by Naomi Sparks
I squeeze Gabrielle's hand as she passes her power to the three of us. My dragon roars up inside me, wanting to get back into the fight, and I have to hold it back. Now isn't the time. We need to give Lex the chance to take out Amasis on his own. We've all taken care of our own personal demons. Now it's time for him to take out his.
But we stand ready. If Lex can't do it on his own, then we'll help him. Amasis will not get out of here alive.
Lex becomes visible again as he latches his jaw around Amasis. Amasis lets out an echoing roar that shakes the entire compound. We all brace ourselves, wondering if this is it. Has Lex finally been able to strike a killing blow? Then, Lex lets out a roar of his own as he releases Amasis. At that moment, Amasis shakes himself free and strikes Lex hard with his tail, sending him hurtling to the ground.
All I can do is stand there and stare as Lex's massive body comes flying toward us. Bren is the first one to react. He runs forward and shifts faster than I've ever seen. He's able to take his full dragon form only a fraction of a second before Lex slams into him.
Dust and debris splatter the rest of us, but we're shielded from the full force of the impact by Bren. My heart feels like it's about to stop. If Bren hadn't reacted so quickly, Lex would have crushed all of us. Jerrick and Bren and I all would have been able to survive the hit, but the witches would've been killed immediately.
Amasis hovers above us, glaring down, as Bren and Lex work to stand again. Shifting that quickly, then taking the full force of Lex slamming into him, has to have taken most of the strength Gabrielle had just given him.
Jerrick and I rush over to the two of them. There's blood dripping down Lex's body as he and Bren shift back to their human forms. Lex nearly collapses, and Jerrick and I catch him, supporting his weight between the two of us. Bren wobbles for a moment then takes a deep breath and stands upright again, shaking out his muscles.
"Let us help you," I plead. I hate seeing my leader, my friend, hurt like this. I'm not sure how he can beat Amasis, not by himself anyway. But all of us together can do it.
Lex shakes his head as he forces himself to stand. His mouth is drawn into a tight line, his eyes flash with anger. "I need to be the one to do this."
Bren walks over to stand in front of Lex. The two of them lock eyes for a moment, neither look like they want to back down. Finally, Bren lets out a sigh and nods. He reaches out and touches Lex, and pushes the strength Gabrielle had given him into Lex.
Jerrick and I exchange a look, then do the same, giving Lex every bit of strength we'd built up during our brief rest. Lex stands taller now, his breathing is even, the fire behind his eyes rekindles.
Before he can head back up to fight Amasis again, Gabrielle comes over, helping a struggling Merida. "Let me heal you," the old woman says. Her cheeks are tear streaked, and she's just lost one of her closest friends, but she's still in the fight. She's just as stubborn as Gabrielle and Valetta, it seems.
Lex wants to argue, but before he can, Merida starts chanting. I can feel her drawing on Gabrielle's power again. It's not as strong of a draw as it was when the five witches all worked together, but Gabrielle uses her considerable power to fuel Merida's healing spell.
When I look back over at Lex, most of the cuts have healed, the bruises disappear. He nods appreciatively at Merida, and Gabrielle holds her steady. When Lex steps forward out of our circle, he looks like a whole new man. He's stronger, angrier. He's ready to do what needs to be done. And now, it looks like he might just be able to do it. Amasis had been winning the fight up until now, but he'd taken some damage himself. With Lex getting a second wind, it should be a much more even fight.
He takes off running, and in the blink of an eye, he shifts and is darts up into the sky. Halfway toward Amasis, he disappears, his invisibility kicking in. Amasis lets out a challenging growl as his head whips around, trying to find Lex. Then, he goes off course, as if he'd been struck by something.
He lets out another growl, his head moving faster like he's going to be able to spot Lex hiding among the clouds. This time, Lex strikes him from above, sending Amasis hurtling toward the ground just outside the compound.
"We need to get out of here," I tell everyone, watching as Amasis darts back up into the sky. "If we stick around, we're likely to get squashed like bugs."
Everyone agrees. Bren and Jerrick help the older women walk, while I carry Valetta's body and Gabrielle walks by my side. We make our way out through the hole Farris had created. The battle outside seems to have died off, both sides have sustained heavy injuries.
Now, everyone awaits the outcome of Lex and Amasis's fight. They all seem to know whoever wins this fight will decide the entire war.
My breath catches in my throat as I stare up at the sky, waiting. There's nothing I can do now, not after giving Lex most of my power. Even Gabrielle is finally hitting her limit, and she doesn't have the strength to recharge all of us again. If Lex loses, it's over for all of us. None of us will have the strength to fight.
With his power recharged, Lex stays invisible, using those chances to strike at Amasis before pulling back out of range. He doesn't stay close, not wanting to risk being hit by Amasis's ability anymore. With his newfound strength and his invisibility, he has the advantage, but Amasis is still larger and stronger.
While Amasis must be weakening from Lex's constant attacks, he still looks strong. He's starting to guage Lex's attacks, too, and even dodges a few. When Lex goes in for another strike, Amasis swings his tail, and Lex becomes visible again as he crashes down to Earth.
Lex is back on his feet in an instant though, launching himself back into the air, shimmering before he vanishes again.
Over and over, they repeat this little game. Until Lex is knocked down to the ground again, and Amasis follows him, pinning him with his massive golden body. My heart nearly stops beating as Amasis growls at Lex.
Amasis turns and growls at the rest of us. "Do you see now how foolish this all is?" His voice echoes in all of our minds, and I shudder. But as I look at him, I can see just how wounded he is. His body is shaking, his mental voice sounding strained. "Kneel, and I will show you mercy. Refuse and die."
Before anyone can even respond, Lex lashes out with his jaw, clamping it down hard around Amasis's throat. Amasis lets out a gurgling cry, no doubt trying to use his power to force Lex to release him, but Lex holds firm. I can see in his eyes he's not going to let go this time. Even if it kills him, he will take Amasis out with him.
Then, the gurgling sound fades away as Amasis's body slumps down on top of Lex's. Lex releases his grip on Amasis at last, but he doesn't have the strength to stand.
I move toward him, but before I can go more than a few feet, Jerrick is there, somehow finding the strength to shift again. He slams his shoulder into Amasis's body and pushes him off Lex.
Lex lays there for a long moment, then slowly he shifts back to his much smaller human form. Without waiting for instructions, Jerrick scoops Lex up, then takes off, flying in the direction of the camp.
I want to collapse. Now that the battle is over, it's like all the adrenaline has been leached out of me. Gabrielle holds me upright, and looking into her eyes gives me the strength I need to keep going. The battle is over, but there's still work to do.
"Come on, let's go find those babies," I tell her. When I glance over at Bren, he nods and moves in to take command.
The soldiers who supported Amasis are quick to drop to their knees in submission. Those who are still in dragon form shift back and join the others in kneeling. A group of Fae comes forward to escort the coven and carry Valetta's body back to the encampment. Now that the battle is over, it's time for them to rest and grieve.
As Bren gives the rest of our men instructions, Gabrielle and I head into the compound again, trying to retrace her way to the nursery. The compound is essentially a giant maze with identical doors. Behind one, we find the babies safe and sound inside.
Olivia and I search the nursery for anyt
hing that might tell us who the babies belong to, but with no luck.
"Once everyone is rested, the Fae can help you scry for their mothers," I suggest. If Valetta were still alive, I have no doubt the coven would be able to perform the necessary spell. Without her, I'm not sure if they can. I don't know enough about how their combined magic works to say for sure. But if the coven can't do it without Valetta, the Fae might be able to help.
Gabrielle coos down to the infant in her arms. She looks so natural, cradling it. She hasn't had much time being Olivia's mother yet, but she's full of motherly instincts. I cannot wait to spend the rest of my life with Olivia and Gabrielle.
I reach out and take Gabrielle's hand, waiting until she looks up at me and our eyes meet. "I love you," I tell her, feeling those words deep in my soul. She is my one true mate, and I find her more precious than all the gold in the world.
She smiles at me, and that smile seems to light up the entire planet. "I love you, too," she says, her voice soft and singsong. "We did it, didn't we? We really did it."
I nod. My heart swells, and I lean in to press my lips against Gabrielle's. "Yes, we did."
Now, we just have to figure out where to go from here.
14
Gabrielle
The dragons and Fae scour the entire compound, turning it inside out as they go through everything. Bren has a line of vehicles outside where the battle had raged, and he's directing some of the new dragons to load them up. When he sees us emerge cradling the babies, his eyes go wide, and he ushers us into one of the Jeeps, sending us back to the camp ahead of the rest of the caravan.
Few of the dragons are in any shape to fly, it seems. I doubt Ezra could shift back to his full form even if he wanted to. And judging by the look of exhaustion on his face, he didn't want to.
But it is all over. Finally.
Olivia and I will be safe now. Yin is mortal, shackled, and taken prisoner, last I saw. Amasis is dead. There won't be anyone to come after us anymore. We can live our lives without having to look over our shoulders all the time.
I just wish it hadn't come at such a high cost. Closing my eyes, I see Valetta's lifeless body in my arms. I'd known people would die during this battle. We'd lost so many during the first attack. But somehow, I'd never imagined Valetta being one of them. Even though they were only four little old ladies, Valetta's coven seemed invincible. Once I experienced their powers, it felt like there wasn't anything they couldn't do. Especially once they were able to draw on my power to fuel their spells.
Ezra and I are quiet during the drive back, lost in our thoughts.
Valetta's abandonment of me had set me on a path of sorrow and pain. I'd had less than two weeks to make sense of all that. So really, I shouldn't be this upset over her passing. But I am. I feel her loss keenly down to my very center. I feel I should've done more, should have been able to harness my power better so she wouldn't have had to use so much of her life-force. Maybe if I'd had more time to study and learn different spells, I could have changed this outcome.
Ezra reaches over and puts his hand on my knee, squeezing gently. When I look over at him, he smiles at me. "Don't beat yourself up," he says as if he can read my mind. "You said it yourself. She knew what she was doing. She gave her life for me and for us. So that we can raise Olivia in a better world."
Nothing Ezra says is new. I know it all. And yet, somehow, hearing him say it makes me feel better.
It doesn't take long to reach the camp, and it's a commotion when we arrive. The Fae are running around like crazy, with Surem and Lysandra directing them. More tents are being set up, some to house the newcomers, others to store the things being brought back from the compound.
Ezra and I move carefully through the people running around, each carrying one of the babies, as we head toward Tyko's tent. Until we find their mothers, this will be the safest place for them. Tyko will be able to see that they're taken care of, that they're healthy, while we try to figure out what to actually do with them.
When we find Tyko, outside of his tent, he has a triage area set up, the wounded lie out on pallets. He's frazzled, but when he gets a look at the babies, his eyes light up. "At least there is some good to look forward to," he says as he takes the one out of Ezra's arms. "Babies are truly wondrous, don't you think?"
He doesn't wait for either of us to reply. He simply scoops the other baby out of my arms, then rushes into his tent with both of them, talking to himself the entire time.
Ezra and I both look at each other, then burst out laughing. It feels good to be back at camp and know we're safe. Once we get ourselves under control again, we follow Tyko into his tent to retrieve Olivia and head off to find the rest of the Fire Riders.
They're at the far side of the triage area. Lex and Galen are both lying on pallets next to each other. Galen is sitting up talking to Farris and Katia when we arrive. Hannah is seated next to Lex, holding onto his hand. Her cheeks are tear-streaked.
Galen stands when we approach, and everyone except Hannah moves to join us.
"How's he doing?" Ezra asks, his gaze resting on Lex. It looks like Lex is barely breathing. The joy I felt only a few moments ago fades as I look at him. He seems to linger on death's door.
"He took one hell of a beating," Galen says, his voice low and soft. "But Tyko says he's going to make it. He just needs to rest so he can regain his strength enough to shift and fully heal. Once he's rested, he'll be just fine."
I let out a sigh of relief. I don't know Lex very well, but I know how important he is to Ezra. And I know how it feels to lose someone close to you. I don't want Ezra to have to go through that.
We all sit with Hannah for a while, offering her comfort and support. There's nothing any of us can do for Lex right now, but no one is eager to leave his side. It's because of him we can sit here in peace. The Fire Riders all seem ready to sit and wait until the end of time. I admire their loyalty to one another.
I doubt anyone in Amasis's group would keep vigil like this.
Surem comes through the area, asking for volunteers. The men still at the compound have discovered the remaining captive Fae and witches, and they need help transporting them.
Ezra stands up to volunteer, but enough others reach Surem first. The Fae who weren't involved in the battle are eager to reunite with their friends and families. So Ezra remains here.
I lean against him, feeling a small weight lifting off my shoulders. I know he'd be safe, but I don't want him to leave me again just yet. I spent too much time waiting at camp earlier, doing nothing but worry about him.
Ezra puts his arm around me, hugging me tight against his side. Then, he leans over and kisses me head. "I never properly thanked you," he says, his voice soft and gentle. "I'm sorry for leaving you behind. It was stupid of me to try and shield you like that. You're more than capable of taking care of yourself. Without you and the coven, I wouldn't be here right now. So thank you."
I nod, closing my eyes and breathing deep. I can still smell the sweat and grime of battle, but beneath that scent is Ezra. "I appreciate you trying to take care of me. But just remember, it's my job to take care of you, too, okay?"
"Okay." Ezra lets out a chuckle.
Hours pass as we all remain by Lex's side. The camp becomes even more chaotic as the captives return and are reunited with their loved ones. We watch as spouses embrace, as children and parents rush toward each other. One frail-looking woman rushes through the triage area and into Tyko's tent, reappearing moments later with a squirming bundle in her arms.
At least one of the babies is reunited with the mother. I watch them disappear into the camp.
The sun is starting to get low when Lex finally stirs. Everyone jumps up as he groans and tries to force himself to sit.
"Easy," Hannah says, taking his hand in hers and squeezing it. "You're still hurt. Don't try to move just yet, okay?"
Lex nods, then lay back down, breathing deeply. After a few moments, he lifts his head, takes us all in,
and smiles. "We did it, I guess?" When everyone nods, he lets out a sigh, then lays his head down again. "Thank the gods."
Some gold is quickly passed over to Lex, who wraps his fingers around it. When he opens his hands again, the gold is gone, and dust slips from his fingers onto the ground. Then, he's able to sit up properly. He looks much stronger now, though he's still covered in cuts and bruises.
But the guys all help him stand and lead him away to a clearing. I hang back with the other mates, except for Hannah, and let them take care of their leader and friend. It's slow going since Lex's entire body is covered in injuries. It truly is a wonder he's alive. But then, I guess dragons are stubborn like that.
Maybe that's where I got my resolve. Then again, I probably got a good bit of determination from Valetta too. She was practically the poster child for stubbornness.
Once they get Lex to the clearing, he drops to his knees, wincing from the pain. But then, he takes a deep breath, and I watch as he shifts into his dragon. The human-sized Lex disappears as a gorgeous, silver dragon takes his place.
No matter how many times I see these men transform, I don't think I'll ever get used to it. It's so awesome to see the majestic creatures they truly are. Lex's scales shimmer in the fading light. Truly, he is gorgeous. Though, I have to admit, not as gorgeous as Ezra.
When Lex shifts back, he's able to stand on his own again, his injuries mostly healed. He still has some scabbed over cuts and a few fading bruises, but he doesn't look all that much worse for wear.
Hannah rushes across the clearing to him, wrapping her arms tight around him, nearly knocking him over in the process. Lex chuckles and hugs her back. They stand there holding each other for the longest time.
After a few minutes, I look around to see an audience has formed. Many of the dragons from earlier have shifted back into their human forms. Some of the Fae are here as well.
