Dragon Revealed: A Dragon Kings Novella

by Donna Grant

  Jeyra shook from anger and contempt. “What happened to that last dragon?”

  “It woke from my spell before we could get the chains locked. It got away and flew straight to those responsible for trapping it. The animal slaughtered nearly the entire family before he flew off, but we killed it in the end. Thanks to warriors like Rankin. Then again, you would know how good he is. Isn’t that right, Jeyra?”

  She smiled coldly at the council leader, the fury coalescing within like a whirlpool of wrath.

  Arn snickered and clasped his hands behind his back. “The moment I learned Varek had escaped, I knew that he would return for the dragons. And I knew you’d help him.”

  It was only because of Varek that she knew that there were designations of magic, but as far as she knew, no one on their realm had named their type of magic. But there was something altogether sinister about Arn now that she saw who he really was. “What are you exactly?”

  “Oh, that doesn’t matter,” he said with a twist of his lips.

  She glared at him. “It does matter. You have helped foster the fear of magic amongst everyone in the city, all while deceiving and hiding what you are.”

  “You’re upset because I was smart enough to use my natural abilities? You’ll forgive me if I don’t care. But let’s turn to the things you should be concerned with. For instance, the fact that your life ends now. You were warned what would happen if you kept poking around. You so wanted to know about your family, but if you had uncovered what you sought, then you would’ve discovered what I and warriors like Rankin had put things into place to safeguard Orgate.” He took a step toward her. “You gave the council and the city your loyalty when you became a warrior. Who cares if a couple of dragons die to make sure we’re safe?”

  Jeyra gave him a scathing look. “You make me sick. To think I thought you a fair man. You’ve gotten to where you are by duplicity and magic. That goes against everything we are as a people.”

  “We aren’t anything!” he bellowed furiously. “We’re brought here as infants by beings no one sees. We have no family, no connections. We have nothing.”

  “That’s where you’re wrong. We have a beautiful place to call home. We have life, and we make family with more than blood. You’ve completely missed the very idea of what it means to be alive. I can’t believe I didn’t wake up to all of this sooner.”

  “Because you wanted the simple life,” he stated with a sneer. “You wanted justice for your family. I got it for you. Kill the pink one. You’ll feel much better when you do.”

  “I think I’d rather put my spear through your heart.”

  Arn chuckled and shook his head. “Oh, my dear, that simply isn’t going to happen. You let the one chance you had to join us slip through your fingers.”

  “I’d rather die than join you,” Jeyra said right before she lunged at Arn, thrusting the point of her spear at his chest.

  With just a wave of his hand, the weapon flew from her grasp. She knew it was a losing battle, but she couldn’t walk away. All of a sudden, she found her spear once more in her hand. Jeyra smiled even as confusion flitted over Arn’s face.

  “How can that be?” he asked in bewilderment.

  Erith moved from around the other side of the red dragon and rotated her wrist, the blade of her sword swinging through the air. “You didn’t actually think Jeyra came by herself, did you?”

  As she spoke, the clothes Death wore melted away to reveal her black attire. Out of the corner of her eye, Jeyra saw Cael moving around the red dragon, removing the manacles.

  “Who are you?” Arn demanded.

  Erith smiled chillingly. “I’m known as Death or the Mistress of War. By either name, I’m going to take your life today for what you’ve done to these dragons and all those before them.”

  Jeyra blinked at Erith, seeing for the first time the power contained in such a petite form. She wanted nothing more than to battle Arn herself, but she didn’t stand a chance without magic. The moment Arn and Erith were locked in magical battle, Jeyra made her way to the pink dragon’s cage.

  She glanced up to see Erith doing some kind of flip through the air, her foot connecting with Arn’s face. Jeyra smiled, silently cheering for Death. She faced the cage. Jeyra smiled at the Pink, but the small dragon wouldn’t look at her. She fought against more tears when she saw how deep some of the scars went on the dragon’s scales. Jeyra tried to open the door but found it locked. She glanced around for keys, but when she couldn’t find any, she used the tip of her spear to pick the lock. She thought the dragon would rush out when she swung open the door, but it didn’t move.

  “Come on,” she coaxed in a soft voice. “We’re here to free you and take you home.”

  Jeyra glanced back to see Arn getting a strike in against Erith—the first since their initial clash. The smile on his face vanished when he saw Erith’s ferocity. Jeyra turned back to the dragon and cajoled and enticed, but the Pink wouldn’t budge. Finally, she concluded that the only way the dragon would leave was if she picked it up.

  Still, she hesitated. Even though this was a small dragon, it had magic, and it could hurt her with its talons, teeth, and fire. The marks she saw on the dragon were only a portion of what it had suffered. If it attacked her, she would bear it. Because the dragon deserved to see the sun again. It deserved to be free. Jeyra drew in a deep breath, then reached into the cage and managed to get her arms awkwardly around the dragon. The Pink didn’t fight her. It lay limp in her arms.

  “I’m sorry. I’m so very sorry this happened to you,” she whispered over and over as she carefully drew the diminutive dragon from the cage.

  When it was finally out, Jeyra adjusted her grip, and the dragon laid its head on her shoulder. The tears came again. She turned to face Erith and Arn. Her movement caught Arn’s attention. When he saw that she had the Pink, the rage on his face was short-lived as Erith plunged her black sword into his heart.

  The life drained from Arn as he crumpled to the floor. Erith retrieved her weapon just as Cael flung off the last chain containing the red dragon.

  Chapter Twenty-three

  The instant Varek heard the dragon’s roar, he rushed from the grove and shifted. His wings flapped, taking him higher over the city. He looked down and saw the mortals rushing about, screaming in terror.

  But not away from him. Their attention was focused toward the dungeons. Varek remained silent, searching for the bolt thrower he knew the guards would bring out. When he finally saw the Red struggling to stay in the air, he knew his mate and friends had been successful. Now, they all had to get out of the city unharmed.

  He spotted guards heading toward the arena. Varek flew over the amphitheater and spotted Cael, Erith, and Jeyra holding a pink dragon. He could hardly believe his eyes. Though he wanted to go to them, he had to help the Red who had suffered such pain he couldn’t gain altitude. And warriors were trying to capture him again.

  Varek let out a roar and flew over the warriors, using his power of energy-draining shadows to halt their attack. With a tip of his wing, he swung around and swooped back toward the Red, who had gained some momentum. The fear sweeping through the city was enough to bring back memories of the war with the mortals on Earth.

  “Head home,” Varek told the dragon.

  The Red looked at Varek and said, “We go as one.”

  Varek smiled because he knew Guy would be proud of his clan member. As Varek flew over the arena, he saw Cael and Erith easily defending themselves and Jeyra. The Red landed behind Cael and Erith while Varek touched down behind his mate. Their arrival caused the warriors to pause. They looked at each other and started forward again.

  Varek growled low in his throat as a warning. When it was ignored, and someone threw a spear at Jeyra and the Pink, he drew in a deep breath and released fire. It was their second warning—and the last they’d get before he breathed more dragon fire or used his energy-draining shadows once more. He didn’t want to kill them, but he would if they con
tinued to try and harm his mate.

  A brute of a warrior shoved his way through the others to get in front. He glared at Erith and Cael. “Who are you?”

  “Someone you don’t want as an enemy,” Erith replied.

  The warrior snorted. “You know nothing.”

  Cael held out his hand, palm up, and allowed a bubble of magic to form as purple swirled within it. “Oh, we know much more than you.”

  Varek glanced at Jeyra to find her looking at him. Her expression gave nothing away. His gaze swept the arena that held the warriors, guards, and others who wanted a look at what was going on. The tension was so thick, he could’ve sliced it with his talon.

  “None of you know the truth,” Jeyra stated in a loud, clear voice.

  He dropped the magic he had been using to alter her looks so others could see who she was. Several of the warriors audibly gasped. She looked at each of them as she gently held the Pink, stroking its scales. It clung to her, even though its eyes were filled with fear. It made Varek want to hurt whoever was responsible.

  The big warrior glared at her. “And we’re supposed to believe you?”

  “If you want to stay alive, you will,” Jeyra stated. “The red and pink dragons were chained in the dungeons, far below the city. Tortured.”

  “Liar!” someone shouted.

  Death pointed her black sword in the direction of the person who had spoken. “Go look now. You’ll find your council leader dead.”

  “Arn was the one responsible for hurting the dragons. More than that, he had magic,” Jeyra said.

  Others began to murmur in disbelief. Varek wished he had been there to witness everything.

  “The warriors captured the dragons for Arn,” Cael announced as he allowed the bubble to disappear. “The dragons attacked because they were looking for their kin, those that had been captured and held as prisoners.”

  “The dragons kill our people!” someone shouted angrily.

  The crowd’s temper flared. Just as Varek thought that he might have to let out a roar to regain control and quiet, the crowd parted and began to hush on their own. He watched as none other than Sateen slowly made her way toward them with her head held high and her cane in hand.

  She didn’t stop until she stood before Varek. The old woman held his gaze for several moments before she quirked a brow. Varek returned to his human form, calling his clothes to him as he did. The crowd gasped for a second time.

  To his surprise, Sateen dipped into a wobbly curtsy. Varek stretched out a hand to help her straighten. “I’m no’ your King. You doona need to bow before me.”

  “Don’t I?” she asked with a grin, her voice loud enough to carry. “You’re a Dragon King, something many believe is nothing but a myth. You can walk in our world and that of the dragons. You have the power to wipe us out.”

  He understood then what she was trying to do—save her people. Varek admired her cunning. He slid his gaze to Jeyra, who smiled at him. He returned it before he looked around at those in the arena. “All of you were too intent on doing us harm to realize that we have no’ harmed any of you.”

  “Except for Arn,” the brute of a warrior stated.

  Sateen snapped her head in his direction. “You know how corrupt Arn was, Bayard. You were one of the warriors who helped him capture the dragons. Don’t dare say otherwise.”

  Bayard bared his teeth and faced the councilwoman. Cael threw a bubble of magic to land in front of the warrior before he could think to attack.

  “That’ll be the only warning you get,” Cael informed him.

  Varek shook his head. “With one breath of fire, I could incinerate all of you. I’ve no’, and I willna unless you give me no other choice. You’ve been lied to, repeatedly. It’s time you learned the truth of things. Then, perhaps there’s a chance you’ll be able to live with the dragons. If no’, then you’ll have to go find another home.”

  “Varek is right,” Sateen stated as she faced those in the arena. “I’ve known about the lies and the dragons for many, many years. I tried to do something about both once, and my husband was killed. I learned then that if I was going to change things, I had to do it another way. It took much longer than anticipated before I found someone willing to do it.”

  Varek saw Sateen look at Jeyra, who frowned in response.

  “Yes,” the councilwoman replied. “I was the one who manipulated you into going over the border. I have been in contact with the crone for some time. I was confident in her ability—and yours—to bring a Dragon King here. I didn’t realize he wouldn’t be from our world, however.”

  Jeyra blinked, surprise etched across her face. “I could’ve been killed.”

  “But you weren’t,” Sateen said. “Your need for justice made you the perfect candidate. I knew if we could have a Dragon King, there might be a way out of this mess.”

  Varek found himself looking into Jeyra’s amber eyes. There was no anger there, only love. She might not have said the words yet, but they were there in her touch and her kisses. He couldn’t wait until they were alone once more so he could tell her how he felt. But that would have to wait.

  “Now is our chance to live without lies,” Sateen continued. “I’ve suspected Arn for some time. I was the one who ordered the chains taken off Varek’s wrists to prove that there was more at work to preventing magic in our city than some chains. Arn did have magic. He’d found a way to make sure that no one else in the city could practice magic by trapping dragons and using their magic against them. I don’t know the specifics, and it no longer matters. He wanted power over everyone and everything. That part of us needs to die.” She looked directly at Bayard. “And so do the thugs who think the only answer is to kill dragons.”

  Varek looked over the faces in the crowd and saw the first signs that this might actually work. “It’s no’ going to be easy. Harm has been done on both sides.”

  “Take the dragons back with you when you go to your world,” Bayard stated angrily.

  Varek shook his head. “That isna possible. On our world, it was initially just dragons. Then humans showed up. We helped them, sheltered them. Taught them. Deceivers like you and Arn wanted something else and caused friction between our species. There was a great war, with many lives lost. We sent the dragons here.”

  “So you’re to blame!” Bayard bellowed and took a step toward him.

  Varek opened his mouth to answer, but Erith beat him to it. “There were no mortals on this realm when the dragons came,” she said.

  The warrior’s gaze cut to her. “And how would you know?”

  “She’s a goddess,” Cael answered.

  Sateen used that moment of shocked silence to say, “The Dragon Kings aren’t just powerful. They also have powerful friends. We should heed that.”

  “You mean live in fear,” someone said.

  Jeyra walked to stand beside Varek. “None of you get it, do you? The dragons could wipe us out without hesitation. They didn’t do it on their world. They’ve not done it here. But if things don’t change, what option do we leave them? Stop thinking about just yourselves. Think about the dragons and how they’ve suffered.”

  “There will be no more hunting of dragons. Ever,” Sateen stated loudly. “All warriors and guards will stand down and allow Varek and his friends to leave peacefully. If anyone dares to ignore my order, you’ll be struck down instantly.”

  In response, the Red growled as it looked directly at Bayard.

  “Easy,” Varek told the dragon.

  “Return to your homes,” Sateen commanded her people.

  One by one, they obeyed. Varek and the others remained as they were until only Sateen was left. She walked slowly to the Pink and lifted her hand to touch the dragon but hesitated.

  “It’s all right,” Varek told her.

  Sateen lightly rested her hand on the Pink as she shook her head. “I’m sorry I didn’t do anything sooner to free them.”

  “They’re free now,” he told her.

&n
bsp; Sateen lowered her arm and caught Jeyra’s gaze. “I used you, but only because I knew you would give me the results needed to liberate our city.”

  “Do you think we’ve accomplished that?” his mate asked.

  The councilwoman shrugged. “I think it’s a start, but we’ve got a long way to go. We could use someone like you on the council.”

  “I have an allergy to anything political.” Jeyra looked at Varek. “Besides, there’s somewhere else I need to be.”

  Sateen smiled. “Of course.” Then she looked at the red dragon. “I would like to apologize to him, as well.”

  Varek asked the Red, and the dragon gave a nod. “He willna hurt you.”

  Varek, Jeyra, Cael, and Erith watched the elderly woman make her way to the dragon. Once there, she put her hand on the Red’s leg and leaned her head against the scales. She spoke softly, but Varek heard her sorrowful words.

  Sateen then turned and faced them, both hands on her cane. “What now?”

  “Rankin and the warriors pursuing us need to be brought in,” Jeyra said.

  The councilwoman sighed loudly. “I think it’s time some warriors retire.”

  “What about the rest of the council?” Varek asked. “How will they handle it.”

  “It would help if they heard from all of you.”

  Erith stepped forward then. “If that’s going to happen, it needs to be now.”

  Sateen shouted an order. Two guards at the doors of the arena gave a wave and then rushed off. Varek glanced at the Red and Pink. Both were exhausted and in need of care. Thankfully, the rest of the council was brought in quickly. They were shocked at the sight of the dragons, but they listened to the recounting. Varek knew there was hope for the mortals in this city because the council realized how precarious their position was.

  He didn’t want to use fear, but maybe that’s what should’ve been done initially to remind the humans on Earth that they hadn’t been the first ones on the planet. Their way hadn’t worked. Perhaps a new approach would. Maybe eons of thinking over every action, decision, and repercussion that took place between the dragons and mortals on Earth might benefit this realm. But only time would tell.