Layala felt Thane’s power hit her in a burst, a thick cloud coating everything nearby like an invisible damp mist. It pulsed in wave after wave, water lapping against a shore. Layala’s ears began to ring; she’d never felt the severity of it like this before.
The two males stared at one another. Surprisingly, the two full dragons behind them didn’t move, didn’t make a sound. They must fear for their companion’s life, assessing Thane as a true threat.
The Ravens tensed; Leif tugged Layala’s shoulder, silently asking her to step back. She didn’t move.
The half-shifted dragon took in a deep breath through his nose and clicked his tongue like he tasted the very air. “It’s been a long time since I smelled the magic of the old gods.”
He could smell Thane’s magic, even more his lineage? She shouldn’t be too surprised. Varlett tasted Layala’s blood and knew what she feared about her mate bond with Thane. The harsh sneer on Thane’s face did not ease. With bared teeth, he stared down the taller dragon shifter.
“I only wanted to test if you were as valiant as they say. I won’t touch your lady friend and I mean none of you harm.”
After a few beats, Thane slowly drew his hand back and the tautness in Layala’s every muscle eased some.
“I’m quite sure my father will be interested in speaking with you,” he said, and with that his wings vanished, and the dragon scales turned to flesh, revealing pale skin with rosy cheeks. Those yellow eyes turned icy blue; the male looked like the human form of winter. With the drop of his protective scales the tense atmosphere shifted to one more open. “It’s been what, four hundred years since we had the honor of meeting with a member of House Athayel?”
“Long before my time,” Thane said.
The dragon prince nodded. “I’ll allow you.”
Thane shook his head. “I’m afraid that’s not going to work. We all go.”
“And these people are?”
“My personal guards. I’d never ask you to come into my castle without your,”—he looked at the other dragons—“escorts.”
“Hmm, I suppose that is fair. I just have to ask, do you like wine? I have some really delicious wine.”
Thane chuckled. “I do. We also stole a bottle from Calladira if you want to exchange.”
“Stole? Well, that’s a story I’d like to hear.”
It was strange how quickly they went from nearly ripping each other’s throats out to talking like old friends. Thane always seemed to be able to charm if he wanted to, and this dragon prince appeared equally schooled in the ways of the court, like Aunt Evalyn had once said.
With a big smile the dragon prince said, “Great, well it’s settled then. You have my word as a Prince of House Drakonan. None of you will be imprisoned or killed if you are peaceful.” He held out his hand to Piper. “My name is Ronan Drakonan.”
Piper’s hand stayed at her side for a few beats before she grasped his palm. The dragon shifter’s hand dwarfed hers. “I’m Piper Fireheart.”
“Fireheart? I think your parents were right to choose that for you.” He kept hold of her hand, even though it was past time what Layala believed to be customary. His crystalline-blue eyes locked on to Piper without an ounce of pause. Did the dragon prince catch a fancy for the redheaded elven warrior? “It’s tradition for elves to choose their female children’s last name rather than inherit their father’s or husband’s, correct?”
“Yes,” Piper answered, pulling her hand away and partially tucking it behind her back.
Layala tried not to smile. Fennan will really enjoy this… another suitor for Piper. She glanced at Fennan. He frowned and held onto his sword handle. Hopefully he didn’t do anything rash.
Prince Ronan turned to Layala. “And you are?”
“I’m Layala Lightbringer.”
“My betrothed,” Thane added casually but the claim itself wasn’t friendly. It was a warning.
With a smile and a nod, he said, “I thought so.” He did not offer his hand but dipped his chin. Then he swept an arm toward the wall. “Well, the only way in is to fly, so you’ll have to hop on. That’s Dax,” the pearl-colored dragon bobbed his massive head. “And Vaper,” the giant bronze had a sleeker snout but a larger horn on the tip of his or her head.
“Greetings.” A feminine voice came from Vaper.
“My personal guards,” Ronan said. “Although we can carry more than one of you, I prefer that you each have your own escort. As I said, as a whole our people are not always open to outsiders.” With a snap of his fingers, the bronze dragon named Vaper called in a deep trill, three times.
What did that mean? That they each needed their own dragon to protect them from others?
Without asking for the other’s names, he said, “King Thane, I’ll ask you to go with Vaper. Layala, with Dax.” He turned to Piper. “Piper, you wouldn’t mind riding me, would you?”
Even though there wasn’t a speck of innuendo in his tone or expression, Layala bit her lower lip and turned away to keep from snickering.
With a low, almost inaudible growl, Fennan stepped up beside Piper, and though he didn’t speak his action said enough. Great, let’s start a fight with the dragons already, Layala thought, and clenched her hands. Thane narrowed his eyes at Fennan and slowly shook his head.
Ronan looked between Piper and Fennan with an arrogant smirk. “Is that a problem?”
“No,” Piper answered. “No problem, Prince Ronan. It would be an honor to be escorted by you.” She turned to Fennan and gave him a small reassuring smile.
Wings shimmered into existence, protruding from his back. “I could carry you in my arms if you’d prefer that.”
Leif grinned with delight, and patted Piper on the shoulder. “I think she would prefer that. Less intimidating. She’s a delicate flower.”
Piper smacked his hand away. “I’m no delicate flower.”
Three more dragons came soaring over the wall and dropped to the ground, this time with such grace they barely made a sound. Two were smaller, though still massive, with cobalt scales, almost identical. They had sleeker, less square faces as well. Layala wondered if they were female. The third had a spiked tail and onyx scales much like Varlett but with two gold horns growing out of the crown of his head.
“The rest of you, pick your escort. I assure you, no harm will come to you. These are my most-trusted people.”
“I don’t know about this,” Leif said, looking back to where the horses were tied up among the trees. “Maybe one of us needs to stay behind and guard our belongings.” The worry lines on his face were etched deeper than ever.
“The gnome will stay and watch out for the horses. You’re coming. Quit messing around and let’s get on with it,” Thane said and walked to Vaper.
She didn’t want to leave Tif unguarded in a forest with dragons and Maker only knew what else, but she was probably safer out here, and someone did need to stay with their horses. Tif was good at attending to them, at least making sure they had food and water. She poked her head out of Phantom’s saddle bag and gave a thumbs-up. At least she was happy with the idea of being out here alone.
Thane looked back over his shoulder, staring down the big pearl dragon Layala had been assigned. “Be careful with her. She means more than you even know.”
A puff of smoke burst out of his nose and the corners of his humongous mouth curled up revealing too many sharp teeth. Should they be trusting these beasts so quickly? There wasn’t much of a choice if they wanted an audience with the king for the scepter. As Aunt Evalyn once told her, “There is never a great reward without great risk.” It was worth it to find out the truth.
With a gulp, Layala started for Dax. Would it be shameful to ask if she could ride with Thane? Come on Layala, now isn’t the time to be a coward. But those big yellow predatory eyes still followed her steps like she was a tasty snack. Even crouched, Dax’s spiked spine reached the treetops. She had no idea how she was meant to climb up there. Maybe a half-shifted dragon would be better after all, but then she’d be curled in the arms of a strange male and that was an even more uncomfortable thought.
“Hello,” Layala said with a sheepish smile.
He winked and although she was terrified, something deep inside her trusted this dragon. His presence was somehow warm and welcoming although he looked intimidating and lethal. Maybe their initial thought of dragons was skewed by their encounters with Varlett. The prince seemed cordial enough.
A grunt escaped the dragon’s throat then his massive paw lifted off the ground carrying with it pieces of grass and debris that dropped like rain. A shadow cast from above her and she backed up a step. That giant paw came down. She held in a scream—He’s going to scoop me up! Long talons closed around her in a cage of scales. She clutched onto the thinnest talon, and even then she was barely able to fit her arms around it. Holy shit. Holy shit! Thane, and the others grew smaller; her stomach flip flopped. She slammed her eyes shut, and even wrapped her legs around the talon now. If she fell from this height, she’d splat like a bug under her shoe. The movement stopped and another grunt came from Dax. One eye peeled open, then the other. She hung from his finger, hovering a few inches above his back. Flushing, she let go and launched herself at the spike in front of her that was much like a talon but more rounded. This was good. She could hold onto this while they flew. Oh holy Maker above, she was actually on the back of a dragon. And going to fly. She quickly sat, straddled the spike, and hugged it tightly.
The huge white membranous wings spread and with a whoosh they lifted off the ground. Layala screamed—partially from fear but also from delight. She didn’t care if she sounded ridiculous or if the others would laugh at her. Pressure pushed her further into the dragon and then suddenly it was like she floated as they rose high above the wall and dropped into a glide. Wind whipping through her midnight hair, they leveled out with the bright yellow sun, and she let out a giddy laugh. Throwing her fist into the air she let out a wild howl. Is this what it felt like to be totally free? Riding a galloping horse felt like flying but soaring through the air made an uncontrollable laugh bubble up in her. Dax peeked back at her, and his body rumbled beneath her. Was he laughing too?
She dared peek down. It seemed impossible but yet she couldn’t deny what she saw. Levels, upon levels of roads and homes and structures existed below. Cobblestone bridges without railings connected to towers or trees hundreds of feet off the ground. Exotic plants grew in pots in front of shops. Statues made in bronze of dragons, animals and human forms in various poses littered the bridges. Some sprayed water into shallow pools. Half-shifted dragons flew from one level to the next, shifters in human form walked along the bridges, full dragons hung off what looked like giant bird nests with large sticks and fluffs of cotton poking out from perches on spirals and peaked buildings.
Roars and snarls from the left made her whip around. A pair of dragons fought mid-air, clawing, and snapping at each other. The white one had wide-open red gashes along its throat and chest, and the other, a golden-scaled beast had one bite mark near his shoulder. A high-pitched keening came from the white dragon. Layala held her hand over her mouth as his torn wings snapped on one side and he went down in a spiral. Not too far ahead another pair of shifters fought, but in the middle of the bridge and in human-scale form. Their fists cracked each other’s faces over and over. Claws raked over scales, cutting into them. This place was… brutal. If they did this to each other, what might they do to outsider elves?
As they passed a nest with two eggs, one white with blue spots and the other a solid amber, Layala smiled. Dragon eggs were said to be rare, but they were right there out in the open. And did the color of the eggshell reflect the color of their dragon scales?
This city must have taken hundreds of years to build, Layala thought, inspecting the homes with massive doors and windows built into the tops of trees. The floating intersecting pathways, and crowds blocked any view of what lay at the ground floor.
“Wow,” she breathed. “Do the bridges connect all the way down?”
A grunt and a nod. She figured that meant yes. “It’s wonderful.”
A sapphire dragon with a spike-tipped tail soared up beside them. As large as Dax but sleeker with no horns growing out of the top of her head, Layala assumed she was female. Her wide jaws snapped at Dax’s shoulder, dangerously close to Layala. She tucked her leg up higher, and the warmth of her magic lit within her chest and trickled through her veins to her fingertips ready to unleash hell. So this was what the prince meant. Dax let out a barking growl, raising his lip to show all those teeth.
Maker above, they weren’t about to fight, were they? Layala gripped the spike harder. Dax pitched sideways, knocking his shoulder into the sapphire dragon. The collision jolted Layala, and she squeaked, clawing desperately for a better hold. She conjured vines out of thin air until they wrapped behind her back and secured to the spike in front of her in a loop. I’m not about to fall to my death. Nope.
“No outsiders allowed in our city, Dax,” Sapphire’s voice was feminine and yet gravelly. “It is treason.”
The rumble of his growl shook Layala. Oh shit. Out of the corner of her eye, Dax’s pearl tail lashed out and slapped Sapphire’s wing, sending her in a downward spin. She howled on her way down and slammed into the top-level bridge. Bits of it crumbled under her colossal weight. Other dragons leapt from perches below and soared up on either side. Layala glanced back, where in the hell are Prince Ronan and Thane? She spotted them in the distance but too far back to intervene.
“Dax,” a silver-and-black-striped dragon barked. “Hand over your passenger.”
Didn’t these two know Dax was the prince’s personal guard? Or, holy Maker above, what if they’d lied? What if he wasn’t the prince? And why isn’t Dax defending himself by explaining who I am? Dax only snapped his jaws.
“I’m here under Prince Ronan’s protection,” Layala shouted over the wind and beating of massive wings. She opened her mouth to go on, but they dropped into a sudden dive, and a scream tore from Layala. Tears streamed down the sides of her face from the speed of the wind. With his wings pinned to his sides, Dax zipped down almost completely vertically with his tail straight up behind them. Weaving between houses, and trees, and bridges like it was an obstacle course. The ground level wasn’t far below now, and he wasn’t slowing. I’m going to die! I’m going to die!
