by Aidy Award
Kady shook her head. “Did you know my mother? Because I didn’t, and she didn’t give me anything but an abandonment complex.”
“Yes, I knew her. Many years ago. She gave many Dragons of the Red Wyr their soul shards. Your heritage is very clear, now that Percy has revealed it. My own mother used to tell tale of the Ejderha sisters. You’ve been lost to us until now.”
Wait. What? Percy’s story was real?
“Percy? I have sisters?”
He scoffed. “Of course you do.”
“Was my father a witch too? I guess, wait, does that make him a wizard, a warlock?”
Kady’s brain was fried. She couldn’t focus, couldn’t get her mind around this story about her family, not that and the loss of Neo.
Ninsy shook her head. “Your father was a dragon.”
Percy interjected. “You’re a dragon's daughter.”
“The Romani witches have been mates to dragons since the beginning of time. One of the first witches of your line was the mate to the first son of the First Dragon. That’s where you get your easy use of Soul Magic, and of course, your name. Ejderhanınkizi, which means dragon's daughter.”
Dragon’s daughter. Was that what had attracted Neo to her in the first place?
“Does that mean Neo and I are related? Ew.”
“Of course not. Only in the sense that all dragons come from the First Dragon, just as all humans come from one mother.” Ninsy looked at her like she was slow. “Do you want to know more about your family?”
She didn’t care about her family. They had died, abandoning her long ago. The only person who meant family to her was Neo.
“It doesn’t matter. I don't care and don't have any power without Neo by my side.”
Percy pushed his way into the witches’ circle and sat on Kady’s lap, clearly forgetting he was no longer hedgehog-sized. “Even if you weren’t a witch, you’re still the only person who can save Neo’s soul. His is crying out for you. Go to him, bring him back.”
She pushed Percy off, then stood and backed away from them all. Too much had happened to her in too short a time to take anymore.
“I can’t,” she screamed, all her sadness, frustration, and fear pouring out with her tears.
Percy approached her, prodding her in the chest with his hand. “Kaden Ejderhanınkizi, I was created to be your companion and your familiar and stand with you in times of strife. I watched and waited for you to realize your powers and I did a god-damned happy dance when that crazy dragon showed up in your life.”
She backed away from him, frantic to find an escape, to get away, hide from the world, from the magic, from the grief.
But Percy didn’t relent. “Don’t think for one magical minute I am going to stand idly by poking you with my spines while you wallow around crying for the soul only you can save.”
“Percy. Dammit. I can’t save him. He’s gone, my magic is gone. It doesn’t matter where I came from or what any of you thought I could do. Don’t you understand? I am back to being nothing.”
“Nothing?” Percy’s voice boomed, echoing off the leaves. “You wield the strongest magic of all. The universe bows to your will. The power was always there, your soulmate awakened it. You were born to be a warrior. Be one, dammit.”
She shook her head, sucking in gasps of breath, staving off Percy’s claims. “I don’t even know how to use the magic without Neo.”
“Your souls are already intertwined. Even in his twisted state, he is still yours and you are his. All you have to do is feel it inside. He’s there.” Percy laid his hand over her heart.
She closed her eyes, searched inside for any trace of Neo. The tears bubbled over and streaked down her face. She couldn’t feel him, only her broken heart.
Percy lowered his voice and spoke from his core to hers. “You’ve hidden from the world, let it beat you down, told yourself the flaws were within. They weren’t. They aren’t. Greatness is in you. Find the magic inside, Kaden. Search your heart, your soul, your very being. Become who you truly are.”
Kady closed her eyes, letting the tears stream down her face. Her body shook with sobs. She cried for Neo, she cried for the family she had never known, she cried for the life she had been denied.
Years of self-doubt and self-recrimination washed away in the flood of emotion. The walls she’d placed around her heart and mind cracked and tumbled, crumbling to pieces.
There were scars on the fresh new layers of Kady, and they would take time to heal. They would always be a part of her. But scars were more than a sign of a wound, they also meant healing. They meant she had survived and become stronger.
That was knowledge she could take into battle.
The only battle, the only mission, that mattered to her now.
Save Neo’s soul, save the world.
Shattered Souls
Her soul burned like nothing else in the universe. He needed to rip it from her body, bring it into his new world. The blaze coming from deep within her scorched him just from looking at it.
Its beauty and light ate away at the darkness and must be extinguished. Then the shadow remaining could be added to his own blackness.
The witch cried out and reached for him, giving him the opportunity he needed to shatter her. She wanted him to take her, to destroy her.
She called his name, “Neo.” But he no longer had a name. He was only shadow.
He seized her hand, suffering the effects of the other witches’ magical attempts to get to her. Their weak attempts were nothing compared to his need to get to that fiery light burning him from inside of her. Her touch scorched so torturously. It fueled his anger, his need to take her.
Just as he had gotten a hold, and was dragging the light from her into the darkness, a creature whose soul didn’t match its form snatched her from his grip.
No. His darkness screamed at the loss, screamed at the light.
They would all pay for this.
She must be his. She already was.
He gathered the darkness around him and prepared to pursue. He would sacrifice anything to seize what belonged to him.
The darkness didn’t obey his commands. He screamed for it, but it deserted him. A pinpoint of light beckoned through the angry despair around him and ripped him away from the witch.
He was being pulled away, dragged from his dark desire. He scratched at the air, flailing, trying to free himself from the cursed beam of illumination that had a grip on him.
It yanked, sending him rocketing further from his witch and her un-damned soul.
He couldn't leave her now. He wouldn't.
Mine.
Mine.
Mine.
Something even stronger than his need to devour the witch and her light yanked him away.
Within a moment her light faded to a faint, far away glow and he was forced to join other dark shadow warriors like him. They were pulled into a subterranean lair that stank of unfettered souls.
The anger, hate, and sadness of the other warriors permeated his being. He was at one with the wraiths of darkness, and they were one with him.
One black soul near him poured out an overwhelming sadness. The hate their kind thrived on was gone, fallen away from it, leaving it weak.
In this hopeless warrior, he recognized his maker. It was a wonder this soul was the one to steal his own into the new demon bound underworld.
A creature, still tied to the human world, stood in the center of the dark souls, making unintelligible noises. “Well, isn’t this interesting. I wondered why my master was so insistent that I keep this bit of jewelry. I thought it was trash, but it has turned out to be useful after all. Hail and praise be to Nergal.”
The human-thing, who invoked the King of the Death, held a light in its hand, the tiny beacon that had dragged his shadow self away from his witch. The ember of light was encased in something that couldn’t be permeated. He screamed his frustration.
That bit of light was his. No, it was him, before he be
came only hatred, fear, anger, and shadow. It had to be darkened and destroyed.
The creature focused his energy on the spark of light and drew, no forced, his will. He pushed all the black shadows to his side. “Yes. This will come in very handy, I think.”
This stupid human creature’s light was a mere flicker compared to the soul of the witch. Barely worth stealing.
He dove for it regardless, wanting to dampen even its faded glint. A mass of dark souls blocked his path and, in an instant, he understood the creature was a means to an end. Allowing that soul to remain in his form meant a path to victory over this entire mortal realm.
Another creature entered the room, this one sparkling with both dark and light energy, glowing red. This one was to be left untouched as well. For now.
“You fool. You’ve lost fifty newly formed warriors, putting us behind, and given the dragons and witches the advantage.” She struck out at the male creature, knocking him to the floor.
Her hatred gathered around her, drifting through the air, delicious and enticing.
“Take the soul shard and the shadow warrior and get me that witch.”
“She’s too powerful. You should have warned me. I need more power to overcome her.”
“You should have captured her in Colorado before she realized what she was. Get her this time, or don’t bother coming back, unless you’ve joined the ranks of the shadow warriors.”
The angry red-glowing female left the weakling human grumbling under his breath.
When she was gone, the human pulled on his light, the spark of his soul that caused him such pain, and pulled him along with the draw of that light, leaving the other warriors behind.
“I’ll have to set a trap, cut her off from her friends before they can regroup.”
He could feel the malice and greed coming off the human in eddies. He could feed on that for the time being. The creature too coveted his witch. He would happily forfeit the benefit of keeping the creature around if it meant he could ensnare the soul of his witch.
Her soul was his, and his alone.
Do You Know Where Hell Is?
Kady held Neo’s hand tight. He looked at her, at their hands, and back at her again. The closest to an expression on his face that she could see was maybe confusion.
She folded his fingers around her own, closing his hand. That he seemed to understand, because when she let go of his fingers, his remained gripping hers.
“I know you don’t understand me right now, my love, but I promise I’m going to do everything I can to get your soul back.” She wasn’t even sure it was possible, and that hurt so hard she wanted to punch someone in the face. Someone who wore a black suit, black sunglasses and drove a douche canoe.
“Can somebody please put some clothes on Percy?” Niko held his hand out blocking his view from Percy’s mid-section.
“Aw, that would be such a shame.” Zara snuggled into Niko’s side, teasing him. Probably.
Kady flicked her hand and put Percy into tight jeans, a sleeveless western style plaid shirt, a cowboy hat, and boots.
“Hey, Kaden, look at me, I’m Bronco Billy, no wait, the outlaw Josey Wales.” Percy laughed and danced around in the dirt, grabbing Ninsy up and singing to her. “Throw your arms ’round this honky tonk man.”
“What is he yammering about?” Match asked.
“Hey Sara, need a couple of mules? I’ve got a fistful of dollars.”
Kady smiled, and the small action didn’t even crack her face into bits. “He thinks he’s Clint Eastwood. We may have watched a few old Westerns together.”
“Ha ha. For a few dollars more, I’ll paint your wagon.”
Before Percy could come up with his next cheesy line a big gold dragon swooped down into the canyon. It blew dust and debris everywhere as it landed. Kady thought this was probably on purpose.
The dragon shifted, looked around the group and grabbed the warrior who the others called Apollo up in his arms. Apollo didn't like that much, if the put-upon eyeroll was anything to go by. “Dad, let go. I'm fine.”
“Yes, of course you are. You're my son and the heir to the Gold Wyr. You're a warrior. That's better than fine. Now give me a status report.” This must be one of the other dragon kings Neo had told her about. He hadn't mentioned every dragon he knew was movie star underwear model material.
Ace stepped up and replied. “Big ass battle against fifty-some-odd humans and shadows, and one cult leader with a helicopter.” He glanced over at Kady, then back to the men. “Neo is down. The Black Wyr is without a Wyvern.”
Another black dragon flew in and landed in the middle of them all. This was the same extra big one that had followed the helicopter. He shifted into a human and he and the daddy dragon exchanged uncomfortable looks.
The guy who’d been the big black dragon gave a jerk of his head toward her. “I suspect she's an agent of Hell.”
Oh, hell no. Kady narrowed her eyes and reached inside to call up her magic, forgetting that she’d lost it. Something tingled low in her belly and a warm glow built up.
Huh?
Match stepped between her and the advancing black dragon guy. Ace shoved the guy off the path toward Kady. “Stop, Jerkwad. She is his mate.”
“Stop calling me that. It isn't my name,” Jerkwad growled.
Daddy Dragon raised an eyebrow and crossed his arms, giving Apollo a conspiratorial look. “Suits him, though.”
Ace shoved Jerkwad again. “Until you fucking pick a new name like the rest of us have to, I'm going to call you whatever I want.”
“Enough. None of this matters if Ereshkigal is hatching a new plan to plague us.” Jerkwad pointed to Neo. “Where is his soul shard? It will show us all the truth of his mating or not.”
He shoved his way past Match and Ace and knelt down next to Neo. He pushed the collar of Neo’s shirt aside, examining his neck and chest. “Do you have the shard, witch?”
Kady would not be intimidated by him, his words, or his actions. She raised her chin and tightened her grip on Neo’s hand. “I don’t know what that means.”
The cranky-ass man reached for her, pushing the neckline of her shirt aside before she could stop him. “You are not marked, you do not wear his shard. You are not his mate. He is not yours.”
This was some ripe baloney bullshit. Kady lashed out, shooting a red-hot beam of light from her free hand which toppled the jerkwad on his ass.
Calling on her magic again like that and having it respond felt…right.
“Don’t you ever, ever say that Neo is not mine. We belong to each other.”
She hadn’t known she was going to hit him with her magic that hard. She’d only meant to push him an arm’s length away. he light had erupted from her and she welcomed back its glow.
She could and would defend both her mate and their relationship.
The guy got back on his feet and Kady waited for his retaliation. She was ready.
Jerkwad didn't move, but cracked a smile, which was kind of creepy and also intensely handsome on him at the same time. He stretched his neck, rubbing it where he’d landed on it in the dirt. “You are a fierce one. Maybe you are a bride of the Black Dragon Brotherhood.”
Dragon daddy rolled his eyes at Jerkwad, then he stepped between them and introduced himself. “I'm Cage, the Gold Dragon Wyvern and Apollo's father. If you are Neo's mate, I am sorry for your loss.”
He glanced at Neo who had simply sat there holding her hand throughout the entire altercation.
“I was there when Jett lost Yvaine and I almost lost my Azy. Losing Neo too is... a blow. I promise you we will avenge him.”
Kady stood and coaxed Neo to his feet. She brushed a bit of dust from his cheek. “He is not lost. I’m going to get his soul back.”
The Dragon Warriors glanced at each other, then to Ninsy. “Is that possible?”
Ninsy shrugged. “If Kady says she can get his soul back, you all better sign on to help her.”
Kady wasn’t sure herself
she could do what she’d declared, but when she checked to see what the other mates’ reactions were, Fallyn dipped her chin decisively in a you-can-do-it nod.
In unison, Ace, Jerkwad, and Apollo stepped up to Kady and took a knee before her.
“We are at your disposal,” Ace said.
Apollo nodded. “Tell us how we can help.”
“You can start by telling me what a soul shard is.” Something Neo had mentioned niggled in her memory. She knew this shard was important.
Ace and Apollo stood and reached into their shirts. Each pulled out a pendant hanging from a cord around their necks.
The stone amulets sparked and glowed for a moment before fading and revealing a swirl of shadow inside.
Apollo explained. “When Dragon Warriors come of age and learn to harness the power of the beast inside of us, a witch harvests a sliver of our souls and mixes it with a piece of the First Dragon's soul. It gives us the ability to shift.”
The two dropped the amulets back beneath their shirts. Apollo continued. “This shard also helps us find our mates. Fate decides who we will match with, and when. We know we are in the presence of our chosen one when the shard glows.”
Ah, yes. Neo had said his soul shard glowed right before he crashed, before they met. But she’d never seen any sort of amulet on him like what these other warriors wore.
Wait. Crap. Sour bile bit at the back of her throat. Yes, she had. She’d seen it in the hands of the worst cult leader ever.
Dammit. “The asshole cult dude has Neo’s ember.”
Ace cringed. “Fuck me, that’s about as bad as the news that we have to kill Neo.”
Cage raised his hand in a halt motion. “Why would you kill the living body of your Second Wyvern?”
Ace held up his hands in a gesture of helpless surrender. “Neo discovered the secret, and we tried and tested it.” He motioned to the bodies of the soldiers littering the ground. “It’s the only way to defeat the shadow warriors. Kill the body, kill the soul. Kill the threat from Hell.”
Jerkwad glared at Ace, while Cage raised an eyebrow at Kady. All eyes were upon her. Every dragon that had ever fought and watched their friend fall was waiting to see what she could do.
