by Jana Downs
“Where’s the heir to the Azure clan?” Druis’s authoritative tone brought him out of his thoughts.
“We don’t know, Dru. Alex never responded to your summons,” Ezekiel’s quiet voice responded, and Devon noticed the sudden tension that filled the room at the mention of this Azure clan heir. Abraxas’s displeased look stood out to Devon most, and it made him wonder what had happened between the Azure clan and everyone else to cause such a strong reaction.
“Maybe we sent the wrong summons to the Azure clan. Maybe Alex didn’t assume the position as clan heir after the death of his brother, Reign. What if another family took over and has yet to be presented in court? The tragedy only happened a couple months ago, and didn’t the Night clan have something to do with it? I bet they didn’t send him because they knew Abraxas would be here and they were afraid he’d murder Alex just like his cousin did Reign.” Cerilius spat the words like an insult at Abraxas, and the energy in the room cackled around Abraxas as he glared in Cerilius’s direction. Devon noticed sparks of electricity forming around Abraxas’s hands. That must’ve been the power of the dragons his father had told him about.
“I’m warning you, Cerilius. Don’t fuck with me.” Abraxas’s nostrils flared, and his knuckles turned white from where he was clenching his fists so tight. Cerilius pursed his lips, holding his tongue, and Devon was glad he did. The look in Abraxas’s eyes said he meant business, and Devon had the sinking feeling that if Cerilius had kept on, Abraxas wouldn’t hesitate to kick his ass.
“Enough, Abraxas, Cerilius.” Druis barked the order to both men. “Besides, I’m certain that has nothing to do with it, Cerilius. I would have expected there to be a formal announcement if that were the case. The Azure clan has always kept mostly to themselves, but for them to disrupt the natural hierarchical order of things is completely out of character.”
“But you have to admit, nobody’s ever seen Alex outside the Azure palace walls. I mean I honestly didn’t expect him to come even if he is the heir,” Asher said as he leaned against the pillar closest to him.
Druis rubbed the temples on his forehead. “I don’t care what the reason. The king is dead, and as is tradition, the heir to their clan should be here to pay their respects. Now I have to spend my afternoon storming their palace because they blatantly ignored a direct summons from the late king. I should charge them with treason!” His anger was obvious as he slammed his fist into the nearest wall. The stone gave way to his brute force, crumbling and cracking under his power. It was unlike anything Devon had ever seen. Any normal man would have broken his hand throwing a punch like that at a stone wall.
“I’ll go get Alex for you, Druis. I don’t mind.” Ezekiel’s soft voice interrupted Druis’s raging fit momentarily, and it seemed to noticeably calm him down. He nodded in affirmation.
“Fine. Just be quick about it. In fact, why don’t you just fly there? That way you should be back by nightfall.”
Ezekiel bowed. “As you wish.”
“Wait, did you just say fly there?” Devon asked as he looked to Druis. “As in, he’s going to turn into a dragon, grow wings, and fly?”
Druis chuckled. “You’re a strange one, you know that?”
“I’m strange!” Devon scoffed. “You can turn into a big scary dragon and I’m the strange one.”
“To each his own I suppose.” Druis flashed a daring smile. “You ready to see what being a Draconian is all about?”
Devon swallowed as a mixture of excitement and anxiety coursed through his veins. He couldn’t imagine someone being able to transform into a dragon. The scientists back home would have a field day. A wave of nervousness washed over him as he tried to build up his bravado, but the idea of being face-to-face with another enormous creature had him sweating in apprehension.
Without so much as a warning sign, Ezekiel’s energy surged the room, blowing open the entire back wall as it swung outward like two overly large double doors. Devon watched in horror as his bones and skin became distorted. The crunching sound as they broke and rearranged themselves sent a wave of nausea straight to his stomach. He looked on, too shocked to turn away, as the man before him grew larger and larger.
Ezekiel’s arms elongated into front leg-like structures as a pair of golden wings ripped from the flesh in his back and expanded. Even his facial features distorted until they resembled that of a mythical dragon, like the ones depicted in paintings and drawings Devon had seen back home. His thigh bones curved into a shape similar to that of a cat’s hind legs, and his feet stretched until claws erupted from the fleshy skin surrounding them. The ripping noise was something Devon was sure he was never going to forget.
The last bit was his tail as it sprang from Ezekiel’s backside, completing the transformation. His iridescent golden scales shimmered in the light and the massive creature took a step toward the door. Ezekiel was so massive that his new form almost filled the entirety of the room, which was pretty impressive considering the room had to be as large as a football stadium and as tall as a twelve-story building.
He flared his nostrils before taking the two steps and exiting to the courtyards just beyond the open wall. Ezekiel expanded his wings and took off to the skies, leaving Devon standing in awe at what he’d just witnessed. He could feel the color drain from his face as a sickening sensation filled him, leaving him light-headed and dizzy.
“Are you all right?” he heard Druis ask, but his voice sounded far away, and the ringing in his ears was growing louder. The world began to tilt as specks of blackness clouded his vision. He felt his knees buckle out from under him as he succumbed to the darkness that encased his consciousness before he even felt the impact from the fall.
Chapter 2
“You reading again, bookworm?” The sudden overcast shadow caused Layden to look up at the intruder. He smiled faintly as he saw it was Abraxas who was towering over him. Closing his book, Layden rolled onto his backside, and Abraxas joined him on his picnic blanket.
“I’m studying for my physics exam if you must know, besides shouldn’t you be in court, anyways?” He snuck a glimpse of Abraxas from the corner of his eyes and blushed. Abraxas had always been devilishly handsome, and today was no different.
“And miss our secret rendezvous? Never.” Abraxas flashed him an impish grin, sending chills down Layden’s spine. He had a way of leaving him breathless. Ever since they were little, Layden had looked up to him. Abraxas was the only one to ever really notice him. Not even his fellow clansmen paid him much attention. They were always too busy catering to his elder brother, Reign. But Abraxas saw him. He understood him in ways no one else could.
Through the years, their fondness for one another had grown into love and their secret rendezvous had become more frequently filled with intimacies than with anything else, but all that was about to change.
They would be finishing school soon, and eventually Abraxas would become leader of the Night clan. Their duties were bound to drive them apart because of the tension between their two clans. Ultimately, one of their families would put an end to their relationship, but for now, Layden was enjoying just being beside him. As though Abraxas had read his thought, he reached out and entwined their fingers.
“You really shouldn’t put off your duties to bother with me. You know it’s only going to be harder when we have to end this,” Layden said. He closed his eyes and bit his bottom lip to stop the tears from falling. He’d promised himself that he wouldn’t cry about this anymore.
“I don’t care about being clan leader. I care about you,” Abraxas argued. Layden felt Abraxas shift, and he opened his eyes. He was met with Abraxas’s beautiful aquamarine gaze as he leaned over top of him.
“You know our families hate each other, and I know you have no choice. I don’t want to cause you any more problems. We both know where this is going.” Layden couldn’t stop the words. They’d been the same fears circling his thoughts for a while now.
Abraxas ran his fingers through Layden’s hair,
playfully twisting his loose strands and ignoring Layden’s statements of the inevitability they both knew was coming. He leaned in closer until their lips met. The kiss was all that Layden needed to soothe his worrying. He reached up, wrapping his arms around his lover, not wanting this moment to end, but it did, as they always did and always would.
“You could never cause me any problems, Layden Azure, and one day when I become clan heir, I swear I’ll put an end to this silly feud between our families and come back to claim you. I promise this to you. You’ll never have to leave my side on account of our families. I’ll fight for you until the very end.”
Abraxas’s words did little to ease the pain inside his heart at the inescapable outcome of their relationship, but he smiled anyways and didn’t press the issue any further. Today, he could forget about the future and just enjoy the last few moments he had with his lover.
Abraxas rolled to his back, and Layden curled onto his chest. The warmth of the sun surrounded their bodies as he traced the outline of Abraxas’s muscles with his fingertips. He leaned up and placed a gentle kiss onto Abraxas’s cheek.
“Just promise you’ll always love me and never forget about me,” Layden whispered his request into Abraxas’s ear. Abraxas’s hand around his waist tightened, pulling up Layden’s T-shirt to expose the sensitive spot on the curve of his abdomen. Layden jumped at the feel of Abraxas’s hands on his bare flesh as a rush of desire flowed through him.
Abraxas lifted Layden’s chin, forcing their eyes to meet. “I promise I will always love you, Layden, and I’ll never forget you. How can I when you mean everything to me?”
* * * *
I promise I’ll always love you, Layden, and I’ll never forget.
Abraxas’s words echoed in Layden’s mind as he stared out the bay window.
His words had been nothing but lies and empty promises, and after all these years, Layden still couldn’t escape the memory of Abraxas.
“Layden, this is unacceptable.” His mother’s voice pulled him out of his thoughts as he tore his gaze from the Night clan palace in the distance. “You’re bringing dishonor upon your people by blatantly ignoring our dying king’s request for an audience with all the clan heirs!”
Her fury could be felt throughout the entirety of the room as she glared at him with pursed lips and flared nostrils.
“I told you, I don’t want to be clan heir. Alex is next in line for the throne anyways. Send him.” His tone was void of emotion as he responded with the same answer he’d given the first time she demanded that he go.
“Layden Azure, this is not up for debate. You will obey me—”
A knock at the door interrupted her rant, and Layden was grateful for the distraction as she moved to answer it. For the past twenty-five years of his life, he’d spent his time alone, being pushed into the “forgotten” pile as he watched his parents devote all their time and energy into Reign, and now that he was gone, they expected Layden to pick up the pieces and carry on the family name as clan leader like none of it had ever happened. It was bullshit.
“Lord Ezekiel, what a pleasant surprise!” His mother’s enthusiasm was as fake as her emotions.
“Good evening, Lady Azure. I’ve been sent to collect Alex and bring him to the Romano Palace for the test set forth by the late king.” Layden watched as Ezekiel bowed before his mother. It was the traditional way to greet the current clan leaders. After her acknowledgment, Ezekiel stood up and met Layden’s penetrating stare.
“My apologies, Ezekiel, but Alex won’t be attending. I will be sending his younger brother instead. We have decided to make him clan heir in place of his brother, Reign.”
“Like hell I’m going!” Layden shouted in anger at his mother’s disregard for everything he’d been saying the past two months. She turned to face him. Her stormy eyes were glazed over with rage.
“You will go, Layden. You know Alex is in no condition to become clan heir, and I will not have one of my children defy me, no matter what age they are.” Her threat held weight as her power pricked Layden’s skin, sending an uneasy feeling throughout his body.
“Don’t make this harder on your mother, boy.” His father’s deep tone reverberated throughout the room, and he rounded the corner of the entryway just in time to hear Layden’s protests. “You know this family has been through enough hardship after what that damned Night clan did to your brother. If you refuse to do this, I’ll have no choice but to strip you of your powers and title.”
Layden held his tongue. He knew his father was serious and there was no way around this. His only option was to become clan heir. It wasn’t the thought of being homeless and titleless that bothered Layden, but having his powers bound was another thing entirely. He wouldn’t be able to survive one night on the streets without them. Layden clenched his teeth in anger. He hated feeling powerless over his own decisions.
“Fine,” Layden seethed as he stood and crossed the length of the room to stand next to Ezekiel. “Let’s go.”
Ezekiel exchanged a perplexed looked with him but didn’t ask any of the questions Layden knew were racing through his mind. Instead, he turned to say good-bye to Layden’s parents.
“I apologize for the short visit, but I must return with Layden before nightfall.”
“No need to apologize, Ezekiel. Feel free to stop by any time.” His mother’s warm smile only pissed Layden off more. He couldn’t stand to look at them any longer. He hated feeling like his sole purpose in life was to become his brother’s replacement. He didn’t want to be Reign. He wanted to be invisible again—to be left alone. Their affections were superficial. They didn’t care that his brother had died or how Layden felt about the situation. All they cared about was remaining head of the Azure clan and ensuring one of their children became heir.
Without another glance back at them, he stormed out the door and headed for the Romano Palace where he was sure his fate as clan heir would be sealed forever.
* * * *
“Daddy, what are dragons like?” Devon stared up at his father with wide child eyes as his father pulled the covers up over Devon, tucking him in for the night.
“Dragons, you say?” His father paused as though he were pondering Devon’s question. “Well, they’re big, giant creatures covered with shining scales that glisten in the sun. They have long, beautiful wings that can carry them over all the lands, and some can even breathe fire.”
His father gestured with his hands, emphasizing each word as he spoke.
“Wow, I bet they’re pretty amazing! Flying all over the world, having magical powers. I wish I was a dragon!” Devon’s small hands balled into fists with excitement as his father chuckled with amusement.
“Well, maybe if you go to sleep, you just might get to see a real dragon.”
Devon pursed his lips as he eyed his father with disbelief. “Daddy, dragons aren’t real.”
“You never know. Anything’s possible.” His father winked at him as though it were a secret that only they shared. His dad leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on Devon’s forehead, and the roughness of his beard tickled Devon’s skin, making him giggle.
“Goodnight, Devon. Sweet dreams.” His father patted the top of his head as he always did before standing up and heading for the door.
“Daddy?” Devon’s small voice called out to him, and his father turned back around.
“What is it, Dev?”
He beamed at the nickname. “Do you really think dragons exist?”
His father flashed him a warm smile that made his rugged features crinkle. “You bet I do, and one day we’re going to find their secret world where you’ll see the dragons flying through the sky. You and me, Dev, just you wait.”
* * * *
“Devon?” A voice pulled him from his dreams, and he opened his eyes.
“Mmm,” he moaned, blinking a few times until the faces gathered around him came into focus. An aching throb pounded on the side of his head, and the blinding light that filled t
he room did little to ease the pain.
“Where am I?” he asked as he tried to push himself up. “What the hell happened?”
“Whoa, easy there,” someone to his left said as an arm snaked around his waist to support him.
Devon looked to see who had helped him and was greeted by Druis’s worried face. The memory of the last twenty-four hours came flooding back to him. He must have hit his head pretty good when he passed out because it appeared he’d been out for quite some time. The clan heirs were no longer dressed in their formal attire, and he’d been moved at some point to a bedroom.
“Thanks, Druis,” he mumbled as he let the larger man help him to an upright position. The unfamiliarity of the place left a bad taste in Devon’s mouth, and his dream about his father had him suddenly feeling homesick. He hated to admit it, but his brother was right. He really should’ve just left the magical shit alone.
“Do you care to stay with him?” Druis asked Asher. “I need to go prepare for our journey. We only have two months to locate all five dragon stones of Raj required for the Ceremony, and it’s been centuries since they were last used.” He cast an apologetic look back to Devon. Devon had no idea what he was talking about.
“I’m fine,” Devon said, reassuring him. “I don’t need to be babysat. I just fainted, that’s all. I haven’t had much sleep these past few days with my archeological dig, and I think I just got overwhelmed.”
Druis raised his eyebrows. “You sure? I can have someone stay with you if you want.”
“No, that’s okay.” Devon gave a weak smile to the man who had been so kind to him since he’d first arrived. He really didn’t want Druis to worry so much. He had enough on his plate with all this planning and the death of his king. All Devon was succeeding in doing was causing him more grief. “I’d really like to take a shower, actually.”
