Shake The Earth: Her Elemental Dragons Book Three

by Briggs, Elizabeth;

  “Almost ready to go?” Kira asked, as she moved to my side. Being so near her instantly made my body awaken in a primal way, reminding me of all the ways that I was male and she was female. Her shining red hair was tied back today, and a memory of brushing those long strands came to me, along with a desire to see her hair down about her naked shoulders, preferably spread out on a pillow below me.

  “Just about.” I shook off the thought and folded up the map. Jasin and Auric had shifted into their dragon forms and were stretching their wings and preparing for a long flight, while Brin and Reven were loading our supplies onto their backs. I couldn’t believe they were all going along with this madness too.

  Kira gave me a smile that brought back indecent thoughts again. Gods, she was beautiful. “We're going to stop at my old village to get supplies and rest for the night. We should make it to the base tomorrow.”

  I scowled. “Assuming there really is a base there. For all we know your ‘friend’ is leading us into some kind of trap.”

  “Why would he lead us into a trap?”

  “I don't know. But I don't have any reason to trust a bandit either.” Maybe he’d do it to make it easier to kill us and rob our corpses. Or maybe he’d do it to steal Kira away from us. Or maybe he just wanted to mess with our heads. How should I know?

  She rested her hand on my arm and some of my tension faded. “You trust me though.”

  “Of course I do. But were you ever going to tell us you were a bandit?”

  Her face fell. “I was going to tell you eventually. It's not exactly something you bring up in everyday conversation, and I was worried what you all might think.” She looked up at me with hazel eyes that were tinged with worry. “Do you judge me harshly for what I've done?”

  I sighed and pulled her into my arms, holding her close to my chest. The revelation about her being a bandit had come as a shock, even though I understood why she’d done it. I just didn’t like the thought that she was hiding things from us. “No, we've all done some things we regret. I simply would have liked to know about your past before it came back and surrounded us with weapons.”

  Her fingers gripped my shirt as she gazed up at me. “I understand, but I’m not the only one whose past is haunting us. You mentioned there was something you needed to tell me, and you haven't explained how you got involved with the Resistance, but I’m not going to push you. We all have things we'd rather not talk about.”

  She was right, it wasn’t fair of me to judge her for keeping secrets when I’d kept a few of my own. Secrets that would soon be uncovered once we arrived at the Resistance base. Better to reveal them now, no matter how much I hated talking about this part of my past.

  “I’m ready to tell you now.” I took a deep breath, and then I released her and stepped back. “I mentioned before that when I was younger I was close to a girl in my village.”

  “Yes, I remember.”

  I swallowed hard. Once the past came out, it couldn’t be ignored or forgotten or avoided any longer. I’d have to finally face it. “Her name was Faya and we grew up together. There weren't a lot of other people our age in the village and it seemed inevitable we'd be married. But that never happened.”

  “Thank the Gods,” Kira said with a tight smile. “Otherwise you wouldn’t be my mate.”

  “Indeed.” I rubbed the back of my neck, trying to figure out the best way to tell this story. “Faya had a strong rebellious spirit and wanted change and progress. When she was a child her father was killed by the Crimson Dragon for speaking out against the tax hike, and that moment clouded everything she did, as I’m sure you can understand. She tried to fix all the problems in our village and as she grew older she wanted to fight against injustice. I was the one who balanced her out and steadied her, especially when her passion made her act without thinking. But eventually I wasn't enough.”

  “What happened?” Kira asked.

  “Faya became involved with the Resistance, who had a small camp near our village, and it was like she’d finally found her true calling. She encouraged me to get involved too, but I was hesitant because of the danger involved. I agreed to make them weapons and armor, but no more, and only because I loved her and could tell this was important to her. We were engaged to be married by that time, and I suppose I thought she would settle down once we were wed.” I shook my head, disgusted at my younger self. “I was a fool. She began to spend more and more time with the Resistance, and especially their leader, Parin. I grew jealous and worried about her safety, and we fought a lot. She planned to become more active in the fight against the Dragons, and I longed for a quiet life without trouble. I wanted to be a husband, a father, and a blacksmith. She wanted to be a revolutionary.” I turned away from Kira, unable to look at the pity in her eyes as I got out this next part. “On the eve of our wedding, Faya confessed she'd been sleeping with Parin and had fallen in love with him. She wanted to join the Resistance permanently and she asked me to come too. She said she still loved me and wanted to be with both of us. Parin had already agreed to share her…but I couldn’t do it.”

  “Oh, Slade, I'm so sorry.” Kira slid her arms around me from behind, resting her head on my back.

  “After that night, I cancelled our wedding and cut all ties with the Resistance. I never saw her again.” I turned toward Kira and returned her embrace, cradling her in my arms. “But that was many years ago. I've moved on with my life, and I see now that it was all for the best. I wasn’t blameless either—I never should have tried to tame her spirit or prevent her from doing what she felt was right. And if I had stayed with her, I wouldn’t be with you now.”

  Her brow wrinkled. “Are you sure you’re happy with that? We’ll likely never have a quiet life. Being with me goes against everything you wanted before.”

  “What I want has changed over the last few weeks with you.” I pressed a kiss to her forehead. “I simply wanted you to know about Faya before we arrived at the Resistance base, as there might be some...awkwardness if she and Parin are there.”

  “Thank you for telling me.” She rested her head against my shoulder. “That must have been horrible for you. She cheated on you and betrayed your trust. No wonder you've been so resistant to this relationship.”

  I stroked her hair as I held her close. “This path the Gods have sent us on has been unexpected and difficult to accept sometimes, but I'm committed to you and to our duty. Never doubt that.”

  “I know.” Her eyes fixed on the collar of my shirt, and her voice came out hesitant. “Although I hope you’ll come to care for me as well.”

  “I already do.” Now that I’d revealed my past, speaking the words came easier. I slid my hand along the soft skin of her face, before tanging my fingers in the hair at the base of her neck. “Kira, I've always cared for you.”

  Her eyes flickered back up to my face, searching for the truth in it. “Always? I find that hard to believe.”

  “Always.” I drew her close and caught her mouth with mine, giving her a firm kiss. Her hands slid around my neck and her body pressed close, waking up parts of me that had been long neglected. I'd been celibate since Faya had left me eight years ago, but soon that would change. I couldn't deny I was looking forward to it, especially because it was Kira. She was the first woman I'd wanted after Faya broke my heart, and I wasn't going to let her go. Even if it meant sharing her with the other men. I'd find a way to accept it somehow...because I had to. Kira was my destiny, and that meant the other men were my destiny too.

  And she was worth it.

  6

  Kira

  As we flew across the sky, I thought about what Slade had revealed this morning. I understood now why he had such a problem with the idea of sharing me with the other men. Not only had he grown up in the Earth Realm, but he'd been betrayed by the woman he’d loved. Faya had tried to cover up for her mistake by claiming she still loved Slade and wanted to be with both men, but if she'd known Slade for so many years then she must have known that woul
d never work. Slade was the most loyal, dependable man I knew—and he expected the same from the ones he loved. When she’d cheated on him she’d broken his trust along with his heart, and there would be no return from that.

  Our situation was completely different, and though he may understand that on an intellectual level, his heart was still wary. Underneath his tough exterior he worried he would be hurt again. I had to show him that would never happen with me. But even if I did somehow, could Slade ever really love someone again? Or had his past relationship with Faya robbed him of that forever?

  We stopped for a quick lunch, where we ate most of our reserves of bread, cheese, dried fruit, and preserved meat. I sat apart from the men with Brin, who couldn't believe she'd slept through the entire bandit encounter and had me repeat the story for her three times, before asking a hundred questions about my past.

  “They lived in the Air Realm back then,” I said, before biting off a piece of beef jerky. “Cadock rescued me. That's how I met him.”

  “Rescued you from what?” she asked, as she brushed a bug off her trousers.

  “I stopped in a small village looking for work. By then I'd been on the road for a year by myself and coin wasn't easy for me to come by. I didn't have a lot of useful skills, and I'd become pretty desperate for some food and shelter. Two men caught me and tried to kidnap me. I think they wanted to sell me.” I shuddered at the memory. “Cadock killed the men and saved my life. His father's gang took me in and taught me much of what I know now. If it weren't for them, I'd probably be dead by now. Or worse.”

  “Lucky for us that he found you,” Brin said. “But I'm surprised you left.”

  “It’s hard to explain, but as I grew older I began to feel like my place was somewhere else. And though I cared about Cadock a lot, I knew it was time to move on.” I shrugged. “Maybe the Gods were whispering in my ear that my destiny was with four other men.”

  Brin sighed. “I can't believe I slept through it all. I always miss the excitement.”

  I leaned back and gazed up at the cloudless blue sky. “Don’t worry, I have a feeling there's a lot more ahead of us. Starting with this Resistance base.”

  “You think we'll find trouble there?”

  “I hope not. I don't know much about them though, and Slade is worried.”

  “I know little about the Resistance beyond rumors and whispers. I can't imagine they'd be a problem though. After all, you want the same thing as them.” She patted my hand. “You have nothing to worry about. And if it does turn out to be a trap, I’ve got your back.”

  “I hope you're right.” I smiled at her. “I'm so grateful you came with us on this journey.”

  “I wouldn't miss it for anything. I only wish I could be of more help.” She shrugged. “When surrounded by people who can use magic and turn into dragons, it's hard to be useful.”

  “You help me keep my sanity, give me a break from my overbearing men, and let me vent to you about whatever is bothering me. That's more important than anything else.”

  She let out a delightful little laugh. “Yes, that is what friends are for, and I can see how you might need an escape sometimes. Very well then, what’s troubling you these days?”

  I bit my lip, then made myself ask, “You've had multiple lovers at one time before, haven't you?”

  “I have...” she said, her voice laced with interest.

  “How do you make sure you're giving each one enough attention?”

  “I had a very detailed calendar,” she said with a wink. “But truly, it's all about balance and being in tune with their needs and feelings. I'm sure you'll figure it out in time.”

  I wasn’t so sure about that. I glanced over at Slade, who was shaking his head at something Jasin was saying. “What do you do when one of them isn't happy with sharing you?”

  A frown graced her red lips as she followed my gaze. “Sadly, I'm not sure there is anything to be done. It usually ends up with one of you ending the arrangement.”

  I sighed. “In our case that isn't an option.”

  “Then I suppose you both need to find a way to ensure you're all happy. Communication and honesty is the best bet. If you love each other, you'll make it work.”

  If only it were so easy. Slade said he cared about me, yes, but love was another thing entirely.

  We rejoined the others and took off again on our dragon steeds, and soon the terrain became familiar. My excitement and anticipation grew with each farm and hill we went over, every one bringing us closer to Stoneham—and to Tash. Brin was a good friend, but I’d only recently met her and we came from completely opposite worlds. She’d grown up among the nobility and was practically a princess herself. Tash, on the other hand, had been like a sister to me for years. Her family had taken me in and given me a home and a job when I’d been desperate to settle down somewhere, and she’d mended my bruised soul with her kind smile and warm heart. She was the first person I’d told about being the Black Dragon, and I couldn't wait to catch up with her again soon. I wanted to know all about how she was doing after her father’s death, and learn how the inn was faring now that she was running it.

  As we approached Stoneham, I eagerly gazed across the forest where I used to hunt, until I saw something strange. Parts of the forest had turned black, the trees turned to cinder, the leaves now ash. It started with a few small patches, but then it spread as we grew closer to the village, until there was nothing left of the forest but death and decay.

  My hands gripped Auric's scales harder and I yelled, “Hurry!”

  Auric and Jasin pushed harder, their wings beating at the air, and the burnt remains of the forest gave way to a much worse scene. And no matter how fast we flew, it was already too late.

  All that remained of Stoneham were ruins. Homes and shops had become crumbled, blackened husks, and there was not a single living person in sight. The ground had split open right through the middle of the village, tearing apart the lives of everyone in it, and fire had finished them off.

  Emotion choked my throat as Auric landed and I jumped off his back. The heady smell of lingering smoke clogged my nose as I ran down the road, but it didn’t stop me from yelling out, “Tash? Launa? Anyone?”

  Brin called out my name, but I ignored it. The others hung back as they took in the destruction, but I had to get closer to be sure it was real. I stumbled through the ruins in a daze, calling out for the people I once knew. Charred wood scattered the ground, which had turned thick and black, similar to the area around the Fire Temple’s volcano where lava had once flowed. A few scattered bones poked through the black debris, but that was all I could find of the town’s inhabitants.

  A picture began to form in my mind of what had happened. Sark hadn’t been the only Dragon who’d done this—this time he’d had help. The Jade Dragon had torn apart the very ground under the town, causing many of the buildings to collapse before Sark had set fire to them. Lava had risen up out of the deep trench and spread to envelop much of the town, and Sark had made sure anything it didn’t touch was turned to cinders. There was nothing left.

  Had anyone made it out alive? Or had Sark chased them down and roasted them one by one? Was that what those patches of fire were in the forest? My stomach churned at the thought, and I swallowed down bile as I continued forward.

  At the edge of the village I found the rubble that had once been the inn—my home for the last few years. Some other buildings had partially survived, though they’d never be able to be salvaged, but not this one. It had been so thoroughly destroyed it was impossible to tell it had once been a two-story inn teeming with life. Now all that remained was a black crater in the earth.

  I moved forward anyway, my heart unwilling to accept what my eyes clearly saw or the acrid scent in my nose. My boot struck something hard in the ash, and I glanced down at it. Something white stood out from the debris. A bone.

  I bent down and touched the pale white surface, and revulsion instantly spread through me. I felt the lack of l
ife within the bone keenly, and it made me want to yank my hand away. Death was the opposite of my spirit magic, and being so close to it tore at my soul. And worst of all, I could sense who this bone had once belonged to.

  “Tash!” I cried out, my throat burning. I sank to my knees, instantly coating them in thick black soot, as tears streamed down my face. She couldn’t be gone. None of this was real. It was a bad dream, a nightmare my mind had conjured up using memories of my parents’ deaths, when Sark had burned our home alive with them trapped inside. Except every one of my senses told me this was real, from the air I choked on, to the ash on my skin, to the bitter taste in my mouth. The bone in front of me was undeniable proof. I just didn’t want to believe it.

  The people in Stoneham were innocent. Tash was the kindest girl I’d ever known. And now they were gone. Forever.

  All because of me.

  7

  Reven

  I slid off of Jasin’s scaled back while Kira dashed through the ruined town. Slade started after her, but I stopped him with an arm across his chest. “Give her a moment.”

  He scowled, but reluctantly nodded as Kira slipped away. I keenly remembered coming home to a scene like this, and the shock and horror that came with it. There was nothing we could do for her until she had a few minutes to process what she was seeing. She’d lived through this before too and she was strong. She simply needed time.

  Jasin growled as he looked around. “How could they do this?”

  “This is what they do,” I said, willing my voice to be hard to keep it from wavering. “We’ve seen it before.”

  “Never on this scale,” Auric said, turning to face me. “Doesn’t it bother you?”

  I crossed my arms and ignored his question. Of course it bothered me, more than they knew, but I couldn’t show that side to them. If I let one crack break through my cool exterior, I’d fall apart completely. The memories would come rushing back and they would wear me down until I was nothing but a husk, like those buildings in front of us. I wasn’t going to let that happen, not when Kira might need me.