Page 20 of Trial By Fire

“Okay, but I can barely feel my Dragon, she is there but distant. I don’t know much about my magic, but it’s locked down tight,” I huff out, feeling defeat, and flop back down on the chair.

“Maurelle coerced you into believing you can’t reach her. It’s her power, and she wields it like a sledgehammer. You were unconscious when I brought you here, so it was easy for her to whisper her persuasions into your ear.” He steps forward, and his wings flex.

“So, how do I get rid of it without her knowing? I helped Dravyn free himself from her, and I have no clue how I did it. It just happened.” I shrug cluelessly. We didn’t have much time to discuss any of this before I was taken. I didn’t have any alone time with my fourth mate, but I plan to remedy that once this is all over. If I can manage to escape, that is.

“Your will is strong. You have to chip away at it and believe that you can break through the barriers she’s created. You can feel your Dragon. Close your eyes and reach out for her. Pull her up from the depths of your soul and let her rest beneath your skin. She is a part of you. Even coercion can’t keep her pushed down for long.” His words are laced with pride. I can feel his will and desire for me to achieve my goal. A fire lit in my veins, and I close my eyes.

I reach out to my men, my heart, my love pours out like a flowing river. It was so overwhelming. My tears slide down my cheeks as I feel them answer back, and our bond flares to life. Live in technicolor, not a whisper like it had been a moment ago. My Dragon's gold eyes stare back at me from behind my closed lids, reminding me of my dream all those days ago. Golden orbs pierce my heart, manifesting into a quaking fire. I press the flames down deep, burning away the poison that had seeped into my body through Maurelle’s power. I picture my bright red scales, and my massive red wings in the night sky, the very moment I broke free from the icy depths of the lake and Emerged the Red Dragon. I can feel her there, just below the surface, and she brings my magic with her.

“There you are,Mime –iel,”Dain said, snapping me out of my trancelike state I was in. I feel whole and completely in control, more so now than I was in Celestia. I smile back at him. I have no clue what he called me, but it was beautiful all the same.

I quirk my eyebrow in question, he laughs.

“It’s the language of the Fae. I called you my daughter, but in my language there’s more endearment,” he says insecurely, as if he is unsure of how I will respond. I offer him a smile, and he visibly relaxes. If I could wrap him up in a hug, I would. I am grateful for this moment. He has given me so much in just one conversation. It’s been Mom and me for so long, having someone else to guide me, let alone a biological parent, even at thirty, brings tears to my eyes.

“Thank you. I didn’t know I could do that. I still have so much to learn,” I say to him, quickly swiping a stray tear as I bounce on my toes, genuinely excited about what I could accomplish.

“Well, now the hard part. Now I have to show you how to hide it until you need it. Maurelle will come for you soon. I don’t know all she has planned. My sister is full of sinister surprises,” he says as he paces again. I nod my head in understanding.

“I will do whatever I can to get you back to your mates. To get you home to Arcadia. You're going to fly yourself out of here, and I am going to help you,” he says to me with a burning determination in his eyes.

“My Dragon—”

“No, not on Dragon wings.” He interrupts me and continues. “With your Fae wings, my magic is your magic, so you will be able to call forth wings like mine.” He flexes his wings, and they spread wide, almost like they are encouraging me. I can feel my excitement as an itch begins to form in between my shoulder blades. Is that them? Are they really there? Have they been there this entire time?I think to myself as I tie the blanket around me like a sarong so I can use my hands.

“You think I can?” I ask, ignoring the wave of pleasure that spreads through my body with gritted teeth. I blow out a steadying breath and look away from Dain, too embarrassed to look his way. If he noticed, he doesn’t say anything, and I am grateful to him for letting me focus on something else instead.

“Cordelia, I know you can.” His smile is contagious. I feel the warmth of it as it washes over me, and it soothes me like a balm. My heart warms, and I can’t wait to introduce him to my mom. I think of the future, the love of my family, and all the catching up we have to do. My father is here, not dead, but right here in front of me.

“Let’s begin.” He locks eyes with me and crosses his arms over his chest. I shake out my fingers and wait for his instructions.

CHAPTERFIFTEEN

DRAVYN

The Night Court. They bought her here. To the one place where the memories of my torture so vividly dance around in my head.

Strapped down to a table, candle lights dance around me. My fear of the blades that line the table beside me makes me lose control of my seven-year-old bladder. My body trembles as the Mage, who works for the queen, whispers words to her that I can’t understand. I just want to go home. Dad promised, he said I would be going on a trip. I thought we were going to the Barren Lands, back to mom.

Tears roll down my blood-stained face as I remember his last words to me as the Fae guards took me away. “Your mother’s dead, boy! Do your duty to me! Serve your new master!” he shouted to me with a sneer, clearly disgusted by my tears as I struggled in my captor’s arms.

“Are you going to be a good boy, little Dragon?” The queen whispers to me, shaking me from my thoughts, her voice sounds like honey, soothing and calm, and I comply. I will do whatever she wants me to do. I nod my head showing I am willing to be good, even though I know the pain is coming. I nod my head yes and blink my eyes rapidly to clear away the tears.

“Good.” She pats me like I was a pet and not a person. I watch the scary Mage with one eye and crooked teeth. He frightens me—he hurts me. The things he does to me when the queen leaves the room. I squeeze my eyes shut, not wanting to remember. “Proceed,” I hear her say in a faraway voice.

“This will work, my queen,” the Mage says, his voice filled with promise as he brings the knife down to my stomach and cuts me deep.

“Mommy!” I scream. Of course, there is no one here who can save me.

Opening my eyes, the echoes of my screams fade fast as I push down the memories. I was just a child. Maurelle didn’t care. She wanted to see how resilient Dragons were. I was her personal little lab rat until they realized I wasn’t going to shift. I guess my father had failed to mention that he didn’t dip me in the Waters of Elysium, and I would never Emerge. I paid for that little miscommunication with more torture.

I take a deep breath and quickly fold into the shadows as winged sentries fly around the roof gables like giant bats. Their wings are out wide as they glide through the air, their eyes are downcast as they scan the ground for intruders. I used to make a game of evading them and I use those same tricks now to make my way toward the massive castle.

Unfortunately, I can’t teleport myself inside. That would have been too easy. I could have made short work of this, grab my girl, and get us out of here. No, this rescue will require extreme stealth. Lucky for me I was trained to do exactly that, a shadow-wielding assassin. I don’t know what Cordelia’s father did to me, but he freed me completely, and it’s with that knowledge I feel confident enough to go straight to her. I know Maurelle won’t be able to feel me here, and the thought brings joy to my soul. A deep, dark part of me wants to walk up to her and slit that vile throat of hers and watch her bleed out. It’s less than she deserves considering the chaos she has caused.

“The queen’s special guest arrives tomorrow evening. We will need to be on high alert. We were told to double the guards on duty. I guess the queen believes the Dragon cunt’s mates are going to come for her after all.” Two guards have stopped right in front of me. Usually, I would have walked right past, but curiosity gets the best of me. Now I want to kill them. I pull my blade from my side, itching to bleed him for his words, but I know it will do me no good to cause a commotion now. I will remember his face for later though. My blade will be drenched in his blood before I leave this place for good. I was here for Cordelia, not my own revenge. As soon as they walk away from the entrance to the bridge, I make my way underneath the covered arch that separates the castle from the rest of Incantatia.

The castle of the Night Court magically floats high above the land below. Four long, steep covered bridges grant visitors entry as they climb their way to the top. I was told once the queen preferred Earth’s architecture, so instead of ethereal treetop structures, or harmonious buildings that were one with nature, you got Gothic Revival instead. Massive spires kiss the stars as they face the cardinal points: north, south, east, and west. It looms above the gable roof where the sentries fly. Colorful stained glass graces the pointed arched windows, with Fae folklore and battles from thousands of years ago.

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