Dragons of Cinderhollow Bundle

by Hawke Oakley

  Halo

  A low, throbbing pain seeped through my whole body. I groaned as I came to. When I tried to touch the source of the pain at the back of my head, an unpleasant and familiar noise jingled in my ears.

  The sound of steel chains.

  Instantly, consciousness hit me, and I was fully alert.

  My wrists were bound. Again. I blinked rapidly to clear my blurred vision, and I realized the lines of grey weren’t just leftover shapes from my aching eyes - they were bars of a cage.

  Shackled, caged. That instantly put a damper on things. What else did I have to deal with?

  “He’s awake.”

  “Halo!”

  The voices pierced my head like steak knives. I shut my eyes then blinked them a few times to adjust to the torch light in the darkness. I noticed by now that I was locked inside the same cage from earlier, except James was gone.

  I followed the voices. One was Silas, leaning against the far wall with a pleased expression. The other was Kass. He sat in a chair and leaned forward awkwardly. Then I noticed his hands stuck behind the back of the chair. He must have been handcuffed, too.

  The fog of pain and blacking out faded, and I remembered what happened. We were in the caverns, trying to save James, when he cried out to look behind us and then…

  I glanced at the cage’s lock, then the shackles. I could shift into my dragon form - or any large creature - and break both of them instantly.

  But Silas must have read the expression on my face. He thrust the pole-knife against Kass’s throat. Kass froze. The sharp edge pressed against his flesh, enough to put pressure on it but not enough to pierce the skin - a thinly veiled threat.

  “Don’t even think about it. He’ll be dead before you can even try.” He glared down at Kass. “And that goes for you, too.”

  “I thought I was too valuable to kill,” I said sarcastically.

  Silas frowned, but it quickly twisted into a smirk. “You are. But you do have a lot of non-essential parts I can probably hack off.”

  “Fun,” I muttered. “So, where’s James? You hack his non-essential parts off, too?”

  Silas rolled his eyes. “He ran off, crying, as soon as I unlatched the door.”

  So he didn’t try to stay and fight for us? I thought bitterly. Whatever. At least he has his own self-preservation in mind.

  Silas withdrew the blade and Kass let out a gasp. “We have what we want. Anything else is unimportant.”

  “Again with we. Are you gonna introduce us to your friend or what?” I demanded.

  Kass’s eyes widened in terror for my sake. I’m sure he wanted me to shut my fool mouth, but I had no intention of doing so right now. I was pissed. I was sick and tired of being captured and chained up by this idiot.

  A slow smile spread across Silas’s mouth. “Yes. It’s about time you met my friend, isn’t it?”

  Despite myself, I shuddered at the way he said friend - even though I didn’t quite understand it yet, it was very clear they weren’t just friends.

  “Master, if you will?” Silas called.

  My heart raced. Master. Who is he calling master?

  A low, deep sound reverberated throughout the cavern walls, followed by heavy footsteps. I froze, my eyes glued to the darkness on the opposite side of the tunnel. When the beast emerged, I couldn’t contain my tiny gasp.

  A massive black dragon stomped out of the darkness and into view. Its wings scraped the top of the tunnel as it approached. The whole creature barely fit inside the cavern.

  But that wasn’t what horrified me the most. The dragon’s scales weren’t smooth and glossy the way they should have been. Instead, huge swaths of scars marred the dragon’s skin, making it look mottled rather than pure black.

  The worst part was its face. The same scars warped its snout, permanently revealing parts of its teeth.

  When it turned to look at me, its eyes glinted with hatred.

  My skin prickled uncomfortably. There was something eerily familiar about those eyes.

  So his master is another dragon, I thought. But it’s not one I recognize…

  “Ah, welcome, master,” Silas said, bowing his head. “It’s good to see you. I think you’ll be pleased with who I’ve found for you.”

  Both of them stared right at me, like I was a precious jewel instead of a living, breathing person. I scowled.

  I had a bad feeling about all of this.

  The dragon approached me, causing a heavy thud with every step. His claws were black and thick, looking like they could slash through the cage with a single blow. But his back claws were completely different - they were horribly overgrown and scraped across the ground. They looked like they hadn’t been cut in a very long time.

  I didn’t have time to wonder what that meant, because the dragon stuck his face close to the bars and exhaled a nasty, smoky breath. I winced against the bad smell.

  “Hello, Halo Fire-Eater.”

  His deep, draconic voice made me shiver and I backed away into the corner. Those eyes and that voice - why did they sound so sickeningly familiar?

  “Silas, what’s going on?” Kass demanded. “Tell me right now!”

  Silas gave Kass a shove with his boot, the way someone would knock away an annoying dog. “Quiet. This doesn’t concern you anymore.”

  “Halo is my mate!” Kass snarled, struggling against the binds. The ferocity in his voice surprised me. “Anything to do with him does concern me!”

  “Maybe it’s time you introduced us, Silas,” the dragon growled, his voice rumbling throughout the cavern. His eyes narrowed at me again. “Especially since we’re going to be together for a long time.”

  “Yes, master, of course.” Silas stepped forward, gesturing towards the dragon. “Kassius, this is the great alpha Zenon.”

  Horror struck me.

  No, it couldn’t be...

  Slow confusion spread across my mate’s face. “Zenon… Why does that name sound familiar?”

  Silas smiled. “Because he’s the leader of the Black Ice pack - the one you and the rest of the Knights were so desperate to get rid of.”

  “Stop lying,” Kass snapped. “Zenon was a wolf shifter, not a dragon. Tell me who he really is.”

  “It’s not a lie,” Silas said calmly. “Why is a shifter with two forms such a shock to you?”

  “Because only shifters from Cinderhollow can shift into multiple forms!” Kass shouted, getting agitated. “And he’s obviously not from Cinderhollow since he was attacking us from the outside!”

  “Maybe not originally, but that doesn’t mean the ability doesn’t run in his blood,” Silas said, glaring at at Kass.

  “What?”

  “His parents were born in Cinderhollow, and left it behind. So while Zenon was born outside Cinderhollow, he still retains the ability to shift between those forms. Does your small brain understand now?” Silas taunted.

  Born outside but still with Cinderhollow blood, I thought, my mind racing. So he can shift into a dragon and a wolf, but wouldn’t be able to enter the barrier…

  Recognition flashed like a strike of lightning. The horrible realization of this dragon’s identity caused me to stagger backwards, my heart racing a mile a minute. Yes, I realized who he was now. The same man I’d met centuries ago. The realization was slow and cold, gripping my ribs, and my voice was calm from fear.

  “How did you get inside?” I demanded.

  Zenon smiled. “Simple. When you used your time travelling ability, your presence in space and time was unclear. For a brief moment, it was like you didn’t even exist.”

  My eyes widened. “And if I don’t exist…”

  He nodded, pleased that I was figuring it out. “Yes. The barrier flickers from existence, too. It was the perfect moment for me to enter.”

  I was crushed by dread. All that effort was for nothing?

  “Let us go now! I’ll defeat you in a real fight, one alpha dragon versus another!” Kass snapped.

  “Enough,�
� Zenon said, his loud and deep voice making Silas straighten up. “I’m not interested in that one.”

  Kass tensed at being referred to as that one.

  “Of course. What should I do with him, master?”

  Zenon grunted. “Leave him for now. I wish to examine my prize.”

  A cold shudder ran down my spine. He was talking about me.

  Silas tried to smile but it was weak and tinged with jealousy. “Of course, master. Shall I remove him from the cage?”

  “Yes.”

  Silas unlocked the gate. I remained where I was, glued to the far wall, as far away from them as possible and with no desire to close the distance.

  “Get. Out,” Silas demanded. “Now.”

  The dragon behind him stood as still as stone.

  Stone…

  I gasped as the realization hit me. When I’d discovered Silas frozen in stone, he told me someone else had put the spell upon him.

  “The earth magic,” I muttered, staring at the dragon. “Was it you?”

  Silas’s eyes widened, and looked like he was on the verge of slapping me for my insolence, but the sound of rumbling laughter from the dragon stopped him.

  “Clever,” Zenon said to me. “Yes, omega, I was the one who orchestrated that scenario.”

  He seemed pleased that I’d figured it out, and that unnerved me even more.

  “Come out of the cage, please.”

  I didn’t move.

  Kass strained against the chains binding him. “Don’t listen to them, Halo! I can get us out - ”

  The dragon’s tail whipped across the cavern floor, knocking Kass aside. It happened so quickly I barely blinked. Kass lay on his side, groaning, a few feet away from where he originally sat.

  “Kass!” I cried out. “Are you okay?”

  “Fine,” he muttered. I guessed his pride was more injured than his body.

  “What did you say this man’s relation was to you, Halo?” Zenon asked suddenly. The curiosity in his voice was laced with danger, like he clearly knew the answer.

  “You already know,” I asked. Kass had even said it out loud a moment ago.

  Silas scowled, like he wanted to hit me, but without Zenon’s blessing all he could do was stand and listen.

  The tone in Zenon’s voice made it clear he wasn’t going to ask again. “Answer the question, please.”

  An anxious lump formed in my throat. “He’s my mate.”

  Zenon nodded, like this information wasn’t news to him.

  His next words turned my blood to ice.

  “Didn’t you have a daughter as well?”

  “Don’t,” I said quietly, breathless. “Don’t bring her into this.”

  Before my eyes, the massive black dragon transformed into a more familiar form - a tall alpha with black hair, whose body was covered in burn scars.

  The man that I was supposed to have killed.

  “Yes, Halo,” Zenon said with a smile. “It’s me.”

  “How are you still alive?” I screamed, fury overtaking me. I wanted to lunge at him and attack, and at the same time I wanted to crawl into the corner and wish he would just disappear.

  “A little magic goes a long way,” Zenon replied. He traced one of the burn scars on his face. “But as you can see, I wasn’t immune to your onslaught.”

  “Halo, what the hell is going on?” Kass yelled.

  “Your mate isn’t as bright as you, is he?” Zenon asked me with a smile. “Go on. Explain to him.”

  My stomach churned. “Kass, he… He’s the man I killed. Or thought I did.”

  His eyes widened in fear and confusion. “But how? And did he say magic?”

  I couldn’t blame Kass for being lost. None of this made any sense.

  “Keep up, will you?” Silas snapped at him. “Your stupidity is exhausting.”

  Kass was losing control of his cool. “Silas, what’s happening? Why are you working with this guy? You hate magic!”

  Silas paused. Then he and Zenon both began to laugh. Kass shrank back, looking more bewildered and small than ever.

  “No, Kassius, that’s where you’re wrong,” Silas barked. “You were too stupid to see the truth.”

  “Huh?” Kass said, his voice bordering on a whimper.

  “We needed you to think that, of course. You just fell for it. Hard. You and that Commander both, along with the rest of the Knights.” Silas rolled his eyes. “Once the seed of doubt was planted, it was too easy to make you believe that lie.”

  Kass crumpled. His expression was one of hopelessness and betrayal. “What? Then… why?”

  “Because we needed you to turn on Halo,” Silas remarked.

  Wide-eyed, Kass turned to me. We exchanged a long, meaningful glance, laced with more emotions than I could put a name to.

  His voice was small when he spoke. “Halo, I - ”

  But Zenon grew tired of entertaining someone as useless as Kass, and interrupted him. “You never answered my question, Halo Fire-Eater.”

  “What?” I snapped.

  “Your daughter. Silas told me she was with you at first, but later disappeared.” He crossed his arms, which were also marred by burn scars. “Where is she?”

  The weight of the world seemed to collapse on my shoulders. There were too many ways this could go wrong.

  My mind slowed. I had to think this through. I shut my eyes.

  Silas had called me valuable, and now I was locked up in a cage. Fair enough. But keeping Angel out of his reach turned out to be the right thing to do, otherwise I was positive she would be caged up, too. The most difficult decision of my life - dropping her off into the hands of a total stranger - ended up being the most important decision, too. I thanked the gods she was anywhere but here.

  But to make sure Angel was permanently safe, I knew what I had to do.

  Lie.

  The only problem was Kassius. Would he believe me? Would he understand what I was trying to do, or would he ruin everything?

  Once again, I had no other choice. I had to trust Kass - and doing that meant utterly betraying the trust he had in me.

  When I opened my eyes, they were rimmed with tears. Zenon’s face was neutral, while Silas furrowed his brow.

  “I…” I lowered my gaze, pointedly avoiding looking at Kass. “I can’t tell you.”

  “And why is that?” Zenon asked.

  “Because even if you found her body, there would be no point.”

  There.

  I felt the tiny jolt of shock running through everybody present.

  Silas was the first to speak. “Her… body?”

  My mouth tightened. The tears threatening to overflow in my eyes finally broke. They slipped silently down my cheeks. “Yes.”

  “Dear Halo,” Zenon murmured, his face surprisingly full of sympathy, “do you mean to tell me that the child is no longer alive?”

  I raised my head to stare at Kass. This was it. The moment where he would believe me, and ruin our relationship for a final time - or realize I was lying, and doom our entire family?

  “Yes,” I said, my voice low and cracking, “Angel is dead.”

  17

  Kassius

  Shock tore through me like lightning.

  Angel is dead.

  Those words repeated in my mind, over and over, like a horrible intrusive thought that wouldn’t go away.

  Angel is dead Angel is dead Angel is -

  Grief and anger surged in my blood so strongly that I nearly snapped the cuffs around my wrists as I stood, wavering. My torn voice echoed through the cavern. “What?”

  The force of my emotion caused everyone to stop and turn to me - except Halo. Halo stared away, determined not to make eye contact.

  “Tell me you’re lying, Halo,” I snarled.

  Halo swallowed visibly. He still wouldn’t look at me. “I’m not lying, Kassius.”

  Kassius. He only used that name when he was really serious. Or when we were fighting. I supposed this constituted as both.
/>
  Fury and agony ripped my heart to shreds. “No! This can’t be true! Tell me it’s not!”

  I suddenly stopped. The day before… Everything made sense now.

  “You were in such a bad mood,” I began slowly as the memories rushed back to me. “Your eyes were puffy and red, like you were crying, and you were so upset but wouldn’t tell me why. All you said was that you knew where Angel was and left it at that.” My voice raised in pitch and volume. “That’s why, isn’t it? Because she was dead? That’s why you wouldn’t tell me the truth?”

  Halo closed his eyes, tears running down his face, and nodded.

  I lost control. I broke down into tears of my own, collapsing to my knees. Zenon and Silas remained silent, watching the exchange.

  Finally, Zenon sighed. “Pity. She was a beautiful child. So young, too.” He shook his head. “She would have been an aid to us, but alas. Still, having Halo Fire-Eater in my possession is fair enough.”

  I didn’t care about what Zenon was saying. All I could think about was how my precious daughter was gone - and it was all Halo’s fault.

  “Silas,” I said, my voice deadly quiet, “can you please remove these?”

  His brows quirked with surprise, Silas asked, “And why is that?”

  I shot Halo a hateful glance. “Because I don’t want to be near him anymore.”

  Zenon waved a hand in my direction. “Let him go. We don’t need him.”

  With his sword brandished in one hand, Silas braced himself as he undid my handcuffs and the bindings on my legs, as if he expected me to fight back as soon as I was released. I did no such thing. The cuffs fell and I was free to stand.

  Silas looked surprised. “You don’t care what happens to your mate?”

  “He’s not my mate anymore,” I growled.

  Halo’s eyes widened as genuine hurt darted across his face.

  Good, I thought bitterly.

  “He’s hurt me for the last time,” I muttered. “You’ve done bad things before, Halo, but this is really the lowest you could go. Lying to me about our daughter? Not telling me she - ”

  I couldn’t bring myself to say it.

  Halo finally snapped and fought back. “Bad things? Kass, we talked about this! I told you what happened! Why are you acting like this?”