Chapter Twenty-Seven
VESKOR
It was hot and humid here, the heat becoming a second skin. I liked it, though. After flying north in the snow and years of dying of cold in the fighting pits, I would never be too hot ever again.
I liked the jungle, as well. There was food everywhere. The witches and other drakens were harder to get used to. More people meant more everything. It was noisy and busy, but it was better than the fighting pits.
A week on Lyoness and I still couldn’t believe I was here, living among the other drakens. They were too soft, too safe, though many of them watched me oddly, and I don’t think it was because I was the interloper. No, something else was going on.
They didn’t think I noticed, but the queen’s treehouse candles were always lit late into the night, with all of the important drakens and witches coming and going at all hours.
They were planning something, and I couldn’t help, but feel that I was involved.
“You are allowed to enjoy yourself and be happy. That is new for you, I think,” Canavar said as we hauled timber across the ridge, ropes slung across our shoulders, the sun bouncing off our scales as we worked on the new meeting hall frame.
He was a draken of few words, but the ones he said usually carried weight. He grunted as he lifted a beam like it weighed nothing.
“Veskor,” he barked. “We need more rope. Down by the lava tubes. We’ll go in a minute.”
My stomach dropped. The lava tubes were far from the children’s nests and everything. I’d never been there. They assured me the volcano was dormant, but it still made me nervous.
Well, at least Canavar was going with me. We set down our logs and were about to set off when Nerissa stormed up the hill, eyes glowing gold like she was about to incinerate someone.
“CANAVAR.”
He stiffened.
She jabbed a finger toward the village. “Your daughter is TRYING TO MATE with DOMIK in the LIbrARY.”
Canavar blinked, then burst out laughing. “Ah, so that’s how it starts.” He wiped his face. “Guess we’re staying here for good. Poor Domik.”
“Domik?” I asked faintly. “That is the shy orange one who reads a lot?”
Nerissa snarled. “Get. Her.”
He clapped me on the back. “Veskor, go grab the rope. Alone is fine; I trust you. You’ve behaved.”
My heart lurched. “Alone?”
“Yes,” he said, already jog-walking after Nerissa. “Don’t make me regret it.”
My protests died on my lips as I was left alone for the first time since I’d arrived. Suddenly the air seemed too hot, and the bird calls in the trees too loud. I wasn’t supposed to be alone.
Not with anyone. Not anywhere.
Just do it quickly, and no one will know.
I should have just reminded Canavar I didn’t feel comfortable being alone yet, but I didn’t want to disappoint him or sound like a weakling. I would be quick and get it over with, hurrying back to him.
It was ridiculous. I was a warrior. A fighter from the pits. There was no way I was afraid to be alone.
Things are different now.
I swallowed hard and headed for the black rock line where steam drifted from the earth like sighing ghosts. The open mouths of the lava tube gaped at me like black mouths. I tried to ignore them and focus. The rope pile was right where Canavar said, coiled neatly at the entrance to the caves.
I bent to grab it and a hiss echoed through the chamber. A voice like smooth stone slid across my ears.
“Well, well. The stray.”
I froze.
Two pale silhouettes emerged from the shadows, their scales opalescent white, their eyes sharp as hot needles. Their wings curled like predatory sails.
Females. Unmated.
Suddenly I remembered. The lava tubes hid the reclusive female drakens! The ones I was specifically told not to go near.
Just get what you need and get out. If someone catches you, tell them Canavar said it was fine.
It sounded cowardly, but it was my only recourse.
Benedict would kill me. Kieran would hold me down. Ronan might protest, but would that help when the other two were bigger? I clutched the rope in my hand and backed away slowly from them.
“He’s even taller up close.” Mara circled me once, tapping her chin. “And he really hasn’t tried to mate with anyone? Not even the witches?”
Yazmine snorted. “He smells like survival-mode. Instincts haven’t caught up yet. He’s spent so long trying to live he hasn’t had the ability to worry about a luxury like mating.”
I straightened, bristling. “I am not broken.”
Mara’s head tilted to the side, curious. “Why do the draklings trail after you like ducklings?”
I flushed. “I don’t know.”
Yazmine smirked. “He is protective.”
I turned to leave but Mara’s voice rang out. “Enya says you’re a good fighter.”
My stomach flipped, clenching. “No. I do not have to fight anymore. You can’t make me.”
Mara bounced on her toes. If she heard the desperation in my voice, she either didn’t recognize it or ignored it. “But I want to spar! Benedict and Kieran are the only males who will spar with me! I want someone new!”
“Absolutely not,” I rasped. “I’m not supposed to be alone with anyone. If I was caught fighting an unmated female—”
“You’re not alone!” Yazmine said. “There’s two of us.”
“That makes it worse,” I snapped.
They only grinned wider. Before I could flee, Mara lunged. I dropped the rope and dodged out of instinct—years of pit-fighting kicking in—but she pivoted smoothly, catching my elbow and twisting me into a roll that forced me back upright.
My blood surged.
My claws extended.
A growl built in my chest.
“Oh yes,” Mara purred. “Let’s see what the desert made.”
My fears and anxiety melted away as my mind settled into battle.
I dodged Mara’s sweep, and twisted free from Yazmine’s hold.
They were laughing—actually laughing—as they pushed and tested and matched each dodge with sharper, quicker moves.
For the first time in my life, I was fighting without trying to kill.
And for the first time in my life, I think I was enjoying it.
Mara caught my ankle and I nearly face-planted. She yanked me sideways, but I landed in a crouch, chest heaving.
Mara hopped back. “He’s fun!”
Yazmine nodded. “I like him.”
I froze. “You like me?”
Before they could answer, a screech split the air.
I’d heard it before from Perri, but this was different. A distress call–raw and terrified.
My heart nearly stopped beating in my chest. I put a hand to where the pain was, stopping. Yazmine landed a kick to my jaw, then immediately apologized.
I didn’t hear or feel any of it. The only thing I was aware of was the distress cry of an unmated female, rattling my system like I was being burned alive by fire.
This was awful. How did the other males stand it?
I turned to see Nerissa’s youngest daughter Nava in the air above us. My heart sank further.
“WHAT THE HELL—?!” she shrieked. “WHY ARE YOU ALONE WITH THE UNMATEDS?!” Her wings exploded wide, her voice echoing off the stone like a war horn. “HE’S TRYING TO brEED THEM!”
“I’m not—” I started, appalled, but it didn’t matter.
Nava had already launched into the sky, screaming the distress call again, louder, a beacon of impending violence.
Within seconds, wings thundered around me, shouts erupted, and claws and feet pounded the rocks.
Canavar.
Nasi.
Benedict.
Kieran.
Half the fucking island came racing toward the lava tubes at full speed.
To kill me, probably.
I stared up at the swirl of wings and teeth and fury bearing down on me, and all I could think was: I’d finally felt safe.
For five minutes.
Five fucking minutes.
“No,” I whispered, but it didn’t matter.
The next heartbeat, the entire island descended on me like a falling mountain.
The reclusive females stepped in front of me instinctively—Mara’s teeth bared, and Yazmine’s wings flared in challenge—but it was too late.
Benedict hit the ground first, shifting mid-air, slamming into me with a roar so loud it echoed off the lava tubes and made my ears ring.
BAM.
“GET AWAY FROM THEM!”
My world exploded in pain as he slammed me to the ground. Mara and Yazmine screeched in distress. Ronan landed a breath later, skidding across the stone, eyes wide as he took in the situation.
“What is wrong? What is it?”
I raised my hands, barely able to think over how dazed I was. “I didn’t—”
Something slammed into me hard enough to knock the breath from my lungs. Nasi. His fist connected with my jaw with enough force to crack the stone beneath my feet.
“What possessed you?!” he snarled.
I staggered, vision blurring, and then Canavar arrived—leaping straight between us with a force that shook the cavern. I didn’t even try to dodge. I closed my eyes and waited for his blow to fall as well.
“ENOUGH!” He shoved Nasi back with one arm and grabbed my shoulder with the other so tight it ached.
“What were you thinking?” he barked directly into my face.
Before I could answer, Nerissa arrived.
And the temperature dropped.
Her blood magick lit up her veins in harsh golden lines, hair wild, eyes burning like molten metal.
Enya dropped from the sky between us all. “Everyone shut up!” She pointed at Mara and Yazmine. “Explain.”
Everyone went silent.
“You’re all so mad. Why?” Mara asked, lower lip trembling.
“Yeah, it’s our fault,” Yazmine whispered, tears glinting in her eyes. “We were just teasing.”
“I … sent him to get the rope. I forgot the lava tubes are where the unmated recluses lived,” Canavar admitted quietly. “He didn’t know. I thought … he’d been doing well. I’d meant to ask about allowing him some unsupervised time. I’m sorry.”
Benedict looked like he wanted to break all of us in half, and not just me. I rubbed my nose, which bled freely.
Mara threw up her hands. “We asked him to spar!”
Nerissa froze. Wren pushed through the crowd. Kieran followed behind, Wren pushing her way through the crowd. Her stomach was so large now I wasn’t sure how she managed at all.
Mara blinked. “He’s good! And nervous! And makes the cutest squeaking noise when you take his legs out—”
“MARAAAAA—” Nerissa screeched.
Wren turned and hissed, shushing her with an uncharacteristic display of strength.
Canavar pinched the bridge of his nose. “Love. Please. Breathe.”