A New King

SILVER

Storm and I walk hand in hand through the outskirts of the Dusk Mountains.

We’ve become rather skilled at being close enough to observe others, but far enough away to remain under the radar.

And one thing is clear as we watch a bustling group of young dragons share stories and meals by a giant bonfire.

We’ve left the Dusk Mountains in ~excellent~ hands.

Storm pauses for a moment by the brush of a forest near the celebration.

“This is exactly why we put Dane and Aneurin in charge of this place,” he says, a cheeky grin lighting up his handsome face.

Dozens of healthy young dragons tear elk meat off bones and clank mugs of beer together. They sing, dance, and bond.

“In only a few months,” I say, resting my head on Storm’s shoulder, “the twins have rebuilt what they had thousands of years ago.”

Storm sighs and looks towards the cliffside. Poking out through the starry night sky is the massive Dobrzycka tower of Requiem City.

“And yet, the twins aren’t here,” he says disappointedly.

I rub his muscular forearm.

Storm has always been a trickster and one to use his beguiling ways to accomplish his goals, but his recent happiness was no illusion.

~He loved every second of flying out in the open air with me, making wherever we landed our home for the night. ~

I loved it too, and our bond lets me sense the dreariness filling his heart.

“This is why we must fight once more,” I say, pressing my chest against Storm’s.

We share a long kiss that reminds me how our love is as strong as the day we met, thousands and thousands of years ago.

Then a feeling like a sharp gust of wind disturbs our intimate moment.

A strange, undetectable presence comes from the center of Requiem City.

I falter and Storm catches me.

“One of us has passed,” I mutter. “Adara.”

Storm hugs me tight.

“It’s more than just that,” he adds, swaying with me gently.

Laughter from the bonfire calms my racing mind.

“There’s another presence down there,” I say.

“~The Sword Dancer~,” we say simultaneously.

Storm and I lock eyes and smile at one another.

“All these years,” I laugh, “and we’re still on the same page.”

“Such is the way of a perfect mate-bond.”

Storm rubs the back of his head and shakes out his shoulders. Even if it’s to head into conflict, he’s eager to fly.

“I suppose we better get going to visit the Dobrzyckas,” he says. “I’m sure Dane and Aneurin are with them.”

Storm walks towards the cliffside to transform but I hesitate.

He looks over his shoulder. “What’s the matter?”

“The Sword Dancer, and Devorex,” I reply. “They could be either what saves this fight or destroys it.”

Storm rubs a hand down his chin. “Let’s hope that Devorex has used this long period to reflect.”

“Without his brothers bending his will,” I say, “he may just…”

“Try and set things right,” Storm says, finishing my thought with a big smile.

I smile back.

He’s hopeful, so I am too.

If all the dragons can come together, then we can defeat this wild presence.

So long as the dangerous presence we felt wasn’t The Sword Dancer herself, ready to seek revenge for Freesia’s death at the hands of Devorex’s brothers…

DEVOREX

Hael hands me a vodka on the rocks.

~He’s trying to keep up niceties. ~

I just want to get down to business.

“I should hope it goes without saying,” Hael says with a sly grin, “that the attack against you was not our doing.”

I assume that’s the case, but I still give him a long stare just to let him cook.

Everyone else is around us, mingling. I keep my eye on Hazel, who's speaking to the woman that healed me, Summer.

Hael sips awkwardly at his vodka.

For me, everything is about control. You never want to sacrifice it.

~Unless it gets someone to reveal something you want…~

And the longer people sit in their own uncomfortableness, the more they blabber.

After my first long sip of the delicious and clear vodka, I say, “It would make tactical sense for your brother to want me dead.”

Across the outdoor reception, Loch shoots me a glance. His ears perked towards our conversation now.

~Control. ~

Hael chuckles, “Not quite. My brother isn’t pleased that somebody like yourself has come along and…”

Hael searches for the right words, and Loch presses his lips together, fighting back a scowl.

“He doesn’t like that I’m stronger than him. Far stronger than you, ~and~ him.”

The attention of all the dragons is on me.

Hazel looks at me lustily, and I wink at her.

Her long silver hair juxtaposes her black dress perfectly, and I can’t wait to tug on it tonight.

But first, business.

Loch rushes over, as predicted.

He shoves a finger against my chest. “You only insert yourself in these situations to rile others up. We spoke of unity. Not of treachery.”

I laugh and lean against the reception table. My vodka tastes even better now that Loch is enraged.

“Nobody said anything against working together,” I chuckle, “but I will be the one to lead the attacks against the slayers. Not you two.”

Hael scoffs.

~Bye-bye professionalism. ~

“Loch and I will oversee operations, just as we did the last time,” Hael says.

Hazel, Maddie, and Summer all exchange nervous glances.

“Fuck this guy!” Loch says, slamming his drink down. “He’s just trying to make everyone emotional. Throw a wrench in things.”

“There’s nothing emotional about what I’m saying,” I say flatly. “It’s simply logical. You both were in charge of defending Requiem City. You both failed, and your sister is dead. Those are facts.”

Hazel cuts in.

“Rex,” she whispers, indicating that I’ve gone too far.

I grin, watching the Dobrzycka twins’ masks shatter. Now, they’re nothing but the boiling rage that they’ve always been.

Loch fires a punch at me but I grab him, spin his arm around his back, and put him in a twisted armlock.

He wretches in my hands. I could snap his arm in a second.

“Stop this!” two figures shout simultaneously.

~No shit. Storm and Silver. Never thought I’d see them again. ~

“Devorex,” Silver says, her brow furled, “let him go.”

Smirking, I keep Loch held tightly in my arms. “How can he defend Requiem City if he can’t even defend against me?”

Storm strokes his chin and steps forward. “He shouldn’t have to defend against you, Devorex. We are all allies.”

Loch gives me a death-stare. He’s foaming at the mouth.

“I don't know about that,” I reply. “Loch? An ally? No, I don’t think so.”

Loch tries to break free, so I bring him closer. Our noses are inches apart.

“But Lochness? That may be an ally I can work with.”

I let go of Loch and he fixes his suit.

Before he can attack again, another pair sprints over to the reception, their dress shoes splashing in the mud.

“Thor,” Ash Onyx pants.

~Another powerful dragon from my past…~

I could see myself ruling over all these people.

It would be me and Hazel on a throne, just as we were meant to be before my brothers ruined everything…

“What happened?” Maddie says, running over to Onyx and a well-groomed man I assume is his mate.

“Thor was captured,” Onyx says.

Maddie gasps.

The back of my head begins to ache.

~That name…Thor…~

My ears ring out, and a dark vision overtakes me.

It must be an intrusive vision that isn’t mine but from one of my dead brothers, Hercula or Versa, as their ghosts haunt me,

~Freesia is strapped to a rock, her stomach splayed open while my brothers laugh. ~

~I try to stop them ~looking on as a spectator to the gruesome act ~, but I’m not strong enough ~to change the past~. ~

~This isn’t the type of blood magic we were meant to participate in. ~

~The way they drink from her, while she’s still alive and suffering…~

~It sickens me. ~

~I try to fight them,~but they’re too strong~. but it’s not use!~

~They are enhanced and driven insane ~by the essence of the Blood Raven. ~

~Hazel is in shambles, howling her sister’s name.~She’s somehow been brought into the vision too!~

~FREESIA. ~

~PLEASE, GOD! FREESIA! NO!~

~I try to approach Hazel and explain. ~

~I had no part in this! I’m not like them! ~Let’s escape together!~

~But she won’t listen. ~

~She runs off while~My brothers cackle. ~

~Me and my brother Korserath never knew our brothers, Hercula and Versa. ~

~It’s just a vision, just a fucked up memory from the two evil bastards, but I feel like I failed Freesia and Hazel.~

~I’m left alone, rejected by my brothers, and rejected by my mate. ~

~All because I wasn’t strong enough to save Freesia. ~

I snap out of my vision. Negotiations are being made. Loch and Hael have taken charge, making plans to investigate the child’s kidnapping.

This vision means…

The second coming of Freesia is out there too, and her child has been taken from her.

I failed Freesia thousands of years ago. If only she had known me and Korserath, we could have saved her.

But it’s time to make it right now.

I grab Hazel by the waist and bring her close, hoping she can’t detect an emotion that is unfamiliar to me…

~Fear. ~

Whatever it takes, I will make things right with Hazel’s twin, Freesia.