by Tara West
At least one person in Parliament made sense.
“How many years have we wasted with words?” Goldenwand threw up his hands, sparks flying from the wand when he waved it at a massive, low-hanging crystal chandelier. “What good has speaking to them done in the past?”
“I-I’m sorry, Master Goldenwand,” Moonbeam stammered, wiping sweat off his brow when he was met with disapproving scowls from his fellow members, “but I don’t think war is the answer, not until every avenue of diplomacy is explored.”
“You would use diplomacy with murderers?” Goldenwand raged.
Thrusting a fist in the air, Vepar’s hood fell back, exposing glowing dragon eyes. “We’re not murderers!”
Swearing under his breath, Kron joined his brother, pushing back his hood. He ignored the gasps and mutters that raced through the hall.
Goldenwand pointed his wand at them. “You dare show your faces here?”
Kron’s spine stiffened. “You dare lie to Parliament when you know full well it was your mages who burned down the school?”
“Lies!” Goldenwand shrieked. The sound reminded Kron of Master Eagleheart and his daughter.
“Our family is innocent,” Kron said. “Your granddaughter will testify to the truth. She is not our prisoner. She is betrothed to our sons.”
Murmurs and whispers rose from the Parliament floor.
“More lies!” Goldenwand cried, twitching as if he was about to have a seizure. “Serah would never defy me. She knows she’d be disinherited if she did such a thing.”
Kron growled. Their sons were dragon princes. Any woman would be honored to mate with them.
“Your wealth and status mean nothing to us,” Vepar boomed. “Serah will be safe with us, and she won’t have to worry about her bewitched fairy godmother trying to murder her.”
The onlookers fell silent. They turned to Kron and his brother in shock. The accusation of attempted murder was a serious charge, but when the third realm threatened war against The Grotto, they were left with little choice.
Moonbeam shot up from his bench. “Bewitched godmother?”
“He sent her to kill the heiress,” Kron said, the words ringing through the hall. “If it wasn’t for my sons, Serah Goldenwand would be dead.”
“They lie!” Goldenwand wailed again, sounding like he was on the edge of panic.
Goldenwand wilted under the glares of Parliament. Kron could smell the wandmaker’s guilt from across the hall.
“He’s incensed that his granddaughter is betrothed rather than relieved she is well.” He pointed at Goldenwand. “Is it not obvious he sent her godmother to murder her after she escaped the school massacre?”
Goldenwand stopped wilting. Fueled by some unseen force, he straightened, visibly regaining control of himself. “More lies, but I’d expect nothing less from shifters. I demand Parliament declare war on these low-life scoundrels.”
Kron’s breath hitched. If they sided with the wandmaker, he and his brother would have no choice but to unleash their might on Parliament. They couldn’t let the threat of war spread beyond the hall.
A deputy carrying a missive raced toward the prime minister.
“Order, order!” Sir Gais Goblingout yelled, waving the scroll above his head. Nathaniel Goldenwand reluctantly stepped aside as Goblingout waddled to the podium.
“We’ve just received word from the Werewood Constable,” Goblingout announced, clutching the podium with whitened knuckles, the rest of him turning as red as an overcooked beet. “The elder dragon princes attacked the school once more.”
Kron’s heart skipped a beat. “No! That can’t be.”
Goblingout’s many chins shook as he spoke. “They took Dame Doublewart captive and badly burned three deputies.”
Vepar held out his hands defensively. “This has to be a trick. Our sons wouldn’t do that.”
Moonbeam gave Kron and his brother an apologetic look. “Where are the dragons now?” he asked the prime minister.
Goblingout quickly scanned the parchment, his red face expanding like a balloon ready to pop. “Two escaped and one perished.”
Kron’s world ground to a halt, and his heart shattered into a million sharp shards. “What?”
Goldenwand’s gaunt face split into a wide grin. “Bring me the deputy who felled the dragon, so that I may reward him.”
They had to be wrong. One of his sons wasn’t dead. He couldn’t be. No way could mages fell a mighty dragon. Kron shifted into a behemoth beast in seconds. He released his fire in an irate stream. Members of Parliament summoned protective bubbles, but they neglected to protect their beloved hall. Kron intended to burn it to the ground. His brother joined him in destruction fueled by grief.
Crushing burning benches beneath his massive paws, Kron and Vepar stalked the assembly, transfixed on Goldenwand like cats cornering a mouse.
“This is all your doing!” Kron roared.
Nathaniel waved his wand like he was trying to catch a unicorn with a lasso. His eyes turned as black as tar. “Exsuscito!”
Every council member stood at attention, their protective bubbles popping as they raised their wands. “Master,” they said in unison, their lifeless eyes fixed on Goldenwand, unfazed by the fires burning around them, “we are yours to command.”
Ice flowed through Kron’s veins. “What is this twisted magic?”
“Twisted magic?” Goldenwand’s laughter reminded Kron of a serpent’s hiss. “It’s the new Goldenwand 2050, the latest in magical technology. Every member of Parliament was given one just last week. They come with a special hidden feature that allows the wand’s creator to control the user.” His black eyes turned deep crimson. “Genius, isn’t it?”
Vepar kicked the crumbled remains of the hardwood floor, steam pouring from his nostrils. “You are the devil incarnate, and you will pay for killing our son.”
“Will I?” Goldenwand’s confident smile thinned into a dour line. “Assembly, kill the dragons.”
When they turned their wands on them, Kron launched into the air. Let’s go, brother, he said. We’ll take our vengeance later.
I will kill that mage with my last dying breath, Vepar roared, flying after him.
Kron blew the top off the glass-domed ceiling with a mighty breath while Vepar shielded them from the sparks flying off the wizards’ wands by hitting them with fire.
Magic pinged off their scales as they dove off the top of the building and took to the sky.
Kron’s heart was heavy as they flew back to their homeland. One of their sons could very well be dead and war between shifters and witches was imminent. Goddess save them.
BY THE TIME MASTER Eagleheart left the creature named Rem alone to tend to the eggs, Draque’s feet had gone numb, and his legs were stiff from squatting in the shadows of the alcove. He waited for several tense heartbeats, listening to the retreating sound of the mage’s staff ricocheting off the stone floor. With his dragon-touched hearing, he heard the stone wall sliding open, then shut, before heaving a sigh of relief. When Rem’s back was turned, Draque wove through the maze of eggs, his heart stuttering when he saw the labyrinth extended well beyond his line of vision.
He might not have enough firepower to destroy them all, but he sure as hell was going to try. He shifted and released his flame at once, burning Rem, who ran off, squealing like a stuck pig. Projecting the flame, he spread it across one cavern after another. The eggs began to bubble and pop, and malformed creatures escaped, crawling over each other like a nest of agitated spiders.
He spun at the sound of several cracks behind him, reeling when hundreds of spindly creatures raced toward him. They launched, pulling at his scales and digging their claws into his neck, and he knew he was out of time. Shaking them off with a roar, he flew to the top of the cavern and cut a swath through the hordes of hatchlings, vicious creatures with pointy beaks, bloodshot eyes, and gray wings with translucent membranes. Then he dove for the tunnel leading to the exit, shifting to human form a
nd racing up the stairs, praying to the goddess he’d escape before they reached him.
LADON COULDN’T STAY away from his sweet Serah for long. She might never forgive him for forcing her into a bonding, but he had to see her. The thought of causing her anguish cut him up inside, and he hoped he could find a way to soothe her.
He followed her scent to Draque’s chamber, but then her smell suddenly dissipated, and he heard no sounds coming within.
He paused at the door, which was partly ajar. Draque always kept his door closed. Fingering the wand in his pocket, he nudged it open and saw Teju on the floor.
“Teju!” he cried, running into the room with his wand drawn. Falling to his brother’s side, he scanned the chamber for any sign of Serah, but she was gone.
“Wake up!” He shook Teju’s shoulder, alarmed when blood trickled from his ear. Broken glass was scattered around his head.
Teju moaned, and his eyes opened. “Wh-What happened?”
“That’s what I want to know.” Whoever had injured Teju probably had Serah. His dragon grumbled to be set free. “Where’s Serah?”
Teju sat up on his elbows, blinking. “I think I left her tied up on the bed.”
Ladon scowled at the empty tangle of furs on Draque’s bed.
“Ouch.” Teju rubbed the back of his head, then pulled his hand back, gaping at the blood on his fingers. “Someone knocked me out.”
“Did Serah break her bonds and hit you?” he asked.
“No.” Teju still looked disoriented. “She wouldn’t do that to me. I remember looking at her face and then I was hit.” He shot to his feet, then half fell on the bed. “She’s gone?”
“We need to find her.”
Teju howled, and a stream of fire burned the drapes. “I failed to protect her!”
He had, but there was no time to lament that now. Snatching the drapes, Ladon stomped out the fire. “We need to go find her.” Ladon’s dark dragon voice spoke for him. “Let’s go.”
“Where?”
“Where else?” Ladon growled. “Wherever Katherine is hiding.”
Chapter Fifteen
Ladon stalked past his fathers’ three-headed guard dog, shoved open the doors, and flew toward the dais, leaving Teju behind. His brother had lagged most of the way, his wings giving out more than once, slowing them down. He needed medical attention, but finding Serah came first. Ladon was alarmed when he saw only Dagon and Mother were at court, with the mage advisor, Master Eagleheart, sitting in a much smaller chair beside them.
“Where is Katherine?” Ladon asked brusquely.
“I don’t know.” Eagleheart rose, clutching his staff. “Why do you ask?”
“You know why!” he roared. “She took Serah.”
“Took her?” The mage’s eyes widened. “Where?”
The mage’s shock sounded forced, which automatically made him suspicious.
“We don’t know,” Ladon said, “but Serah’s in danger.”
The mage leaned on his staff. “Are you saying my daughter would harm your mate?”
“That’s exactly what we’re saying,” Teju said as he landed beside Ladon.
Their father, Dagon, focused his one eye on the mage but surprisingly said nothing. Mother climbed on his shoulder and whispered in his ear.
Eagleheart blinked. “Do you have any evidence of this?”
Ladon had no time for games. He pounced on the mage. “Where is she?” He shook him by the collar. “You know where she is!”
“How dare you!” Eagleheart’s nose and mouth morphed into a giant bird beak. “Your mate probably ran away from you.”
When he snapped at Ladon’s hand, Ladon let the mage go but not without a hard shove.
He smiled when Eagleheart tripped over his staff and fell to the ground. “She wouldn’t run away from us.”
Crossing one paw over the other, Dagon still said nothing.
The mage used his staff to pull himself up and brushed dirt off his robes. “How can you be sure?”
Rage threatened to split Ladon’s skull in two. “Because she was tied up!”
The mage chuckled. “It sounds like she’s much better off wherever she is.”
“It was for her own safety. Whoever took her attacked Teju.” Standing beside him, his brother swayed. Shame washed over Ladon. He shouldn’t have let Draque bind and gag her.
“You didn’t see this person, Teju?” Dagon asked.
Teju’s hand flew to his blood-streaked head. “They attacked me from behind.”
Mother sprang toward Teju and inspected the injury. “Sit down, son.” Pulling out her wand, she waved it over Teju. Her magic wasn’t strong enough to completely heal him, but the open wound closed enough that the blood stopped flowing.
Ladon didn’t know whether to be relieved or worried by her support.
“You have no evidence for your preposterous claim.” The mage struck the stone floor with his staff. “Yet you level these charges against me and Katherine.”
“We know it was you!” Teju insisted. “You and your daughter have motive.”
“Where is your daughter, Master Eagleheart?” Mother asked, giving him a long, cool look.
“I-I don’t know.” The mage stepped back as if to escape the weight of her stare.
“Find her,” Dagon said, his ominous tone leaving no room for refusal.
Eagleheart bowed low. “Yes, Your Highness.”
“Not you,” Dagon grumbled and gestured to two feathered guards standing by the door. “Make haste,” he added.
Squawking, the guards flew toward the exit as the doors were thrown open, and two massive dragons flew in, nearly running into the birds with their talons. After a lot of screeching and flying feathers, the guards left and Ladon’s older brothers, Hector and Bastian, landed heavily beside him.
Ladon was surprised when Dame Doublewart slid off Bastian’s back. “What are you doing here?” he asked, not meaning to sound rude.
She reprimanded him. “Mind your manners.”
“Where are our other fathers?” Hector demanded shakily.
His obvious anguish made Ladon’s knees weaken. Something was seriously wrong.
“They’ve gone to Parliament,” Dagon answered, extending his neck so he towered above them. “It’s about time you returned home. Where is Thaddeus?”
“We were attacked by third realm deputies.” Bastian hung his head, and a tear slid down his snout. “He did not make it.”
Mother cried out, and Teju grabbed her elbow to steady her.
Ladon shared a look of shock with Teju. He and Teju and Draque had often clashed with their older brothers, but they’d never wished them dead. Thaddeus being killed was like a knife in his chest.
Mother was starkly pale, her eyes like black holes in white paper. “What do you mean, he didn’t make it?”
Hector looked sick. “I’m sorry, Mother. They killed him.”
She slumped in Teju’s arms.
Black smoke poured form Dagon’s snout. “No, this can’t be. Where is his body?”
“He was in dragon form.” Hector hung his head, his wings and tail drooping like a wilting flower. “I carried him as long as I could.”
“This can’t be!” Dagon bellowed. “Witches can’t take down a dragon.”
Their mother threw herself on Hector with a wail. “Take me to him.”
“We can’t.” Hector frowned as he nuzzled their mother’s head. “It’s too dangerous.”
“You can’t just leave him there!” she said shrilly, then narrowed her eyes on Dame Doublewart, who’d been standing stoically by Bastian’s side. “Why is the academy headmistress here?”
“It’s a long story, Mother.” Bastian placed a protective arm in front of her.
“Queen Firesbreath.” Dame Doublewart bowed low. “My condolences.”
“Did you see them kill my son?” Mother demanded.
Dame Doublewart wiped watery eyes. “I did. I also saw red bolts come out of their wands.”
Gasps filled the hall.
“This does not bode well for us,” Hector said. “If the witches attack, we will fall like flies.”
Dagon stood, shaking his wings, his chest and throat turning as red as molten lava. “I will send every murderous witch to hell!”
“That curse is illegal!” Teju growled. “Their wands should have spells to prevent it.”
“Who modified their wands?” Mother asked.
“Nathaniel Goldenwand!”
Kron flew into the hall and landed on his throne. Vepar arrived moments later, the displaced air from his heavy wings beating down on Ladon’s back.
Shielding her eyes, Mother raced to the dais. “Have you heard? Our son is dead, killed by the unbreakable curse.”
Vepar and Kron appeared to be barely keeping themselves under control. “We have.”
“I want vengeance!” She thrust a fist in the air. “I want Goldenwand to suffer as we do!”
“If I may be so bold, Your Highnesses.” Master Eagleheart bowed low. “A tail for a tail would only be fair.”
Ladon’s blood ran cold, and his dragon issued a warning growl.
“What are you saying, Master?” Mother asked sharply.
The mage shrugged, avoiding eye contact with Ladon and Teju. “That we kill his heir.”
“You want to kill Serah?” Ladon boomed. “Have you lost your mind?”
He flashed an oily smile that did nothing to hide the malice in his eyes. “It’s only fair.”
Teju was visibly angry. “You sick, twisted demon!”
“He knows where she is,” Ladon said, suddenly very sure of that. “Why else would he suggest killing her?”
Kron lifted a scaly brow. “Has she gone missing?”
“Yes, Father,” Ladon answered, glowering at the mage. “They attacked Teju and took her.”
Eagleheart gazed at Ladon coolly. “They’ve no proof it was me or my child.”
Ladon clenched his hands into fists, his dragon claws unsheathing and breaking skin. He was one heartbeat away from slitting Eagleheart’s throat.
