Age of Dragons

by Olivia Ash

  I don't answer. Except in rare occasions, that's never a question I answer. I instead watch him with a grim expression, daring him to press the issue.

  “She was,” Jace corrects after a moment, standing behind me and holding my shoulders firmly.

  His touch sends shivers of pleasure through me despite the severity of the moment, and it's comforting to know he has my back through all things. Regardless of who I was and where I came from, he loves me. All he cares about is who I am now and who I can be.

  Russell sighs in disappointment, his shoulders drooping slightly as he leans back against the wall behind him. “Does Harper know?”

  I hesitate, tempted to ignore the question again, but I eventually nod.

  The next time he talks to her, he’s going to find out anyway.

  “And Irena?” he continues. “She’s a Spectre, too?”

  I narrow my eyes skeptically, wondering where he's going with this and if there's an end in sight.

  He takes my silence as his answer and nods as if I confirmed it. “Look, I meant what I said, Rory. If you're here, you're safe. Besides, Jace wouldn't mate with a monster.” He hesitates, rubbing the stubble on his jaw as he stares out the window. “But when the other Spectres come, I can’t have you recognizing your friends on the battlefield. I can’t have you allowing for—”

  “When they come, they'll die,” I assure him, not letting him finish the thought. “I have no affection for any of them, and I didn’t have any friends in the Spectres. They're here to kill me and the people I love.”

  Russell pauses, not acknowledging that he heard or understood my answer, and I wonder if that's a tactic of some kind to throw me off my game.

  It’s effective. I think I’ll try that next chance I get.

  “And Tucker…” he says, trailing off, waiting for me to finish the sentence.

  Yet again, I'm tempted to simply ignore it. To say nothing. But I remember the trouble Tucker faced when he first came here, when Jace knew there was something off about him but wasn't quite sure what it was. I need to nip this in the bud to make sure that Tucker's safe.

  “Tucker is dead to them,” I say vaguely, even though I'm positive Russell knows exactly what I mean. “And they're dead to him.”

  Russell lets out a slow breath, and when he looks up, his full and intense focus is on Jace. “Is this what being the dojo master is like?”

  “Yeah,” Jace says with a nod as he pats Russell on the shoulder. “You're doing great, Russell. Just don't let Harper get her way. That's all you've got to worry about.”

  The three of us chuckle, a bit of tension lifting from our shoulders as Russell accepts the sordid pasts of Irena, Tucker, and me.

  He was right about one thing—we don't know when the war is coming, and the wait is going to be agonizing. I can feel the battle on the horizon. I can taste the blood and smell it in the air.

  I'll face off with Zurie again, and as I promised her the last time we met, one of us is going to die. There will be no escape for her, no way out, no chance to retreat and come after me again.

  This is it. Come hell or high water, she’s going to die—by my hand, or preferably, by my claw.

  Chapter Thirty-One

  I sit on the roof of my tower with Levi beside me, and I'm fidgeting because I'm just so freaking antsy.

  Four days have passed since our meeting with Russell, and it's always the same news—every morning and every night.

  The troops are mobilizing.

  An attack is imminent.

  And then absolutely nothing happens.

  Beside me, Levi stretches out on the roof with his eyes closed, his hands behind his head as he takes deep and serene breaths.

  “Try to relax, Rory,” he says with his eyes still closed.

  “I can't, damn it,” I say, pushing myself to my feet. “How are you so calm, Levi?”

  A little smile plays at the corner of his mouth, but he doesn't answer, and he doesn't open his eyes.

  I pace the stone shingles two hundred feet in the air, glaring at the horizon with deadly focus. Adrenaline buzzes through me like it has for the last few days as I wait for something to happen.

  And wait.

  And wait.

  I just want to do something.

  In the distance, a tight formation of twelve dragons bank in perfect synchronicity above the forest, scoping the perimeter. As I pace along the roof, I zero in on them, my ears ringing slightly as I focus and tune out the world.

  Waiting for a sign. Waiting for them to act.

  It looks like they might have found something as they circle the same area twice, and I wonder if they're going to dive.

  If it's starting.

  If Zurie is here.

  There are troops deployed across the surrounding area, even more than were here a few days ago. As General of the Fairfax army, Russell summoned troops from the capital itself to ensure we had enough firepower.

  We have so many soldiers crawling these woods and camping on the mountains around us that if someone so much as sneezes out there, a dragon will bite their head off within ten seconds.

  These troops are armed and ready to defend their home.

  The squad hovers, banking again around the patch of trees in question before they continue their patrol.

  False alarm.

  It took some convincing, but Russell allowed my men to go on patrol as long as they remained within the lands closest to the embassy itself—no perimeter patrols for them. Tucker, Drew, and Jace are currently leading a squad through the forests as they help where they can. Levi, however, said he wanted the night off.

  Uh huh.

  Sure.

  It's almost like they think I haven't realized they always leave one man behind to stay with me.

  To protect me.

  It's sweet, but again, unnecessary. I would rather be along the walls, out in the forest, doing something useful, rather than just standing here pacing and brainstorming various ways Zurie can break in.

  Every time I try to help, however, I get an earful from Russell and a call from Harper, asking me to go drown myself in chocolate ice cream and just relax already.

  It's getting annoying.

  Behind me, Levi groans and stands. I don't hear any other movement, and for a second or two, I figure he's just standing there looking out at the horizon like I am.

  That is, until I feel his hands on my shoulders.

  I flinch slightly in surprise, and I don't know if I'll ever get used to his stealthy silence. As his fingers run along my arms, his cool touch soothes the bubbling tension within me. My treasonous body impulsively leans backward into his chest, and I have to confess I'm happier simply with him nearby. I'm able to breathe a little easier, but I still don't rein in my intense glare across the horizon as another squad makes their rounds.

  “Irena said they're coming,” he says calmly. “So, they're coming. It won't do any good to obsess over it.”

  I shake my head. “Russell went overboard. He shouldn't have called in the other troops! He should have asked me first, and I could have told him that it would tip off Zurie. We lost the advantage, Levi,” I say, looking over my shoulder at him as I once more start to pace. “She knows that we know.”

  I curse under my breath, furious at Russell, knowing full well what Zurie is doing out there now.

  She's debating moving forward. If she does, she risks being outnumbered. If she can wait us out, she can hang around until we let down our guard.

  Or, after assessing the danger, she might simply leave.

  Zurie is desperate, but she also knows when to fight another day. Killing me and Irena is her only reason for living, and she will wait as long as it takes to ensure it happens.

  Levi's hands once more brush along my shoulders, and this time he kisses me tenderly along my neck. His lips on my skin open our connection, and a swirling storm of calmness seeps into me.

  The zen and peace he’s feeding into me both settle my heart, even
though I know they’re not my emotions at all. Through our connection, and by using his own emotions against me, he soothes the dread in my gut and fogs my mind.

  “That's not fair,” I chide even as I relax into him. “We have to be poised and ready to go at a moment's notice. I can't be calm.”

  “Poised, yes,” he says. “Obsessive, no.”

  I frown, not entirely agreeing as I continue to survey the forest around us.

  As I scan the horizon, a handful of troops change shift. Dozens of exhausted soldiers filter over the bridge and into the barracks for a bit of sleep before they have to do it all again.

  I stiffen as I watch them enter the embassy, one after another. I hate that so many people's lives are in danger because of me, and I'm still tempted to leave to draw Zurie away. I'm getting frustrated about all the risk Russell is taking on, all in the name of protecting their former dojo master.

  All in the name of protecting me.

  Levi abruptly spins me around, and for a moment, I'm dizzy—which is never a good thing when you're standing two-hundred feet in the air, on a roof. But he holds me tightly, his blue eyes watching me with an intensity that steals my breath away.

  Shit. He must have heard all of those thoughts, since our connection is still open.

  I'm so focused on Zurie that I simply forgot he could read my mind with the connection open.

  “Zurie is coming with an army,” Levi says seriously, his eyes narrowing as he dares me to debate him. “You need to have one, too.”

  “But it's not my army,” I remind him, gesturing to the soldiers funneling into the embassy behind me. “It's Russell’s. It's Harper's. Who am I to ask them to put their lives on the line for me?”

  “They're not doing it for you,” he says gently, his gaze softening just a little as he runs his fingertips lightly along my cheek. “They're doing it out of love for their home. Harper is being threatened, same as you. They're protecting their Boss, the woman who runs their family, who makes them strong and wealthy. They're protecting her.”

  I frown, my gaze falling to the roof tiles as I think about what he's saying. “Maybe, but—”

  “The dojo stands for peace in a world that tries to take it from them regularly,” Levi continues, not letting me finish. “So, these soldiers are fighting for Harper, yes. But they're also fighting for that right to simply live. Besides, these people would die for Jace—which means yes, they would die for you, too. But you're one of just many reasons they're fighting, Rory. Keep that in mind and give yourself a bit of grace.”

  I don't want to.

  Truth be told, I want to do everything in my power to convince Russell to let us leave—or, hell, maybe just go.

  But as I think through everything Levi's saying, I can't deny that he has a point.

  “The truth is…” Levi trails off, gently rubbing my arms as he stares off into the horizon, trying to form his words. “The truth is you're not just some dragon, Rory. You're not even the dragon vessel anymore.”

  “What do you mean?” I ask, genuinely confused.

  Wherever he's going with this, I'm not following.

  “Rory, diamond dragons were lore until yours came into being,” he points out, studying my face as he speaks. “The only ones ever thought to exist were the gods themselves.”

  He pauses as that sinks in, and for a moment, I simply can't comprehend it.

  “You don't mean…” I trail off, not even able to finish the thought.

  “Yeah,” he says, nodding.

  I may not just have the gods’ magic.

  I might be a fucking god myself.

  “That's a bit heavy, don't you think?” I ask, looking at him, wondering if that could possibly be true.

  “Perhaps,” he admits. “But one thing's for sure, Rory, you're meant for more than this dojo.”

  I run my hand through my hair, taking a few steps away from him to clear my head and settle my racing heart.

  “You've been saying for a while now that you're not sure we should stay here,” Levi continues, letting me walk away and collect my thoughts. “I think you're right, especially now that Jace can leave. After this mess with Zurie, we go.”

  Despite the heavy topic of conversation, I look at him over my shoulder and smirk. “So, now you're bossy, too?”

  He grins. “I might be picking up a few things from Drew, yeah.”

  I chuckle, admiring him for a moment. The dark hair. The brilliant blue eyes. The way he leans ever so slightly forward, like he wants to pull me close and hold me tight, but is just barely holding himself back to give me the space I need right now.

  “We should find Ashgrave,” he continues. “Drew's been looking for it, but now I think Harper is looking, too. And Jace. And Russell. Everyone wants to help you find your new home.”

  I smile, watching him affectionately as he sets his hands on his hips, trying to make me see reason.

  “Okay,” I say with a small nod.

  His brows lift in surprise, as if he expected me to fight this harder. “Really?”

  “Really,” I promise.

  We're going to find Ashgrave come hell or high water, and I just hope it's more than ruins and legend.

  “For now, though,” I say, gesturing toward the forest. “Let's just focus on stopping my former mentor, who keeps trying to kill me.”

  “Yeah,” he says, laughing. “That’s fair.”

  From the mists behind the dojo, a jet-black dragon soars into the dark sky. Golden magic glimmers along his body, glowing just beneath the thunderbird’s scales.

  Russell.

  He flies directly toward us, and I square my shoulders as I prepare for bad news.

  The new dojo master lands on the roof, cracking a few tiles beneath his talons as he lowers his head toward us, inviting us to speak with him.

  I set my palm against his forehead, and Levi follows suit by setting his hand against the dragon’s neck.

  The connection opens, and a blur of Russell's thoughts tumble through. I catch snippets of him flying through a forest, branches snapping under the heavy force of his wings. The brown and green blurs of the woods around him whiz by, disappearing as quickly as they come into vision.

  Are you staying out of trouble? he asks, his voice cutting through the fragmented memory.

  I smirk. Trying to.

  He chuckles, the hot breath snorting through his nose as his dragon laughs. Wanted to let you know since you probably already saw it, but movement has been detected in the southern woods. We've taken care of it already, he adds with a stern look toward me. Some bounty hunters. Nothing major.

  It might still be Zurie, I warn him. It could be a distraction or a test of your forces and response time.

  I considered that, he admits. I sent the response team in a little slower than they wanted to go, simply to give false intel.

  “Thank you,” I say, grateful he’s taking the threat seriously.

  We also found traces of explosives along the base of the cliff beneath the dojo, he admits, stiffening slightly in his ire that someone could get so close. Security has been doubled, and the bombs are being quickly dismantled as we—

  “Wait,” I order.

  He snorts impatiently Wait? What on earth for?

  A wicked little grin creeps across my face. “Let them think they’ve won this round.”

  Levi and Russell both watch me, the two shifters confused as my plan slowly forms.

  But this—this is perfect.

  “That’s Zurie’s style,” I confess. “She loves a good explosion, and I suspect that’s one of her failsafes. She spent a lot of money and cashed in a lot of favors to get those explosives down there, and I assume she strategically planted them?”

  Along structural lines, yes, Russell admits. At first, we thought little of it—these explosives are so small, I couldn’t see what good they would do. As our explosives team began to disconnect them, however, they realized these are highly advanced. If they all were to detonate at o
nce, the entire island holding the dojo would crumble.

  “That’s the plan,” I promise him. “She wants to wait until as many people are there as possible and implode it.”

  Why hasn’t she already? Levi asks.

  “She wants to watch me die,” I say, my eyes darting toward him. “She has to know for a fact that I’m dead.”

  She sounds charming, Russell says dryly.

  “Oh, the best.” I roll my eyes. “Russell, look for the GPS on each explosive. There will be one, I guarantee it. Leave those behind, and if possible, don’t let them move.”

  Russell hesitates, but he slowly nods as he pieces together where I’m going with this. We trick her. We let her think this worked.

  “Exactly,” I say, smirking. “That gives us the upper hand, for now anyway.”

  His bright eyes shift toward me, electric and fierce, and he nods, my hand moving slightly with the subtle movement of his head. We're ready, Rory. And when the time comes, I want you to stay out of the fray.

  He hesitates, waiting for me to agree. Even Levi looks up at me, waiting to see what I'll say.

  I choose to say nothing because I don't want to lie.

  Not to them.

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  I stand on a balcony looking over the vast forest around the dojo as the moon climbs across the sky.

  I couldn't sleep if I wanted to, and as I lean against the railing looking out into the night, all I can do is wonder where Zurie is. What she's thinking. What she must have planned. Why she's waiting, and how she's spending the time.

  With Jace asleep in the suite through the open double doors behind me, part of me wishes I could join him. This is a new bedroom, close to the wing where the rest of us sleep—but this stretch of the embassy is reserved for war heroes.

  An honor Jace has certainly earned.

  As a gust of wind blows by me, ruffling my hair, I stand upright with my arms crossed and my legs in a wide stance. I'm ready for a brutal war that just won't start, and anticipation for the battle buzzes through me, making me restless.