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“I don’t look fierce?”

“No, you look like a fairy-tale princess.”

The brush snagged on a knot, Layala winced, and Piper mercilessly jerked out pieces of her hair. “I’m wearing armor. And I have a sword that I’m quite skilled at using, I might add. That’s fierce.”

“It’s your face. Stunning—beautiful, but it doesn’t incite fear.” Piper set the brush on the side table and worked her fingers through.

Layala rolled her eyes. “Oh, but Thane’s does?”

“Yeah.” She pushed Layala’s head to one side and started a braid down above her ear. “He looks like he’ll tear your head off and that’s when he’s not angry. It’s his general vibe.”

Thane chuckled.

“My general vibe is ‘piss off’.”

“True,” Piper said, with a laugh. “But I have an idea.” After she finished braiding, she pulled a small, round, golden case from her pocket. It almost looked like a locket. Piper grabbed Layala’s shoulder and spun her around, so they faced one another. “While you two were… living in fantasyland, I found out some things about this match.” Piper popped open the case and inside contained ebony and crimson powder. She dipped her fingertip inside the black and then dragged it across Layala’s forehead.

“What things? Thane asked.

“Prince Ronan is easily swayed by a couple demure smiles and teasing comments for one.” Piper brushed the black power over Layala’s eyes and the bridge of her nose. “I think he’d divulge every family secret to me at this point.”

“Because he wants to hump you,” Thane said and leaned back on the pillows with his hands behind his head. “He might even want more. That dragon is fascinated with you. Keep stringing him along.”

“Tell him to get in line,” Layala said and winked at Piper. “You got a host of males after you lately.” Although Fennan seemed to have backed off completely. He and Piper hadn’t spoken much since they arrived here.

“Don’t move. You’ll mess this up,” Piper said, as a flush flooded her cheeks. “Anyway, I asked for a tour of the area where you’ll be fighting. It’s a massive arena. It could hold at least ten thousand. There is blood stained in the dirt, and several doors all around the base of the walls to the fighting area. I think, to let things in.”

Layala nibbled on her lower lip. “What kind of things?”

“He didn’t say, and we didn’t go look but I heard—wailing—screeching.”

Layala looked over Piper’s shoulder at Thane. Her throat suddenly felt dry. “You mean like pale ones?”

“What if they are dragon shiftedandcursed?” Piper lowered her voice. “Can you imagine?”

Thane jumped out of bed and his footfalls interrupted the silence. “The dragons stay here in the mountains to avoid the curse. They don’t want pale ones here, let alone dragon ones. Don’t worry about that.” He smiled at Layala. “You look phenomenal. Excellent idea, Piper.”

Layala twisted to see but Piper grabbed her arm and forced her back. “I’m not done.’’ She rubbed her thumb in the crimson and then swiped one line from Layala’s lower lip, to the bottom of her chin. “Alright, now you can look.”

War paint. It’s the only thing she could describe it as. The black smeared over her eyes and forehead like a mask and three red runes centered just below her hairline, and the line on her chin made the look all the more fierce. Her light-blue eyes stood out like bright orbs against the ebony paint. “What do those runes mean?”

“It’s Old Elvish, not Black Mage’s runes, don’t worry. And it means ‘goddess of war’.”

Layala grinned and really looked at herself in the mirror. She did look like a goddess of war. “Piper, you’re the greatest. Thank you.”

“Whether you are a descendant of them or not, you’re worthy of the title.”

* * *

The ground vibratedwith the stomping and roaring of thousands of dragon shifters. The sound deadened the rasps of the vultures circling high above. Layala dragged deep breaths in; vultures waited to consume dead flesh, Maker, she hoped it wouldn’t be hers. The sand-colored arena stood nearly as high as the walls surrounding the city. Vines snaked up and around the massive three levels of arched doorways large enough to fit a fully-shifted dragon. Overhead they flew in by the hundreds, shimmering a rainbow of colors. Some swooped low to blast wind, stirring up the dirt into little dust devils. Thane took hold of Layala’s hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. That was enough to calm her even if a little.

Prince Ronan kept walking while Layala, Piper and Thane stared up. “Maker bless and watch over them,” Piper murmured, then kissed the inside of her fingers and held her hand to the sky.

Ronan turned around and walked backward. “They will need that blessing today.” He smiled. “It’s not too late to back down.”

“You can tell your brother that as well so long as he hands over the scepter.” Thane strode forward, tugging Layala with him. They stepped into a tunnel and the chink of their armor bounced off the walls. The dozen guards surrounding them marched in perfect sync.

I am brave. I am strong. I am a goddess of war. Layala’s stomach cramped despite her self-talk. Dragon shifters hung over the railings tossing blood-red rose petals; they drifted down around them like snowflakes. Layala’s boots stomped over the crimson flowers covering their pathway and all she could think was that it was the color of blood.