by L J Andrews
“Teagan, you promise you won’t attack Ced,” Jade hissed.
I scoffed, holding up my hands and feigning offense. “Jade, what do you think I am? Angry he tricked you into his lunatic father’s home? I wouldn’t dream of thinking such things.”
She rolled her eyes and stalked by me, notably unamused when I chuckled. Mitch saw us leaving and soon abandoned his place with the warriors.
“I’m coming to get a look at this guy,” he mumbled by my side. “A lot of the warriors think it’s stupid to keep them inside the cave.”
“Yeah, well,” I answered darkly as we walked behind Thane and Jade. “I can’t say I disagree.”
There was a large cavern in the very back of the cave. Sunlight didn’t reach the spot, so iron sconces with brilliant flames lit the space. Laina caught my eye first. Her expression was coated in misery, and I found myself avoiding her gaze when we entered. Jade took in each lindworm warrior to check for mistreatment. Thane settled by my side with Mitch.
I caught sight of Ced. The prince was tucked against the wall, his face shadowed with dark scruff, and his shoulder was wrapped from his brother’s bite. His eyes were dark, but I had to admit, there was a light behind them. I didn’t know if that made me feel better or worse.
Mitch tapped my shoulder and spoke in a husky whisper. “You know, Jade is over there. I won’t tell her if you want to do just a tiny attack at the guy.”
Thane scoffed, and I shoved Mitch playfully. “We’ll see. If it gets bloody, you two better have my back.”
Thane lifted his brows, but spoke to Mitch. “Choosing between my queen or my son. I’m not sure how this would go.”
Rolling my eyes, I checked to make sure I’d grabbed my swords this morning and stalked toward the prince. Ced didn’t shy away in the least; he just kept his eyes quietly on mine until I stopped in front of him.
“Have you come to tell me to stay away from Jade?” he snipped.
I laughed, glancing toward Jade as she lowered to her haunches in front of a warrior. Shaking my head, I leaned closer to his face. “No. Jade can handle herself. I came to judge you with my own eyes. We promised Jade we would, right?”
Ced crossed his arms over his broad chest, but I saw the way he winced against his battered arm. “And what do you see?”
I narrowed my eyes, my fists clenching at my sides. “I don’t trust you,” I grumbled plainly. “You dragged Jade into danger instead of coming to her like a man.”
“I would agree with you,” Ced hissed. “Except you’ve never been around my father. I had one chance at escaping his lair, and I needed to leave with elemental support. Tell me, if I betrayed my father then showed up at Jade’s door, how do you suppose I would have been received?” He wasn’t wrong at what he implied. If Nag’s son had shown up with a unit of warriors it would have immediately turned to violence. “You see what I mean. I didn’t relish the idea of risking any lives, but I believed the queen would see me for who I am. I sense you’re not willing to do the same.”
I shoved my face close to Ced’s, unruly anger boiling in my veins. “You don’t know anything about me.”
Ced smirked arrogantly. “Oh, but I do know. Since he discovered you were alive, all I’ve heard the dark High Priest speak of is destroying your power—or your soul. He wants to break you if he cannot have you join with him. Though, he never mentioned you are a dragon mage. That was an interesting piece of information.”
“You can pretend to know about me from what Bron has said,” I snapped. “But you don’t know the half of how far I will go to protect those I love. That includes everyone in this cave—except you.”
Ced’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t respond. I hadn’t heard Mitch creep next to me until my friend leaned forward, holding out his hand for Ced to shake.
“Hi, I’m Mitch. You can call me warrior-human,” he muttered. “Oh, and don’t mess with my friends. You won’t just have Teagan to deal with, you’ll have me too.”
Ced dropped Mitch’s hand and scoffed, looking to me. “Is he serious?”
I nodded, my mouth flat, though inside I was laughing at Mitch’s attempt at intimidation. “He killed a few lindworms when we released the High Priestess,” I snarled. “He may be human, but he’s not ordinary.”
“Exactly,” Mitch grumbled.
“Are you two done threatening him?” Jade’s bitter voice broke us away.
She stood behind us, her arms crossed over her chest and her green eyes filled with fury.
“Almost,” Mitch muttered before turning back toward Ced. “I’m good with knives, Prince. Just know that. Knives.”
Ced’s brow furrowed, and he looked like he might start laughing. I felt the same, but I wouldn’t say it out loud.
Thane wasn’t afraid to chuckle. He shoved Mitch’s shoulder as we strode toward the mouth of the cavern. “I think I want to show you how to really make the intimidation stick,” he muttered.
“What, you don’t think I scared him?” Mitch gasped.
Jade didn’t seem amused. I trailed behind and waited until she met my eye. “Jade, I know you want us to feel the same as you about Ced. Can you try to see him from our perspective? He took you—for weeks I imagined him…” My teeth clenched tightly, but thankfully she softened enough to take my hand as we walked. “I don’t trust him. I don’t want him here, but I will try.”
She sighed, and her shoulders curled forward slightly. “I will try to be patient. I just hope you will see my perspective. Nag is vicious, Teagan. More than I ever imagined. Bron is loyal to the lindworms, but he does not act with permission from the king. It’s as though we will face two dark kings, and the risk Ced took sealed his loyalty to us, in my mind.”
“I’ll try,” I said again.
“Thank you,” she whispered. “I already have judgment from many here—I can feel it—I think I can bear it if I know you at least trust me enough not to bring a traitor to my people.”
“I trust you, Jade. I just need time.”
The afternoon was spent sparring and meeting with the mages about returning to the stones. The closest stone, according to Thane and a mage named Bianca, was Sapphire’s. Bianca had spent days warding the stone, so predicted it would be difficult to return. Of course it would—why would any part of this be simple?
Raffi defeated me mercilessly in a match. My shoulder still ached with each angry block against his blade. Being back with the warriors had only fueled Raffi’s stamina, and he was strengthening each day. My only shred of retort when I trudged away defeated was to remind Raffi he still hadn’t faced Mitch with their knives.
“You’re frightened of the human,” Leoch chuckled.
“I am not!” Raffi bellowed.
“Hey, why is it like some joke with you guys? He should be scared of me,” Mitch pouted.
I scoffed and abandoned the battle den when it turned into a shouting match of who was stronger—human or warrior. He deserved credit, Mitch could hold his own against dragons.
The moon was high in the sky when I made my way toward my personal cavern. Thane and Gaia had disappeared behind their door long ago. Thane had looked at Gaia the same way I’d looked at Jade since we’d returned, so I wasn’t surprised when they disappeared to be alone. Living with hundreds of mages and warriors left little privacy. The rest of the cave settled into quiet, or plans for retrieving the stones.
Pulling back the blanket hanging over the opening, I was pretty sure I swallowed my heart when it jumped to my throat. Jade’s hair fell down her back in soft, silvery waves. She’d changed into a flowing blue robe that reminded me of a summer morning. I’d always known she was beautiful, but in this moment there was something more that surged through my veins. Jade was the wyvern queen, but as I studied her soft body in the dim light, I knew with a fierce surety that she was mine. As if my body were driving the point home, the seal on my back burned with a tingle in the color inked in my skin.
She was sharpening a dagger. The robe didn’t cov
er her arms, and I found my gaze lost on the seal on her arm for a few breaths. Jade lowered the dagger and slowly glanced at me over her shoulder. She smiled, nodding at me to come to her. I released the pent breath and dropped my swords. I slowly crept along the quilts to her side without a moment of hesitation. She laughed when I kissed her neck just beneath her jaw.
“You seem surprised to see me,” she whispered.
“I am,” I said slowly, kissing her face a few more times before leaning back against the hard wall. “Sometimes I still can’t believe you’re here. So when I catch you looking so perfect, I get lost in the surprise, I guess. It’s been so chaotic—we haven’t really had a calm moment together.”
“Well, we nearly did until I discovered that when you’re exhausted, the end of the world couldn’t wake you.”
I laughed and took the dagger from her hands. Jade’s arms wrapped around my neck when she nestled on my lap and rested her forehead on mine. “I’m not exhausted now,” I said. “Having you back—I can’t even begin to tell you how I feel inside.”
“You don’t need to tell me,” she said, her lips brushing against the side of my face. “I feel the same. Teagan, I thought about you every second while I was gone. It nearly shattered my heart leaving you.”
“You don’t need to think about it anymore,” I whispered, closing my eyes and trying to shove the memory of the anguish of that morning from my own mind.
“I want to remember, though,” she whispered as her fingers tucked beneath my collar toward her seal. “The moment I left, I knew I wouldn’t be able to stay away from you for good. It was as though I’d died inside. Getting back to you was all that kept me focused and out of Nag’s intimidation. Our last night together—I just want you to know, you are what keeps me fighting. You fuel my heart.”
I cupped my hand behind her neck and kissed her gently at first, before the jolt of electricity spread through our touch. I’d missed that spark and the way it turned the softest kiss into blinding passion. Holding Jade, having the connection restored even stronger than before, even the thought of facing Bron again didn’t bring a shred of fear into any corner of my soul.
Chapter 13
The Queen
Thane was more gracious than most of the warriors toward the lindworms. The wind whipped my hair around my face as I stared into the distance while Ced and the warriors stretched outside of the cave. Amber was with us, and Rochelle, who never went anywhere without Amber, it seemed. So was Teagan, though he hadn’t shown a flick of a smile as his icy gaze followed each lindworm with disdain.
Ced and Amber walked toward us. The prince looked weak in his face. There were dark circles beneath his eye and the pungent scent of burning flesh reached my nose.
“We appreciate you allowing us out into the fresh air,” Ced nodded toward Teagan.
Teagan only huffed and crossed his arms over his chest, watching me carefully when I inched closer to Ced’s injured shoulder. “Ced, your wound—it’s festering.”
He glanced at the bandages showing beneath his black shirt. The white cloth was a blackish green color from dried blood. He sighed and nodded. “I think it opened up some time ago. It’s been aching ever since.”
“Why haven’t you said anything?” Teagan snapped, slightly surprising me that he would even care.
“I said something two nights ago to our guard, and he assured me your leader would be informed. I see there is no honor among the elemental warriors,” Magnus shouted, stomping in front of his prince.
“You aren’t accusing Thane of being dishonorable, I hope,” Teagan snarled through his teeth.
“No, Magnus isn’t,” I insisted, casting a sharp glance Teagan’s way. “I assure you, Thane wasn’t informed, or he would have done something to ease your pain. Take off your shirt, Ced. I will try to heal what opened.”
Teagan didn’t seem pleased as Ced stripped his shirt off. Ced’s body wasn’t as defined as Teagan’s had become, but his shoulders were broad, and he wasn’t small, by any means. The bandages on the far side of his shoulder were soaked in dried and fresh blood. He’d probably suffered in silence, simply hoping someone would come heal him.
“Who was the guard?” Teagan grumbled, though I sensed his frustration wasn’t with the lindworms.
“It doesn’t matter,” Ced maintained, his jaw locking when I tugged off the bandages.
“Ced, tell Teagan. Our warriors vowed to the queen you would be treated fairly. Thane will want to know, right Teagan?” Amber soothed.
Teagan didn’t respond, but his expression was softer.
“It was the one who did not want us to return with you—the one who disagreed with your father,” Magnus snapped.
“Tao,” Teagan grumbled, though his eye fell to me as I clutched Ced’s bare upper body.
“Maybe Thane could speak with him?” I offered. “If you want to help, it will go faster.” I nodded toward Ced’s shoulder. I didn’t need the help, but I thought if Teagan did something kind for the prince, it might break the icy barriers between them.
I wasn’t so lucky.
Teagan’s lips pressed tight and he shook his head. “I should go let Thane know. I’ll be back—soon.” The final word severely directed at Ced.
With a heavy sigh, I turned again to healing when Teagan jogged back toward the mouth of the cave.
“He really hates me,” Ced chuckled.
I shrugged. “It isn’t you personally, it’s lindworms in general.”
“That’s a nice thought, Jade,” Ced winced. “But I think he really hates me.”
I sighed, digging my fingers through his scorching flesh. My stomach turned when some necrotic pieces brushed off his chest. “Well, even so, can you blame him? You didn’t come and take me under the guise of our ally. Look, I wish he would give you a chance, but all Teagan has ever experienced with lindworms is them trying to kill him and his family. Be patient, Ced. The fact that Teagan was angry your wound wasn’t reported is a good sign.”
“He respects Jade,” Amber added. “I’m positive Teagan will see who you really are soon. Already, I sense a shift in his father. I think Thane values that you didn’t bring harm to me or the queen.”
I nodded, my hands drenched in dark blood the longer I pressed against Ced’s boiling skin. The wound was closing, slowly, but eventually it returned to the angry webbed scars along his shoulder and bicep.
“Feel better?” I asked.
Ced nodded. “A little lightheaded, but the pain is dripping away slowly. I wish I could heal myself sometimes. Remember what I told you, night energy is powerful and can heal even the worst of injuries?”
I nodded, knowing it was practically impossible for wyverns to use our abilities on ourselves. Such a skill would have come in handy when Bron had nearly gutted me at our first meeting.
“I wish I was stronger in the power,” Magnus grumbled.
Ced waved his hand. “You’ve all tried. Hopefully this time the elemental energy sticks.” The prince met my eye, and his face took on a serious tone. “Jade, when are you leaving to retrieve the stones?”
“I think we are going after Sapphire’s stone in the morning, why?”
“I’ve been wanting to talk with you about this for some time, but we’ve never had the opportunity to be alone—I’m fine, of course, if you are here, Amber.”
I didn’t miss the way Amber beamed.
“What do you want to say?”
“The dark High Priest cannot be defeated without all the stones—without all the energies used against him.” Ced whispered, slowly rising to his feet.
“What? I don’t understand.”
“It’s something that I had planned to share with everyone when we joined your people, but since you two are the only ones who will listen to me, I will say it now. Bron has spent years studying all the energies and only growing stronger. Locking away the High Priestess was his first test of strength. I’m amazed Teagan was able to banish him from your home—it must have someth
ing to do with his unique blood.
“Since no one can be sure how powerfully Teagan can stand against Bron, it is imperative the stones be found—that includes the fire stone retrieved. There’s a reason I needed to come with you—it will also take night energy. Bron has warped power, I can’t explain it any other way. When the bonds to your bloodline severed when he joined with my father, something changed inside him. Because of the brutality of his betrayal to the elementals, it’s as if his mage power couldn’t remain honorable in the least. Every power he masters becomes dangerous and manipulated. His power isn’t even like the dark mages.
“The High Priestess might have been able to defeat him before, but I fear now, without all the energies Bron will destroy everything. My father fears him and never stands in his way. Though Nag will never admit it, Bron is more powerful. It’s been a miracle the dark High Priest hasn’t disposed of my father before now. I suspect it’s all in the pursuit of power. Lindworms have endless night, and Bron wants more.”
Ced’s body trembled slightly when he finished. My mouth parted, and I felt as though my heart had lodged in my ears, the pounding was so furious. “Why wouldn’t you say anything until now! When we were with you, you never let on how strong he was.”
“Because I didn’t know until the night we escaped,” Ced grumbled, though his eyes drifted to Magnus.
“We told him,” Magnus said. “There’s a reason Nag keeps his warrior prisoners alive. The dark High Priest enjoys experimentation. I’ve sensed a lot of evil in my long life, but there is something devilishly wrong with his power.”
My hand rubbed a tight ache in my forehead as I paced along the hard stone. “How would we get the fire stone back?” I gasped. “Bron has it in his weapon.”
“Yes, I tried to retrieve it before we left, but it was impossible. It will take some thought and some planning,” Ced whispered.
“I must tell them,” I gasped. “Thane, Teagan—they need to know. Everyone needs to know what we’re facing.”
Amber helped Ced stand since his body still seemed weak. Reluctantly, the lindworm warriors followed us back toward the opening of the cave where they would be returned to their prison.
