Page 32 of Vengeance and Fire

“No. But is anyone when facing a situation like this?” I shift from foot to foot, trying not to let my nerves get the better of me, and look up at my father. “And before you ask again, the answer is no. You are not at 100% health, and I am holding almost all of your magic. For once, let someone take care of you.” I pat his arm, hoping he doesn’t insist, I don’t want to argue with him, also Maurelle doesn’t need to know he is still alive. If I have to, I’ll go get Gale’s mother to strap him to his bed in the palace. I’ll do what I must. I won’t lose him again.

“Do you think she will sense you?” I ask. Considering they’re twins I wonder if she can feel his presence again.

“She will be too busy trying to kill you. She thinks she left my body in a cave to rot. If she felt an inkling of remorse or sadness, Dravyn would never have been able to retrieve me. I would have been burned and given a proper Fae funeral. I guess I should be glad for her disrespect and lack of care for her own blood. Maurelle lost the ability to feel years ago,” he says as more Dragons begin to land in the clearing. Wolves begin to shift around us, fur sprouting from their bodies, bones cracking echo all around us until I’m surrounded by massive beasts. The only people walking on two legs are myself, Dain, Silva, and two of my mates.

“Remember what I told you. Your intention means everything when it comes to your abilities. Use it wisely.” Dain pats my shoulder, hesitates to step away but he turns to walk back to Cree, Greer, and Miriam. They are determined to see us leave. I nod in understanding as I begin to feel the adrenaline of the crowd of Dire Wolves and Dragons. It’s heady and exhilarating, and I want to puke at the same time.I feel like I am playing a game, only this is my life. I am about to go into battle for real. This is nuts!

“Oh, and daughter.” I startle and turn to my father as he looks over his shoulder. “You’re the Queen. You’re a Dragon, and you are Fae. You are the best of us. You may not feel like it, you may even feel like an imposter, but remember, looks can be deceiving. Let her think you’re weak, and then exact your vengeance.” He holds my gaze until he is happy with whatever he sees on my face and then walks away.

I take a breath and roll my shoulders back. I can feel the moment Dravyn and Gale touch down behind me in their Dragon forms. I don’t turn to greet them, but I can feel the warmth of their breath from above. Across the clearing Adrian is shirtless, with two double swords strapped to his back, and damn, that is not a distraction I need right now. My tummy does a little flipflop. I immediately search for Torin, and see him standing between Falyn and Reise, who are looking right back at me. He is shirtless like Adrian, with his sword at his side, combat trousers hanging low on his hips, black military boots lace all the way up to his calves. Yep, I want to lick them both.Focus, Cordelia.

“Are you going to speak to them?”Torin's asks telepathically, his voice like velvet sliding across my skin. Fuck, hormones, this is not the time or the place.

“Cordelia, I can smell your arousal from up here, sweetheart.”I blush, inclining my head back to look up into the large golden eyes of Dravyn’s Dragon.

“Too much skin on display. Adrian and Torin, I think you both did that on purpose. Now excuse me. I need to be a Queen. That’s right, with a capital Q.”I can hear them all laughing in my head as I step forward into the middle of the clearing. It’s so quiet suddenly that all I can hear is the rustling leaves and occasional snap of twigs as someone moves restlessly.

I look around at everyone present, and I wonder for a moment if this will be enough. I don’t plan on losing anyone today, and loss will be inevitable, no matter how much I will stretch myself. I let that thought wash over me as I steel myself against the torrent of my emotions.Now is not the time to feel, Cordelia, now it a time to act. I reach for my bracelet, feeling the cool delicate metal between my fingers one last time, sliding it off my wrist, I look up at everyone once more.

“We all know what’s at stake here today: our freedom, our magic, our Realm and the freedom of the people in Celestia. If Maurelle wins, then we will all lose. She’s already destroyed one Realm. We can’t let her destroy another. She’s spent centuries spitting her poison in the ears of her followers. Well, I can’t worry about them, and neither can you. They won’t spare you, and you should not spare them. They chose the wrong side of history, because I, I am claiming victory right now in this field.” Falyn’s Wolf howls long and loud and his Betas all follow. The sound vibrates the ground like a battle drum as the Dragon’s all join in roaring into the sky. I wait until it all dies down, my heart beating wildly in my chest, ready and eager, the same as them.

“We stand here united, despite all Maurelle has done to separate us. My mother, Queen Thana, sacrificed her life for mine, and for countless other beings, for this moment. I look forward to our future together, and it will begin when this battle ends. We will fight together as one! We win together as one! Are you with me?” I feel my magic flooding my veins. My Dragon is at the ready, I can feel her fire simmering in my chest. The roars and howls around me are deafening. As I throw the bracelet into the middle of the clearing, the words I remember from not so long-ago flow from my lips easily. “Da Mihi Accessum,” I call out over the noise, and suddenly there is a large bright shimmering portal appearing before us.

Adrian doesn’t hesitate, he is determined to lead the charge. Pulling his swords from behind his back, he twirls them expertly, his brown eyes lock with mine. I hear,“I love you,”like a whisper in the back of my mind and watch as he runs towards the portal and vanishes out of sight. Falyn and his Wolves run right behind him. The Dragons follow them, their scales gleam, a myriad of colors is on parade as all the regions are represented and pass before me. Torin runs beside one green Dragon who pauses for just a moment to allow him to climb up his wing and onto his back. Torin looks over at me with a bright smile as he disappears into the portal. Show off. Wave after wave of Wolves and Dragons pass through the portal, and I wonder how long it will stay open. I can only guess it will close once I am through.

“Ride me,”Dravyn says, and I can’t help the smile that spreads across my face.

“You want me to ride you? How?”I know exactly what he means, but I allow myself a little humor in the middle of all the heavy drama that’s happening.

“Into battle. Climb on, sweetheart. Let me return the favor.”I laugh again as Gale nudges me with his huge sapphire nose towards Dravyn’s golden wing that he extended out for me.

“You will look badass. Do it, gorgeous,”Gale insists. Not one to let my fans down, I take a running start and leap up onto Dravyn’s wing, climbing up on to his back with the help of Gale nudging my ass with his nose until I’m in the middle of Dravyn’s back. I stand up, grabbing one of his large spikes and hold on tight. I watch as Silva rides on the back of one of Falyn’s Betas and see her pass through the portal. I am glad they left her last. Hopefully he will get her to the safety of the manor, or what’s left of it.

“For Arcadia!” I yell out loud. It seems a fitting battle cry for this moment. Gale takes a running start and flies low into the portal with Dravyn and I following behind.

No matter what happens, this shit with Maurelle will end today.

CHAPTERTWENTY-TWO

MADDOX

I’ve lost all feeling in my limbs. I can feel my life slipping away from me, but I hold on. I hold on for her. I can barely see through my swollen eyes, but I can see Druids fall all around me. The Black Barons have all attempted to destroy the palace, and in some parts they’ve succeeded. The Fae have resorted to guerilla tactics, sneak attacks in the middle of the night, killing as many Druid soldiers as they can. Mages and Druids duel magically to the death, and I witness the truce I worked so tirelessly to maintain slip between my fingers.

Maurelle has sat back and laughed the entire time. She thinks she’s already won. She left me here to taunt Twyla. I guess she thought my daughter would try and rescue me by now, but Twyla knows better. Her responsibility is to our people. She’s held up the protective shield for two days now, effectively cutting off the Mages and Fae from reaching the mountain pass that leads to where the locals seek refuge. My daughter is powerful, her mates are as well, but there is only so much power you can share before you tap out. My only solace is I know that help is coming. Well, there’s no guarantee, but I feel it in the depths of my soul that Cordelia will come. I will die knowing that everything will be OK. My sacrifice is worth every moment of agony I have had to endure these past few days.

“Father, are you enjoying the show?” The sound of Vivyn’s voice is like ice in my veins. She’s attempted to speak to me a few times over the past few days, yet I have ignored her.

I open my mouth to speak but nothing comes out initially. I haven’t been given water, my tongue feels so thick, and clearing my throat feels like razorblades are scratching away at the insides of my mouth. I swallow the blood down that had formed in my mouth from who knows how many internal injuries I’m suffering, and it helps enough. “Are you enjoying watching your own people die right in front of you?” I return her question with a question of my own. She tsks. If I could move my head and look down at her I am sure I would see her mates surround her protectively. All of them are fools and are easily led. I knew they weren’t a good match for her, but I gave her what she wanted. I was too lenient, and now look at her.

“It separates the wheat from the chaff, right? Let your loyalists die here so when I take the throne I—”

“You will never take the throne, you idiot!” Her nonchalant tone grates me. If I wasn’t so weak I’d end her myself. How has it come to this? My heart hurts, her betrayal has cut me deep. I knew it was coming, but it still fucking hurts.

“Oh, you know nothing. Maurelle has promised me that Celestiawill be mine. Twyla will die, and hopefully you will live long enough to witness it.” I can’t see her, but I can picture the smug victorious look on her face. I never thought it was possible to hate someone that came from you. The love we have for our children should be unconditional, no matter what. I used to think that if I gave Vivyn what she needed that she would change. It wasn’t enough, never enough, she always demanded more, and for that she will perish. Maybe not today but soon. Twyla doesn’t share my sentimentality and she will come for her sister. It’s only a matter of time.

“Have you not figured out that you’re expendable, child! Maurelle will kill you if she doesn’t get what she wants, because she can. Vivyn, you sold your soul to the devil herself, and you’re going to drag your mates down right along with you. You are a fool. A disappointment. I can’t stand to hear your voice. Leave me. Leave me to die. You are an insolent little girl who never grew up.” I cough, blood flies out of my mouth as my chest constricts, I can barely breathe as it continues to block my airways.

“Vivyn, we should at least pull him down. Maurelle is not paying attention to him anymore. He’s dying.” I hear one of her mates say.

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