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It was a solid call on the earth-dragon’s part, and he hated it. But he was Alessandro, and he did not back down. Stepping into a pair of black jeans, a white shirt and his favorite boots, he led the way back to the gate through the air.

The gate had been more for decoration than an actual barrier. It was ornate, extraordinarily difficult for it to move. The sight of it closed filled Alessandro’s mouth with bitterness.

Throughout its life, the gate had remained open. Once upon a time, it helped soften the public image of the tight-lipped community that lived behind its walls.

Stone stood at the gate, a ball of flame jumping from one hand to the other. Though Alessandro had warned the younger dragon to not turn to fire when he was angry, it had become a tell that the Dragon King used to gauge him.

Alessandro was angry too, but as a leader he needed to show how calm he was even in the face of adverse conditions such as the ones they found themselves in.

“Aqua, Naseem, you two will take the east side of the street, Blaise and Stone you two will take the west. While Naseem and Blaise work on putting out the fires, Aqua and Stone, you are going to deep ice the stores. Mundane fire won’t be able to ignite it if you do it right. Make sure you give it a bit of a soft finish. Wedon’t want to seem threatening. I will shift the crowd towards the end of the street. Once you’re finished with the task, I want you all to walk right back through the gates. No engagement with the press or crowd. Am I understood?”

The four dragons nodded.

Alessandro took a moment to cool his anger, observing the four following his lead before he threw the doors open in one push.

The crowd that had gathered outside had been bigger than he had mentally prepared for, but his plan took the numbers into account. Smoke had turned the street dark, the smell fueling the rage of the more infuriated individuals present. The hollers and threats enticed his dragon forward, but after years of having to deal with his Thunder, Alessandro knew how to put on a face of peace even if he wanted to break the offenders into tiny pieces.

The roots of the trees that lined the sidewalks danced around the crowd, easing those who were there more to gawk and say they were part of the movement towards the end of the shopping district.

He dodged debris the crowd threw, wares from the shops they’d ransacked.

Fury permeated his chest. How dare they? Creations his dragons had shed blood, sweat, and tears for, used as weapons.

“You’re all monsters!” Echoed like a war cry.

Each spell felt like a step away from losing total control. But he couldn’t afford to give in. It would play into the hands of whoever was behind all of this.

He created air bubbles that discombobulated the more rowdy participants in mini twisters before the branches guided the confused individuals with the rest of the crowd.

Questions from the press came as he worked, and the bright lights from rolling cameras filled his vision with momentary stars. None of the questions really stood out besides one; how could the public trust that the next time the dragons lost control, Black Cove wouldn’t be in danger as it had been heading to with the first attack?

He bit his tongue as he thought, how were his dragons ever going to trust the public again after the damage they’d caused to the shifter’s collections? For something that they’d had no control over?

With Dragon Alley cleared, he cast his eyes away and turned his back to the world. The gates shut behind him with a resounding thunk.

Chapter 12

Rowan was stunned into silence as she looked at the TV set in the corner of her office.

He was on the screen. His hair dripped water on his crisp white shirt as he worked his magic without missing a beat. He weaved spells so tightly and quickly that she missed moments when he alternated between wind and earth style. He removed the intruders of the shopping district with vines from the blooming trees that ran along the sidewalks and then confused others with mini tornadoes.

She was in absolute awe of the nuances she would have missed if she hadn’t been paying such close attention to the events unfolding. The dragons fell into his rhythm, correcting steps by small signals he sent if they veered. It was a controlled dance. She could watch it for hours.

There was so much fear from the crowd, mingled with a hateful speech that enraged her as a spectator.

Dragons had always been the ultimate mystics. Their magic was so old it was a popular dispute that it was the first established art. Their casters were so well imbued, it was unheard of for any of them to not have established access to magic.

The impenetrable scales added yet another layer to their untouchable status, which made the incident that much harder to swallow. But these facts did not make it okay for the public to threaten their livelihoods. Fear was not an acceptable excuse for their actions.

There was no more trust on either side. She could feel it most of all when he turned his back on the world and shut the gates once and for all.

Something about his eyes, despite their solid state of steel gray, did something to her that had her reaching for her phone as soon as Draconis’ barrier visibly erected.

“Hello?” His voice was rough with fury.

“Hi.” She rolled her eyes at herself. Why the hell had she called him? A text would’ve been fine. “It’s me.”

The soft sound of an exhale preceded a small chuckle. “I know.”