Chapter 83
CHAPTER EIGHTY-THREE
Brian and Ryker walked back into the hidden hideout of the Thunders.
Fisher was the only member of the Thunders that was acting with the demons.
There were hybrid dragons, half-demons who had taken root in the West Dragon Kingdom.
After interrogating one of the traitors, Brian and Ryker were able to get a list of everyone involved.
One by one, they dealt with those who were working with the demons. Levi had found two others with nembrant glass in their eyes. One of them was Reese. They made sure they checked everyone they were interrogating to determine their innocence in the matter.
Now there was just one dragon left … Fisher. He was a dragon from a royal bloodline, and they would need Brian’s strength to bring him down. Wendy met them at the entrance and bowed her head respectfully to Brian.
“Fisher is in the main room. Are you sure no one else is involved?” Wendy asked nervously.
“We will be checking the others in case they have nembrant glass in their eyes. But as far as we can tell, Fisher is the only member in the Thunders that is working with the demons.” Ryker looked at Brian, who was staring down the corridor.
“Let’s put an end to this,” Brian said, his voice agitated. Because of this man, his mother had nembrant glass in her eye. He had brought corruption to the dragon kingdom. He was one of the worst kinds of traitors. And there was only one way to deal with a traitor of his magnitude.
“We will back you up—” Wendy began, but Brian chuckled, cutting her off.
“That won’t be necessary. Just stay back so I don’t accidentally hurt any of you.
” Brian walked briskly down the hall, with Ryker and Wendy at his heels.
He walked into the room where he had seen Ryker chained up before.
There, sitting in the middle of the room, was Fisher.
He turned and looked back at Ryker and Brian, standing up slowly.
“I don’t think it’s a good idea to have those who aren’t part of the Thunders coming here freely,” Fisher said, looking over at Wendy.
“I don’t think it is a good idea to have a traitor as a member of the Thunders,” Brian said with a small smirk.
“Traitor? I have been with the Thunders the entire time and have never so much as thought about betraying them,” Fisher retorted, though his eye twitched slightly.
“You are a traitor. You’ve been working with demons!” Ryker growled angrily. “It’s because of you that I lost my memories the first time. You set me up to be attacked.”
Fisher sneered at Ryker. “I see you’ve gotten your memories back.
Still, I am not a traitor. I’m doing what is best for the dragon kingdom!
” he said vehemently. “We shouldn’t be allied with the fairies.
They are not our equals. They will bring us down and be our undoing.
We need a powerful ally, and the demons have offered an alliance. This is best for the dragons!”
“You are more idiotic than I thought. Demons don’t offer alliances out of the goodness of their hearts. They only do it because it benefits them. They will betray us,” Brian hissed. “They will wait until they have taken over everything and then turn on us!”
Fisher scoffed. “Funny you should say something like that. After all, dragons turn on each other all the time. It was dragons that exiled my mother, not demons.”
“You’re right. We made a mistake there. She should have been destroyed. Then we wouldn’t be dealing with her bad egg right now.” Ryker grinned as he watched the rage burn in Fisher’s eyes.
“So now what? You plan to exile me? To imprison me for eternity?” Fisher scoffed arrogantly.
“No. You’ve betrayed us all. You’ve put all species in danger, not just dragons. You risked a war against our allies while working with our enemy. There is only one punishment here. You will be eliminated for your crimes,” Brian said in an authoritative voice.
“You don’t have the right to execute me. I am a royal!” Fisher yelled.
“Right. Well, you aren’t a royal any longer.” Brian chuckled. “Your family has been officially disowned.”
Fisher smiled evilly and took a step forward. “So, you are going to kill me?”
“Yes,” Brian said slowly, noticing the contempt in Fisher’s eyes.
Fisher raised his hand and threw a bolt of dark lightning at Brian. “You are a fool! The demons will be our salvation, not our downfall! This will bring everything to light!” he screamed.
Brian halted the flashing light with his fire. He looked at Fisher, and it all made sense. He was part demon. That was dark, demonic energy. This was where his loyalties came from.
“You will never betray us, or anyone else, ever again.” Brian then focused on Fisher, releasing his new power from Scorio.
It was no longer an element he feared, but one he knew how to fully control.
The heat engulfed Fisher, lighting his body on fire.
He watched as Fisher screamed and writhed in pain.
The flames ate at his body, consuming him.
His body soon turned into ash that scattered over the ground in a pile.
It was over. He had ended one of the threats to the dragon kingdom. Brian knew the danger wasn’t over. But right now, his world had become a little safer. He looked up at the ceiling and sighed. Now they just needed to get Alexa back.
The dust settled, revealing two figures standing several feet apart in a standoff. The blood trickled onto the ground as they both heaved heavy breaths. Alexa gripped her black sword and winced from the pain radiating from her side. A constant red stream oozed down her body.
Alexa was strong, but she was not a god. One-on-one, she had reached her limit. She’d clashed her sword against Erebus and had inflicted several wounds, but Erebus was an experienced fighter, and he was stronger. This was not a battle she could win using strength alone.
Thunder cracked in the sky above as a storm rolled in, setting the mood for their battle. The lightning flashed and a loud rumble rolled through the sky.
“You have been tough, princess. But I think we both know how this fight is going to end. Why don’t you try begging for your life? Maybe I will be merciful.” Erebus’ lips curled upward as he glowered at Alexa.
Alexa raised her sword and summoned an ice storm around her. Sharp, icy razor blades surrounded her as she prepared herself. Beg? As if she would beg. There was more fight in her than that. If she was going to die, she was going to inflict as much damage as possible on her way out.
Alexa gripped her dark sword that swirled with her light and dark power.
The icy razor blades around her flickered in color, alternating between white and black.
Behind Erebus, the waves roiled angrily, answering the storm clouds above.
The sky was dark and ominous. The storm clouds rolled in, dropping rain and lightning over the ocean.
“I’m sorry to disappoint you, but you will not get such satisfaction from me.
Like I said, if you’re going to fight against me, you should be prepared to lose your life,” Alexa spat out as she waved her hand, sending her blades forward.
Lightning flashed as the icy razor blades sliced through the air.
Erebus deflected the attack as Alexa charged toward him.
She swung her sword, but this time, she shot a marbled beam of light from it that he wasn’t expecting.
The swirling energy hit him head-on with a thunderous explosion.
Erebus was thrown backward, slamming into the ground.
Erebus placed his hand on the ground and sent a dark energy burst toward Alexa.
He watched as the earth rose from the ground, swallowing his attack.
He stood up, seething with anger. “He gave you his summon?!” He clenched his jaw and glared at her with contempt.
Ken had given her his mark, his summon, his heart …
everything! Why her? Why wasn’t it him? He couldn’t take it.
She didn’t deserve him. Her love was shallow in comparison to his.
Yes, she should not get to have him. Her existence was a problem.
Once Ken was freed of her, he would finally understand. He had to save Ken from her poison.
Erebus charged toward her and released his energy in a wide arc.
Alexa raised her sword in a defensive stance as his energy swung down toward her, the energy tearing through her arm.
She took a step back and dodged the full blow.
She then twisted her body and lunged forward with her sword.
The icy sword shattered, and his energy ripped through her skin.
She could feel her blood dripping down her face, and her clothes were torn into shreds.
Alexa winced and staggered backward, raising an icy shield as she tried to regain her composure.
She was losing blood and fighting a losing battle.
Erebus’ power was still greater than her own.
He was stronger, faster, and an experienced fighter.
She was bleeding and her body was growing weaker.
She might be smart and resourceful, but that wasn’t going to cut it.
She needed to win. She needed to defeat him. She couldn’t go down like this.
“Your love is no greater. It is shallow, fleeting. It means nothing!” Erebus yelled as his dark energy smashed against her icy barrier.
“What do you know of love? You’re practically a baby.
You don’t even understand it. It makes you weak.
It is cruel! Love is the reason for suffering in this world. ”
“No,” Alexa breathed as she narrowed her eyes on him. “That isn’t what love is. You’re the one who doesn’t understand it. You’ve been blinded by your own selfishness. You are a slave to your emotions. You think you know love, but you don’t. You are a coward. Your love is a lie.”
Erebus lifted her necklace and waved it at her.
“This is your love. It is meaningless. It is insignificant. And it is fragile. It can be destroyed.” He squeezed the gem in his hands, and it shattered.
He sprinted forward, slamming against the wall of ice.
The ice shattered, and fragments flew in all directions.
Alexa clutched her side and prepared for his assault.
Something hit Erebus from the side, hard enough to take him off his feet.
The lightning flashed. Thunder roared. Erebus’ body rolled across the ground as someone attacked it mercilessly. Familiar warm arms cradled Alexa, and she breathed in the scent of her mate.
“Ken.” She lifted her head and smiled. He looked over her with worry as he cupped her cheek.
“Are you alright?” Ken’s voice was warm and soft. Alexa’s clothes were in tatters and covered in blood. If the necklace hadn’t broken when it did … he couldn’t even think about it. His heart ached as he looked over her wounds. This was unforgivable.
“I’m hurt, but I’ll be fine.” Alexa leaned in and he crashed his lips against hers. It was a possessive, frantic kiss that was everything she needed. She felt her body responding to him, and even her healing was accelerating in that moment.
“You should have summoned me right away. I’ve been so worried.
I could have lost you. I love you so much.
” He lowered his lips to hers again, tenderly this time.
Ken pulled back and turned his gaze to Erebus.
He held Alexa close but gently against him as he watched the bear relentlessly attacking Erebus.
Erebus’ body rolled along the ground as Mikah kicked him across the earth. Erebus finally managed to get to his feet. Blood trickled from his mouth as he brushed it aside hastily with his hand.
“How dare you hurt my princess!” Mikah growled. “I will kill you for touching her!
Erebus began to laugh maniacally. “You can’t kill me. If you kill me now, I’ll live in the nembrant glass. My soul will just wait to take over another body. No, it’s actually safer for you to let me live than to kill me.”
“And how does that fit in with your plans? You’re the one who’s a pawn now.” Alexa watched as Erebus eyes flicked over at her. His eyes traveled to Ken’s hands on her and his lips curled up in disgust.
“You linked yourself to that necklace!” Erebus’ chest heaved angrily as a menacing look filled his eyes.
“Looks like you couldn’t destroy love after all. Instead, you set it free.” Alexa smirked as she watched him tremble in anger.
Erebus glared at Ken. “You shouldn’t have happiness. Why should you get what you want? You don’t care about others! You only care about yourself. You are selfish. You deserve to live a life of loneliness.”
“Geez, all this because he dyed your hair white? Seems a bit extreme.” Mikah scoffed and Alexa cleared her throat, making him look at her.
“Why don’t you say what this is really about?” Alexa looked up at Erebus, whose eyes narrowed on her with contempt.
“Wait … what this is really about?” Ken looked down at Alexa and then back up at Erebus. “What is she talking about? Say it!”
Erebus shot a blast of dark energy toward Alexa angrily. Ken pulled her slightly behind him and effortlessly blocked the attack. At the same time, Mikah launched himself back into Erebus.
“I don’t care what you’re linked to. You’re going to die today. And then I will find every piece of nembrant glass and destroy it,” Mikah growled as his deadly fight with Erebus began.