Page 2 of World At War

I was unaware that Luna and Noah stayed behind; I was under the impression that they had left with my parents. Their presence here adds to the collateral damage that I may cause, and I do the only thing I can think of. I call through time and space through the common dragon bond to the one being besides myself that would risk life and limb for Luna. Her mate.“Marco! Your mate needs you! It’s time!”

I can sense his dragon rip free of his human bonds and leaves the Ice Dragon Court moving fast. I sense the urgency through the bond of his movements. His heart sings of the happiness of finally being able to hold his adult mate. My father screams through the bond to Marco to return that he does not feel Luna is ready. I am death incarnate and a much larger, stronger dragon than my father. Marco wouldn’t dare disobey me or disobey the needs of his mate. “Marco! Blacken the sky, call your kin, rain acid from above!”

Within seconds of my call, I feel the awakening of an entire clan of black dragons I was unaware existed. Marco calls forth his entire bloodline and the neighboring flights from his homelands. He hails me as the second coming of the Blood Queen. That his mate is in danger, and he must obliterate the intruders. His kin are quick to agree, and I can sense the mass moving towards our position without hesitation.

Knox launches off of my back as I hover over the wall of the castle. Shifting quickly back to my human form, I land on the wall, close to my brother and sister. Knox lands quickly next to me and looks up and down the length of the wall. I double-check my brother and sister for wounds. Thankfully, both are perfectly fine.

I scan the sky for Draven, and he is breathing his lightning breath upon all the Drow running around. My heart breaks a little, watching my alpha mate taking his pain out on the Drow. Knox grips my hand as we walk along the wall, heading towards the stone stairs to get into the courtyard. As we descend the stairs, my siblings follow behind us closely. In the eerie silence of the courtyard, the scales on the back of my neck stand on end. Something is not right; I just can not put my finger on it. Scanning the courtyard, my eyes shift again back to obsidian with the electric blue pulsing center.

Drow wander the courtyard, glamoured hiding between shadows and light advancing on the castle’s front door. Without hesitation, I shove my mate behind me and throw my hands forward, sending a wave of force weapon across the courtyard. Several Drow turn just before impact to see the wave of death I sent towards them. Instantly, their once corporeal forms disintegrate, becoming dust in the wind. Through the bond, I feel Knox’s shock at what was beyond his sight. Raising asingle hand, I make theShhhmotion with a single finger before finishing prowling the area within the walls.

Raising my hands in front of me, I guide my arctic winds to open the front gates. The gigantic doors open smoothly to reveal the bloody, body-filled battlefield that had once been a well-manicured front lawn. Many of the bodies that litter the field were once warriors within Draven’s ranks. Shaking my head, I walk through what I am, dubbing the valley of death. Hundreds of bodies litter the field, Drow, and dragon alike. Clansmen from local bear and wolf clans also lay dead in the shadow of the castle walls. On the hill under a weeping willow tree, I find Draven holding what remains of his father in his arms. Knox and I take off at a run to get to Draven. I throw safety and caution into the wind as we close the distance.

We arrive swiftly at Draven’s side, and his eyes are devoid of emotion, stone cold. He’s shut himself off from Knox and me to the point I can no longer sense his feelings. Hesitantly, I reach out to him; my hand shakes as it inches closer to him, closing the distance. Finally, I make contact with him, and I feel his scales shifting under his human flesh. His dragon is out for blood, and it’s protecting its human half by sheltering him from what’s in front of them. “Mate.” Escapes Draven’s lips, but the tone is all his dragon.

My eyes shift to my dragon’s as I look into his eyes. “Yes?” My voice hisses, bearing some tones of my dragoness as I remain in full control.

“They killed father.” His serpentine slits glance down to the headless body in his arms, then back up at me. “Stole father’s head, no afterlife without head.” In that one statement, it becomes clear why dragons have the urge to collect their enemies’ heads.

“We must protect father’s remains. Dragon, may I have my human mate back? I need his help in protecting father’s body.” His dragon’s eyes bore into mine; my heart rate speeds up then settle’s back down. I’m not sure what transpired, but soon I am looking Into Draven’s emerald-green eyes once more.

“My love, my life … We must bring your father’s remains into the birthing chambers. I need to preserve his body until we can get his head back.” I say as gently as possible. Silent tears roll down my cheeks. Thinking about how horrible Austin’s last moments must have been.

Draven looks briefly to Knox, then back down to his father’s body in his arms, and simply nods. It takes Draven and Knox to carry their father back into the castle. Luna and Noah howl, their combined tone haunting, making the scales on the back of my neck stand on end. For now, we’ve purged the castle grounds of Drow. I know this will not be the last that we see of them. It’s going to be a waiting game. Orders have been issued to gather the dead. We will construct funeral pyres for proper burials to be performed as soon as the sun sets tonight.

Chapter 2

Luna

Deep down,I know I shouldn’t have disobeyed Tia’s father, but I couldn’t leave, knowing my sister would return to hell itself. Once inside the castle, my brother and I shift back to our human forms and dress quickly. We run down the halls, following Tia’s scent. The stairs that lead deep into the bowels of the castle are creepy as all hell. I mean, even more creepy than Mom’s massive skull collection.

As the wooden doors swing open, revealing the vast chamber carved from solid stone, a heavy silence settles over us like a thick blanket. My heart aches as I watch the tears still streaming down Tia’s cheeks, her grief palpable in the air around us. Draven and Knox carry their father’s lifeless form inside, their movements heavy with sorrow, their eyes seeking solace in mine.

I meet their expectant gazes with a solemn nod, understanding the weight of the task ahead. I watch Tia’s arms shift into her armored gauntlets, the cold metal providing a sense of strength and resolve amidst the overwhelming sadness. Raising herhands, she summons the elements to command, channeling the icy power within her.

With a low rumble, an oval pillar of ice materializes from the dirt floor, rising steadily until it reaches the perfect height to cradle Austin’s body. It’s as if the very earth itself responds to her call, offering a fitting resting place for our fallen comrade.

Reverently, Knox and Draven lay their father’s body upon the icy pedestal, their movements gentle yet filled with a profound sense of loss. I step forward to stand beside them, offering silent support as we honor the memory of a beloved father, husband, and leader.

Together, we bow our heads in a moment of solemn reflection, the weight of our grief pressing down upon us like a heavy shroud. But even amid our sorrow, there’s a quiet strength that binds us together, a bond forged in the crucible of loss and shared sacrifice.

As we stand in the shadow of death, I know that we’ll find the strength to carry on, to honor Austin’s memory with every step we take forward. And though his physical presence may be gone, his spirit will live on in the hearts of those who loved him, guiding us through the darkness until we find our way back into the light.

Knox makes one last change to the way his father is lying before backing away. Tia walks over and lowers her head and closes her eyes for several moments. Reaching into Austin’s pocket, she pulls out a small dagger and holds it. Her eyes take on a brilliant white glow as she stares straight ahead. “I know where his head is. We wait for reinforcements to arrive, then we decimate the troops in this realm.” Tia blinks several times, clearing her eyes.

Draven and Knox nod, listening to Tia’s news; Draven appears pleased. Knox still seems just as distraught as before. My sister places her taloned hands gently upon Austin’s body, and the ice from the pillar rises and covers him. Layer by layer, the ice builds up, building an ice tomb for his body to rest in until his head is secured.

Tia herds us out of the chambers, and once everyone is outside the door, she covers it in a thick layer of ice. As we climb the stairs, she fills the staircase with ice. There’s only one way into the chamber, and she is making sure the chamber would be undisturbed until the mission is complete.

Roars echo in the early evening, and I swear I know the one tone.Marco has come!I haven’t seen him since just before my first heat four years ago. I never understood why my mother sent him away; he was my everything; my best friend, my guardian, and my first crush. I wonder if he’s just as handsome as he was four years ago? Tia runs with me through the castle, heading towards the main gates. The sky is blackened with what appears to be at least forty to fifty gigantic black dragons.

Gripping onto Tiamat’s gown, I move to stand behind her as the dragons come in for a landing in what was once grasslands. The largest dragon with the biggest horns steps forward and bows to Tia before laying upon the ground before her. Staring at this massive male recognition floods my system; it’s Marco. Noah comes from behind us with staff from the castle carrying robes for all the dragons that had arrived. Tia spins me so that my back is to Marco while he shifts to his human form.

Her dragon’s eyes flair to life for a mere moment, just before a smile graces her lips. “Time to meet your mate, my most precious sister.” Unshed tears well up in her eyes as she smiles, looking down at me.

My eyes widen as the words sink in. Tia believes Marco is my mate. I mouth Marco at her, and she nods softly, still smiling. “He knew the minute you were born, the last eight years have been hell on his poor nerves.” She smiles yet again before turning suddenly to face the male in question.

“Marco Maelestor-Rex, Alpha of the black dragons.” Tia’s voice booms over the masses, subjugating most of the dragons before her. She reaches behind her and pulls me alongside her, holding me firmly to her side. “I am entrusting my most precious sister to your care once more, not as her guardian. But, as her mate.” Tia’s tone is firm and dominant, as a ruler should be. Marco’s head remains lowered as he listens to the words falling from her lips. “Rise and look your mate in the eyes for the first time,” Tia says as her eyes take on an ethereal glow.

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