by L J Andrews
I ran to catch up to Gregor, but I lost my footing when I found him hunched over a form. Gregor pulled back, meeting my eye. In a few breathless paces I crumbled at Malik’s side. Reya was rolled onto one shoulder, clutching a gaping wound. Malik was coated in blood and burns, but he reached for my hand. I clasped it tight, biting the anguish in my soul. “Take Jade,” he gasped. His dying eyes looked to a cupboard tucked into the wall. “He’ll…come for her. Take…her Thane.”
“No, Malik. You’ll live.”
“I’m lost…take the new queen,” he whispered.
One final gasp, and I lost my closest friend to the cold hands of death. My face contorted in agony I never knew was possible to feel. Bellowing my roar, Gregor was already rushing toward the space where the child would be.
“Reya…” I whispered through the biting burn in the back of my throat.
She gasped, her head lolling to one side. “Thane…you’ll…always…be a part of her life. I know it. Tell her…tell her I love her.”
“Thane, we had a command from our king!” Gregor roared, holding the crying princess against this shoulder.
“We can’t leave her,” I insisted, clutching Reya’s cold hand.
“Thane…go,” Reya gasped. “I cannot be…healed. Go. Save her.”
I kissed Reya’s forehead, hating myself, hating everything. With a final watery look, I left Malik’s mate to die next to him. Gregor rushed out of the room. The small child was the last of the jade bloodline. She was our hope. I’d failed everyone else. I would not fail her.
The smoke was so thick in my mouth, even as a dragon I couldn’t stand the taste. My wounds were taking their toll. I feared I was fading, but then the young queen met my eye over Gregor’s shoulder. My heart pinched. Somehow I agreed with Reya, I was bound to the young queen by a force I couldn’t understand. That damned destiny had a plan for The Queen of Jade and my existence depended on her path unfolding.
Gregor rounded a sharp corner. The gasp of death was the last thing I wanted to hear.
“No!” I roared, rushing to his side. The gleaming black knife jutted from his chest. The lead warrior was falling. I ripped the child from his arms with one hand, taking a fallen dagger on the ground and throwing it vehemently across the space until the mage felt the same pain of a knife lodged into his heart. “Gregor!” I shouted, Jade sobbing on my shoulder. The lead warrior gasped, his human form killing him. “Shift, Gregor. Do it now.”
“My heart,” he gasped. “It’s failing.” He clung to my bicep, his fierce dark eyes locked with mine. “Take your place, Thane of Krigare. Lead the warriors. Lead them…well.”
Perhaps I was still stunned from watching Malik die, from leaving Reya to meet her end, but no sound escaped my throat when Gregor took his last breath. The ground shuddered. A powerful burst of energy swept through the castle in its entirety. Shrieks of lindworms, mages, bellowed into the sky then all at once it seemed to end. The darkness drawing from the walls of the castle like a clean breeze shoved it away. I felt a power, I felt Gaia’s power. Staring at Gregor’s body I knew Gaia had won.
A painful cry shook my body, breaking me from my frozen mind. Eisha rushed into the hall, burying her head against Gregor’s chest. My soul ripped into shreds watching her mourn her mate.
“Eisha,” I whispered.
She tore her dark tear-soaked eyes, glaring at me. “The mages did this.”
“Nag did this,” I insisted. “Bron did this. Gregor fought with honor. But, it’s Reya.” Perhaps there was a chance, a glimmer of hope that Eisha could help the princess live. “She’s dying Eisha. Go to her, I will make sure the princess is safe.”
Eisha kissed Gregor’s unmoving lips for a tender, soft moment. Wiping her tears and without a backward glance she rushed from where I’d come.
There was a room at the back of the castle, there were no windows, only one door. I imagined it was used to simply store things, though I didn’t know for certain. Ripping aside two warriors still gasping from shifting form, I thrust them into the room. Both wyverns seemed troubled, but saluted me and kneeled. Already the energy had shifted, the warriors would naturally sense I was now the reluctant leader. It only ached more knowing Gregor was really gone.
“Protect the queen,” I snarled.
“The queen?” One warrior asked.
Clenching my jaw, I swallowed metallic blood threatening to spill up my throat from my growing injuries. “The royal family is dead.” I didn’t know if Reya was dead, but something told me Jade would be the queen. “Die for her if you must, warriors. I will return when I know how this night ends.”
Slamming the door closed, I darted back toward the fallen royals. I didn’t know where any of the other families had gone. I thought of the young girl I’d sent away. Surely some were still alive and hiding, or fighting. They had to be. But first, I needed to return to where I knew Malik would be dead, and hope there was some chance at saving Reya.
Chapter 11
Gaia
The black blade swung toward my heart. I had little time to dwell that I was being attacked by my own husband. The stone sword blocked Bron’s strike and when the edges collided, my body was filled with electrifying power. I was in agony, and yet fueled in the same breath.
Bron’s face was inches from my own, I could still smell the masculine scent I loved so much. Rolling my shoulders just so, I shoved his blade away from mine. Bron stumbled backward, I sheathed the powerful sword and pressed my hands along the bloodied stones. The earth heaved angrily with my power. More beams tumbled toward the ground forcing Bron to drop his blade and block the debris from crushing him like it had the lindworm. He glared at me, while his open palms placed an invisible barrier between him and the crumbling ceiling. Bron balled his fists and instantly the debris dissolved into ashen powder.
“You cannot beat me, Gaia,” he hissed.
“No, Bron,” I snarled, my eyes locked on him. “You cannot beat me.”
Bron swiped his hands over his body and the walls broke free. I ducked when a stray stone rushed at my head. On my knees I splayed my fingers wide on the cold stones. Every appeal I had searched the earth for some kind of power, some energy I could use to block against Bron’s darkness.
Energy came in many ways. Sometimes it was subtle, and calming. Sometimes, it was painful. Other times, like in this moment it struck me as though I’d burst into flames. Bron was fast approaching, a determined wickedness in his eyes. My heart ached, yet I was also filled with maddening fury when I rose to my feet. Bron’s brow flicked, and I wondered what he saw—he looked surprised. I loved Bron—I sensed he loved me—but that love was fading with each heartbeat. With a fast flick of my hands an explosive eruption burst from my body. The force of power was so great I saw the wave of light fill the bloodied room. Corpses of lindworms shredded even more, and the body of Lux dissolved into orbs of light and filtered into the sky. Bron couldn’t withstand my powerful burst of energy and he flew backward, landing hard on his back. I heard the sick crack of his head slamming against the stones.
“High Priestess!” a quivering voice shouted at me in all the madness. I gasped, the exertion of my energy draining all my strength. I couldn’t do it again, and already I saw Bron stirring. I could hardly lift my arm when I turned to find the source of the voice.
“Agatha,” I gasped, falling to my knees. The young sapphire mage, looked terrified. Her eyes wide, and her face coated in a few streaks of blood. But there she was, holding the two jade-colored swords of the High Priest. I didn’t know where Nag was. I didn’t know where anyone had gone, or who would survive this night. I could hear the angry shrieks and snarls from the lindworms outside and knew more would come. Bron groaned and tried to climb to his feet. His eyes widened when he saw me reaching out for the two blades. I knew what I had to do.
“Gaia!” he shouted, his voice angry and wild. “Don’t!”
“This ends now, Bron. You were my love, but now…you have destroyed everything.
I will never see you again.” Agatha released the final blade and I was filled with complete confidence on the only way to rid the castle of the lindworm attack. I slammed the sharp tips into the stone floor. My eyes locked on Bron who’d lifted his dark weapon once more. “I command you to leave! Be banished, and never return.”
Like the energy from my body, a ripple of throbbing light burst from the blades. Bron screamed in angry frustration. The power that once was his, now ordered his darkness to leave instantly. I saw my husband fold into the black night, offering one last glimpse of his brilliant silver eyes that had laughed with me, loved with me, and hoped with me. Now, I only stared at darkness.
The room fell into an eerie silence. I curled forward, but Agatha caught me in her arms. “High Priestess, you…you defeated them.”
I drew in several agonizing breaths and shook my head. “No, Agatha. The war is not over. Only delayed. We must find the royals.”
Agatha whimpered. Her arms trembling around me. “We’ve lost so many. I can’t…I can’t find Konrad,” she whispered. “I protected him, my armor, it worked so well. But there were so many. I told him to leave, to hide. I haven’t found him since. And Amber’s family—they are dead except for her.”
“What of Reya, of the princess?”
Agatha shook her head. “I don’t know High Priestess, I have not heard anything of the jade bloodline.”
“Help me, Agatha. We must act swiftly before the lindworms are able to break through my banishment. We cannot stay here any longer—any of us.”
Agatha nodded, her small figure trying to support my tall, towering body. I sensed the young mage was transferring part of her energy to me. A practice I discouraged, but today I was grateful. I needed help to finish clearing out survivors. I didn’t know how I would keep the wyverns and the mage safe, but I had an idea. It didn’t mean I liked what had to be done.
The castle was in ruins much like my heart. With every fallen wyvern I saw dead in the rubble I ached more for Bron—for what he’d destroyed. I covered my mouth when I saw Gregor, Eisha’s mate dead, doused in fresh blood. So many lives—so many people I loved were lost. How had I not seen the signs?
“High Priestess,” Agatha shouted. I saw Eisha, she was alive. Rushing to her side I gasped when I saw who she held.
“Reya,” I breathed out. The princess was bleeding from her middle, her mouth coated in her own blood. Malik was at her side, dead. Eisha clasped the princess’s hand and eyed me dangerously when I approached.
“Traitor!” Eisha shrieked and tried to shove me away, but my firm grip forced her to stop.
“I did not do this,” I snapped, taking Reya’s free hand. The princess was still alive, and her head rolled to meet my gaze.
“Gaia,” she smiled, blood stained her teeth. “Protect what’s left. Do not be lost in this.”
“I should have known, Reya,” I sobbed, leaning my forehead against my friend and my charge. I felt the bond bursting as Reya faded. Bron had broken the jade bloodline bond, and that was something that would never be repaired. My protection was passing on to the wyvern warriors for Reya and what was left of the bloodline. I would soon be a protector of the past. “I should have protected you better. I failed.”
Reya shushed my sobs, though I heard her breath fading with each weak heartbeat. “No more, Gaia. You are my dearest friend. Please…please help Eisha protect…keep Jade safe. Keep them all…safe.”
Reya coughed, the air drawing back into her lungs haggard and filled with dying agony. Eisha wept at her side, until with a shuddering breath the princess left the world. I fell back onto my haunches, burying my face in my hands. I sobbed there, in the midst of such carnage until a pair of strong hands clutched my shoulders and forced me to my feet. For a moment I thought Bron had returned and I faced him with fury. But when Thane stood behind me, I thought I might lose my footing, and I crumbled against him. The warrior was still bleeding and bruised, he seemed weaker, but he held me tight while I sobbed.
“What do we do, Gaia?” Thane whispered after a long moment. “Where do we go?”
I wiped my eyes and pulled back. The room was filled with Agatha, a few mages who had come to find comfort from their High Priestess, Eisha who was pale and still held Reya’s hand, Raffi, and a cluster of Thane’s warriors.
“We must leave,” I announced loudly. “I banished the lindworms and…the High Priest. But it will not last forever. We must think quickly on where we will go. Everyone who is able, please come with me.”
“What about the wyvern elder council? They will know what to do,” Raffi suggested.
“No,” Eisha snapped surprising us all. “We do not know who all was involved in the betrayal tonight. We only know the mage for certain. We keep whatever plans are made between us. We protect the royals, the stones, and that means ridding all ties to you,” she said glaring at me. “And all your people.”
“Eisha,” Thane said, but stopped when she held up her hand.
“The mage betrayed us. Our king, our princess would be alive if the mage were not a part of our lives. Help us protect the royals, Gaia. Then leave us,” she said, keeping her eyes on me. “Or, I will kill you all now.”
I nodded, the ache in my heart becoming too much to bear. “I will do anything to protect the royal bloodlines. And then we will leave Eisha. If my presence brings Bron back, then you are right. The mage and wyvern bond is too dangerous.”
Thane looked at the ground, but said nothing as he led us toward the dining hall where the few of us left would plan for our uncertain future.
Chapter 12
Thane
Gaia’s healing touch had saved my life. Bandages wrapped around my ribs only strengthened what had been left to heal naturally. The pain was gone, though I was weakened. I would live. I’d live to defend the new child queen even from a distance if necessary. I would live to defend all my people.
Gaia had spent the last several days hiding what royals remained. I was broken inside to know only one heir remained in four of the families. Thankfully, the onyx stone bloodline was intact. All heirs alive and unharmed. Gaia had tried to convince the bloodline mages to stay away from the royals, but I had to chuckle at their loyalty. I hadn’t seen a bloodline mage since we’d sent the different royals into hiding, and had a feeling they were in their own version of hiding. Watching silently from a distance each of the wyvern royals they were bonded to protect.
All except for the tiny sapphire mage who’d saved my life. She stood next to the male heir of the royal line. He would remain with the queen. I’d never seen the young royal I’d tried to save from the castle. I listed her as another one of the failures on my shoulders from that night. Though Gaia refused to let me wallow. She’d already demanded I never blame anything of that night on myself. So, I would keep such thoughts private for now.
Now, we stood in the forest. It was a place where few humans lived and where not an inkling of lindworm energy could be felt. I breathed in the fresh air that carried a spice I found enjoyable.
“This is the right thing to do,” I said to Gaia who stared into the distance with uncertain eyes.
She nodded, staring at the old tree. “I feel so much for the young queen,” she said, glancing to where Eisha was carrying the sleeping girl on her shoulder. “But it isn’t the same connection. Bron destroyed everything I had to live for.”
“Gaia,” I demanded, facing the woman. “Don’t speak like that. He destroyed so much, but you have more purpose than the bloodline. Look what you’ve done for all the royals, for my people, and for yours.”
She wiped away a single tear, scanning the warriors in the trees behind us, then looking to the hundreds of mages filling the forest. Eisha settled on a fallen log, still glaring at Gaia. I knew she mourned Gregor, but her anger was misplaced. This was not Gaia’s doing.
“I will set a protection around this place,” Gaia began, loud enough for all warriors and mage to hear. She gently placed her hand along the smooth ba
rk of the towering willow tree. “This tree has accepted the responsibility of being the sentinel. My own power will fill the veins. I fear this will not last forever, but it will give you time. Time for the queen to grow, to lead the wyvern people. Time for your armies to gain power and prepare to finish what was…so selfishly started.”
I drew closer to Gaia, feeling the need to buoy her through the ache that was bleeding into my emotions from her heart.
“The mage will leave,” she continued. I shook my head so subtly no one noticed. “It is safer for the royals if we do not draw the attention of the former High Priest. I would give a warning that you should not leave the boundaries we have marked. Or you will be out of the protection of the willow. Are we in agreement?”
“As long as you leave us in peace and with what protection you can muster, we are in agreement,” Eisha said quickly, brushing away the child queen’s golden hair from her head when she stirred.
“We shall leave,” she repeated softly.
With a deep breath Gaia placed her palms along the willow trunk. It didn’t take long for me to recognize that she was using too much power. Her shoulders slumped forward, and her breaths came in haggard, painful waves. I didn’t understand mage energy, but I knew there was a connection with the High Priestess and whatever energy I kept inside. Slowly, I placed my hand on her shoulder. Gaia met my eye, and I could only smile sadly. Soon the sapphire mage joined us, then more, even a few warriors touched us in a web of energy. I felt a surge of power, like a glittering dome overpowered the area. Gaia released the trunk of the tree, and trembled from the exertion.
“It’s done,” she gasped.
“How can we be sure?” Eisha asked.
“Eisha you can feel it, you are allowing your bitterness to keep your heart in questions,” I said firmly, but cautiously. I didn’t want to break her heart more.
