Page 98 of Destiny of the Dragons

Cassius looked at her. “But Mia was too invested in toeing the family line.”

His gaze flicked over to Jace and Smoke. Her dragons eyed Cassius warily, like a cobra ready to strike. “Until she found true love.”

“I don’t know what you’re going on about,” Mother said, pressed her thumb deeper into Mia’s wrist.

“Her power is greater than you realize,” Cassius said. “I was hoping your torment would act as a stress test, but alas, she just fell in line. I should have never shown you the shadow mark.”

“How I raise my family is none of your concern,” Mother snapped at Cassius. “You will leave now—“

Cassius crossed the room lightning fast. He snapped his fingers, and Mother screamed.

She dropped Mia’s hand and blood gushed from her mouth, her eyes, her ears.

Mother crumbled to the floor with a high-pitched keening noising.

The pain from the shadow mark released immediately, and Mia crawled backward. Cassius stood over Mother, his face cold.

“Don’t you ever tell me what to do.”

“Sorry,” Mother choked out. “I’m sorry.”

“You forget who I am. What I have done for this family.”

“So sorry,” Mother gasped. Blood covered the front of her chest and arms.

Mia’s heartbeat too hard against her chest. She stared at Mother collapsed to the floor, her body twitching.

Cassius looked over at her. “Well, there you go. Fresh ingredients.”

Mother stopped moving.

“Is she…” Mia’s voice was hoarse.

“Dead? Oh yes.” Cassius smiled at her as he had all those years ago when she healed the kitten. “I’ve been waiting for you to turn on your mother for years. Seems you’re too soft.”

“Y-yes?” She wasn’t sure about this new face of Cassius and she felt like she was in an odd twilight zone.

“I have procured the ingredients you need to take over the family for you.” Cassius beamed at her.

Mia stared at her mother’s body, an empty numbness stealing over her. “Ingredients?”

Cassius gestured at her mother’s body. “The fresh blood of the Matriarch of your house. Do one spell for me, and I will leave you alone.”

A burst of panic cut through the numbness.

She looked at Jace and Smoke.

They were going to find out who she really was. She could have almost played off the blood in her mouth as her internal magic getting stronger, especially with them feeding her magic.

But this? This was undeniable.

Jace frowned. “Thanks for taking out the old hag, but we’ll be on our way now.”

Cassius smiled at Jace. “Oh, don’t fret. I took care of your mother too.”

“Care?”

Smoke glanced at the door and then Cassius. He had probably planned an exit strategy.

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