by L J Andrews
I sat back in the chair. Numbing cold flowed through me as I stared out the window toward the frosty night. If what the mage said was true, Bron was succeeding in finding royals. The more I hated to admit it, since the woman was most likely the one who’d given me life, I knew it wasn’t possible he was finding them on his own. The High Priestess was the one who trapped the royals, she knew where Wyvern Willows was located, she’d given the willow as the protection. Odds are she also knew where the remaining royals had scattered around the globe. Perhaps, and I liked to think this way, the High Priestess had left the war on the side of the elementals, but it was entirely possible that through the years, she’d been corrupted just as Bron. It would explain why the attacks were beginning.
“Are you alright?”
My focus drifted back toward the mage who was leaning closer toward me—it would seem she’d been speaking to me for a time without me hearing. “Sorry, I was thinking.”
“What’s your name?” she asked, her voice growing stronger with every breath.
“Teagan. Ward. Teagan Ward,” I stammered, still glancing toward the window.
“I’m Athika,” she said quickly. “I defend the Ruby bloodline.”
“Do you know where other mages are?” I asked briskly.
Athika startled a bit, her hand instinctively reaching for the dagger still pinned on her hip. “No, I don’t know where they have stayed hidden all these years. Why do you ask with such desperation?”
“Do you know where the High Priestess might be?” I questioned without answering her.
Athika eyed me in the dim room through a sharp gaze. “If I don’t know where other mages are, it would be safe to assume I don’t know where the High Priestess is. All I know is she protected the royals and the mage people after the divide.”
Sure. The details of the past I didn’t care for, I wanted to know where she was now. Questions pummeled my mind, whether she was wicked or good. I couldn’t help but desire to know so many things.
“I’ve answered all your questions, now you must answer mine,” Athika interrupted my wild thinking and stomped next to me. “How have you joined the jade bloodline? Once a bond is severed, our history states it will remain severed. What is your lineage?”
“It’s complicated,” I said quickly.
“That’s not an answer,” Athika snarled, treading her fingers along the hilt of her dagger once more.
“Look, I don’t know how I became the jade mage. That’s the truth. I didn’t even know I was a mage before I came here.”
It wasn’t clear if Athika believed me or not, but her shoulders relaxed slightly and her finger pulled away from the dagger. Thankfully, the French doors opened, and Jade entered the room, wiping perspiration from her brow. Athika swallowed hard and stiffened. Jade glared in her direction but moved toward me, her grip wrapping possessively around my forearm. “Ruby is going to be alright,” she said with a breath of relief. “She was poisoned with copious amounts of zomok pyre and had several wounds. How are you?”
Athika was focused on Jade’s gentle touch, and I didn’t care if she saw when I wrapped my arm around her shoulders. “This is Athika,” I said. “She isn’t going to try and kill anyone anymore. Obviously, she’s Ruby’s mage.”
Athika drifted across the room and nodded her head respectfully at Jade. “Forgive me for bringing you any harm. I would never…if I’d had my right mind, I wouldn’t dream of harming any wyvern.”
Jade nodded, though her lips were still pressed tight, and I thought I saw her position her body a little stronger in front of me as though Athika presented a direct threat. “I understand. I’m certain your quick arrival saved Ruby’s life.”
“Forgive me for prying, but I’m so curious,” Athika said in a lighter tone. “Do you believe the bond between you to be destined? I sense you are very close for being bonded for such a short while.”
Jade lifted her chin, and I couldn’t help but smirk as the two subtly challenged one another, even if they didn’t realize it themselves. “Destined bond is the only explanation we have. And yes, we are close.”
Jade’s fingers curled in mine, and whether it was the mounting passion of her energy or because I hadn’t had my lips on her skin in so long, I kissed her fingers and grinned when she met my eye. Athika scoffed, her brow furrowed deep enough the skin over her nose pitted. “I see. Well, I should tend to Ruby so I will be there when she wakes. Teagan, I very much hope we can speak again. I have so many questions and feel I could be a value to you as well.”
“Yeah, I would like to ask a few things myself,” I admitted before she rounded the corner and tromped toward the kitchen.
With Athika gone, Jade released a haggard breath and leaned her head on my shoulder. “Ruby nearly died, Teagan,” she whispered.
“I know,” I said softly, drawing her toward the sofa so I could hold her closer. Jade didn’t resist and wrapped her arms around my waist, her head resting perfectly along my chest. “But she’ll be alright. We need to find the other two royals.”
“Amber and Onyx,” Jade said. “Konrad is already reaching out to them and requesting they join us here. But that’s not what distresses me most,” she said. “Ruby said something when she woke for a moment. She spoke of the elemental stones. I’ve told you the stones hold the energies of the earth, and they are the source of our power.”
“What did she say?”
“Some of it made little sense. She spoke of a weapon designed for the stones. I wasn’t sure what she meant, but one thing was said without a doubt.” Jade lifted her head, her nose only inches from my face. The way her eyes focused and blazed like a green fire behind her irises sent a chill down my spine. “Teagan, she said that Bron had her stone. King Nag has the power of fire, and he’s after the others. It’s only a matter of time before the wyvern war begins again. Though I fear this time King Nag won’t stop until everyone is dead."
Chapter 6
The dawn brought a new snowfall across the lawn of the reform house. The kitchen was chilled, but it helped the anxious burning in my veins. Athika was curled in one of the dining table chairs. Her position looked terribly uncomfortable, but I’d already failed to send her to my room to use my bed to sleep. She’d refused and insisted on staying by Ruby, who was still kept on the table. Eisha had tended to the royal’s wounds but demanded she should remain unmoved for at least the night. I didn’t argue—tending to magical wounds was certainly different than simply adding a few sutures or bandages.
My soul was troubled. I hadn’t slept even after Jade had left to council with Frenrir and reach out to Aldwin that Ruby had been attacked by Bron and the fire stone was taken. I was positive we would see more of the wyvern council, and the idea didn’t stir any excitement. The mug in my hand was steaming with dark coffee, but I didn’t drink anything, just absently swirled the drink as I stared outside. Sapphire would have to excuse me from school today, tell them I was sick for all I cared. With what was at stake, algebra seemed less pressing. A wyvern war starting again was, frankly, terrifying. Nearly everything had been lost once before; what might happen with Bron and the elusive King Nag in complete control of all the stones?
As I was lifting the mug to my lips, I paused, staring out at the barrier of trees surrounding the lawn. For a moment, I thought I’d seen something, yet on second glance there was nothing there. Hairs on my arms stood on end in the quiet of the morning. The students of the house wouldn’t rouse for another hour. Sapphire was at Eisha’s mansion, and he’d told me to keep watch on the house. Glancing toward Athika, I considered waking her, but instead I grabbed the two jade blades leaning against the wall.
My breath hitched in my chest when a blast of frosty air slammed against my face. Tugging a thin jacket around my shoulders, I stepped off the porch. Dawn was just crusting over the horizon, casting the gray light over the lawn. Morning birds huddled in the snow-packed pines twittered their song until I stepped closer. As usual, the beady eyes of hiding creat
ures found me and stared. I had yet to determine if it was respect, wonderment, or disdain for my power in their eyes.
The tree line around the house was thick and dark. Any light was blocked by the barrier of the trees. I shuddered, a hint of hesitation flashing through my senses. I should probably wait for Sapphire, or at least tell Athika where I was going. A brush of wind drew me to take out one blade, clutching it defensively in front of me, while the other was wrapped tight in my tense grip. I paused, listening to the sounds of the forest. There was a strange connection to the energy of the trees this morning. Encouragement to move forward warmed my chest, though in the back of my mind there was a tingle of warning. Hearing the chatter of the forest was comforting, it was when it silenced that my nerves heightened. And then, in a single moment, it did just that.
Both blades were now tight in my hands as I scanned the trees. Nothing moved, not even the breath of a breeze. Only puffs of air escaping my lungs broke through the shadowed morning. There was the trembling unease rippling over my shoulders that told me I wasn’t alone. Releasing a single breath, I embraced the trickle of panic rushing along my skin. It was a good thing calm took hold because when the attack began, I was ready.
Like an explosive burst of energy, trees snapped and mutilated when the serpent lunged at me. A lindworm. I crossed the blades like a shield over my body. The cutting edge of the lead blade slashed a gaping wound into the layered, ashen scales of the beast. With a ferocious bellow, the serpent slithered away. Lindworms were unlike elemental dragons due to their lack of limbs. Some Lindworms did have hind or front legs, with bat-like wings along slippery spines. This particular beast had curled, rigid back haunches. Its wings were crumpled yet still seemed powerful and deadly with the hooked claw along the peak. Its jaws snapped at me but backed away when I slashed one of the jade swords once more. The lindworms had jagged fangs like the elementals, though their teeth seemed longer and more vicious. This serpent wyvern would have no qualms tearing into my flesh.
The lindworm drew in a deep breath, creating a harsh gurgle in the back of his throat. I knew what was happening before it did. Crossing the blades once more, I ducked behind their power shield when the flames erupted from the fiery mouth of the dragon. It took such strength to create the barrier against the fire. The beads of sweat blinded me in a salty wave for a time. The force of the flames striking against the shield of energy was incredible and draining. The moment I feared I might crumble, the lindworm halted the assault and backed away. I wouldn’t be able to hold against another wave of flames. Leaping to my feet, I rushed at the dragon, the two blades tight in my grip.
With a downward strike, I caught the cusp of one wing. The serpent shrieked toward the sky. The sound was deafening and shook me to my very core. I struck again but was kicked away by one of the powerful hind legs. The dragon shoved its weight against my chest. My armor would protect me. Panic settled in my heart. My armor was still worthless green symbols along my arms. Now, it was getting harder to breath as my head sunk farther beneath the snowy earth as the dragon tried to snap my ribs beneath its claws. My mind was a flurry of panic. I couldn’t breathe. Part of me wished the lindworm would end the pain as my bones fractured slowly, but I had a feeling the beast enjoyed a bit of twisted torture. The blades were buried beneath the serpent’s body. Even though I still held their powerful hilts in my grasp, the positioning of the enormous body over mine prevented me from lifting the swords even slightly.
I gasped, drawing in a final breath, until like a python, the lindworm squeezed enough I knew I wouldn’t be able to draw another. In the fog of my mind, I thought I imagined someone calling to me—I thought I heard the flush of wings—but all I could hear was the pulse of blood pounding in my ears as my body was slowly crushed. I had two options: die beneath the lindworm, leaving the beast to attack the town and perhaps bring more serpents. Possibly invite King Nag himself to Wyvern Willows. If I did that, what would become of Jade? Sapphire? A tingling burn took hold in the cavity of my chest that continued to fight valiantly not to crush over my heart. The pressure mounted, and slowly the other option of fighting back slipped into my mind.
Jade would be left without a mage. Painful pricks of energy spread like a web through my chest. I swore…I swore to defend her. When I felt the heat surging through my veins, it was clear this wasn’t over. My fingers dug into the frozen ground. The snow around my bare skin melted as I gathered a new amount of power. The thought of Jade, Sapphire, or even Ruby having their lives endangered brought a frustration that angered me more than I’d ever experienced before. Even more than when Bron attacked. This lindworm had the upper hand; it was becoming painfully clear he could slaughter me if I allowed it to happen. But I wouldn’t. The determination must have opened a new vein of power. My mind was completely lost in the surge of energy. I couldn’t feel the cold of the snow. The frigid air didn’t bother me. I could even ignore the crushing pressure from the lindworm’s thick body atop my chest.
There was the rush of wind again, it sounded like wings. I couldn’t be sure, but if it was—if Jade had come—it only spurred my power more. I wouldn’t let the lindworm touch her. Like an iron ball in the center of my body, the energy coupled into one fierce wave. On my command, I shoved against the hind claws digging into my sides, and in a furious blast sent every ounce of power shooting into the pad of the enormous foot.
The pain I hoped the serpent felt was satisfied by the shriek erupting in a ball of gas and flames from its throat. My hands scorched along its hind leg, and the great serpent body tumbled to its side. I scrambled to my knees and raised my palms out from my chest. The blades were covered in snow, but I still had energy in my own body. I wanted the beast to feel every last surge of power. I wanted it to know what a mistake it had made for coming to this place. Gripping one of the jade swords, I rushed toward the writhing snake and surged a scorching pound of energy into its skull. The lindworm roared in agony. My stomach turned as I watched my touch melt through the thick scales. The smell of burning flesh made me want to vomit, but still I held tight until I knew all my energy was drained.
When the spark had abandoned my blood, I lifted the blade. One side of the lindworm’s face was now disfigured, its eye completely lost behind the scarred scales. As the beast raised its head to snap its jaws once more, I lowered my blade. I’d never experienced the sickening sensation of the cutting edge digging into flesh. My upset stomach turned once more in a sick wash, but I followed through. The lindworm released a fading shriek when the powerful mage weapon ripped its life away. Finally, the beast flopped in a heap of tar-like blood and heat. The gash in its neck spilled copious blood and fluids and a smell that brought acid to my mouth.
I backed away slowly, the blade still dripping in blood as I scanned the forest for any further threats. The trees chittered pleasantly once more, and the birds now sang brightly to the rising sun. My sides ached, and every breath washed my back and chest in agonizing tension. I slowly lowered to my knees, wincing when the ache shot up the back of my neck. I would walk home—in just a moment. My hand was covered in blood, and exhaustion from exerting my energy had convinced me my feet could not take one more step.
But I wasn’t alone.
“Teagan…” a deep, quivering voice came from behind me.
I whipped around, my vision slightly hazed, but I could clearly make out Mitch shivering in the snow, his brown eyes wide and frozen in disbelief.
“Mitch,” I breathed out. How would I handle this? How would I ever explain what he’d just witnessed? I mean, there was a dead dragon in the snow. Not exactly something the average person sees every day. I swallowed my aches and pains and lifted from the snow. Clutching my side, I trudged toward Mitch, who was not looking at me in the least. His eyes were completely lost on the corpse of scales and wings in the snow. “Mitch, hey…uh, are you hurt?”
Mitch shook his head, finally dragging his gaze to mine. “What…what is…that?”
“It’s okay, M
itch. Let’s go back to the house. I’ll explain everything.” I didn’t plan to, I planned on having Jade manipulate Mitch’s memories—if she could. She was already expending a lot of energy to conceal the truth of the so-called earthquake.
“No, don’t…touch me,” he jerked away. Mitch stared at me like I would slit his throat like the dragon. “What…what are you?”
“I’m not going to hurt you,” I insisted. “I just…I have some things to explain, that’s all.”
Mitch ducked when a rush of air rained over us. I knew I’d heard wings. Sapphire, Jade, and Frenrir swooped down into the trees. Jade’s glowing eyes met mine in the warming light, then drifted toward the dead lindworm. Frenrir was a small wyvern—much like his human form. He was a pale yellow that reminded me of the shade of skin just before it flushed green with nausea. Sapphire stomped toward the body, his enormous snout sniffing the blood of the lindworm. Mitch was hyperventilating. His shoulders heaved as he stared in terror at the new arrivals. Jade released a puff of steaming air from her snout and then melted into her slender form.
Mitch cried out and tried to rush away, but I clutched his arm. The tug of his body against my fractured ribs forced me to double over for a short moment. Jade rushed to my side, her hands clasping my face. “You’re hurt,” she whispered.
“Just a bit,” I smirked. “Mitch, stay—you’re safe.”
“Are you insane!” He shouted, pointing at Jade as though she were about to burst into flames. “She’s…she’s one of those…what…what is that?”
Sapphire turned his great head toward us and sighed—though it was really a breath of steam and a few flames—before he shifted into his strong, intimidating form. Mitch leaned against me as though he might pass out. Jade helped steady him as Sapphire stomped toward us while Frenrir took his place over the lindworm. “Mitch, you need to calm yourself,” Sapphire said as his scales peeled back into the blue robe around his body.
