“If you can take her, then I’m sure I can handle it.” Gemma glared, and I wasn’t sure if she was truly offended or teasing.
My hands went up in mock surrender. “I’ll be sure to remind you of this moment when you’re crying because you can’t walk after one of her ‘lessons’.”
She flipped me off, and then it suddenly clicked. My bestie wanted to keep up with dragons in case things continued with Talon, and I suddenly felt like an asshole. So, I added, “I’m happy to help, too. Might be better to start with someone who actually cares if you live rather than the psycho dragon.”
She grinned from ear-to-ear. “I’d love that. Both of you can teach me, so that I know Raegan isn’t taking it too easy on me, either.”
Stubborn girl.
Once we were all done eating, the guys took our stuff back inside while the three of us stayed at the table. Just as JayLeigh began to convince Gemma that there was no time like the present to begin training, a loud bang sounded at the front gates.
“What the hell was that?” JayLeigh asked as we all got to our feet to run that way.
“I don’t know, but we’re about to find out,” I replied.
“Enzo’s going to be so pissed.” Gemma laughed.
Yeah, he was, but only if it was something bad. Plus, the noise was so loud that they had to have heard it inside, so I fully expected them to be right behind us.
We sprinted to the front entrance and didn’t immediately see anything. Just as we began to turn around to search further down, a big-ass dragon appeared in our line of sight.
“Marek,” JayLeigh whispered in surprise.
I hadn’t seen him in his dragon form while I’d been in Drakken, so I didn’t recognize him, but I should have with his burgundy scales just a few shades deeper than mine. The biggest difference between our two dragons was that his had three significant black spikes on his head, along with a near-perfect black stripe from the top of his head down to the end of his barbed tail, whereas mine only had two smaller spikes and no stripe. Though Chelle’s head wasn’t something to be feared, her tail was. She was quick to flick it and, while the barbs weren’t long, there were more than a handful of them, making it easier to hit whatever target we aimed at.
Marek shifted when he got to the arched entrance and walked through to meet us, wearing the men’s version of the bodysuit I loved. Instead of a one piece, his consisted of loose black pants and a tight shirt that showed just how powerful his human form was as well. “Are you okay?” he asked, looking between the three of us.
“Yeah, why?” I asked.
“Malina’s last message I received said since I wasn’t willing to give up my home without a fight then she’d take something else of mine away. I left Drakken as soon as I found out. She intends to kill you.”
“That makes no sense. She needs me to get back and forth to Drakken. She took one of my scales to get through. I’d assume she needs more if she wants to do it again, unless she bonds with a dragon,” I said.
JayLeigh shook her head. “She wouldn’t need you if she was able to get her hands on a dragon she didn’t care about. One who was easier to control. One without a team willing to fight against her.”
Gemma growled. “Did that bitch steal a dragon while she was there?”
Marek nodded at her, seeming somewhat confused, since he didn’t know who Gemma was. “Yes, she took Joren.”
“Damn it,” JayLeigh hissed.
Marek’s face fell. “I know. Now, she’s coming for Raegan, and you all need to prepare if you haven’t already done so.”
Enzo and Talon showed up just as Marek said that last part. Both looked rather furious that we’d taken off without them, but they were smart enough to hold their tongues and not yell at us in front of the dragon king.
“We’re prepared, but half of our group was supposed to meet us in Maine,” Enzo said.
“There’s no point. I can all but guarantee she’s already headed here. She had a full day in Drakken for a head start. I didn’t get her message until we realized Joren was missing. He lived alone, but still, it took longer than it should have.”
JayLeigh grasped his shoulder. “Don’t take the blame for this. Malina did this to all of us. We’ll figure out a way to stop her.”
“Yes, we will. So, come on. I’ll show you to Headmaster Stone, and we can change our plans.”
His face fell. “As long as it’s not too late.”
My arm hooked around his as I led him back to the academy. It was a small gesture, but it seemed to cheer him a little as he grinned at me. We needed more positive thoughts if we had any chance of making sure nobody ended up dead.
Two hours later, the first group from New Orleans arrived and the sun was just beginning to set. Enzo was off showing Marek to his room, and I was working with JayLeigh and Gemma.
While I hadn’t been on board with Gemma getting her ass kicked right away, JayLeigh reminded me I was only increasing her risk of getting hurt by holding her back. The fight was coming, and we all needed to be ready.
Talon had promised to stay by her side the entire time, but shit happened, and if my best friend was killed in a battle that I felt partially responsible for, I wasn’t sure I’d ever move past it. I needed her to be okay, so as I watched JayLeigh kick her ass up and down the field, I smiled instead of grimaced.
A vampire my aunt knew from New Orleans even ended up stepping in to teach her a few tricks about tapping into her speed she never used. My hope increased considerably when I saw how willing everyone was to help each other while we waited for Malina’s pending arrival.
Enzo finally joined us, wrapping his arms around my waist from behind. “Did I miss anything?”
“Nothing much. Is Marek settled?” I asked.
“Yeah, though he’ll be back out here shortly. I saw Alistair as well. The rest of the groups from New Orleans are on their way. Some are spreading out to cover the surrounding routes to Shadow Veil to be lookouts, and the rest should be here by morning.”
“Good. Now we just have to hope Malina doesn’t show before then with her own army. We’re lucky Marek came when he did.”
He nodded as we continued to watch the groups around us, all of which seemed excited to be back at Shadow Veil. Conversations filtered through the air about memories of the school most of them had attended.
When the sun fully set and the moon rose high in the sky, there was still no sign of Malina, but the tracking spell had confirmed whatever signature of hers we were picking up was moving in our direction.
“Why don’t we take turns sleeping?” Enzo suggested when he caught me staring at Gemma curled up on Talon, pretty much dead to the world after her training sessions.
“Too much adrenaline pumping through me to sleep right now,” I replied.
“At least make me feel better by resting? Even if you don’t sleep, try to shut down your mind for a bit. It will only help you when you need to be focused later.”
He was right. I was no good to anyone if I was exhausted from being up all night. “Promise, if I do fall asleep that you’ll wake me if there is any news?”
His lips pressed to my forehead. “I promise.”
Accepting that would have to be good enough, I leaned my head against him and closed my eyes, but it was a long while before any thoughts ceased. By the time I thought I had a chance at falling asleep, the vamp who had been helping Gemma blew by us and stopped in front of the headmaster.
“Five miles out, a horde of supes are heading right for the academy.”
“Thank you, Zeke. Please, pass the information along to the other group leaders. We’ll drop the shield and prepare,” Headmaster Stone responded.
Marek was at our side in an instant. “Are you ready?”
“As we can be,” I answered.
“Good. I’ll be looking for Malina as soon as they arrive. I won’t let her get her hands on you again, I promise.”
I took his hand in mine. “I know you’ll do your b
est, but you can’t blame yourself for any part of what may happen tonight. This is all on Malina and we need to focus on taking her down, not what could happen.”
“I’m sorry I wasn’t here sooner. I could have stopped all of this, but I let the seer’s words bring fear. I should have been a better leader.”
JayLeigh appeared from thin air like she loved to do and punched him harder than was probably necessary in the chest. “Uncle Marek, if I ever hear you say anything like that again, I will cut you.”
It was the first time I’d heard her speak to him with any sort of disrespect, and the wide eyes and shock that appeared on Marek’s face was totally worth it.
“Yes, my precious niece. I’ll do better,” he finally answered.
“That’s better. Now, let’s go take our places. Not much longer until they arrive.” JayLeigh crossed her arms, waiting for the rest of us to begin moving.
Before we could get very far into the crowds, orbs of light flew through the sky, and everyone around us scattered to avoid them. Enzo grabbed my hand and we ran together. As soon as the orbs touched the ground, they blew up like grenades, and panic ensued.
“Well, I guess she doesn’t want to chat first,” Gemma grumbled from behind me.
When I glanced back to make sure everyone was okay, I saw Gemma tucked into Talon’s side with a little bit of debris dusting her face, but no scratches. JayLeigh had gone into a partial shift, so I couldn’t really tell if she’d been hit by anything, but I knew for certain she was pissed off from her glowing eyes and the rumbles coming from her chest.
There was a cut on my arm from a rock, but nothing that wouldn’t heal within a few minutes. So, I disregarded it as our smaller group formulated a plan.
“Talon, Gemma, and JayLeigh, you three come in from the east side of the gates while Enzo, Raegan, and I take the west. Someone let out a sharp whistle the moment you spot Malina,” Marek said, taking charge like the king he was.
“What about Jules and the council?” I asked. My head turned in every direction, but I’d yet to spot them.
“They were in Alistair’s office when I came back outside, but I’m sure they heard the explosion and they’ll be here soon,” Marek answered.
No other words were spoken as we turned back toward the front gate, which was nothing more than a pile of stone, and saw the horde of people coming toward us. Glancing around at our own army, I took a small amount of peace from the fact that the chaos had died down and everyone was gathering into groups like we had.
Marek had surprised me earlier with the dagger I’d used in the forest on my last day in Drakken. He said it was mine now and to use it during the battle. There was no arguing from me when he’d given it to me, and his nod of approval when I’d pulled it from its sheath as we moved in told me he was pleased as well.
“Whatever happens, don’t let anything separate us,” Enzo said next to me.
“I’ll do my best,” I replied, unwilling to promise him something I wasn’t sure I could do. If someone needed my help and Enzo was otherwise engaged, then I’d do what I needed to assist the others who had come to help us.
His teeth ground together at my response, but he knew better than to argue with me, especially as scavengers, vampires, elves, and shifters charged for us.
As I raised my dagger, I completed my half-shift, and Chelle was right there with me. Her mind was already processing the scene and the best course of action. Even though I was still mostly in my human form, Chelle had lived many lives, so I trusted her instincts explicitly.
Move right, she demanded, and I complied. Scavenger to your left, bear to your right.
We were one as I dissolved the scavenger and engaged the bear. Enzo was at my side, handling another elf, but I wasn’t worried about him as I focused in on the bear.
He was easily seven feet tall in a half-shifted form, but he didn’t seem to have nearly as much control over his beast as I did. The human part of him seemed to be fighting against the bear, and I wondered how many shifters were struggling with their other halves. If they were all like Chelle, then I’d bet most of those who were siding with Malina would be having one hell of a time staying in control.
My talons raked across my attacker’s stomach, but not deep enough for a fatal injury. As he righted himself, I could see his body shrinking back to normal size and the bear part of him fading away.
“You’re all going to die today,” he snarled at me. “Malina will reign supreme, and we will all be free to live at the top of the food chain.”
Swiping my dagger at him, I laughed. “You’re an idiot.” The dagger had only been the distraction, though, as my fist plowed into the side of his head.
The shifter swayed from the impact, so I took advantage of his disorientation and hit two more times. I wasn’t aiming to kill if I didn’t have to. If I could knock someone out, I would. Malina had poisoned these supernaturals’ minds. Most of them likely deserved a second chance.
Once the bear was down for good, Enzo joined me and pressed his hand to the guy’s head.
“What did you do?” I asked as we continued to move further into the battle.
“Keeps him in a deep sleep.”
His words reminded me of a witch spell I’d learned the year before about deep sleeps, one Desmond had used on me when I was taken to Malina. I’d have to try it on my next opponent, considering I still had some witch left in me.
Gemma and Talon could be seen about twenty feet in front of us. She was bleeding from a hit to her head, but there was a fierce determination in her eyes that told me she probably had no idea it was even there.
When I gazed around their area, I caught where her focus had been, and it was on Sylas. The bastard had harmed the wrong girl, and he was going to find out how revenge felt by the end of the battle. I wished I could have helped her, but Talon was at her back, so I didn’t worry about it for too long.
Marek was nowhere to be found. He seemed to have disappeared when I’d been fighting the bear, but all thoughts of him disappeared as my eyes landed on Desmond.
Red tinted my vision as I thought about all the wrongs he’d done, all of the selfish choices he’d made and needed to pay for. This would be one attacker I would have no mercy for, another who would learn that he’d crossed the wrong girl.
Witch incoming, Chelle said, reminding me that while my target was only a few yards away, I still had to go through several others to get to him.
The woman was tossing magical spells intended to hurt me like she had a never-ending supply. Thankfully, my badass dragon suit deflected most of them, but the ones that hit exposed skin burned like a mother.
“You will die for your betrayal to our queen!” she yelled as she barreled right into me, knocking me off my feet.
“First, crazy lady, Malina is no queen. Second, get the hell off of me!” With both hands braced against her gut, I pushed with all of my force.
The witch flew backward and landed in a tangled mess of arms and legs a few feet from me. As I stood, I retracted my claws, so the psycho wouldn’t bleed out when I wrapped my hand around her throat.
She moved to throw another spell at me, but I kicked her in the ribs and bent over to grab her. As my grip tightened, I tapped into my dragon strength and lifted her up. Her arms flailed as she struggled to breathe, but I didn’t loosen my hold until she was on the verge of passing out.
“Dormito.” I whispered the spell into her ear before dropping her to the ground like a bag of rocks. She was stronger than I had previously given her credit for as I watched her fight the spell, but it wasn’t enough.
When I was sure she was out, I searched for Desmond again, but I couldn’t find him. Turning around, I saw Enzo was headed my way. He opened his mouth to yell something, but it was too late.
My eyes saw stars from the impact of whoever had punched me.
Reagan, I’m so sorry. I didn’t sense him, Chelle cried in my head, but I shook her off. Nobody was perfect, and our attacker was good
at what he did. She wasn’t to blame. He was.
Before I turned around, my eyes caught the sight of Enzo being ambushed, confirming I was on my own for the time being, but that wouldn’t stop me.
Desmond was going to die.
Chapter 25
Desmond’s cold, calculating eyes watched me as I decided on my next move. Chelle was itching to shift and finish him, but that was too obvious, and I was afraid he had a plan for that. He had coveted my dragon scales, and I had no desire to give him access to them.
“Your mother isn’t here to save you now,” he taunted.
“I never needed Malina’s help to stop you, and she’s certainly no mother to me,” I spat as we circled each other.
“Oh, that’s right. Lara, the stuck-up sorceress, is the one you considered mommy. That bitch shouldn’t have rejected me for her weak husband. It was one of my greatest pleasures when I got my revenge.”
“When you what?” My skin stretched tight as fury took over, and I almost lost control of my half-shift.
“That’s right. I killed your parents and now, I’m going to kill you, but not before I take what I need from you. I can’t trust Malina, and you’re my back-up plan. Now, be a good little dragon and shift.”
Just as I had previously assumed, Desmond expected me to shift and I might have been able to hold back from doing so if he hadn’t admitted to killing my parents. As rage continued to bubble up within me, I had no control left.
Don’t worry, he won’t live long enough to touch us, Chelle said as my bones broke and adjusted to our dragon form.
“That’s right. Do as your told, Raegan,” Desmond goaded as he backed away to avoid getting crunched by my larger form.
When I was fully shifted, we moved toward him, not wanting to prolong the inevitable. Desmond was going to die by my dragon. I refused to let him get away with murdering my parents and everything else he had done to the supernatural world.
His hands began to rub together, and I thought it was because he was excited, but I should have known better. It was too late by the time I realized he was cooking up a spell.
Deadly Declaration (Shadow Veil Academy Book 2) Page 21
