Page 142 of Legacy

In the next second, a magical hologram shot forth that had me staggering back in surprise, and Kai calling his power and holding it at the ready.

We watched as the hologram took the form of a levitating fearsome crimson dragon with black markings.

Mutterings came from him—dragon speak—mixed in with a whole lot of growling and snarling.

Vorzyr choked, his eyes wide.

Another snarl, this one more vicious, rang out.

“Yes,” Vorzyr responded. “I’ll leave now.” He repeated it in dragon speak.

And then the hologram dissipated, the pendant’s glow going out, and it returned to its normal state.

Kai called his magic back. “Zepharion Titanus in dragon form, yes? Your father?”

“That’s right.”

“What happened?” I asked. “He sure didn’t sound happy.”

“That’s how he usually interacts with me.”

“Wow, that’s… disturbing.”

“Yeah, well, our parents aren’t always who we want them to be.” He added forlornly, “Or who we need them to be.”

“Is your mother like that, too?” I asked.

“They’re both the fucking same, honestly.” He pinched the bridge of his nose and looked between me and Kai. “He’s summoned me home. Apparently speed is of the essence. He has some sort of announcement that he wishes to make to the kingdom, which I need to be made aware of beforehand.” He grimaced, regret all over him. “I’m sorry. It’s not something I can simply refuse.”

“We get it,” I assured him.

“Do what you need to,” Kai actually agreed. “It could prove helpful to be back there again after what you just discovered about Malrik.”

“Maybe.” He came to me and told Kai over his shoulder, “Let Nyx out of the lab a bit, all right?” He reached out and ran his fingers over my Soulweld Ring. “Let him enjoy the peace and freedom that this brings him.”

“I already have been,” I assured him. “Every moment of it.”

He smiled and brushed his lips over my cheek, before he stepped back and eyed Kai. “I’ll be back within the day. I want to say goodbye to Ariana, but interrupting her sessions withCassius isn’t a good idea. She’s been making amazing headway, something that’s really fucking needed with what might be coming sooner than we think.”

“We’ll explain it to her, but hopefully you’ll be back before we even need to.”

“Believe me, that’s definitely my intention. I don’t want to be there any longer than I need to be. Not with the secret my parents kept, not now knowing the fucked-up truth or why they really sent me here and cast me out.”

Kai laid his hand on his shoulder. “You need anything, reach out via our mind-link. I’ll be there.”

Vorzyr chuckled. “I appreciate it, Kai, but I’ll be fine. Besides, you can’t just breach the Dracoryn Realm gates.”

“I. Will. Be. There.”

I frowned. Kai had a way to breach those formidable gates and the draconic magic protecting the realm? That was… insanely major.

Unfortunately, before more could be spoken about it, Vorzyr’s necklace flamed and he stumbled, grunting in pain. “Fucking bastard is definitely persistent. He wants me at the gates ASAP.” He stared out at us, his reluctance to leave us clear.

But he had little choice.

In the next moment, he was dissipating in a red cloud of teleportation.

His words whispered through the magic, enveloping Kai and me.

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