Page 53 of Vathia
She paws at the ground, a strong sense of disgust coming from her. “Whatever these creatures are, they have access to shadow flames. The ground reeks of brimstone. If they had let it burn any longer they would have turned this whole slab of land into dragonstone.”
My eyes widen at the implication of what she’s saying. With how hot and fast shadow flames burn, these fae didn’t have a chance. “Why would someone do something like this? Did the other places use shadow flames as well?”
Surprisingly, Talyn answers me. “No, this is a new development. Before there were bodies left to find.” He then mutters to himself, “How the fuck is my father doing this…?”
“I can’t find anything,” Jesper states, bounding over to me and swinging me around before placing me on my feet. “I think we need to inform Lady Zorn about this and see if she has any ideas.”
I place my hands on my hips as I listen to them debate on what we should do next. After a moment I decide to butt in. “Is there anywhere that might have information on what these creatures are? Surely there has to be information somewhere if your fathers are capable of controlling the Soul Stone somehow.”
They each glance at each other before Killian speaks up. “The only thing I can think of is the Library at the royal castle, but no one has been able to get in there.”
“Great, so back to square one,” I mutter.
Suddenly, all five dragons roar, shaking the ground beneath our feet and nearly shattering my eardrums.
“Riders incoming,” Vasari growls at the same time Talyn says, “Get Ravina to safety!”
“Like the void am I going anywhere!” I bellow back.
Talyn comes storming over to me, hoisting me up by my breastplate, while somehow managing to hold me an arms length away. “You will listen to orders. This isn’t some game, this is real life.”
I glare at him, now that he has us at the same height, and poke him in the chest. “If I’m going to be your queen some day, thenyoulisten tomyorders. I will fight alongside my mates if that is what it comes down to. I can hold my own. Why don’t you just worry about yourself and leave me be!”
“Because I’ve already lost you once! Your death tore my fucking world apart. So you will get on your dragon and fly back to Kraryn!”
“Fucking make me.” I swing my foot up and kick off his chest, flinging myself out of his grip as I race to Vasari.
I will not be sidelined.
Not anymore.
If I’m to fight to fix this realm that my mother loved, if I’m to possibly one day take on her mantle and throne, then I’m going to pour all my blood, sweat and tears into making it a reality.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
BEFORE I KNOW IT, VASARI, Nero and I are in the air, preparing for a possible skirmish with whoever is approaching.
“I hope you know what you’re doing Rav, but I’ll support you no matter what. Especially if I get to take home a trophy,” Nero states, vibrating with excitement within his travel cage.
Vasari’s eagerness seeps through the bond as well. “My dragons know better than to attack their queen. This will be as easy as roasting sheep.”
My grip tightens on the saddle as my nerves begin to creep up on me. Maybe I should have listened to Talyn and got myself to safety, but I also can’t sit by and not know if they’re safe. Plus, a true Queen fights with her warriors, right? Only a coward hides behind her people, and I’m no longer that female hiding behind the mask of a null, pretending to be weaker than I am. I am the fates-damned future ruler of Damorleia and I will not cower in the face of those trying to destroy what my parents started.
“That was a beautiful pep talk Ravina,” Nero adds. “Now let’s kick some traitor ass!”
“We don’t even know if they are friendly or not—let’s just see first.”
Jesper and Tisur soar next to me, so close that I can see each individual scale of his fierce blue dragon. “Stay as close as you can to one of us at all times. If you don’t listen, I’m almost positive Aemon will blink you off your beast and squirrel you away until it’s safe,” Jesper bellows over the wind, but yet he sounds like a whisper in the distance.
My head shakes vigorously. “I’ll be safe,” I yell back. Not to mention I don’t think Aemon would be able to blink up here. Without any shadows to pull from he’s practically powerless.
The specks in the distance become clearer and I’m able to see four dragons—one black, two red and a blue. My gut tightens as I realize that these beasts are most likely from Phixmery.
“Calm, Lost One. All will be well,” Vasari murmurs softly.
We fly tight in formation, and time seems to blink before we are right on top of each other. My eyes widen as I see who is on the backs of these dragons and I’m mixed with rage and surprise. Cresida and Bracken are here, along with the other two from Wing One: Sergeant Hemming and Featherington.
My dragon roars in equal rage as she gets glimpses of my past with the former two.
