom.
They were to live out their lives as rogues, not allowed to belong to any kingdom.
Brian had asked if his father knew about Fisher, and he did. He didn’t know about the Thunder, which the Great Sage was aware of, but he knew of Fisher’s origins. He’d said this was a way he could keep an eye on him.
Fisher was a frequent visitor to the West Dragon Kingdom.
He presented himself as a traveler. The Thunders had thought he was there to be their eyes and safeguard the kingdom, when in reality, he was there to do harm.
He wanted the collapse of the dragon kingdom …
so much that he began to work with demons.
Was this all based on his mother’s grudge?
Or was there a deeper motivation, one they didn’t know? Something wasn’t adding up.
Why were the demons targeting the dragons now? Usually no one challenged the dragons but other dragons, because no one wanted to incur their wrath. Or was it something else entirely?
“Brian.” Ryker looked at him. The two of them were cloaked and hiding, waiting to see what members of the Thunders reported to Fisher.
Brian turned to him, his brows furrowed.
“I was just thinking … a lot of this doesn’t make sense.
But there is something that does. What if this is all about overthrowing the royals but not about the dragon kingdoms?
If a new ruler takes over, they could make the dragons change allegiance.
Instead of being loyal to fairies, dragons will be loyal to demons … ”
“And Fisher has royal blood.” Brian muttered out quietly.
“We need to see who the other traitors are and check their bloodlines. With royal lineage, they could be paving a way for the throne. You’re right.
” He nodded his head. “This is about targeting the kings and royals … DAMN!” He growled, shaking his head.
“The mating party. We’ve organized the perfect event for them! All the royals are here.”
“It would be suicide to fight against the royals …” Ryker trailed off as Brian’s brows knitted together.
“They don’t plan to fight. They don’t want their face shown negatively if they plan to take over.
Poison? But it would be obvious if all the royals die …
” Brian’s eyes widened. “Unless they don’t plan to kill the royals.
What if it has nothing to do with those with royal blood taking over, but instead just controlling those who are in power?
They are mass producing nembrant glass.” He looked at Ryker, his eyes filled with dread.
“They could be planning to put the glass in each of the royals’ eyes. ”
“If they can control the royals, they will control the kingdoms … and their loyalties.” Ryker clenched his teeth and shook his head. “But how? How would they get the glass in each of them?”
“How do we know they haven’t already started? Some of them could be under their control right now … and they’re in Elysia! Shit. We’ve got to go back.” Brian shook his head. “What if they go after Gramps?”
“What about the mirror the Great Sage was talking about?” Ryker watched as Brian nodded his head.
“Right, let’s get it and see Gramps. I need to check Bella too,” Brian breathed out as he and Ryker marched back toward the castle. They needed to hurry. If one of the royals did have the glass in their eye, Elysia could be in a lot of trouble. Time was not on their side.
Mikah’s claw came swiping down at Levi, who managed to roll out of the way just in time. His claw dug into the floor, leaving deep trenches in the ground. Mikah roared as his dark eyes lifted to Levi, who was back on his feet.
“Damn it, Levi. You have to do something!” Ken pleaded as he shook the bars.
If it continued like this, the outcome was obvious.
Levi was dripping with blood, his chest heaving.
A drop of blood trickled from his mouth.
There was no way Levi could keep this up for long.
He had to go on the offensive or he wasn’t going to make it.
“You’re right, Ken,” Levi said as he gritted his teeth.
The words were barely understandable as they came out of his mouth.
Levi was already at his limit. Mikah’s claws were too fast in his current state.
He knew he had to do something, anything, but he couldn’t.
He couldn’t bring himself to hurt Mikah, not even to save his own life.
“Mikah …” Levi said hoarsely. “You’re going to be okay, son. You’re stronger than this. You aren’t lost. You’re hiding. It’s time to come out and take charge.”
Mikah’s lips curled up, and a menacing snarl escaped his throat.
He charged at him again, and this time, Levi grabbed onto his arms, struggling to keep him from closing the distance.
Levi stared into Mikah’s eyes, and he smiled.
“You are strong. Strong enough to protect Alexa. She needs you. Erebus is still after her.” He grunted, his arms beginning to tremble.
“Mikah, she’s all alone, and an army is marching toward her. Are you not going to go to her?”
“Yes!” Mikah roared as he shook his head. “I want to go to her. I want to kill Erebus!”
Levi smiled as Mikah’s eyes flickered with color but remained black.
His grip on his arms tightened as his body trembled.
“That’s it,” Levi whispered. “Come on, just a bit more.” His breathing slowed as he strained to keep Mikah from attacking him.
His back arched as sweat poured from his brow.
He kept talking to Mikah as he struggled to hold him back.
“Levi! Shit!” Ken assaulted the door with more ferocity. The enchantment would eventually buckle, but he needed it to now. Not eventually. If only he could destroy the stone in the room.
But Levi couldn’t hold Mikah back any longer. His arms buckled, and Mikah’s claws dug into him. Levi wrapped his arms around Mikah, hugging him close. “It’s alright, my son. It’s alright. Just come back. Come back and save Alexa.”
Mikah snarled and thrashed around, trying to free himself, the two of them still embraced.
“Come back to me, Mikah,” Levi whispered in his ear.
“I need you too.” His hands loosened around Mikah, and he slumped forward.
“I need you to come back.” Levi’s body shook from the pain, blood spilling from his lips as he tried to speak. He had pushed his healing to the limit.
Suddenly a blinding blue light illuminated the room, so bright Ken had to shield his eyes from it. Was this Levi’s end? No. No. No. Levi couldn’t die. He had to live. Otherwise Alexa would lose both her parents.
Ken smashed against the enchanted bars again and again. He couldn’t take it. This was just too cruel. It was all happening right in front of him, and he couldn’t do a thing. He lifted his head and watched helplessly as a bright light was about to go out.
Erebus smirked as he looked down at Alexa. Her weakness was her family, and it was something he was able to use against her again.
“Let me go!” Raine grunted as she tried to twist free.
“I’ll be waiting outside the barrier. If you want her, you better hurry.” Erebus flashed away with a chuckle.
Alexa squeezed her hands into fists as she stormed toward the barrier.
“Alexa, wait!” Reiya grabbed onto her daughter’s arm.
Alexa turned and looked at her mother’s worried eyes and smiled. “You would do the same thing in my shoes.” Her mother’s eyes watered. “We can’t fight Erebus if he has Raine. We can’t risk something happening to her.”
“What about something happening to you?” Reiya choked out, tears streaming down her face.
Alexa looked around at Elysia. “What is one life in exchange for everyone else’s?”
“I can help you fight against him.” Jade, the Dragon Queen of the South, stepped forward.
Alexa smiled in appreciation. “We can’t fight him if he has Raine.
The only thing we can do now is make a deal.
” She turned and looked at her mother and grandmother.
“Stay inside the barrier. I’m going to take care of everything.
” She smiled as she searched their worried faces.
“This is my role to play here.” She stepped into her mother and hugged her tightly.
“Don’t ask me not to go. Not when you would have done the same thing,” she whispered.
Reiya let the tears stream down her face.
Of all times for Lee not to be there. They needed Lee and Ken now.
Alexa was about to go to a tyrant all on her own.
This wasn’t right. It wasn’t supposed to be like this.
She tried to connect with Lee again, but she felt nothing.
Instead, dread began to fill her insides.
Her fingers began to tingle, and she felt weak. Was something happening to Lee?
Reiya squeezed Alexa tighter. “What are you going to do?” she breathed out, looking at her daughter’s face.
“I’m going to make a deal with the devil,” Alexa said as she stepped back and smiled.
She gazed at her mother’s sad face. “Don’t be scared.
I don’t plan on dying today. I’ll be back.
I promise.” She hugged her mother and grandmother before she turned to walk away.
“Nita, stay here. Don’t follow me,” she called out, noticing the woman’s footsteps behind her.
“Be careful …” was all Reiya could manage as her shoulders trembled.
Her legs began to weaken as she watched her daughter walk toward the barrier.
She’d never felt this much pain before. It was as if her heart was being torn in two.
Her vision began to blur. She suddenly didn’t have the energy to stand anymore, and Xander caught her in his arms.
“Reiya!” Xander gripped her tightly.
“Shh … don’t let Alexa know—” Reiya gasped as her world darkened. “Don’t let her see,” she muttered before everything faded to black.
“Reiya!” Xander screamed out in horror as he held her limp body. He tried to shake her awake, but she didn’t respond.
Lita grabbed Reiya’s hand as she tried to feel her energy, which was fluctuating wildly. As if its connection was being siphoned or strangled.
“Get her inside,” Lita whispered, her eyes watering. This didn’t look good. She turned her head toward where Alexa had disappeared through the barrier. “Gods … please protect my family.”