Page 67 of Crown of Chaos

“And the other two?” she inquired curiously.

Esme was like me, and we were both beginning a heat cycle. It was as if we’d synched, like women sometimes did when together for too long. I hadn’t imagined the men’s reaction to learning she was like us. It had been a similar reaction when they’d watched Eva in the cave. The sounds we all made were alike, which made it rational for them to be intrigued.

“Killian’s jaded, but he has a soft side that comes out sometimes. He doesn’t like to show it very often since he’s also Knox’s advisor, and head of the army. Considering his position, he can’t be seen as anything close to weak. Killian terrified me when they were in the Tenth Realm and for a while after we got here. When I first met him, he didn’t like me, but I think he’s learned that I am not the enemy. Although, if Knox told him to cut my head off, he’d do so without question.” I snorted, smiling as her jaw dropped open.

“And the other one?” she pried, which caused Soraya to peer up at us from the book she was reading.

When she saw me notice, she dropped her eyes again, but she was listening with interest. Her grip on the book tightened, and her breathing picked up a twinge. It was curious. Every time we’d been in a room with them, she’d given him her attention. She’d never looked at the others with the same gleam lighting in her gaze, and I wasn’t positive she knew she even did it.

“He’s smooth and seductive. I had chosen Brander to take my virginity for the spell to protect the House of Magic. He’s a good kisser and can seriously crush your defenses with little more than a burning look of those sapphire eyes. But he’s also a fucking idiot who enjoys taking dares from his brothers.” Soraya’s knuckles turned white against the book, and I smiled before turning back to Esme.

“You hussy.” Esme chuckled.

“Lore would be fun in bed. You’d probably end up laughing through the climax segment, but he’d know just how to make you scream daddy for him. Killian would probably work off some major anger issues out on your vagina. If you want it hard and savage, he’d be your best option. Brander would be tender and easy to begin with, ensuring you felt him long after he’d left your bed, but you’d probably still be tied to it and left there to think about what he’d done. Don’t assume he wouldn’t be rough because he has a violent side hidden beneath the cool exterior. Knox is another story entirely. Greer, well, we aren’t Greer’s cup of tea, if you will.” I stated, hearing a scraping sound coming from the room across from the one we stood in. “We should prepare to leave.” I turned and found Siobhan. “Do you trust that contact you were talking to me about?”

Siobhan nodded. “She’s trustworthy and easily paid off. Jasmine has been my friend for a very long time. She used to assist me in supplies and other things that Knox needed for the army. I would trust her with my life, but I would still keep both eyes open.”

Nodding, I turned to peer across the hall where the noise sounded again. “We’ll leave in an hour. Everyone should dress warmly and have supplies in case we can’t return directly to the library. There’s also another place I want to look into that may be safe enough to move everyone to.”

I left the room after they’d confirmed they would be ready. My hackles rose as the scraping sounded again. I opened the door and peered into the room with astonishment. The dark walls were covered with images of dragons and phoenixes, and in the middle of them was a woman with fiery wings and hair.

Stepping farther into the room, I peered in awe as the scene unfolded, as if it were a 4D image, with everything close enough for me to grab or touch. The woman and colossal beasts appeared lifelike, moving throughout the room as the scene continued following them and changing before my very eyes. The woman pushed her fingers over the dragon’s head and then held her hand out to the phoenix. Flames danced between them, both creatures slowly moving closer to each other. Her hand dropped, and she stepped back to watch them.

Deep, soothing rattling noises drifted from both of the creatures, and she mirrored them. Then her turquoise-colored eyes narrowed, and she sighed heavily as the creatures continued taking in one another.

“You’ll discover the means to combine into one being,” she murmured.

I lowered my focus to her blackened fingertips, and then up to her hair, which looked like living flames that didn’t harm her. It was as if the fire burned from her soul. Upon her head was a crown, but instead of jewels, it had feathers and thorns. The chest plate she wore was silver with dragons and phoenixes etched into it.

“If we don’t achieve this goal, then the realms are lost to us. Rhianna, you must claim him and allow this to happen. Dragharyn, you must accept her. You are compatible to mate and create the cure to the disease that will soon infect the Nine Realms. I have done all I can to help you with this process, so the rest is up to you.”

My thoughts returned to the dream before I compared the palace in the shadows to it. The village sitting off in the distance wasn’t anything like the village I saw in the dream. So what the hell was I seeing? I spun in place, searching for a landmark to place the scene I was being shown, but there wasn’t anything I recognized until a glimmer of light captured my eye. I frowned at the sheer, dark exterior of the cliff that looked very much like the one I’d raced down to escape Knox. It was a palace, one that was built inside the cliff to conceal the location.

I turned toward the dragon, which stood taller than I’d ever imagined one would. Unlike the one I’d seen inside my dream, this one was larger and seemed more animalistic. Large, deadly claws pierced the earth, breaking through it even though he didn’t move or step from the spot where he waited. The glorious beast was covered in thick emerald-colored scales. Obsidian eyes flickered with sparks as he snarled toward the woman. Long, serrated teeth dripped saliva from his wide, powerful jaws before he released a bloodcurdling growl that forced me to my knees.

I gulped in air, fighting the need to bow before the glorious beast. Feminine groaning sounded beside me, and I didn’t need to see her to know Esme was a slave to the dragon’s demand as well. My hips spread, and I trembled as my head lowered while Ember moaned within me.

The next sound was from the phoenix, who released her own demanding rattle at the dragon. It didn’t ease the pressure building within me. I whimpered, forcing my eyes back to the mural.

The phoenix was lazily flapping her fiery blue-and-green wings. Her head canted, and embers burned in her turquoise-colored eyes. She didn’t back down from the dragon, and he wasn’t either. The woman huffed in annoyance before she rattled louder than either had achieved.

“The war between dragons and phoenixes has been over for years now. You must learn forgiveness and create a savior for this world or remain as you are and watch it burn to ruins again. Together, you’ll create a child who will bring forth the savior who will end the foretold conflict and sickness that will spread through these lands. The child must be born from both races, and you’re the last ones of either race who remain unmated within this realm. War has decimated both of your numbers to a precariously low number. If you cannot see past the animosity, then your people will not either. You must install the fear, and need to create new life in them, or we face extinction. If you don’t succeed, I will do what is necessary to ensure they are helpless against the need to breed during their heat cycle to produce offspring. You don’t have to remain together, but you must produce an heir. One day, the child you create will be the only thing standing between total chaos and ruins. We all must do what is needed to prevent our world from being destroyed by the poison that will appear, and corrupt bloodlines.”

The room spun, and Esme and I struggled to remain in place. The scrapping noise that had brought me here in the first place echoed off the stone walls, and another scene began unfolding. I blinked through the disorientation, trying to see what was unfolding.

Explosions rocked through the room, and it was almost as if I could smell the acrid stench of smoke and burning bodies as my vision finally cleared.

Hecate walked down the street of the village, her lips curled into a cold, evil smile while she moved down a cobble stone street. Flames leapt from thatched roofs, sending plumes of darkened smoke into the sky. It engulfed the surrounding trees in orange, angry flames, animals, and people covered the ground, lifelessly.

Her eyes sparkled as if she were amused by the total devastation she’d caused. Blood flowed over the street, draining the crimson stain into a stream that rushed into the river, turning it scarlet. All around us the coppery tang oozed in to the air, clinging to it obnoxiously. Smoke from the fires burned my eyes, stinging them mercilessly as tears rolled down my cheeks.

She laughed, but it was as cold and empty as she was.

Dire wolves kept pace beside her, and the torch she held burned with blue flames. Her dress hugged her curves, and darkness oozed from around her eyes and lips while she blew droplets into the air. The ink-colored droplets rushed forward and slithered up the leg of a woman who had been mid-change. The woman’s needlelike teeth vanished and her wings slid into her spine.

“I have claimed you, Theresa, and you are now mine. You’ll collect others like you, creatures who are weak of mind but strong of spirit, and deliver them to me. Bring me men and women so I may create more of you and take control of this world. Before you go, tell me where I can find more like you. I want you to tell me which of these monstrous beasts can wield flames?” she demanded, moving deeper into the village. Her ancient gaze slid to the battle occurring out in the field bordering the edge of town.

“The dragons and the phoenixes can wield flames,” Teresa muttered staring listlessly ahead, with dullness in her eyes.

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