Page 60 of Moon Raven Rising
“I see you have at least two dragons still here. I assume you can still command them, and it isn’t just your son who can control the beasts… Dax has officially declared war by coming into my castle, taking my prisoners, and attacking myguest. He has made Valeska an enemy by this attack as well. Am I wrong?” His glare deepens as he listens to me.
“The Ravendenes have been in my way for a very long time. I think it’s time that we eradicate Aldramani from the nuisance that comes with the name and I think that you would be wiseto agree with my terms…” I continue, folding my hands on my knee where I have crossed my legs and turned toward him. His mouth opens again to protest or agree. I don’t know, but I am not finished.
“Do not speak. These are my terms. You will command your army to fight for me. Valeska will help me destroy Dax and anyone that stands with him. You can keep the moon bitch, but once you have her, I want you gone from Aldramani. Do with your son whatever you see fit, but just know, if he stands in my way, I will not hesitate to cut him down too.” When I finish speaking, I stand and walk to the single window in the infirmary and look out over the ocean, giving him his moment of silence to decide what his fate is going to be.
He doesn’t get a choice. Not really. He will lead his army in my fight, or he will die here tonight.
“My son has abandoned his right to Valeska; to the Drach name. I will lead my army in this fight, and I will take what I am owed.” He growls as he pushes up from the bed, chin held high.
“Well then, I guess we have a war to plan… We will take the fight to them. Get your rest, King Phyrrohs. We leave in the morning.”
Chapter forty-seven
The protests from everyonedied the moment I conjured Dax’s shadows with him nowhere in sight. Even though I take comfort in knowing my people are currently safe and far from Soren, it still worries me breaking away from them like this... but the pain I felt coming from Dax…
Bracarva took flight as soon as I said the words. I, however, had to make sure that the people who were looking to me for answers knew where I was going.
Trent surprisingly gave me the most issues about leaving. It’s understandable why. He is looking out for what Dax would want. I know that Dax wouldn’t want me flying back toward the castle because of him, but I refuse to sit back and just wait. My wings carve through the clouds as I follow the route that Bravarva took but minutes ago.
Just before I reach the castle grounds, I hear her bellowing cry and the crashing sound of stone crumbling. Her rattling growl grows to a frenzy as I break the cloud cover. I see her giant black glittering tail disappear into the mouth of the cave in the cliffside the castle is carved into.
It only takes a breath; one moment I’m breathing in the fresh air of freedom, and the next I feel the world shift under my feet. Choking on sorrow-filled pain and the sight of blood.
My wings flatten on my back as I nose-dive to where Bracarva launches into the sky. Dax and the others are in a heap on her back, but the blood being staunched by Osiris’ hands over my mate’s abdomen sends my heart plummeting with my descent through the air.
Landing on the moving dragon’s back, I drop to my knees at Dax and Osiris’s sides, keeping my balance by gripping Osiris’ shoulder and the lapel of Dax’s coat.
“What happened to him?!” I cry, but my voice is lost to the wind as Bracarva carries us further from the castle. Each wing’s beat brings us closer to what could be the end. The harrowing scene unfolds before me, the amount of blood still coming from the wound at Dax’s stomach…I can’t help the downward spiral of my thoughts.
“I can’t do this without you! Please, don’t make me.” My begging comes out with a choked cry as I squeeze my eyes shut in an attempt to push myself out of this nightmare, but when they open again, I know this isn’t like the vision before. This blood is real. Warm and filled with draining life.
Osiris covers my hand with his other over Dax’s injury, bringing my attention to him. His eyes are filled with more emotion than I have ever seen, and it’s not comforting to see. I shake my head as tears, searing hot, stream down my face in an unyielding current.
“Trust me.” I see the words play over his lips, but the sound of his voice doesn’t reach my ears over the wind and my own blood rushing in them. Do I even have a choice? My nostrils flare as I agree to give him my trust. All words are stuck, lodged in my throat, and causing me to suffocate on sadness.
“Do you have the moonstone I gave you?” I nod again in response, unable to bring words to life. “Good. Raelle, I need you to use it. Hold it in your palm and let your magic guide you.”
“I can’t heal—Osiris, it doesn’t feel right. The wound…” I stammer. Osiris shifts and a face I haven’t seen in the light of day comes into view just beyond his shoulder.
“You can do more than you think, Moon Raven.” A flare of emotion shines in his eyes, causing a shift in my thoughts. The confidence of a stranger brings me strength. I nod again, first looking at the odd pain I see clouding Cano’s already dark eyes and his brows pinch, giving me a curt nod in return.
“Save him.” His eyes drop to the wound as I pull my hand free of Dax’s stomach; he groans in pain as his head falls to the side. It’s only seconds until my fingers are curling around the rough stone in my pocket.
Immediately, I feel the pull of magic. The tug happens first in my palm, where the stone rests, then in the center of my chest. A lightness lifts my heavy heart and carries it to the answer of what I know I need to do.
I press my right hand, holding the stone to Dax’s stomach as Osiris keeps his body upright and held to his chest. I lift Dax’s chin with my other hand, pressing my lips firmly to his, and at the same time I release my magic. Warmth surges from my palm, a kindling of fire I didn’t know I had…
“It’s okay. You’re going to be okay, Dax.” His lips part under mine in a gasp, and I continue to whisper the promise into his lips. Over and over again, I don’t know if I’m trying to convincehim or myself, but I continue to press my magic down on the wound.
With a heavy thump, Bracarva lands on the barren soil between the wastelands and the caves at the border of the Soule mountains. The ground beneath her feet vibrates with the force. I feel as though no time at all has passed, but the ache in my stiff muscles says otherwise. Being hunched over Dax slowly pouring magic into his wound on the entire flight has drained me more than I thought it could.
Even though I know we have landed and are safe to dismount Bracarvas back, I don’t move, and neither does anyone else. I lay there trembling, afraid that my efforts were fruitless. I don't notice anyone around. No sound or voices. No movement or stillness registers to me as I just sit there with my turbulent emotions.
A warm press on my cheek causes my eyes to flutter open, and when they lock in place with two twin flickering embers of Dax’s Raven, my shift overwhelms me. My eyes flash with light, my wings coming free at my back, and I gleam as Dax cups my face with both of his hands.
“I don’t think I’ve told you just how amazing you are lately.” He says, pressing his forehead to mine.
“I don’t think you have said much of anything to me lately… You know with all the saving the kingdom, shadow projecting, and being kidnapped by evil assholes and all…” I laugh, then remember one of the evil assholes is still holding Dax up. Pushing back, I look up into Osiris’s crystalline gaze and smile warmly. “At least one of the assholes has some redeeming qualities.” Osiris huffs out a half laugh as I move to stand and he pushes Dax to sit up fully.
