Page 77 of The Exiled Dragon

“It’s settled,” Osirus grabbed a parchment paper from Alaneo, his right hand, signing it with a black quill. “Put on our seal and have the fastest Fairy deliver this to Clara in the Crimson Shadows Pack. I only trust her.” Alaneo quickly bowed, leaving the room. It was no secret of Osirus’ fascination with Princess Clara. She was the first soul he trusted outside of his inner circle.

Melina, still standing, shuffled her feet. Her brightly colored wings fluttered nervously. “My darling,” Osirus stood up, reaching his hand out to her, “What troubles you?” My face continued to be buried in Nicholas’ chest, his Dragon soothing mine. His Dragon was lulling me to sleep, so hard to keep my eyes open.

“Do you think?” Melina’s initial question left me, my eyes becoming heavy. Nicholas hummed, his Dragon making a song to mine in comfort.

“Bring in the Witch.” I saw two of Osirus’ fingers wave in my peripheral. “Sometimes you see things quicker than I can, Darling.” He kissed the top of her head. “Good girl.” She beamed up at him as he swatted her behind.

Sitting up, Nicholas’ eyes planted on mine. “You are going to be all right,” he whispered. “I’ll help you get through it all.” Smiling sadly, he pushed my hair behind my ear. I didn’t deserve him. He was too handsome, too perfect. He would make a fantastic mate for someone one day.

Teacups clinked in front of us, not the beautiful white ones swirled with gold and silver. These were plain. The Witch poured a thick brown liquid with a splash of cream inside. “Male Dragon,” the Witch glanced at Nicholas. “Please drink.” Nicholas eyed the teacup and then to Osirus, who only nodded. Grasping the cup, he took a swift gulp, handing it back to the Witch.

The white powder was thrown, dusting part of the cup where Nicholas placed his lips. Turning black, she tsked, glaring back at Osirus. “He has black magic in him.” Her voice was clipped. “I’ll summon several friends of mine. We can remove it tonight.”

“What?” I gasped.

“Drink.” Melina sat on her knees, urging me to drink the same liquid Nicholas had drunk, forcing another teacup into my hand.

“What do you mean, Witch?” Nicolas growled. “I didn’t use any black magic!” Nicholas pulled me back to his side; I felt not fear but excitement being so close. My Dragon purred again. Placing one hand on my chest and one at my mouth, Melina only giggled at my reaction. I drank the cup down just as Nicholas and it was quickly snatched from my hand.

“Alpha Amora also has black magic in her.” The Witch threw the teacups back into her bag.

“It wasn’t placed on you willingly.” Osirus pushed the Witch away so Nicholas couldn’t lash out. “I see the same blackness in both of your auras as I have seen in Creed’s. I just wasn’t using my ability to see when you first arrived. My mind was elsewhere.” His voice trailed off, walking to a large bay window overlooking the sea. “We rectify that tonight; I apologize for not looking further.”

“Osirus, you wouldn’t have known. You can’t use your abilities all the time.” Melina wrapped her arms around his waist.

“This will make for an interesting evening, though.” Osirus winked at Nicholas and me. I raised an eyebrow and squinted at them. Osirus chuckled, Melina snickering, burying her face in his chest.

“We might need another cave ready,” she whispered.

Duke Mortus

“Amora?” Adam’s voice trailed outside his tent. “Amora!” he growled loudly, pushing over items somewhere outside the tent. “You find her now!” His Dragon roared through his throat. “Such incompetence! You are to protect your Alpha female, and there you sit!” Scuffling his claws in the dirt, he yells to the Dragons, ordering them to take flight quickly.

I threw my legs up, my feet settled on the desk, fragments of dirt landing on parchments. Adam was usually meticulously clean, parchments filed away, his desk filled with trinkets of gold and precious gems. Something about a Dragon being so enthralled with the sparkles had me chuckling to myself. They would do anything for a gem or two, and have the prettiest things in their possession. Anything considered ugly was cast away, including the specific hideous Dragon that had eaten Enoch.

The drape at the front of the tent was flung open. I didn’t look up, continuing to pick at my nails with the jeweled dagger that laid on his desk. Adam didn’t flinch, his eyes glaring at my feet dirtying his desk. “The hell are you doing here?” He stomped into the tented room, grabbing a bottle of his expensive alcohol from a nearby shelf.

“I’ve given you your payment for the Elder’s blood this month, so don’t you dare tell me I’m late,” he hissed. Slinging himself on the enormous pile of decorative pillows, he signed thickly, rubbing his forehead.

“Mate troubles?” I snickered, flicking a piece of dried blood from my finger.

“None of it concerns you,” he spat. “Now, what do you want? If anyone catches a whiff of you, send more magical memory powder for the lot of them.” He waved his hand towards the door.

Leaning my head back, I folded my arms. “Adam, Adam, Adam, what a quandary we find ourselves in.” Adam stiffened. He had a lot to be stiff about. His head was about to be covered in his own blood.

“The fuck do you mean? What quandary?”

“Good, you know what the words mean. Maybe you can be taught.” Standing from the desk, I buttoned my black suit jacket, the silver buttons gleaming in the candlelight. Adjusting a few of my silver rings, I sauntered over, leaning my hip on the overly compensating desk.

“You have a tribe member that has killed one of my own.”

“I watch my tribe. None have been to the south,” he rebutted. Tsking, I lowered myself to his face.

“Not the ones you have cast out, the one exiled that still pays his dues as a tribe member. You let a rogue Dragon into my territory, eating one of my men. Now I suspect he may have something of mine,” my voice growled out.

“Your blood bag?” Gripping his throat, my claws extending, Adam thrashed, pulling at my arm. Little did he know I also took some black magic to enhance my abilities. Adam was a weak Alpha.

“She is my beloved,” I whispered into his ear. His hair feathered around his face. “If I hear you call her a blood bag again, you will be the Dragon we take blood from.” Licking the blood dribbling from his neck, I spat it back out.

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