Dragon Fire Academy 3: Third Term

by Rachel Jonas

  I hadn’t always put much stock in my queen’s moral compass, but I knew better now. A long journey ended with her heart and soul coming into alignment with her strength.

  ‘It’s the only way,’ Kai assured her one final time, the solemnity in his voice impossible to miss.

  If she hesitated much longer, Chief’s body wouldn’t be able to hold the dark energy and, if the possession killed him before the deed was done, the beast would escape. In other words, Noelle needed to act quickly, or this would have all been in vain.

  Now having her mate’s blessing, she brazenly leveled her gaze on Chief Makana. Then, with speed that defied natural law, blazing wings engulfed in turquoise flames exploded from her back. The power the Darkness had over her before, suppressing her abilities, no longer had a hold. She was—for the first time in a long time—completely herself, completely in control.

  With the same swiftness with which she’d called upon her dragon, both wings stretched wide as blueish-green firelight filled her eyes.

  “May Spirit have mercy on your soul,” was her final wish for our Chief, before passing the sharp edge of one wing through his neck, cleanly removing his head.

  The ground quaked violently as the echo of what sounded like a hundred or more disembodied screams surrounded us. Loose stones from the decaying prison tumbled to the ground with the force. Right before our eyes, the body of our chief wilted in Noelle’s hand.

  Destroy the vessel, destroy the Darkness.

  The deafening silence that came next settled upon us, and the Earth itself seemed to quiet in response to the act. An eventual gasp filled Noelle’s lungs with air after having held her breath for so long. Tearful, she slowly laid the body to the ground and the unmistakable relief in her eyes signified the feeling that resonated through me as well.

  It was finally over.

  Still weak, I made it onto my feet just in time for her to fall apart in my arms. Footsteps could be heard all around us, as our own band of witches made quick work to apprehend those who had aided Chief Makana. It was clearly understood before this mission that, once we had them in our custody, death would be their fate to suffer.

  The sound of their ghastly wails echoed across the courtyard, accompanied by the vicious snarls of our wolves. They eagerly tore Chief’s minions limb from limb. And when they were done, only one remained.

  Maisy.

  Queen Evangeline stood over her, staring down as the lone witch cowered on the ground. The two had a long history. History that predated this era. Joining her at her side, Noelle’s grandmother, Elise, placed a hand on her daughter’s shoulder.

  “I believe it’s only fair that you do the honors,” were the words that passed from her lips before the very blade Chief Makana once held was delivered into the queen’s hand.

  I turned my gaze toward Noelle, to the sound of an empty plea for mercy, a desperate scream, and finally silence.

  Loud thuds vibrated the ground when my brothers were finally free, dropping down to the soil beneath them. The branches that once held them had loosened, allowing them to rush this way. Toward the one we had all fought so hard to save.

  Somehow, our hive hadn’t lost its queen today, but we had gained so much more than we expected to.

  We gained a new family.

  Noelle’s embrace slipped from around my waist only to move toward her father when she saw him approaching. The hug she attacked him with would have made a lesser man lose his balance, but Liam—The Reaper—was no ordinary man. And it was because of his and the queen’s strength that Noelle was no ordinary woman.

  A kiss went to the top of Noelle’s hair before she finally let him go, rushing toward Kai, Rayen and Paulo next.

  We stood alone, Liam and I, watching her.

  “I was wrong.”

  Those weren’t words I expected to hear leave his mouth, but I reveled in them.

  “Your hive’s love for Noelle is undeniable, and all any father wants for his little girl is the kind of devotion and loyalty I saw from you four here today.”

  A broad hand extended toward me next, and I didn’t hesitate to shake it. There were no hard feelings. I liked to think I’d have children of my own one day, and I couldn’t imagine I’d be any less protective than he’d been.

  “That means a lot, sir.” After I addressed him, I was surprised even further by being brought into a half-embrace.

  “Take care of her,” he declared as we separated. The expression he wore made it known that leaving her in the hands of another was no easy feat.

  Meeting his gaze, so he’d know I meant every word, I nodded and spoke from my heart. “Looking after your daughter will be an honor. We won’t let you down.”

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Noelle

  “Are you absolutely sure you can’t stay a little longer?”

  Yes, I sounded like a kid, begging my parents not to leave, but it’d been so long since I got to spend time with them. Now, they were going all the way back to the mainland. It hadn’t been enough that they stuck around an entire week after we effectively destroyed the Darkness. If they never left it would still be too soon.

  The feel of my dad’s arms tightening around me only made me miss him more, and he hadn’t even left yet.

  “If it weren’t for fear of your brother and sister driving Aunt Roz insane, we wouldn’t rush off, but you know your siblings.”

  And I did. Lea and Evan were a handful already. Lord only knows what trouble they’d get into once they aged up and experienced their first shifts.

  “Hug them for me, and make sure to tell them I’ll try to make it home soon.”

  “I will,” he promised, letting me go.

  My mother stepped into his place, and I fought the tears that threatened to fall. There was a tenderness about her that I’d missed. She could make anything seem like it’d be okay—one of her unspoken superpowers. One having nothing to do with magic, and everything to do with her being a great mom.

  “We’re leaving you in good hands,” she said quietly, passing a gaze toward the Omegas.

  ‘And now that we’re tethered,’ she said inside my thoughts, exercising the new connection, ‘there won’t be any early-morning surprises.’

  My face turned warm when she teased me about the nonconventional way in which my family met my mates. Among the many reasons I needed a failsafe means of contacting home, being able to receive a warning call before visits was definitely high on that list.

  ‘Thanks for that,’ I said just to her as we embraced.

  Dallas and Gram, then my aunts and uncles practically squeezed me to death, but I loved every second of it. They had all come through for me when I needed them most, and their gesture of love was one I would never forget.

  Things were so peaceful here in Sanluuk since the island had been rid of the entity that grew, spread, and infected its most sacred places like a disease. It made for a relaxing time with nearly everyone I loved in this world—minus the few who had to stay behind. This week of peace had given me a chance to see what my new life would be like, and the picture was so different from the one I painted before my time at the academy. It only seemed fitting that my uncle Nick stepped up last. He, too, knew a thing or two about life throwing curveballs.

  “Take care, kiddo.”

  He squeezed me hard until I laughed, finally setting my feet back down on the dock just beyond the bungalow.

  “Thank you,” I said with a nod, adding, “for everything.’

  It wasn’t lost on me that he had a thing or two to do with my dad softening toward the Omegas. Even before having a chance to see their fierce love for me in action during our trek into the north.

  “Anytime,” he said with a smile, and they all moved toward the shore, leaving me to stand with all four of my mates waiting behind me.

  Breathing deep, I shoved both hands in my pockets and watched them go. It wasn’t easy by any means letting them leave, but one thing was for sure.

  Here, in San
luuk, I would never be alone.

  My back rested against Ori’s chest when he brought me close by my shoulders. To my left, Kai and Paulo stood, and Rayen to my right. As the distance between my family and I grew, I felt the bond between my mates and I strengthen even more.

  “Gonna be okay?”

  I peered up above my head when Ori asked, smiling because he was beautiful and so full of light and love.

  “I’ve got you four, so the answer to that will always be yes.”

  My stare shifted to the perfectly blue sky as a flock of birds passed above, singing their song to Spirit as a breeze moved the large palms in slow rhythm.

  Watching me take in all the beauty that surrounded us, the corners of Ori’s lips curved upward into a smirk. “We’ve got a ton of work to do. Think you’re up for that?”

  There was an entire half an island healing itself as we spoke, and the next phase was to rebuild. With Kai’s pending status change to Island Chief, and with the previous council in custody and awaiting trial by the Elders, so much of that work would fall on us. It would be a long road to full restoration, but there wasn’t any reason to rush.

  Because we had forever.

  Turning to face them all, I had never felt prouder than I did then, but above all else, I had never felt more at home.

  Here, I was in my place, where I believed I was always meant to be. The Omegas stared as my grin grew to a full-on smile, and my bare feet moved me backwards across the dock. Their gazes slipped lower when I tugged the hem of my tank free from my jean shorts and then eyed the water.

  “I’m up for it,” I teased, finally responding to Ori’s question, “but the work will still be there tomorrow.”

  Naturally free-spirited, Paulo got the hint first, already pulling off his shirt to reveal the smooth rolling hills of muscle it never really concealed to begin with.

  He jumped into the lagoon with a huge splash that had me challenging the others with a look as I stripped down to the bathing suit I had on underneath.

  “You guys game or lame?” I teased, kicking off my flip-flops next.

  There were plans to draft, delegates to appoint, and committees to form to get the ball rolling. However, despite it all, Kai threw caution to the wind next, diving in fully clothed and drenching me where I stood. Rayen was right on his heels, leaving only Ori to decide.

  “What will it be? You gonna leave me hanging?” I asked, toying with my necklace—the thoughtful gift from my alpha he’d recently returned to my possession.

  His expression was serious as he turned to observe his brothers having already forgotten about the legal pads and blueprints we’d left on the coffee table for discussion. Ever the leader and facilitator of our hive, I wouldn’t have been surprised if he put his foot down and told the guys there was no time for this.

  However, what did take me by surprise was being swooped up into his arms and held against his chest. A laugh exploded from inside me and I found it hard to believe I deserved to be this happy, but the look in his eye said otherwise. It said that he believed I deserved it and then some.

  I took advantage of the closeness and surprised him right back with a kiss. Beneath my palms, his shoulders relaxed and the weight I used to sense there was nonexistent. Since the island’s cleansing, I’d seen a whole new man in Ori. One who, more often than not, was lighthearted and carefree. He had earned that.

  “Hold on to me,” he warned, when I finally released his lips. The statement was meant to prepare me for the plunge we were about to take, but it meant more than that to me.

  I would now, and forever hold on to him and each of the Omegas. They were fierce, they were loyal, and they would forever rule my heart.

  ***

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  THE COMPLETE LOST ROYALS SAGA

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  Hotheaded dragons, ferocious wolves, powerful witches … this series has it all!

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