by L J Andrews
“What’s happened? We knew something was wrong,” Raffi asked, noticing the damage to Sapphire’s office. I blocked humans from seeing the wreckage—forgetting to worry about fellow wyvern seeing the truth. Raffi’s gaze landed on Teagan sitting next to me, and his lip curled in defense. But it was Dash who nudged his shoulder, pointing at Mini.
“Mage, Raffi,” he breathed out.
Mini chuckled. “These are your warriors, Kon? Hey, you’re late,” she snapped toward Raffi and Dash. “Some protection, it’s a good thing I was here, my friend.”
Sapphire smirked, but chuckled loudly when Raffi balled his fists at his sides and snarled at Mini. “Jade has a way to manipulate our senses, mage. It took some doing to find them. Now, I’ll ask again, what has happened, and why is he here?”
“Raffi, Teagan lives here, first of all. And so you know, he protected me, thank you very much. The zomok returned and had it out for Konrad,” I muttered. “When you joined us, we were coming to the conclusion that I have a mage.”
Dash shook his head. “No, that’s not possible.”
“That’s what we all thought,” Mini grumbled. “Now, we were in the middle of a conversation. You’re welcome to join, warriors, or we’ll kindly ask you to allow us to finish.”
Dash rolled his eyes. “I remember Konrad’s mage had a sharp tongue,” he whispered toward Raffi, but it seemed to please Mini when they both leaned against the wall.
“I was telling Teagan, he needs help harnessing his abilities. I will help you. Everyone should help you,” Mini said, meeting each wyvern eye in the room. I nodded enthusiastically, as did Sapphire, but Raffi and Dash were more hesitant.
“Is no one else suspicious that the last mage betrayed the jade bloodline? Or has that minor detail escaped your memories?” Raffi hissed.
“We won’t ever forget,” I snarled. “They were my parents, after all.”
“I didn’t mean to be inconsiderate,” he said softly.
“Listen, this is hard for all of us to believe,” Mini said. “I know my people harmed yours, but it’s happening. The best thing we can do is help him meet his destiny—because that’s what has happened. A destined bond. I would bet my life on it. For your information, Teagan, you don’t mess around with that sort of thing. If it’s ignored, it usually means either you, or Jade, or both will wind up dead somehow. You’re meant to strengthen one another—complement each other’s powers.”
I smiled shyly when Teagan met my eye. His skin wasn’t pale any longer, and I thought as he squeezed my hand a current of electricity pulsed through my blood. It was quiet for a time, but Sapphire interrupted our personal moment facing one another. “The bond between wyvern and mage is a partnership—that’s all. A loyal friendship.”
I turned my eyes toward my fellow royal, catching his meaning. Shaking my head I spoke softly. “I’m afraid that’s not what this is.”
“Oh, you both are so young,” Mini teased, smirking toward Sapphire. “You’re sensing your connection, nothing more. Don’t confuse the coupling with feelings of something else. Trust me, a new jade mage is hard enough to accept—you think the elders or the priesthood would allow…you know, anything more? You’d be crazy if you think they’d accept that.”
“I’m not accustomed to allowing people who don’t know me to tell me how to feel,” Teagan said sharply. I flushed, wishing we were alone. There was no denying, the way my heart rampaged, that I wasn’t just viewing Teagan as my friendly defender.
“Well, with all due respect, you’ve never met these people,” Mini insisted. “But that’s not my concern right now. We need to prepare you for what’s undoubtedly coming. The warding is fading from the willow. I’ve tried to keep it powered, but the more it fades in time, the more lindworms will start slithering their way into the willows. Sapphire, old friend, I’m hesitant to say, but I think we may have more battles on the horizon.”
“Then we prepare. We help Teagan,” Sapphire said, more toward Raffi than anyone else. “Mini, you’ll need to teach him about the mage. We’ll help buoy the bond with Jade. We’ll be ready. I won’t hide from those snakes any longer.”
Sapphire’s jaw clenched. Raffi and Dash shifted and locked eyes with one another, but I was ready. Like a rush of strength, I knew the time of hiding was coming to an end, and King Nag would finally face the queen of the wyverns. Clutching Teagan’s hand, the warmth of power flowing between us allowed me to believe it would be the last thing the vicious lindworm king did in this life.
Chapter 18
Teagan rested at my side, his cheek against mine as we stared at the sky. The willow was beaming with power the longer we stayed close with one another. He traced my fingers, coiling the tips of his around mine, then gently beginning the process again. The wyvern marks on his arms were a beautiful green now that two days had passed since Graham’s true, disgusting form attacked the reform house.
“Do they hurt at all?” I asked, breathing deeply when the breeze brushed my face.
“Not anymore,” he said. “Though, whenever I feel something—like when you touch them—I feel a shock. Mini said it fades as time passes.”
“That’s good then. Maybe I shouldn’t touch you so much.”
Teagan lifted his head, rolling onto his side and propping himself onto one elbow. He hovered over me, one hand holding the side of my face and his eyes blazing in an intense stare. “No,” he whispered. “Don’t ever do that. I like the shock, it makes all this feel real. I don’t ever want the feeling to go away.”
I swallowed hard, enjoying the way his thumb brushed the side of my face. My skin was hot, and my already scorching blood reacted to his presence. “We’re not the same,” I said softly. “As Mini and Sapphire.”
He shook his head, and I could almost see a flash of green from his mage power flash through his pale eyes. “We’re not them, Jade. I can only speak for myself, but what I feel is more than just keeping you safe.”
It wasn’t possible for Teagan not to hear my heart thudding by the fury that was beginning in my chest, but I didn’t care to calm the exhilaration in my body. We hadn’t come close to the kiss we almost shared before Sapphire was attacked. Not because I didn’t want to—I think Teagan wanted to as well—but I also had a feeling we both were frightened about what such an emotion might bring. The simplest touch sent my head into a frenzy. What would something so personal, so intimate cause my body to do?
“Teagan, emotion is part of my power. Wyvern feel, sense, breathe everything to the highest degree—and for as long as I’ve been alive I’ve never experienced what I’ve felt since you’ve come into my life. You would do anything to protect me, but I would do anything to protect you too,” I finally said, my arm wrapping around his neck. I wasn’t embarrassed by our closeness, and in a way it almost seemed as though the willow were strengthening our bond in the moment.
Teagan smiled, his eyes sending a thrill down my neck, but soon the moment passed. There was the brush of powerful wings approaching, and it quickly drew Teagan on the defensive. I scanned the skies and sighed. This was a moment I’d been both dreading and looking forward to putting behind me.
“It’s Eisha,” I said.
“I don’t see her,” he muttered, rising to his feet.
Before he’d even finished speaking, a rush of ebony scales blazed over the willow’s clearing. Teagan’s eyes widened. Eisha was larger than Sapphire. Most guardian and warrior dragons were larger than the royals. Brute strength didn’t create the leaders of our kind—it was heart, valor, honor, strategy. The earth trembled when Eisha landed from her flight. I hadn’t seen her since she’d escaped through the wall of her bedroom. Her slow pursuit across the clearing offered me a longer moment to admire her greatness. Eisha was one of the wisest, purest wyverns I’d ever encountered. I would not be surprised if one day she was asked to join the council of elders—but she was still too young. Her skin was sleek like the midnight sky, the gleam of the sun sprinkling along her dark body lik
e silver stars.
Teagan stayed in front of me, though I could see he didn’t sense any danger simply because there was no danger with Eisha.
I should have come earlier. Her voice filled my mind. We didn’t often speak with our hearts, but I enjoyed when we did. Eisha had the ability to speak with me even if I was in my human form. Most wyvern could only speak together if both were in true form, but it was one of the things I loved about her. She had a way of reaching the truest, deepest parts of the heart. It was as if her inner words enrobed my body in her care. Eisha’s long, powerful snout shook as she offered her remorse.
I missed you. Much has happened. I should not have commanded you in such a way, I responded.
She shook her large head again, the two black horns atop her brow digging into the air as she disagreed.
“Why isn’t she shifting?” Teagan whispered.
“She wants to speak with me privately for a moment.”
“I can step away.”
“We’re speaking now,” I said with a smirk, pointing to the side of my head. Teagan’s eyes widened into nearly perfect orbs, but he didn’t question.
You were right to command me, Eisha continued. You are my queen, I lost sight of that for a time.
Have you seen Konrad? Eisha nodded her large head and Teagan watched on with fascination.
Eisha’s glittering eyes looked to the sky and she took a step closer toward us. With each step her body seamlessly melted back into her slim, pale form. The scales had shifted to a dark gown, an odd garment for the woods, but I thought it added to her radiance. Her dark hair was wilder than before, but it suited with the brilliance of her eyes.
“I spoke with Konrad, Raffi, and Dash. It would seem the mages have returned while I was gone. Forgive me for leaving you to face a zomok on your own, Jade,” she said softly, though her eyes continually drifted toward Teagan.
“I wasn’t alone, Eisha,” I said gently. “What…what do you make of everything?”
I wanted to tread carefully. I knew, out of everyone close to me, Eisha would have the most difficult time accepting the help of a mage. Eisha circled Teagan, her eyes scanning his body venomously. She even dared trace one of his marks with her finger, but he didn’t pull away.
“Sapphire seems convinced he is on our side, especially now that his chatty mage has returned. I’m still concerned,” she said harshly, stopping in front of Teagan and penetrating his gaze with her own. “I will help my family train you, Mr. Ward. But you should know I will be watching you very closely, and if anything happens to Jade, I will hold you personally responsible when I tear your body apart—slowly.”
Teagan didn’t falter beneath her gaze. He nodded stiffly and moved a step closer toward me. “If anything happens to Jade, I will hold myself responsible and offer you the first bite.”
“You both know I can hold my own in a fight too,” I chuckled. “I’m not entirely defenseless.”
Teagan grinned when he glanced at me. “You were impressive making that glass fly across the room.”
I smirked with a playful smugness. “Thank you, I thought it fitting.”
“Who will be your grandmaster?” Eisha interjected, ignoring our banter completely. Her eyes were like granite as they locked with Teagan.
“I’m not sure what you mean,” he said.
Eisha sighed, and I sensed a new wave of concern wash over her. “Every mage—especially royal mages—must be prepared to harness their power to help the wyvern race. You do not know how to use your gifts. I can sense your turmoil—I sense so many unusual things about you. This is all very unorthodox,” Eisha complained. “Trusting you with the jade bloodline without any training, without a full armor—I don’t know.”
“Eisha, what choice do we have?” I insisted. “Do we continue to hide behind the willow’s fading power and wait for more lindworm attacks? Without Teagan, I’ll never be me again. I will never be able to fulfill my duties as queen.”
Eisha paced for a few moments, and Teagan gently trailed his fingers down my arm until he tangled his fingers with my own and we both waited patiently.
“Come with me to the reform house. We should be with the others before making any plans.”
“Wait, what about school? You’ve been gone for two days,” I said. The wyvern citizens in Wyvern Willows had worked hard to conceal our identities and blend in with the human population.
Eisha chuckled. “I’ve taken care of all that. I’m on an extended vacation for at least two weeks,” she said. “Much to the chagrin of Vice-Principal Stewart. I will allow you as a rider, Mr. Ward. Just this once.”
Eisha wasted no time peeling back into her wyvern form. I quickly moved toward her strong haunches as she lowered her shoulder slightly, pausing when I realized Teagan was staying back.
“She wants me to…ride her? While she’s…flying?” He muttered.
I laughed and even heard a deep rumbling chortle from Eisha’s thick throat. “Teagan, after all you’ve done to rebel against human laws, I’m surprised when the opportunity to ride a dragon appears, you hesitate.”
“I’m not afraid,” he muttered.
“I never accused you,” I teased. “Those are your words. You must be invited to ride, or the wyvern must make the decision to have a rider. Eisha has never allowed anyone but me to ride; you should feel privileged.”
After another impatient grunt from Eisha, Teagan slowly sauntered across the clearing. He met Eisha’s shocking eye and nervously clamored up the back of her strong leg. He nestled behind me, just behind the joint of her wings. I lost my breath when Teagan wrapped his arms around my waist. In a matter of seconds, Eisha was darting toward the sky. Teagan was muttering curses under his breath as he clutched firmly to my body. My hands covered his, and I tried to offer a sense of calm as the ground disappeared beneath the cloud line.
Eisha found the wind stream once she broke through the fog and haze of the day. Her wings splayed like black sails in the sky as she glided easily toward the reform house. “Teagan, look,” I shouted against the wind, patting his hands. “You’ll miss it.”
I felt his head lift off my back, slowly at first, then when he caught sight of the brilliant sun shimmering along the peaceful blue sky like golden rivers of light, I sensed his body relax and his energy surge with a thrill. Eisha took a deep pull of her wings, pushing us forward ever faster. I caught a glimpse of Teagan’s expression from over my shoulder. His jaw was set at first, then the smile I could hardly resist spread across his face. His arms released me and he threw his hands in the air, releasing a shout of pure joy to the wind.
I laughed and joined in as Eisha flew on. I missed the chill of the upper winds, the speed of darting across the atmosphere. For the first time since I’d lost my family, with Teagan at my side, I believed I would be whole again.
With the size of Eisha’s wings, and the size of the town, it was only a few moments before she touched down in the back forest behind the house. Teagan flopped back on Eisha’s ridged spine, his smile wide as he breathed deeply. “That was amazing,” he whispered.
“It was,” I agreed, sliding from Eisha’s back just as she started her shift. Teagan was slower and tumbled to the ground in a heap when the large backside of the dragon disappeared into nothing.
“Would you enjoy someone lazing about on your back all day, Mr. Ward?” Eisha snapped when once again her scales were draped in a silky gown over her thin body.
“Sorry,” he groaned, rubbing his neck. I chuckled but tried to offer Eisha my best reprimanding gaze.
“Am I clear to go inside?” Eisha asked me.
Checking to make certain my swift warding had taken hold, I nodded. “If there are any students or staff inside, they won’t see you.”
Eisha slipped across the lawn and stomped inside the house, leaving us alone in the trees.
“I wondered when you two would ever come back,” Mini’s voice snapped from behind. Teagan and I whipped around together in time to see Mini ju
mp from a tall branch in a nearby aspen. “You’re spending a lot of time together—it isn’t normal.”
“Who’s to say what’s normal about any of this?” Teagan growled, the defensiveness rising in his tone.
“That’s fair,” Mini agreed. “Just don’t be foolish. I thought it was cute at first, but mage and wyvern isn’t a match. We’re partners, that’s all. Okay?” she paused for half a second before sneering her lip and turning her back away. “Who am I kidding, you two aren’t listening to me. Fine, you’ll just have to deal with the consequences on your own.” Mini scowled when Teagan’s hand found mine again. She hadn’t even given us the opportunity to speak before she’d condemned and acknowledged our relationship all in one breath.
“What are you doing here, then, if mages aren’t supposed to be with the wyvern?” Teagan asked bluntly.
Mini rolled her eyes. “I’m always nearby. You think after what happened I’m going to go very far away from Kon? The difference is I can do my job without hanging all over him,” she said, glaring toward our clasped hands.
We didn’t respond; Eisha and Sapphire were tromping toward us. “Teagan,” Sapphire said when he passed the tree line. “We’ve been discussing how we proceed. We think, if she agrees, Mini should serve as your grandmaster. It’s clear the other mages didn’t know you existed—but Mini, we can trust her. She’ll teach you how to rise to your calling as defender of the jade bloodline. This means though, that this is your life. You have a family, Teagan. You’ll be asked to lie and deceive friends, acquaintances, and anyone from your past. Eisha and I will help cover your days for the school, the authorities and…your aunt.”
Teagan sighed deeply, and I was enveloped with the guilt and remorse he felt inside over the woman who had raised him. “I promised her I would come home,” he muttered more to himself than anyone else. Now I felt guilty, but soon my worries slipped to the back of my mind when Teagan squeezed my hand tighter. “I’ll do what I need to do.”
