by L J Andrews
I laughed, feeling the weight of the night easing slightly. “That’s a relief.”
The door opened and Sapphire walked in, accepting Eisha’s outstretched hand. Eisha eyed him with sympathy, and I noted how lost the royal dragon seemed without his mage. It didn’t matter if I was the jade bloodline mage. In the somberness of the room, as Jade tangled her fingers with mine, I vowed to Mini, wherever she might be, nothing would happen to Sapphire as long as I was breathing.
Two days after Bron had tried to kill everything that mattered, I stood on the lawn with Mitch and some of the other reform students. Mitch was studying the lawn of the house. The ground was still split and jagged from the war of energy.
“I wonder what Yellowstone looks like. If the quake could do so much damage clear up here, I bet it’s sunk into the ground.”
“Sometimes aftershocks can cause more damage,” I suggested, though I didn’t know much about the subject.
“All this damage and we just slept through it,” Mitch said. Though the lawn had been in such disarray for more than a night, it had taken some time arranging the cover-up that the residents of Wyvern Willows might believe. Jade hadn’t had the same energy as she’d recovered, so the manipulation had taken a toll. But now, as we waited for the white bus, it seemed the story had taken just fine.
“It doesn’t seem possible, does it,” I muttered.
Mitch shoved my shoulder and shook his head. “Pretty crazy, but I’m sort of bummed out. I’ve always wanted to feel an earthquake.”
I smirked. “From the looks of this one, I don’t think you would have wanted to be involved.”
“Well, there’s the bus. They couldn’t even cancel school. What has to happen for the doors to close?”
I shrugged and laughed when I crawled on the bus behind Mitch. Yes, I had to go to school. Balancing more manipulation had been too much for Jade. We had to release some energy to cover up the battle, so I relented and the story of my absences at Wyvern High had to go. I was still amazed knowing Mitch hadn’t even realized I’d been out of classes for so long. When we stepped toward the doors, I was surprised at the relief washing over me. To be normal for even a day would be welcome.
But I wasn’t normal.
“Hey, looks like someone wants to say something to you,” Mitch said, rolling his eyes and pointing toward the side of the school after we arrived.
“Teagan!” Jenna squealed. “Good to see you. I feel like it’s been forever. So, what do you say to another weekend at the reform house? Oh, I didn’t notice all your new tats.”
After facing Bron, the seal on my back had shot new wyvern marks trailing along the back of my neck. Jenna’s fingers caressed my shoulders as she traced the marks, and her touch almost burned my skin. Then the flash of gilded hair caught my eye. I beamed and stepped away from Jenna.
“You know, actually I think I’m going to pass, Jenna. I have other plans.”
I didn’t revel in the way her jaw dropped when I darted across the lawn, but I heard Mitch chuckle.
“Was I interrupting something?” Jade asked with a mischievous smirk.
“Oh, yeah actually. Can you come back later? I’m more interested in girls who like the bad boys than fierce dragon queens.”
Jade laughed, and Dash rolled his eyes. Raffi still wasn’t well enough to return. A lindworm had nearly taken his head during the fight, but at least I knew he was back at the house with Aunt Liz. For now, Sapphire had convinced my aunt it was family visit week—which meant Eisha’s mansion was filled with the other kids. I wasn’t sure how Eisha felt about it, but Raffi had tamed Diesel and his bullying ways. I suppose I was once intimidated by Raffi too, but I liked how the younger boy had cowered beneath Raffi’s snarl after he’d tried to steal Mark’s book.
I heard Jenna call my name in a huff, but I ignored her and linked my fingers with Jade’s. “Bold, Teagan Ward. You want to be seen with the weird girl at school.”
I smirked, squeezing her hand tighter when we brushed by a stunned Mitch and a livid Jenna. “Always,” I said. “Where’s the fun in normal?”
Chapter 29
We decided to keep the truth from Aunt Liz for now. One of the blue warrior dragons Raffi and Dash had somehow found to help battle against Bron suddenly had the urge to move to the town of Hamilton. His name was Haitian, and Aunt Liz told me on our Sunday phone call that her new neighbor was handsome and had already started helping with repairs at the old house. She also informed me if I ruined things with Jade, she wouldn’t let me come home for Christmas.
Sapphire was sitting at his desk as he had always done before the truth of my life had spilled out in such a violent way. I tromped down the stairs of the reform house, my focus set on the front door. It was a cool day, and I was ready to get back to the forest.
“Teagan, will you come here for a moment?” Sapphire called.
I rolled my eyes just to irritate him—there were other students around and I had to keep the image, of course. “Yes, sir.”
Sapphire scoffed and shook his head, though he was smiling. He came out from behind his desk holding a book in his hand. “You missed your entry in your reflection journal.”
My smile faded. “Are you serious?”
Sapphire raised his brows, slowly sauntering toward the door of his office. “Of course, why wouldn’t I be? Are you a student of this house? Brett, get off the banister.”
“Yes, sir,” a squeaky voice responded as Sapphire closed the door. He smirked at me and moved back toward the desk. “You know, you really should write things down. History is good to have, and you’ve certainly made history.”
I took the journal from him and scoffed. “I’ll give that some thought.”
“Now that things are calming down, I wanted to talk with you, just you.”
My brow furrowed, and I scooted closer to his desk. “Okay, what’s going on?”
“Nothing. Yet,” he said. “You know that’s not going to be the end of the lindworms. Your banishment will hold, it’s strong, but it’s not eternal. King Nag will know where we are now, he’ll know where Jade is. I have no doubt in your abilities, but Bron is one of the most powerful mages in existence, possibly rivaled by the High Priestess, but then—”
“She might be just as bad,” I muttered.
“Yes, that would be a problem,” Sapphire said.
I cleared my throat, wondering if I should ask. Sapphire was, to those on the outside, the man who was meant to reform my rebellious spirit, but the truth was he was a friend. Someone I would die protecting now, and I knew he would do the same for me if needed. “Do you think I could, you know, be like them?”
Sapphire cocked his head and tapped his fingers along the desk. “You mean join Nag?” I nodded. “Is that a fear of yours because you are likely their son?”
The idea coated my tongue in a bad taste. “Well, even Bron believed that, so it’s pretty likely, right?”
Sapphire nodded. “We still don’t know for certain, but it’s the best guess we have. Look, Teagan,” Sapphire said, leaning forward on his elbows. “Do I think good people can be corrupted? Yes, I do. Bron was a powerful mage for the elementals. I knew him, I respected him. And he betrayed us for power. King Nag is powerful. But never, in all my existence, in all my interactions with the mage race have I sensed a truer heart than yours. Yes, even Mini admitted you were purer than her—those were her words, not mine,” he chuckled. “Those blades wouldn’t have summoned for just anyone. As Mini said, you’re the High Priest now. That comes with a lot of power and responsibility. You aren’t alone though, not anymore.”
I nodded and glanced out the window. “I wish Mini were here. I feel like there’s still so much to learn.”
Sapphire nodded, his face falling into a somber remembrance. “Me too. There are more mages out there, good mages who we will find for help. And there is the chance the High Priestess isn’t on the side of Bron. We won’t stop trying to find her.”
“Thanks,” I mutt
ered. The conversation was ending, and there was somewhere I couldn’t wait to be. Slowly I lifted from my seat, but paused and met Sapphire’s dark eyes. “I know Mini was your mage, but just so you know, I’m going to keep my promise. I won’t let anything happen to you, or Jade, or any of the royals.”
Sapphire smiled. “I wouldn’t trust my life with anyone else. You know the same is returned by all of us—even Raffi.”
I nodded and smiled as I opened the door. “Well, sir. I will be out fixing the fences.”
“Don’t be late,” he bellowed in his best Reform Advisor voice when I rushed out the front door.
The sanctuary was still destroyed, and I honestly didn’t want to go to the place where Mini had been murdered. Jade was waiting for me at a new place. The ledge was high above the town of Wyvern Willows. We could see the great span of mountains and forests surrounding the town and neighboring cities. Jade hugged her knees against her chest near the edge of the cliff. The wind bustled her hair around her face, and she breathed peacefully. I suspected she enjoyed the cliffside because it gave her the sense of flying. I smiled watching her for a moment, feeling even more excited to try my idea.
“You’re stunning,” I said softly, leaning against a tree.
Jade turned slowly and smiled. Her injuries had healed faster than was humanly possible, and she did radiate a new power from the fight. Her eyes were still the striking green pools, but they held more gold than before. “Well, aren’t you filled with flattery, Mr. Ward.”
Settling next to her, I leaned back on my arms and watched a pair of hawks swoop amongst the clouds. “It isn’t hard to flatter if it’s true,” I said.
Jade rested back against the grass, her fingers tracing the marks on my arms as they always did. I loved the spark each initial touch from her had along my skin. “How are you?” she whispered. “We haven’t had any time to really talk. I’ve been worried about you.”
I rolled onto my side, propping myself onto one elbow. My fingers outlined her face as I spoke. “I’m better,” I admitted. Cocking my head, I chuckled darkly. “I’m also afraid. You came so close to…well, I don’t know what I would have done. I see how Mini’s death is affecting Sapphire, though he tries to hide it. I feel like I wouldn’t survive if something happened to you.”
Jade met my eye, her face somber. “It won’t happen, Teagan. We can’t think that way, because there is more to come. You have my trust, my hope, you have my whole heart. Nothing is going to change that. I am dedicated to finding a way to be stronger. I can’t face what’s to come in this form, I’m nearly powerless. I need to find a way to break through whatever is stopping me so I can be there for you. I’m a burden if I can’t shift.”
“You are not a burden,” I said swiftly. “You never could be a burden.”
Jade smirked and focused back on the clouds. “Well, that is a matter of opinion, I suppose.”
“I actually have been thinking of your shift a lot,” I admitted slowly, though the smile was impossible to hide. “I have an idea. Are you willing to try something different?”
“I’m willing to try anything,” she said.
Rolling up to my feet, I moved slightly closer to the edge. It was breathtaking, the expanse of the world below. “I’m certain of this,” I said, turning around as Jade pulled herself to her feet. “Do you trust me?”
Her brow furrowed when she joined me on the ledge. “You’re being cryptic.”
“Well, do you trust me?” I teased.
Jade smiled, but she was hesitant. “Of course, I trust you. Teagan, what are you thinking?”
“Trust me,” I said. “I’ll need you to save me.”
I didn’t wait for her to say a word before I leapt from the edge of the cliff. Her shrill scream echoed in my ears, but all I felt was the cool air breathing along my face. It was strangely euphoric; the sky seemed to welcome me into the energy of the air. Jade’s screams faded as I plummeted toward the ground. I wasn’t afraid. I knew this was what had to happen.
Spreading my arms wide at my side, I found a way to roll so my face was aimed back at the cliff. Smiling, I saw Jade dive from the ledge. She was freefalling just as I was. The ground was coming closer, and a prickle of nerves started to inch along my neck. The clouds devoured Jade, and I lost sight of her for a long moment.
I could smell the sap along the trees—and I feared I’d just made a fatal mistake. Then I saw a flash of emerald.
My body slammed against the smooth scales of a beautiful, pure green dragon. I wrapped my arms around her neck, clutching tightly as she caught me from my death jump. My heart beamed when I positioned comfortably behind her wings. Jade had shifted. She was extraordinary. Jade’s wings were like calming sea foam, and they were stronger than I’d ever imagined. Her body was sleek but powerful. She was right, there were no spikes on her tail. Jade rushed toward the sun, darting and spinning through the clouds. I lifted my arms over my head and shouted in ecstasy as she reigned her magnificence over the sky.
After a breathless ride, Jade shot toward the ground too quickly, and before I could catch my breath I was tumbling in a heap along the ground as she bucked me from her back. Coughing from the wind knocking from my lungs and the twigs impaling my body, I glanced up in time to catch her powerful body melt back into her perfect form. A glittering green gown robed her body and she stomped toward me with anger in her gaze.
“What were you thinking?” she shrieked, her fist striking my shoulder.
I smiled, and tackled her in my arms, drawing her to the ground with me. “I was thinking of you. I was thinking of what I would do to keep you alive, and I knew you’d do anything to save me, even shift. You’re incredible,” I said. “Jade, you’re free.”
Jade struggled against my grip for a moment just to prove how angry she was. Eventually, she relented when I cupped the side of her face. Slowly, her arms wrapped around my neck. “Don’t ever do that again.”
“Only when I want to irritate you,” I teased.
“Maybe I won’t catch you, just to irritate you,” she retorted. I laughed when she lifted her head off the ground and kissed me. “Thank you,” she whispered. “Thank you for freeing me.”
I stroked her cheek, thinking of everything that had brought us to this moment. It was unbelievable. The stories weren’t what I imagined in the least. All the tales of dragons and magic were part of the fairy tales of my childhood. Yet, as I held Jade in my arms, the queen of dragons, I couldn’t imagine any other reality. No matter what was to come, I wouldn’t change a single thing.
Cairo, Egypt
As the royal wyvern of the ruby stone, I’d been on high alert since the queen had sent the warning message. There was a shift in the energies of the desert, and I knew something had changed. Something drastic. The message from Sapphire and Jade had been hazy at best, most likely due to my distance, but there was something about mages, something about danger. I knew if the queen was reaching out in a final plea there was a terrible chance she’d been in mortal danger.
So when I saw him the second I opened my bedchamber, I wasn’t as surprised as I thought.
“Bron,” I hissed, the painful bleed of my skin aching along my body as I yearned to shift forms. Without a mage I was trapped. My mage was gone, lost in the separation of the races. So this was the warning. Jade must have faced Bron, the High Priest, the traitor that destroyed my people. “I wondered if you were involved in the darkness surrounding this place. On the prowl again, I see. Our last meeting wasn’t tragic enough?”
“Ruby, you’re stunning in your weak, pathetic form, but then again you were always the weakest of the royals. Mage defenses are failing, you were almost too easy to find.”
I’d seen signs of zomoks and disgusting lindworms for several weeks, but I suppose I’d refused to believe my own eyes. That was my mistake. Brushing my long chestnut hair over my shoulder, I tried to conceal the rapid pounding of my heart. “What have you done to my queen, Bron?”
He chuc
kled, the ice in his eyes spreading through my soul. “If you have to ask, I think you must already know. There’s really no purpose resisting, Ruby. The stones are no longer yours to control.”
I chuckled darkly, desperately cursing the powers that kept me bound in my human form. “Oh, Bron. You know I will always resist cowards like you.”
Bron sneered as he pulled out a blade from a sheath strapped along his back. I gasped, desperately wishing he hadn’t seen my reaction to his weapon—I knew exactly what that sword mean. Bron chuckled darkly and took a step closer. “I suppose, then, you shouldn’t fear,” he growled. “But we both know that would be foolish.”
I crouched at my knees, preparing to fight. The fury of my power surged through my blood. It would be trying to stand against him, but I would never stop. Not until my last breath left my lungs. With a terrifying mystic darkness I hardly remembered, Bron slashed his blade and lunged.
Dragon Mage
The Queen of Jade
LJ Andrews
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