Page 6 of Dragon Unleashed

The ashy tang of burning cloth assails my nostrils. Farrell’s heart thumps, his pulse beating so loudly it’s almost as if it’s my own. His face is distorted, his hands working quickly, casting spells, countering my magic. As quickly as his magic works, my aether overwhelms it. My rage lessens gradually, and as it diminishes, my panic builds.

I let Farrell fall to the floor. His ego will be bruised, but my flames didn’thurthim. It’s not a big deal. Not really. His face tells a different story.

Smoke drifts slowly across the heads of the crowd.

My hearing fades in and out. The people mutter, and fingers start pointing, straight at me. Slowly individual words filter through.

“Two elements.”

“Two elements at once, dear.”

“She’s dangerous. Clearly unhinged.”

The Virrey leans his face into mine, and I take an unsteady step back.

“What did I tell you, you stupid little girl? I specifically told younotto use your power.”

Crap.

The heavy perfume of the guests, their agitated chatter, and the bright lights of the room crash back into my senses like a wave, breaking, and I stagger under the assault. A viselike grip on the back of my neck rights me. The Virrey propels me back to the stage, never once lessening his hold, the others hurrying behind us.

Shit.At least one person in this crowd will figure it out. They’ll figure out I have aether. No one can wield two elements without it. I’m screwed.

As I reach the top of the steps the Virrey turns me to face the crowd, and out the corner of my eye I catch sight of Farrell’s soot-blackened ass vanishing into the bowels of the mansion. The muscles in his back are tense and his fists clenched.

A streak of defiance sparks in my belly.

He deserved it.

Chapter Three: Lorelei

My ears pop as the Virrey erects a silencing bubble. I try to swing around, to back up out of it, but my feet refuse to respond. He’s frozen me on the spot, in the center of the damn stage. His slimy magic presses down, squeezing me in on all sides.

With a sneer the Virrey steps out of the bubble and turns to address the crowd. My fingers itch to combat his creepy spell.

“Chica, wait to see what he does.” Chano’s calm expression is more deadly than if his face were distorted in anger. He’s been working on this, on his rage. And he’s doing a damn sight better than I am tonight. I swallow down the feral part of me that wants to rip this spell apart, to shred the Virrey’s magic and watch these people realize just how damn powerful I am. Chano’s right.

“All right. You got me,” the Virrey calls out, interrupting the excited chatter. “I had more good news for you. I was keeping it for a…rainy day. But it seemsdarlingLorelei and her suitors got a little heated and outed me.”

Everyone waits expectantly. A small waiter with a giant magnum of champagne weaves his way onto the stage.

“And why not, let’s celebrate. You’re smart, it would have crossed your minds soon—why five in an allegiance? Why now? I have an exciting answer, one that lends our cause more power. Iwasgoing to announce it once Lorelei had a little more control. But, by the goddesses, she is a gift. A sign. Before you leave, you will take a magical oath. Not that anyone here would betray our cause.”

He lets the muttering rise to a crescendo before raising a single finger. With that one gesture a heavy silence falls.

“They have an allegiance of five and Lorelei has thefifthelement—she has aether.”

With a loud pop the champagne starts flowing and the room erupts.

I lean closer to Chano. Zephyr’s hand lands on my shoulder from behind and Naeve slips her palm into mine. The asshole just outed me. To hundreds of supes. He damn well better make them take that oath. My skin prickles at all the attention.

The Virrey steps back into the bubble, just as Farrell reappears, his destroyed suit replaced by an even more expensive one. Although he was a pretty fine sight without it.

In two quick strides the Virrey is in front of me. “You little bitch!”

His expression is completely incongruous to his words. Anyone watching must think we’re having a pleasant chat.

Farrell edges into the bubble, stopping, his face a mask, as his father’s spell washes over him.Does he even have any emotions?

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