Page 62 of Dragons Of Shadow and Sea

Her voice grows even more tentative. "There were legends. Stories."

"The Shadow Queen's heir would be a Shadow Dragon, with blood of the other four elements running through her veins," my dad says, more confidently now. Like he's reciting one of the ancient texts from memory. "And she would unite the five kingdoms, bringing light to shadow, accompanied by..."

He breaks off.

And wow, this is awkward. But it's also the truth. A part of me has known it for a while now; maybe from the very beginning.

Quietly, I supply, "By her mates."

A tear rolls down my mother's cheek, but she nods. "Have you found them?"

"Three." My chest tightens. It's pretty freaking weird to admit to your dead parents that you've been shacking up with three hot guys, but it's all part of some mystical dragon prophecy, so I guess it's okay.

I know it's pointless, but here in this magical bubble I've created where I get to speak with my parents' spirits, I reach out for Jianyu, Rafe and Malik. The connection is still there, but the silence of it aches.

I suddenly miss them so much it hurts.

"They're incredible. All three of them--in their own ways." My mouth crumples. "I wish you could have met them."

My mom hands cover her mouth, her joy for me overflowing. "Me, too, sweetie."

My dad is happy for me, too, but he remains focused on the gravity of the situation. "There will be four."

I let out a soft sound of dismay, my ribs cratering. I knew it. I knew it--and yet...

"One for each of the elemental kingdoms," my father says. "You can already tap into your Shadow Dragon magic, but they'll help you access the Fire, Stone, Water and Air magic inside of you."

"But--"

But how can that be? I wasted half of my life in the Air Kingdom, and every minute of it was torture.

Only that's not true. My cousin Brynn was a true friend to me. I learned to enjoy my own company--to cherish time alone, reading or studying.

And I also enjoyed my time with...

Storm's gray eyes float into my vision, but I force the memory of them away.

Storm was the love of my life--or so I thought. But he always kept me at arm's length. He refused to admit we were together, and the minute we were found out, he rejected me and threw me away like I was nothing.

Now that I've mated with a prince from each of the other three kingdoms, my fate seems clear, though. I have to mate with a prince of the Air Dragon Kingdom, too.

My stomach clenches, and I'm glad I haven't eaten anything recently as bile burns the back of my throat. Storm can't be my fated mate. Does that mean it's his brother? Fury?

My skin crawls at the idea of so much as touching him. He was cruel and vicious, the leader of the gang of dragon elites who made my life a living hell. He can't be my mate, either.

Is there some other hidden enclave of Air Dragon royalty? How would I even find them if there were?

All of these questions spin out in my brain, but before I can begin to address them, I feel the tug of my parents' souls. They've been growing less substantial as we've been speaking, but I've been able to keep them tethered to me somehow. The connection is beginning to strain, though. Panic claws at me. I just got them back; I knew it wouldn't be for long, but losing them already is cruel.

A sob escapes me. This is all too much to take. I'm some sort of lost heir to a lost throne; I have to find an Air Dragon mate. My parents are gone, and what shreds I have left of them are slipping through my fingers.

"I'm so sorry," my mother says, crying harder now, too. "We didn't mean to put this burden on you."

"I know."

"But we believe in you. You can unite the kingdoms."

"Cast out the shadows," I recite. That's how all of the old stories went.

---