Chapter 87
KALLIE
Kallie pressed her stomach against Graeson’s spine as he flew over the capital.
For a heartbeat, the clang of clashing metal ceased. Pontian, Tetrian, and Frenzian soldiers gawked at the enormous dragon, dark as midnight, sweeping across the sky. The dragons were supposed to be gone, but today the people would learn the truth.
As Graeson barreled toward the castle, Nyrri was the only one smart enough to keep her distance.
The other drakonises and winged soldiers were not as lucky.
The force of Graeson’s wings sent soldiers tumbling through the sky like a tower of cards.
Even those on the ground couldn’t withstand his power and were knocked over.
The Tetrian and Pontian forces, who had been smart enough to brace themselves, took the opportunity presented to them and struck. Spears ripped through the air. Steel met steel.
But their advantage was fleeting. The enemy troops recovered quickly, driven by their need to eliminate their foes.
It was as if seeing a dragon was an everyday occurrence for them, which could only mean one thing. Graeson was right. They were under Domitius' control. Nothing else could explain their unwavering resolve.
Kallie’s heart sank even further when Graeson flew higher and she finally saw the full extent of the enemy’s forces. Soldiers wearing Frenzian steel swarmed the streets, their armor blazing in the golden sunlight like flames across the battlefield.
Even though a section of the allied forces had broken away to flank the enemy, Kallie feared it would be too late. Drakonises continued to ravage the capital, their hunger for blood insatiable.
As Kallie and Graeson reached the castle’s gates, the beasts pounced. Graeson roared, and fire poured from his mouth.
Kallie immediately shut her eyes as they flew into the embers. One ember landed on her hand, and she hissed as it singed her skin. But she didn’t dare let go, only clenched her jaw and held on tighter.
As if noticing his mistake, Graeson pivoted and soared higher, shielding her from the next wave of sparks.
Kallie opened her eyes when he suddenly dove. Struggling to see against the pounding wind, she squinted. Through her blurry vision, though, she spotted Domitius.
As Graeson’s shadow fell over him, Domitius looked back. Although Kallie could not see his expression beneath the mask, she could almost taste his panic. He snapped the reins, pushing his horse to run faster.
Kallie leaned forward, and Graeson flew harder, his wings striking the air.
Kage would not escape this time.
Kallie braced as they approached the castle’s stone walls.
She briefly wondered if they were as impenetrable as the rumors claimed, or if Graeson could tear them down if necessary.
Before she could dwell on it, though, Graeson spun.
His paws slammed against the stone steps with a thunderous crash.
Rocks crumbled beneath Graeson’s feet as his claws dug into the steps.
When the guards stationed at the door surged forward, weapons raised, Graeson whipped his tail out, striking them both with a sickening thud. The nearby horses reared in fright. Several of them sprinted away, their hooves pounding against the ground as they bolted.
Several yards away, Domitius, clinging to his stallion, adjusted his weight and held onto the pommel.
Graeson released a vicious roar, the sound causing the very earth to shake.
Domitius lost his grip and was thrown off his horse. He hit the ground with a painful thud. He rolled over onto his stomach and pushed himself up, shouting at his horse to come back. But the stallion was already darting toward the back of the castle.
Kallie stood. With her dagger in hand and Graeson’s blades strapped to her back, Kallie couldn’t help but pity the king of Ardentol.
"You were supposed to be dead," she said as she landed on the steps.
A haunting laugh echoed inside the bull helmet as Domitius rose to his feet. His once-clean armor was now dirtied with mud and grass. "I thought I had taught you better," he said, straightening his tilted helmet. "Always confirm the kill, Kalisandre."
Hearing Kage’s voice washed away any remaining doubts Kallie had. There was no mistaking it now. He was alive. They had failed.
"I saw your body burn to ash," she spat.
Graeson snarled, echoing Kallie’s statement.
"Face it, Kalisandre," Domitius said, his voice hollow. "You cannot kill me. No one can."
Graeson growled. He lowered his head, inching it closer to Kallie as she stood atop the steps of the Frenzian castle.
She lifted her chin, refusing to let Domitius get to her. She wasn’t the same girl he had trained. "I might have failed last time, but I won’t make the same mistake twice. You taught me that, remember?"
"To be honest, I should thank you for even trying to kill me," Domitius said, as if amused. As if his death wasn’t imminent. "I wasn’t sure if it would work, but you proved it did."
"If what worked?"
Domitius cocked his head to the side, and Kallie cursed herself. The question had spilled from her mouth before she could stop it.
"Did that handmaiden of yours ever tell you about her brother?"
Kallie’s steps faltered at the mention of Myra’s brother, Mynhos. Beside her, Graeson snapped his head up, his nostrils flaring. His talons dug into the earth, and he eyed her wearily, their thoughts in tandem.
Myra wasn’t the only one in her family who had a gift. Her brother had one, too. One particularly dangerous in the wrong hands.
Was this truly how Domitius survived the fire? Could he have Mynhos’ power in addition to Kallie’s?
"Ah, so she did," Domitius said when Kallie remained silent. "Good. That saves me some explaining."
Kallie’s eyebrows furrowed. Myra had said that her brother had died. She and Laurince had killed him—for better or for worse.
"Mynhos is dead," Kallie said, calling Domitius’ bluff.
"That is true. Unfortunately for him, his body could only handle so much. The dagger that had been driven through his heart had been there for too long. When Dr. Thorne’s replacement had gotten his hands on him…
" Domitius waved a hand dismissively. "Let’s just say the young healer can get overzealous in his pursuits. Stone pushed Mynhos’ body too far.
" He shrugged. "No matter. I got what I wanted. "
Domitius strolled forward, dragging his sword through the dirt and leaving a trail behind him.
"You see, for decades, I had been searching for someone like Mynhos, someone who bore any power resembling his ability.
When I discovered him, I was in awe. Not only could he heal a minor wound, but he could regenerate his limbs.
And watching it happen with my own eyes?
It was as fascinating as it was horrifying. "
Kallie blinked, the truth settling in as she reached the bottom of the steps. If Mynhos could grow his limbs back, did that mean Domitius could not be killed?
He was bluffing. He had to be.
Kallie’s power surged within her. She let it slip across her tongue, coating her words. "Tell me the truth."
"Fire could not kill me, Kalisandre. What makes you think a measly blade can?"
A low growl sounded, and a puff of smoke twirled around her as Graeson trailed behind her.
"You cannot control me," Domitius said, amusement peppering his voice and sending an unshakable chill down Kallie’s spine.
Nearby, iron rattled. Kallie looked at the sky but couldn’t pinpoint the source. Her ears buzzed from the sounds of war at the bottom of the hill where their friends and allies were still hanging on. Their screams rang in her ears.
"Even if you somehow killed me, you would still have one problem," Domitius warned.
Kallie’s fingers twitched around the hilt of her dagger.
"My army will not stop fighting until your friends die. Killing me will not stop the command."
Kallie snapped her head toward Graeson, who narrowed his molten eyes at Domitius. He snarled, revealing sharp canines as if threatening to swallow Kage whole. But if what Kage said was true, Kallie couldn’t let that happen. The soldiers, whether their enemy or not, deserved to be freed.
"Release them," Kallie commanded, her power coursing through her veins.
"And ruin the fun?" Domitius cackled, the sound grating Kallie’s bones. "Now, why would I do that?"
Lips parting, Kallie blanched as he evaded her power.
"You have two choices: give up and bend the knee, or burn my men to ash, killing your friends in the process."
Fear rose in Kallie’s throat. There had to be another way to end this. She couldn’t let Kage win. She hadn’t broken free from his control just to fail now.
The clanging noise grew louder, but Kallie stood there frozen, unable to think.
Domitius took a step back and pointed his sword at Graeson. "Let’s see if you’ve learned to heel, shall we?"
Graeson’s tail wrapped around Kallie instantly. With a quick flick, he tossed her away from him.
Kallie landed on the ground several yards away.
Her back hit the dirt and knocked the air out of her lungs.
She inhaled and coughed as she swallowed dirt.
Swatting at the debris floating around her, she spotted winged soldiers darting across the field.
They closed in around Graeson, swarming him from above and carrying iron chains that gleamed in the harsh sunlight.
Before Graeson could take off, the soldiers dropped one chain after another, crushing his wings to his sides and immobilizing him.
Kallie scrambled to her feet and grabbed her dagger. She charged, a primal scream tearing at her throat.
Graeson roared in defiance, his silver eyes turning pitch-black.
Kallie’s power surged through her, the command on the tip of her tongue. Before she could utter a word, someone yanked her back. Hands slipped over her mouth, silencing her.
"Marvelous. Truly marvelous," Domitius said, restraining Kallie against his chest as he watched the guards tightening the chains around Graeson’s body.
Kallie bit down on the flesh of his palm, forcing Kage to loosen his grip. Quickly, she reared her hand back. The point of her dagger drove into Domitius’ thigh.
Domitius might have claimed he was untouchable, but pain still affected him. He screamed.
A boot slammed into the back of Kallie’s knees. Her legs gave out, and she collapsed.
Domitius snatched Kallie’s ponytail, yanking her head back. Cold metal scraped against her mouth and jaw. A sharp click sounded at the back of her skull, and the metal pinched her skin.
Kallie clawed at the metal, her fingers scratching at the cold, unyielding surface.
A muffled sound escaped her, but the mask swallowed it.
She choked. Her mouth wouldn’t budge, not even an inch.
The mask was too tight, too constricting.
Tears welled, burning her eyes. They hung precariously on her lash line before dripping down her cheeks.
"You’ll have to do better than that, Kalisandre," Domitius hissed. "Or did you forget I was the one who trained you?"
She tried to scream again but failed.
This couldn’t have been happening. She was so close.
He ran a finger along the metal. "Beautiful, isn’t it?
The most talented metallurgist in Ardentol has been working on this piece for some time.
I always hoped I wouldn’t have to use it.
You were always so well-behaved growing up.
But it’s clear there is no getting through to you now. They’ve poisoned you."
Through blurry eyes, Kallie looked at Graeson. The guards tugged on the chains, forcing Graeson to drop to his belly. His massive jaw smacked into the earth and sent up a plume of dust. The iron bit into his flesh, digging into his scales.
Domitius pressed a blade against Kallie’s back.
"I didn’t think the chains would work when Sebastian showed them to me.
But he claimed his ancestors used them to bring down the dragons that once graced these lands.
For centuries, the Dronias family has housed them in the depths of the dungeons, keeping them in case the dragons ever returned.
" Domitius hummed in admiration. "I knew the son of a god and seer would be special, but this is superb. "
Kallie’s fearful gaze locked onto Graeson.
But he wasn’t done fighting. He screeched, the sound piercing and blood curling.
His tail whipped around, knocking several guards over.
A stream of fire poured from his mouth. Those in its path went up in flames in an instant, leaving behind only a pile of ash in their wake.
"So, is this how you will stop my army? By burning them to ash?" Domitius laughed. "Yet you think I am the monster?"
Kallie jerked in his hold, but Domitius pressed the tip of the sword between her shoulders. The blade pierced through the leather fabric and pinched her skin. With his other hand, he patted her cheek, and the metal mask bit into Kallie’s flesh. "Now, now, Kalisandre. We’re just getting started."