The Dragon Mage Collection

by L J Andrews

  “It’s an honor to meet you,” I whispered. Gaia smiled, and before I could draw another breath, she wrapped her arms around me. I was overcome with a comforting energy that reminded me so much of Teagan’s, but there was another budding emotion buried in the bottom of her heart. I clenched my eyes tight when the tears threatened to spill out. “You shouldn’t feel any guilt for what happened.”

  Gaia pulled back, her eyes glassy with brimming tears. “You seem to be your own sort of empath,” she whispered. “I should have been there for them—for your mother.” For a moment it was only me and the High Priestess in the clearing.

  “You were, and still are,” I breathed. Gaia squeezed my hand and turned toward Teagan. I glanced nervously at Thane, who seemed just as uncertain. Clearing my throat, I grinned at the powerful warrior. “You must frighten the dark High Priest. He refuses to admit to anyone you’re alive. Elder Aldwin and Nag are positive Teagan’s father is dead.” I finally found the strength to speak.

  Teagan chuckled, and Thane seemed rather pleased when he spoke. “That monster will be forced to admit I’m alive soon enough. Did he harm you?” Thane’s voice was dangerously low as he asked.

  “No,” I insisted, glancing toward Amber and Ced, who watched silently. Clearing my throat, I raised my voice so everyone could hear. “As I said, Prince Ced has betrayed his father for our sakes. He freed Amber and me from King Nag and will surely die should he return. These warriors were prisoners of Nag. They only want peace with the wyvern race—not power over the elements.”

  Teagan bristled when I drifted toward Ced, so did most of the elementals.

  “How can you trust them?” A sharp voice I wasn’t ready to hear broke through the masses. I met Athika’s eye from across the clearing. Today was not the day I wanted to deal with the mage who had eyes for Teagan.

  “I didn’t at first. I wanted to tear Ced’s face from his bones,” I shouted.

  “Thank you for that image,” Ced grumbled, but Amber just grinned and stepped forward.

  “The queen speaks true. We would not have survived without the prince and warriors. King Nag had us in his sights. I was inches from death, my elemental stone at risk, and the prince risked his own life against his own people for mine,” Amber bellowed.

  Onyx glanced to Ruby. Their interests were piqued, but I sensed they remained completely untrusting toward the lindworms. I stepped forward again, my heart finding power when the warriors and the mage listened—willingly. “We know it will take time. All I ask is that you hear their tale. See for yourself if their hearts are true and valiant. I must warn you all, the dark High Priest and Nag are searching for us, and we should not stay in one place long. We must restore any protections lost immediately.”

  Gaia burst into action. With a signal to the other mages, they set to work warding the area. Teagan started to charge when Ced and Magnus turned away.

  “I must use night energy,” Ced grumbled, after I took Teagan’s hand tight in mine. “I’m more powerful than my father, and it will protect us well, combined with the mage power.”

  “Let him go,” I whispered next to Teagan’s ear. I liked the way I heard his breath catch in his throat with my lips so close.

  He reeled on me, his eyes bright like the summer sky. I thought he might be angry, but when his fingers traced along my jaw I only felt his calming power. “He didn’t try and…you know?”

  I shook my head. “It was a ruse, Teagan. Ced never planned to mate with me. He only wanted to get me to Nag’s manor so we might become allies.” I smirked and leaned a little closer, hoping to ease his spirit even more. “I think you might frighten him. He told me if my mage was as powerful as rumored to be, mating with me was the last thing he would want to do.”

  Teagan grinned, his eyes locked on Ced and Magnus as they covered us in darkness. “Yeah well, if he touched you, he should be afraid.”

  The mages kept a wide berth from the lindworms, and there remained a definite divide between the serpents and elementals when the warding and protections were placed around us. My heart burst watching Amber and her mage greet. The mage was small compared to Amber, but when Amber squealed delightfully, I was left with the hope that we might find a normalcy again.

  “Jade!” Amber shrieked, waving her hands violently. “Rochelle found it! My stone!”

  I met Teagan’s eye, my jaw dropping slightly. He grinned and pulled me close. “We found it here,” he whispered close to my ear. “I didn’t think I’d find you too.”

  I lifted to my toes, readying to kiss him again, but stopped when we were bombarded with Sapphire and the other royals.

  “We never thought we’d see you again,” Ruby blubbered, taking my hands in hers.

  “That was dangerous, Jade,” Onyx growled, his brother, Peran, nodding in agreement.

  “I know,” I muttered, allowing myself to absorb the tension in the clearing for the first time. Though I couldn’t pinpoint who still mistrusted me, I knew it was there among the mage and the warriors. Not everyone agreed with the plan to join with Prince Ced and his lindworm warriors. “I felt like there was no choice—Elder Aldwin, he had Eisha’s house surrounded, and…I didn’t know how to keep you all safe.”

  Onyx sighed. He seemed stronger, though it had only been a few weeks since I’d last seen him. Onyx’s eyes were bright, and his hair was kept neat behind his neck. Eventually, he took my hand and kissed the top. “You are fearless and selfless, my queen. But always remember, we never want to lose you, either. We would rather stand and fight than see you in the clutches of King Nag again.”

  I smiled and nodded. Konrad stood a distance from Ruby and Onyx. From his heart billowed a clash of relief as well as frustration. Teagan stepped back, seeming to sense the same, and gave us room to greet one another.

  “I agree with Onyx,” Sapphire said. His coal-black eyes were sharp and penetrated the guilt wailing in my insides, but there remained softness in his expression—the softness I’d grown up around, the kindness and honor I cherished so much. “Jade, you are my queen, but to me, you are so much more. You are my family. I have tried to be there to help you along in your journey—”

  “Konrad, please—”

  “Please, let me say this,” he muttered, stepping closer. “I do not agree with the risk you took. I don’t think many of us do. We are the royal bloodlines and should make choices together.” My stomach clenched tight, and deafening silence surrounded our small group. I wanted to protest, to explain myself, but my words evaporated before taking shape. Sapphire stepped closer, his gentle yet strong hand resting on the side of my arm. “But the bravery in taking such a step to defend your family and your people—you have become more of a queen than I ever imagined.”

  My smile was small when he squeezed me tightly in his powerful arms. Sapphire was my family and always had been. Out of anyone in my life, my fellow royal had guided me with more wisdom than I felt I deserved. Leaving Sapphire had been nearly as painful as leaving Teagan. If I had the support of my fellow royals, of Teagan and his family, then I believed I could weather the storm of any mistrust from the others.

  The sun was fading, and the battle of strategy had begun on whether we should remain through the night or take flight back to the warrior’s haven. Teagan stood behind me, and occasionally I felt his hand run through my hair, then release me, only to return as though he couldn’t keep his hands away too long. Not one part of me minded his touch.

  Gaia and Sapphire were on either side of me, while the vast warriors scattered among the trees, trying to hear each argument. Except the lindworms—Magnus, Laina, and the warriors huddled in the back in the dark.

  “Flying through the night would surely bring Nag upon us since we’re littered with night energy from the snakes,” a warrior named Tao spat with an angry glance at Prince Ced.

  Ced hadn’t spoken much. I guessed he had yet to find his place among the command of the elemental wyverns.

  “Yes, but we’ve been here for quite so
me time, and we don’t know how close by the dark High Priest or Nag’s army might be,” Amber quipped from the dark edge of the clearing. She hadn’t left Ced’s side since we’d settled—I was grateful for her vigilance since there was no telling who would break and lash out against the small gathering of lindworms.

  “Thane leads the warriors, he should be the one to decide,” Dash added, his eyes locked on the tree Thane leaned against.

  Thane drew in a long breath, crossing his arms over his chest, and his eyes looked to me. “I am lead warrior, but my command comes second to the queen. It falls to her.”

  I shook my head, feeling my heart throb anxiously in my chest. Exhaustion, or stress from the antagonistic energy surrounding everyone I’d forced together, kept me in a fit of angst. I didn’t know what to do. If we left, what if Bron found us? If we stayed, any bloodshed would fall to me. I believed every bone in my body would splinter beneath the weight.

  “I am queen, but it’s no secret here that I am still very young in my ascension. I’m not fool enough to think I know every wise strategy. I would really value your input,” I pleaded.

  Thane smiled a little, and I was surprised how young it made his face. Stepping toward the center of the group, he nodded his head toward me. “As you say.” Thane faced the swell of mages and warriors, even occasionally glancing toward the lindworms. “I believe staying would be greater risk than returning to the cave. The dark High Priest, as we know, will never stop if he finds us cornered, and we don’t know what reinforcements Nag could be bringing. We take to the sky, we ask our mage companions to shield us on our journey, and we prepare to stand against our enemies once and for all.”

  Thane’s voice boomed around the clearing. I glanced up toward Teagan, who had a vibrant grin on his face as he watched his father. Seeing the peace in his features brought me more happiness than I could have known. The warriors bellowed their agreement, most clanging their weapons together, while those in wyvern form blew puffs of boiling breath from their snouts.

  Tao stepped forward, meeting Thane’s gaze before snarling toward the lindworms. “And what of the snakes?”

  Thane furrowed his brow, though I saw how his jaw clenched tight. Thane wasn’t keen on the lindworms either. “Though I have my own aversions, we have the word of two of our royals speaking to the valor of these…wyverns’ hearts. I haven’t sensed any betrayal, Tao. Have you?”

  Tao’s lips pursed tight, and his tanned skin seemed to redden in anger when he glanced at Thane. “I do not agree with lindworms in my haven.”

  Tao’s voice thickened with his sharp accent the angrier he became, but I saw him draw in a sharp breath when Thane’s eyes narrowed and the lead warrior inched slowly toward his warrior. “Then you would demand we ignore the royals’ assurances—one being our queen?”

  Tao shifted on his feet slightly, his dark gaze drifting across the clearing. Teagan’s hand found my shoulder protectively. Tao’s voice was sharp, and he spoke through his teeth. His mistrust for me was blinding, and though I kept my shoulders straight, I shuddered beneath his gaze. “I do not speak against my royals. I just ask for consideration in allowing our enemies around our families. Our people we left behind. There are young ones.”

  “Then take us as your prisoners.” We all startled, and like a wave of eyes, each wyvern locked on Prince Ced. His eyes gleamed with his passion in the night, and as the sunlight faded, all the lindworms seemed more powerful. “I mean it. As a sign of our good intentions, tether us, jail us, whatever you must do. I agree with your warriors—staying here keeps us in greater risk. Especially through the night. I can already feel the surge of my brothers. They are not looking for us—they are hunting us.”

  “I will agree to taking the lindworm warriors and the prince as our guarded prisoners if it is agreed by the royals,” Thane said.

  “Well, I don’t agree,” Amber shouted.

  “Be reasonable,” Ruby snapped. “We will ensure no harm befalls any of them, but keeping them under guard while we determine their loyalties as you have will appease everyone.”

  Sapphire and Onyx voiced their agreement, and the final vote was left to me. Standing slowly, I felt every eye on me. Teagan’s fingers gripped my hand and I was strengthened. “Prince Ced protected us and his people. If it will keep the peace, I would beg the prince’s forgiveness, but I agree for the warriors to take the lindworms as prisoners. But they will be unharmed and treated fairly.”

  “I did not leave one prison to go to another one,” Magnus bellowed.

  “Magnus,” Ced hissed. “We put our trust in Amber and Jade—and the honor of the warriors,” he said with a glance at Thane. “We trust we will be treated with respect as we show we are not the ones you should fear.”

  Thane nodded, his eyes locking firmly with Tao, who backed away under the gaze of his leader. “Then we prepare to leave. And quickly, night has come.”

  Chapter 10

  The Mage

  Jade didn’t shift for the journey back to the cave. She remained in human form to stay with me. I didn’t protest, and together we clambered onto Raffi’s back so Thane wouldn’t have to carry three riders. Raffi demanded we keep a reasonable distance from each other, or he would toss us off, but after several hours, Jade’s head was resting against my chest and my arms were wrapped tightly around her waist.

  Her fingers traced my jade armor like always, and with her closeness I felt peace for the first time in weeks.

  “What does it mean?” she asked close to my ear. “Being a dragon mage? How does it make you different from other mages?”

  I shrugged, my lips brushing along her cheek when I spoke. “We don’t really know. Not even Thane and Gaia. Thane believes I might be able to speak to you while in wyvern form if I learn to listen well enough. They’re pretty sure I can’t shift, or they believe it would have happened before now. I absorbed night energy—Gaia blocked it, but I took it and it didn’t hurt me. That might be something new.”

  Jade tilted her head so she faced me. “What do you mean? You absorbed night energy?”

  “When we found Gaia, I used it against the dark mages, and then against the prince.”

  Jade’s brow furrowed, and she seemed to consider each word. “Bron uses night energy,” she finally said. “What if being able to absorb and use opposing energies makes you stronger than him?”

  I smiled and pressed a kiss on the side of her head. “Then he better not show his face, I guess.”

  Jade looked to the stars, her eyes distant for a long pause before she rested her head against me once more. “I hurt you, didn’t I?”

  A ball of knots had been building in the back of my throat since seeing Jade for the first time. I was the happiest I’d been since watching her leave with the lindworms, but the ache I’d lived with was still there. “I was hurt, but only because I was afraid for you.” My arms wrapped tighter around her, and she nestled her head in the crook of my neck.

  “I love you, Teagan,” she said slowly. “I feared you would think I didn’t care.”

  “I know you left to keep us safe, I just wish you would have felt you could tell me what happened with Aldwin. I would have fought for you, Jade.”

  “I know,” she said as soft as possible against the rush of wind. “That’s exactly why I did it. Teagan, every person involved with Nag has threatened you against me in the most terrible ways. Bron, Aldwin, Nag himself. They all know about you. I told you I feared my feelings for you would be dangerous, and this proves it. If I had a chance to protect you—I had to go.”

  “We could have worked a solution together, though,” I countered. Jade’s golden hair had a few glimmers of silver beneath the moonlight, and it brought a radiance to her face that I loved. Brushing away a few pieces, I met her gaze with intensity. “Promise me you’ll never leave like that again. I feel the same as the other royals—give us a chance to be useful. To fight for what we believe in too. We work together—like we’ve always said, right?”

>   Jade’s eyes brimmed, but her lips pressed tight together. She nodded slowly and looked at me. “I couldn’t lose you. After hearing what happened with your parents, I know what Bron is capable of even more. I know what he’ll do to you to get back at her.”

  “I know,” I said. “Thane and Gaia know, but we can’t keep running from this. We’ll always be running. Do you want to live behind enchantments for hundreds of years?”

  Jade faced me, kneeling on Raffi’s spine with precise balance. She wasn’t afraid to fall, but still I steadied her slightly. Wrapping her arms around my neck, she spoke as soft as possible, her eyes locked on mine. “I will fight to live in peace with you, but don’t expect me to do it without fear for your life. I would give my own for yours, Teagan Ward.”

  I smiled, brushing her hair whipping about her face from her eyes. “I know you would. You almost did. Maybe give me a turn to protect you.”

  Jade scoffed and slowly pressed her mouth against mine. I placed my palms on the sides of her face, fearing if I let go the moment would end. Raffi growled when we touched too long. Jade laughed and slapped his scales before settling against me again.

  “By the way,” she shouted after a few moments. “Why do you call them Thane and Gaia?”

  I smirked and glanced to where Thane was soaring ahead of the warriors. “I guess I haven’t gotten used to the idea yet. Sometimes I’ll catch myself thinking ‘mom and dad,’ but it sounds so strange to me—I don’t really know. They don’t seem to mind.”

  Jade tangled my fingers around her hand and sighed. “I’m sure you could call them anything and they wouldn’t complain. They seem so peaceful when you’re nearby.”

  I didn’t respond. The back of my neck prickled in intensity, and I was glancing over my shoulder into the black satin sky.

  “Teagan?” Jade pressed when I remained quiet. I gripped her shoulder. My unease must have shocked through her system because she whipped around, following my eyes. “What is it?”