Dragon's Ruin_A Reverse Harem Serial

by Lili Zander

  “I told you,” he replies. “I moved the room.” The others are looking just as impressed as I am, and Mateo shrugs, seemingly uncomfortable with the attention. “It’s not hard to move an object,” he says modestly. “Aria, you know that as well as I do. The only complicated bit was making sure that the castle wards stayed intact. Which they have. So, shall we go explore the city?”

  “Can you move people too? Never mind, that’s a dumb question. I mean, you moved us, so obviously you can.”

  He shakes his head. “It’s not a dumb question,” he replies. “And the answer to that is, only if I can see them.”

  “Why?”

  “Dragons can’t sense other dragons,” he replies. “You can see each of us in your mind’s eye, but I can’t. We have a built-in immunity to some kinds of magic.”

  Huh. Interesting.

  After we return from Paris, Mateo starts teaching me how to translocate people, and I realize how simple it is to summon an object in comparison. “He’s fighting me,” I complain as Mateo tells me to move Rhys from one end of the room to the other.

  “Well, yes. Of course he’s going to fight you,” Mateo replies. “Try again.”

  By the end of that week, I’m exhausted. “I wish I could summon a broomstick and escape these dragons,” I snap at Mateo in the study after a particularly grueling lesson.

  He looks puzzled, and it breaks my nerdy little heart. “What are you talking about, tesoro?”

  “Harry Potter? When he summons his Firebolt? You’ve never read the books? What about the movies? Surely you’ve seen the movies.”

  He shakes his head. I turn to Bastian, who’s doing something on his laptop. “Bastian, what about you? Have you seen Harry Potter?”

  He looks up from his screen and gives me a perplexed look.

  Okay. This must be fixed. My face brightens. “Let’s do a movie marathon tomorrow night.” I look around the room, meeting the eyes of all of my mates. Erik tries to avoid my gaze, but I’m having none of it. “All of us,” I add for good measure.

  Bastian has a movie theatre in his castle. Because that’s normal. I gasp when I see it. The room’s set up like a high-end movie theater. The whole front wall is a massive screen, the furniture consists of plush chairs that recline, and there’s even a popcorn machine off to one side.

  “It’s not my fault,” he says defensively when he catches my astonished expression. “I haven’t been here in twenty years, remember? The designer got carried away. It looked good on her portfolio.”

  Frau Ziegler bustles into the room. “The pizza has been delivered, Lord Jaeger,” she says. “Shall I bring it in?”

  “Yes, please.”

  My eyes go round. “There’s pizza? Really?”

  “Olives, mushrooms, and spinach,” Casius says with a grin. “Ready for dinner?”

  “The real question is, is dinner is ready for me? I’m starving.”

  He chuckles. Frau Ziegler enters the room, carrying five large boxes of pizza in her hands. For six people. Seems about right. I grab half of them from her and set it down on the table in the back.

  “We’ve got it from here,” Bastian tells the housekeeper. “Take the night off, Frau Ziegler. I don’t want Derther complaining that I’m working you too hard.”

  “Nonsense,” she says with a smile. She puts a slice of pizza on a plate and hands it to me, and then turns to leave. “Are you sure you don’t want anything?”

  “Perfectly sure,” Bastian replies with a grin. “Unless you have a way to get me out of watching this movie?”

  I give him a withering look, but there’s a piping hot slice covered in black olives, mushrooms, spinach, and dripping with extra sauce in front of me, and that takes priority. I take a bigger than necessary bite and moan in delight.

  “Good?” Bastian asks.

  I nod as I chew. “Almost as good as New York,” I say between bites.

  He chuckles. “Almost? Next time I’ll send the plane to fetch it.”

  “That’s ridiculous,” I gasp before I realize he’s teasing me. Jerk.

  We start watching the movie. All my dragons snort at the scene in the Sorcerer's Stone when Hagrid shows Harry his dragon egg. “Dragons do not hatch from eggs,” Erik points out with a frown.

  “It’s fiction. Look, the egg’s hatching. See how cute the little baby dragon is.” I grin at them. “Wait, do you guys have baby pictures somewhere?”

  “The camera was invented two hundred years ago, love,” Rhys points out. “Well after I came of age. But I’m pretty sure there’s a portrait of baby Bastian somewhere in this castle.”

  I swear Bastian goes pink. “Griffith, do you have a death wish?” he growls.

  The baby dragon on the screen coughs and sets Hagrid’s beard on fire, and the dragons turn their attention back to the screen. “That would never happen,” Erik says again. “We don’t get our fire until puberty. Otherwise, none of us would ever grow to adulthood.”

  I give Erik a quelling glance. “No talking during the movie.”

  Halfway through The Prisoner of Azkaban, I get up to get popcorn and end up pulled down into Rhys’ lap under the guise of sharing. Not that I’m complaining.

  I’m yawning half-way through the fourth movie. Harry has just gone up against the Hungarian Horntail, and predictably, all the dragons are offended by the scene. Except for Casius, who’s seen the movies before, and knows what to expect.

  “The only thing they got right is the appetite,” Mateo grumbles. “We can control our fire, and contrary to what people think, we don’t go around eating people.”

  I giggle at his expression. “Once again, you do realize this is fiction, right?”

  He just shakes his head. I watch the dragon snap its chains and take off in the air after Harry. It reminds me, there’s something I’ve been curious about. “I have a question. Why don’t you fly more often?”

  Bastian sighs. “After the curse, there was a lot of resentment among the other magicals,” he says. “They blamed us.”

  “I thought the curse wasn’t public knowledge?”

  “Not the specific details, but they all could tell that something had changed. And of course, only dragons could manipulate magic. The blame fell on us. Rightly so.”

  “The dragons retreated,” Casius adds. “The thirteen families were being hunted by Zyrian, and the lesser dragons were forced to take sides. Those were dark days. I think it’s still affecting us, to be honest. We’re still secretive, and we keep to ourselves. We only fly when we won’t be seen.”

  “I’m going to bed,” Erik says, standing up abruptly. Too late, I realize that Erik really doesn’t like talking about the past.

  His departure leaves an awkward silence in the room, and not even the roars of the CGI dragon on the screen can fill it.

  12

  Rhys

  Monday morning, everything goes to hell.

  The Griffith family home is a castle, of course. Located off the south-west coast of Wales, the stone castle has stood on the tiny island of Ynys Dewi for generations.

  There are no wolves on Ynys Dewi. Just one fox shifter family whose members have acted as caretakers of the castle for as long as it’s been there.

  Monday morning, I get word that Arwel Tannor and his wife Elinor have been found in their den. Slaughtered.

  And there’s a message on my phone from Zyrian. It’s short but effective. Surrender your mate and the Bloodstone, or I promise you, this is only the start of the massacre.

  Bile rises in my throat. Arwel and Elinor never hurt anyone in their lives. They were kind and gentle, devoted to their children and grandchildren.

  Wordlessly, I hold my phone toward Bastian. He reads the message, and his expression turns grim. “Maybe what happened to Mateo wasn’t just a random act of violence,” he says, his voice vibrating with tension.

  Aria takes the phone from Bastian, and her eyes scan the screen. “Zyrian,” she says quietly. “Oh Rhys, I’m so sorry.” She put
s her arms around me, and I hold her tight, but for the first time, it doesn’t provide comfort.

  I’ve always been able to see the positive in every situation. Always been quick with a joke, a laugh. I’ve pushed Bastian and the others to stop taking life so seriously. Reminded them that duty is all very well, but we can’t forget to live.

  Not now.

  “I’ve got to go to Wales,” I mutter. “There’ll be a funeral. I’ve got to make sure Arwel’s family is taken care of.”

  “No,” Bastian says flatly. “Call them. Send flowers. But you can’t go to Wales. Not now. It isn’t safe for us to get separated.” His expression turns troubled. “Please don’t make me pull rank on this, Rhys.”

  I glare at Bastian, but deep down, buried under the sea of pain I’m in, I know he’s right. The only way we can defeat Zyrian is if we all act together.

  13

  Aria

  Rhys’ news puts a damper on us. At noon, Bastian hauls me to his study. “I’m going to call Tomas,” he says quietly. “I thought you might want to talk to Silas as well.”

  I give him a grateful smile. “You knew I’d be freaking out?”

  “You’re not the only one who’s concerned.” He dials New York. Even though it’s six in the morning back home—I’ve become really good at time zone calculations since I’ve been here—Tomas picks up on the first ring.

  Bastian puts him on speaker phone so that I can hear the conversation. “Lord Jaeger, how can I help you?”

  “Castle Griffith’s caretakers, Arwel and Elinor Tannor have been found murdered this morning,” Bastian says bluntly.

  “The fox shifters?”

  Bastian closes his eyes. I wonder if he knew the Tannors. He must have. Rhys, Casius, and Mateo act like they’ve known Frau Ziegler and Wilhelm all their lives.

  God, this sucks. Fucking Zyrian.

  “Yes,” Bastian confirms wearily. “Double the guards around Silas Archer. You probably should tell Lukus Hyde what’s going on too. Just in case the violence spills over to his pack. And the Norm girl, Aria’s friend…”

  “Bea,” I interject helpfully. “Hey, Tomas. It’s Aria.”

  “Hello, Ms. Archer,” he replies. “How are you enjoying Castle Jaeger?”

  “I’ve only gotten lost twice in the last two days,” I reply dryly.

  Tomas laughs. “The castle is a maze,” he agrees. “Wilhelm has a map. Ask him for a copy. It’ll help. And don’t worry about things here,” he adds reassuringly. “We’ll take care of Ms. Connelly and Mr. Archer.” Tomas’ tone turns wary. “Lord Jaeger, there’s one more thing.”

  “Should I go?” I ask.

  Bastian shakes his head. “I don’t have secrets from you, little thief.” He puts his arm around me, and I rest my head on his shoulder. “What is it, Tomas?”

  “There’s talk around Eclipse Pack that Alpha Hyde is going to ask Silas Archer to join them. Word is that Silas might be considering it.”

  A smile grows on my face. For Silas to even think about joining Eclipse Pack—after all, he’s never thought very much about Lukus Hyde—things must be going really well with Sarina, so much so that he’s giving serious thought about the future.

  I’ve asked many nosy questions every time I’ve spoken to him, but Silas has been surprisingly evasive about discussing his relationship with the wolf-shifter. Well, well, well. Good for Silas.

  “It’s about time,” Bastian replies, sounding relieved. “The protection of a pack will be good for Silas. Especially now. Any word on Raedwulf and his associate?”

  Tall, Dark, and Deadly. With everything going on, I’d almost forgotten about him.

  “They’re still in Wyoming,” Tomas replies. “But I can’t get my team too close without risking getting caught. Sentinel Pack is secretive and reclusive. We’re using Norm technology to keep track of them from a distance. Would you like us to apprehend them, Lord Jaeger?”

  “No.” Bastian’s expression turns frustrated. “As much as I want to get my hands on Raedwulf, I have a bad feeling that war is coming. We’ve got to stay focused on Zyrian’s threat. Guard Silas and Beatrice Connelly.”

  Bastian’s right. War is coming. I can feel it in my blood. All I can do is hope no one else gets hurt.

  More people get hurt.

  Another week goes by. Sunday night, we’re watching another movie—Jason Bourne, this time, which all my guys have seen, of course, since it involves blood and shooting—when we receive word of an attack on Pack Helferich. Bastian, Casius, and Rhys rush out to help. When they return, they’re tired and dispirited. “We managed to beat them off,” Casius says gloomily. “But the damage was already done. One dead, seven badly wounded.”

  My phone beeps. It’s a message from Zyrian. He can’t enter my dreams as long as I’m in Castle Jaeger, and he can’t probe my mind, but he can still taunt me through my cell phone.

  How many people will have to die before you find the courage to face me?

  I read the text. Rhys, who’s standing right next to me, catches a glimpse of the display. “He’s baiting you.”

  “I know.”

  “You can’t approach him. If he gets his hands on you, and on the Bloodstone, who knows what might happen. You can’t let Zyrian win.”

  “I know,” I repeat wearily.

  And I do. It’s just not easy to sit back as people are being attacked.

  It doesn’t make it any easier the next day when we formally visit Pack Helferich to offer our condolences to the husband of the woman that was killed in the fight. It doesn’t make it easier to realize that she has a son, a little boy that will grow up never knowing his mother.

  “This is not your fault,” Bastian says fiercely to me when he sees my expression. “If anything, it’s mine.”

  “Are we playing ‘Take the Blame’ roulette?” I retort, a bitter tinge in my voice. “I know it’s not either of our faults. It’s Zyrian’s. But Bastian, we’re getting nowhere figuring out the curse. Mateo and Casius spend all their time in the library, and they’ve got nothing. How long do we wait before we take the fight to the Dark Dragon?”

  “I will not risk you, Aria,” he replies firmly, his eyes sliding away from me.

  I clench my fists in frustration. He’s right. Going off half-cocked, without weapons, without a plan, is the height of foolishness.

  But cowering behind Maija Essen’s wards doesn’t feel right either.

  14

  Erik

  Monday was Rhys’ turn for bad news. The Sunday after that, it was Bastian’s.

  And on Wednesday, I get mine. This time though, it’s a message from a dragon, one I haven’t spoken to in almost five hundred years. Luka Mettler, Gisele’s father, wants to talk to me, and he’s just outside the Königsforst, waiting for my reply.

  “It’s a trap,” Casius says at once. “Mettler is over twelve hundred years old. He’s been sulking in the Alps for centuries. Why this sudden need to talk to Erik? And at midnight?”

  Bastian nods. “I agree with Casius.”

  “As do I,” Rhys says promptly.

  “Who’s Luka Mettler?” Aria asks.

  I wince. “He’s my mate’s father,” I reply. “I haven’t spoken to him since Gisele’s funeral. He blamed me for Gisele’s death, and for the death of the unborn child.”

  Aria’s face goes white. “She was pregnant when she was killed?”

  Fuck. Of course she didn’t know. It’s not like I’ve discussed any of this with her. “I’m sorry,” I murmur. “I should have told you.”

  “That’s okay. I get it. It’s hard to talk about.”

  But hard though it is, it needs to be done.

  I’ve changed in the last few weeks. It’s not just Aria. Hanging around with my fellow dragons feels good, much better than the isolation of Castle Valder. For the first time in centuries, I look forward to each day.

  Aria deserves to know everything. As much as I will always feel a twinge of sorrow when I think about Gisele, the ho
nest truth is, I’ve barely thought about my long-dead mate in the last few weeks.

  Instead, I’ve thought about Aria. Infuriating. Brave. Stubborn. My mate.

  I’m finally ready to move forward, ready to look to the future instead of dwelling on the past.

  But first, I need closure. And for me, that’s a conversation with Luka Mettler.

  “We can’t even be sure that this message is really from him,” Casius continues.

  “Who else can it be?” I ask. “I mean, look at this. The note is written on parchment, and it’s stamped with Mettler’s wax seal.” The dragon has ignored everything that’s gone on in the world since the death of his child. Cell phones have not invaded Luka’s world.

  Mateo, who’s been silent so far, speaks up. “I have a bad feeling about this.”

  I give him an irritated look. “You’ve been saying that for weeks.”

  “And I’m right every time,” Mateo retorts.

  I get to my feet abruptly. “Thank you for the advice. But I need to do this.”

  “I’ll come with you,” Bastian says. “If that’s okay?”

  He’s worried. And so am I. Gideon’s on a rampage. Innocent people are getting attacked. Magicals are starting to talk, to panic. Bastian’s kept everyone on a pretty tight leash ever since he came of age, but I wouldn’t put it past other dragons to use the chaos for their own nefarious purposes.

  And if Luka Mettler turns out to be a pawn in someone’s sinister chess game, then I’ll be foolish to go alone. “I’d appreciate it.”

  Aria bites her lower lip. “I want to come too. If Zyrian is involved in this, he’ll bring magic to bear. I can be useful.”

  “No,” we all say at once. “It’s too dangerous, princess,” I tell her.

  She narrows her eyes and glares at me, but I’m unmoved. When it comes to her safety, I’m never going to relent.