Dragon wings lifted and lowered in great whooshes. Wind rushed past, whipping the hairs around Thane’s face like reeds in a storm. Throaty calls from dragon to dragon reverberated around them. He, Layala, and Piper rode in the air just above leafy green treetops, while below, five hundred Ravens rode on horseback beating the drums of war. Intel told Thane that his father waited for them with an elven army of three thousand five hundred near the border of the Void. And only the Maker knew how many pale ones lurked beyond the misty shadows inside. The Palenor soldiers knew Thane and the Ravens were coming and they would fight for who they believed was their rightful king.
Thane’s charcoal Raven armor hugged his body, trapping the heat from the sun, and his underclothes were damp despite the cool wind at this altitude. He’d imagined this scenario a hundred times in the past few days. The moment his Ravens would clash with their own. Nightmares still plagued his sleep; his father’s rotten corpse seemed to follow him even while awake now. Accusing him of murdering his own people. You became me. You are me. A bloody king. His father cackled pointing with a gray, decaying hand.
Hypocrite.
Murderer.
How could they have come to civil war? He swiped a hand over the back of his sweaty neck. And how many Ravens would he sentence to death going against his own father? They were vastly outnumbered even with the help of three dragons. Thane hoped their presence would be enough of a surprise to get his father to surrender before they lost half their fighters. Tenebris may be wicked, evil, but he wasn’t a fool, and they didn’t have weapons to break through dragon scales—the only problem was Thane didn’t want his own people slaughtered.
His eyes felt heavy from lack of sleep, but his body hummed with the adrenaline that rushed through him in anticipation of battle. Shining armor glinted; their numbers stretched in a row as if they stood guard of the Void itself.
“Take me to the ground,” Thane said. They were only a quarter of a mile away from meeting the enemy.
Vaper tucked her wings and the sudden drop tickled Thane’s stomach. They hit the ground in a spray of grass and dirt. Smoke shot out of Vaper’s nostrils like steam from a tea kettle.
“I’ll lead them from the ground not from the safety of the sky.” He glanced up to find Prince Ronan and Piper soaring by. A great roar echoed across the plain and brought chills to his skin. Prince Ronan and his two personal guards volunteered after the meeting with the Goddess of Wisdom, but that was all House Drakonan would spare. They still feared what the pale one curse might do.
“You’re a noble leader, Prince Thane,” Vaper’s raspy voice rumbled. Her massive head lifted a little higher, glossy bronze scales shimmered in the sunlight. “May the Maker bless your sword and may your arrows fly true.”
“Thank you.”
A gust of wind from Vaper’s wings billowed up dirt and debris and she shot into the sky. The sound of beating wings alone would put fear into his father’s soldiers.
Mathekis was nowhere to be seen and he’d yet to spot Varlett in the skies or on the ground, but his father, mother, sister, and Aldrich sat on white horses in the front of the army. Typically, High King Tenebris stayed out of the line of duty, far behind the protection of soldiers, and not once had his mother or sister been on a battlefield, least of all at the front of it. He knew exactly why his father dragged his mother and sister out here. His father’s horse shifted slightly, and Thane’s heart lurched. Evalyn stood with a rope around her wrists and his father held the other end. Even from here he could see her dress was tattered at the ends and torn in places. Dirt and grime covered her from boot to head. Frazzled bits of black and silver hair came loose from the tie in the back. Layala might not think clearly here so he must. He didn’t care for her the same way Layala did, but she’d still become a soft spot for him, despite her apparent dislike of him.
His stomach knotted but he trudged forward until a great winged shadow cast over him. Layala and Dax hovered above. A vine shot down and with a crash, rooted itself in the ground. Thane smiled. Layala jumped off the dragon’s back and swung onto her vine, sliding down the smooth stalk as gracefully as she danced. Her boots hit the ground with a thud, and she stood tall. She tugged her raven-winged helmet down tighter and adjusted the neck of her armor, breath hitching a little. There was just something about seeing her in full battle armor that captivated him. A smile played at the corners of her mouth and those bright blue eyes met his. “You didn’t think I’d let you face your family alone, did you?”
She hadn’t seen Evalyn yet, he presumed. His jaw clenched.
“What is it?” she asked.
He turned to look at them, still a hundred yards away across grassy fields sprinkled with tiny white and purple wildflowers. A place too beautiful to have blood spilled across it. They weren’t close enough to smell the stinking bogs of the Void yet, so the air was fresh and calming. A white flag rose up in Aldrich’s hand and the five of them moved ahead.
“You need to allow me to negotiate,” Thane said. “Her life depends on it.”
Worried eyes scanned the horizon. He saw the moment Layala spotted Evalyn. Her face fell slack, but her fury electrified, and the heavy weight of her magic clouded around them. “I’m taking his head now.”
“No,” Thane said. “You knew this would happen. You knew they had her. Now is the time to remain calm. They have a white flag—”
“Screw the white flag. He has Evalyn. This only ends one way, Thane,” Layala said, lifting her chin slightly. “I’ll put a throwing star right through his forehead.” The terror on her face was evident despite her demeanor.
“He wouldn’t bring her out in the open unless he had something up his sleeve. Do not attack.” He ground his teeth. Years of battle with his father told him all he needed to know. Tenebris was cunning and smart. Evalyn was his best tool against them, and he’d use it well. “Or you may very well put her in a grave.”
She pulled her hand away from her belt of weapons and swallowed hard but said, “I trust you. Do you have a plan?”
“I expected Evalyn to be held somewhere else. I’m working on one.” The glare she shot him turned his stomach. He didn’t want to ever see disappointment in her in regard to him. He’d have to come up with something fast. If Layala lost Evalyn, he feared what she might do. They marched side by side. “Do you see Mathekis or Varlett?”
Her bright-blue eyes darted back and forth along the line of soldiers. “No. They must be hidden in the mist. Piper and Ronan will fly to the edge of the Void and burn down the pale ones who dare cross.”
That was the plan anyway, but plans could change in battle. Thane looked over his shoulder. His Ravens came to a stop; the horses stamped and tossed their heads eager to push forward. “Unless the pale ones are behind us.”
A firm line formed on Layala’s lips. She turned, searching the wooded area to the left and the vast rolling green hills to the right side. “There is only that grove of trees. We’d have seen them from above if they hid in there.”
“I hope so,” Thane replied, though nerves tightened his stomach. Those trees were thick and tall, so to see bodies on the darkened floor would be difficult.
Layala and Thane stopped and waited for his family and Layala’s to meet them. Though Evalyn’s face was bruised, and her wrists bled from the rope burns, she defiantly held her head high. Talon’s horse snorted, and tails swished at flies, but for a moment no one said anything. His sister’s chin trembled, on the verge of tears. She wore a pink dress, and her chocolate-brown hair was pulled up with small curls around her face. Thane shook his head. She had no business being here, let alone in a pink dress with lace. She was barely eighteen and looked every bit the child she still was at the moment.
Somehow Orlandia held her tongue, though if glares could cut, Layala would be sliced to ribbons. Why his mother could be so blind to the truth and place blame on Layala made him boil inside. Layala’s lazy stare gave no indication that any of this bothered her, but he knew she was terrified of what could happen to her aunt.
“I hope it was worth it,” he said to Aldrich. This was the first time Thane came face to face with Aldrich since he’d injured him back at Kail’s place, and the inconvenient pain of seeing him ride beside their father hurt more than he thought it would. The white flag at the end of the pole shifted slightly in the breeze, casting a wavering shadow on Thane’s chest. Aldrich didn’t meet Thane’s gaze. Coward.
Tenebris’s horse pawed at the ground, and the reins pinged against the silver armor around the horse’s chest and shoulders. He jerked Evalyn’s rope, and she winced as it went taut. “We can do this the easy way or the hard way.” He looked straight at Layala. “I can be merciful. Your aunt can live.”
Thane lifted his chin and took in a deep breath through the nose. “You have two options. You can surrender but the cost is your head, High King. You can save the lives of hundreds, if not thousands, if you give yourself over to be executed for the many crimes you have committed. It will be swift and painless but just. Or you can choose to fight but you will die along with your soldiers, and my mercy will not be found.”
Tenebris threw his head back in maniacal laughter. The sound grated on Thane’s nerves.
“You are in no position to make any demands, Thane. You think your five hundred and a handful of dragons scare me?” He tugged on the rope again to make a point, and Evalyn squeaked, face scrunching in pain.
Layala took a step forward and Tenebris held up a finger. “She’s been poisoned and only I know the antidote. Don’t come any closer.”
Poisoned? Her lips did have a purple tinge and upon further inspection, her bloodshot eyes rang alarm bells. Shit. The only exchange he’d accept would be Layala for Evalyn.
“It’s alright, Laya,” Evalyn said, tears gleaming. “I’ve made my peace.”
“Shut up,” Tenebris snapped and jerked the rope for the third time.
Thane’s body tensed, ready to spring into action as blood rushed down Evelyn’s arms in streams. He could hardly bear to see any female abused let alone one he cared for.
A glint of metal flashed from Layala’s hand and then a quiet gasp. Thane’s heart clenched. She’d thrown that star, the one he asked her to stay. He fully expected to see blood streaming down his father’s face but… his brows furrowed, had she missed? Suddenly Orlandia screamed with the kind of pain he’d never heard from her before, then her hand clamped over her mouth.
That star found its mark—blood oozed down Talon’s neck. The sharp metal embedded in the hollow of her throat on the left side.
A wave of nauseating heat washed through him. What had Layala done? Thane whirled on her, heart racing and breaking at once. “Laya,” his voice came out thick and splintered.
“I put that where it would hurt the most.” Layala’s voice was cruel, clipped. He hadn’t heard her sound so vicious in a long time. She stared down Tenebris with blazing hatred. “She has about a minute before she bleeds out. Give me Evalyn and the antidote or your precious daughter dies.”
“You bitch,” Tenebris growled.
“Do it!” Orlandia screeched and slid off her horse. Her soft hands pawed at Talon’s dress and over her arms. Talon choked and slumped into Orlandia’s arms. The wheezing sound of Talon trying to breathe was like searing needles pricking Thane’s chest. Suddenly he found it hard to drag in his own breath. This was his little sister; he always promised to protect her and watch over her.
The white flag hit the ground and Aldrich slid in to scoop Talon in his arms. He looked up at Tenebris who had yet to move.
Thane warred with himself; go to Talon and save her or wait out his father… did Tenebris love Talon more than his power? Could he risk waiting? Talon didn’t have much time. But if he didn’t, they lost the leverage and Evalyn.
“My baby!” Orlandia wailed. The hysteria in her voice cut deep. Her shaking hands swiped over Talon’s forehead. “Stay with me, my sweet girl,” she crooned. She turned to Thane now with helpless, pleading eyes. “Your baby sister is dying! Are you going to let your senseless feud kill her?!”
Thane couldn’t help it. His feet moved almost on their own accord. But a gloved hand grasped around his wrist and jerked him to a halt. “Don’t you dare.” Layala didn’t sound like herself. “You wait,” she commanded, even quieter but more vicious. Whether by some unknown power or his own uncertainty, he stilled.
Tenebris let out a roaring scream of anger, dropped the rope and kicked Evalyn in the back, sending her stumbling forward.
Layala rushed with arms outstretched to catch her. “The antidote!”
A small vile flipped end over end; Thane snatched it out of the air and handed it to Layala, then his feet slammed, closing the distance to his family in seconds. He only spared Aldrich a glance then carefully pulled the throwing star loose and tossed the bloody metal piece. Her chest barely moved with breath. Her lips were colorless and that flush she usually had in her cheeks—gone. “Hold on, Talon,” he murmured, slicing open his palm. He dipped his finger into the blood and drew the healing rune on her throat and then dug the knife into his flesh, inflicting pain. Her body went into convulsions, Aldrich cradled her tighter, but she never took her sea-green eyes from Thane. She had all the hope in the world that her big brother would save her.
“Remember that time we ran through the pond throwing mud at the swans?” he said to distract her as much as himself from the pain. “Then I fell flat on my face and came up covered in muck. I don’t think you’ve ever laughed so hard.”
Her lips parted like she wanted to speak but couldn’t. If this didn’t work—Maker, it had to. How could Layala sacrifice his little sister for her aunt… anger flared in him, and he dug the knife deeper, grinding his teeth to keep from groaning. The blood rune grew brighter, sizzling as if it boiled and the wound on her neck began to knit itself shut. Come on! Finally, after what felt like a lifetime, she stopped shaking and moments after that the wound sealed shut.
“I remember,” Talon said in a weak voice. “You looked like a swamp beast.”
Thane smiled at her and stroked droplets of blood off her cheek. “This is no place for you. Go where it’s safe.”
“Thane please—just forgive daddy. Let’s go home. I want to go home with you, with everyone.”
“I can’t. One day you will understand.” He shoved up and pointed at his mother. “Get her out of here!” Orlandia turned to look at Tenebris for approval. “GO!” Thane shouted. Maker, the hold Tenebris held over his mother was infuriating.
But with a startled jump, she nodded and mounted her horse. Aldrich lifted Talon behind her, and the horses’ hooves pounded as they raced away.
Thane’s hand inched for the dagger on his hip. He and Aldrich stood face to face now. But out of respect for the peace of a white flag, he didn’t draw his weapon. He didn’t allow himself to think of the good times he had with Aldrich, but rather the betrayal. “I’ll be seeing you on the battlefield. Brother.”
Aldrich’s golden hair moved with the breeze. “May the best heir win.”
Thane walked backward, keeping his gaze on his father and brother. The pure hatred on Tenebris’s expression burned away at Thane’s empathy for his father. “You will regret this. I’ll crush your Ravens until not one is left to rise against me ever again.”
Thane looked over his shoulder at his battalion of waiting Ravens and lifted his fist. The horses knickered and neighed, breath shot from their noses as they danced in anticipation of the charge. The soldiers drew their swords, grinding of metal on metal echoed across the plain.
Thane dropped his fist. “FORWARD!”
