Page 8 of Rhadan

Allorin puffed out his chest. “When you were depleted, rendered unconscious, I enacted a mage spell of protection then a repellent spell. The repellent is a magic I learned from the mage Rolodex Jemma gifted me with. Her power is coming in quite handy despite her duplicity.”

No dragon or druid could recreate a mage spell. It was unfortunate that Tempest would be his only exception to his power. He wished his clan could be immune.

“That is ingenious, Allorin. I am impressed; tell me, are you completely immune? Do you not long to sit beside me and speak of days gone by?”

Allorin looked at him with admiration. “It seems your voice still affects me, but I am not a weak-minded dragon; I can resist your call.”

Rhadan turned toward the two dark dragons at the edge of the parking lot. “That is unfortunate. Lars would you like to come closer? We used to play in your father’s barn. Do you remember?”

Lars took several steps toward Rhadan. “I do. We tried to get our wings to form, but we were too young.”

Allorin hissed. “Lars, stay where you are. Ignore his call.”

Lars pointed at Rhadan. “I can’t. He is everything. My brother. My friend. He loves me.”

Allorin blasted Rhadan with white light, but it glanced off the wards Mara created for the shop before Rhadan had to use a shield. “Curse you Rhadan. Your power is darker than any mage. Any dark dragon.”

Rhadan huffed. “For once, I agree with you, but it doesn’t change the fact the druid is under my protection.”

Allorin focused on Tempest. “She was supposed to be ours. Devlin was careless with the mother, but she belongs to me.”

Rhadan growled. “She is mine and I will destroy you and every dark alive if you so much as pull her hair.”

Allorin’s eyes widened. “The gatekeeper is you mate? No! I need her.”

Rhadan pitched his voice low. The sultry tone had Tempest leaning toward him. She wasn’t affected like those around her, but he could sense her interest, her curiosity. “Lars, you wish to rejoin the Rule clan, do you not?”

Lars bobbed his head. “More than anything Rhadan.”

Allorin held up his hand. “Lars, you know that is not possible. There is no going back for a dark.”

Lars stared at Rhadan with open adoration. His dark hair moved in the wind as he approached the mage. “How can you say that? Look at him.” Rhadan knew when he had broken a being. There was no releasing a soul once it completely succumbed to him. Lars wasn’t lying about wanting to return to the Rule clan, but that was impossible, and his conscience squeezed his heart for what he would do. This was for his people. His mate. “Lars, the mage doesn’t understand you like I do. You won’t let him come between us, will you?”

Lars shifted to his dragon form and fire erupted from his mouth, aimed at Allorin. The black dragon was quick and Rhadan had to maintain the bubble of protection that shielded the outside world from the events in the parking lot. Heat waves rippled from the man engulfed in flames, but the mage’s voice rang out.

“Enough!” Allorin screamed as the flames died out. “You are a weakling Lars, and I have no use for such a dragon.” A white light whipped around the black dragon’s neck as steam rose from the black scales. The dragon hissed before it began to scream.

It took excessive heat to burn through dragon scales, but the mage had created a rope of pure energy and it cinched tighter and tighter until it bit into Lars’ neck. The smell of charred flesh permeated the air and Tempest turned her nose toward his chest.

Lars’ dragon began to cough and gurgle as his windpipe was seared with white fire and the popping sound as the dragon’s head fell from his body made Rhadan’s stomach churn.

Allorin flicked his hand and the dragon’s body was engulfed in a portal and whisked away within seconds of his death. “You are impressive, Rhadan. Your power would be quite useful in the new regime. Renounce Legion and join me. I will give you everything you ask for.”

“I have had the ability to make anything, and everyone do as I ask. There is nothing I want other than the woman next to me.”

Allorin clenched his fists. “She is the only one I need. Give her to me.”

“No.”

Marken stepped forward. “Rhadan, can I stay with you?”

Tempest sucked in a breath, and he didn’t need to connect with her to know what she was thinking. Less than a minute ago the dark was avoiding him. He hadn’t even addressed Marken again, but he was falling under Rhadan’s power. While his voice expedited his power, all fell eventually.

“Marken, you can rejoin the Rule clan when you bring me Allorin’s head.”

Allorin formed a portal behind him. “This is not over Rhadan. Now that I know Tempest is your mate, I will prepare a fitting end for her. But know this, I will use her first. She will deliver the temple and its children to me. She will know she was the catalyst for the end. This I vow.” He disappeared as the portal enveloped him.

Marken screamed then shifted to his dragon form and took to the air.

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