Page 89

“ H alt!” Two Jade guards in their humanlike forms flew over the palace entrance’s three sets of narrow stairs and barred Vahly and the rest with drawn swords.

Not so long ago, she would’ve quaked in her boots at these two. Now as she stood in bare feet, in contact with the earth and her magical birthright echoing through her blood, the guards seemed like wolf pups. They could bite, but they weren’t much of a threat if their parent wasn’t nearby.

“I am your Earth Queen, and you swore allegiance to me. Now move your green tails before I pull this mountain down on your heads or your matriarch hears about this infraction and fries you both for her supper.”

The guards growled, but they flew from the steps and allowed the party to pass.

“Nicely done,” Arc whispered, his voice teasing but still heavy with grief. She’d seen warriors like him set sadness aside like they were taking off a pair of boots for the night. It seemed Arc too had this skill.

“Thank you,” she said. “I think I could get used to this whole queen thing. How do you feel about being a king?”

His magic curled around his head, his crown luminous against the sun setting beyond the palace stairs and the far-off northern mountain range.

“I feel more like your equal now, and I can’t say I don’t enjoy that sensation.”

She smiled, wanting to keep joking but afraid to hurt him by saying the wrong thing.

The palace entrance’s ceiling disappeared into the dark, the lower reaches lit by large beeswax candles that smelled of honey and wildflowers.

“That, I did not expect,” Vahly said, gesturing to the nearest flame.

Arc lifted an eyebrow as he adjusted his cloak, his movements slower than what was normal for him. “I would’ve guessed they’d use the bodies of their enemies to light their hallways.”

“Yes, exactly.”

He almost laughed, but it seemed as though the shadows of those they had lost tore the smile from his lips. Vahly understood. He would need time to move forward after the loss of so many friends and family. He might not be able to truly laugh for a long, long time.

Heart aching for him, Vahly reached for his hand, then quickly brushed his palm with her fingertips before pulling away. He glanced at her, eyes sincere and unblinking.

It’s so much to bear.

The candles’ light appeared to soak into his skin and bones, making him luminescent.

As the Elven King, he was the embodiment of the oldest power on this island.

The dark color of his eyes—like pools of Blackwater—drew Vahly closer.

Arc was so many things to her now. Friend.

Ally. Confidant. The one she looked for first upon waking.

She didn’t say anything back. She just took his hand again, this time gripping tightly, pouring some of her strength into him.

They walked on, the candlelight pooling on the palace corridor’s floor.

Soon, they reached a guarded arch that led into a massive space with a dais and a throne of jade.

The guards let them pass, and Vahly guessed they’d been informed telepathically to allow the party access to Matriarch Eux’s throne room.

The chamber smelled metallic, like blood had been recently spilled, and, indeed, a darkened stain marred the smooth, stone floor.

The Jades were known for their brutal competitions of strength and battle prowess.

Perhaps they held such entertainments here for their matriarch.

But where was Eux? Where was her court? Normally, it seemed as though that nightmare of a dragon, Zarux, was always around when Vahly had dealings with the Jades.

Ryton looked around, face drawn with worry and the weakness that his cursed burden seemed to inflict on him. Arc whispered something in elvish to Rigel, Haldus, and Ursae.

Suddenly, Vahly’s skin prickled, and a wind coursed from the darkened recesses of the space above.

The elves and General Ryton gasped.

Matriarch Eux descended in her human form, smoke curling from her nostrils and mouth and a glint of fury in her bright orange eyes. “Welcome, Earth Queen.”

The scales around Eux’s face and along her arms were decorated in jade links that held the teeth of lost loved ones.

The matriarch dipped her head and Vahly mimicked the gesture, pulse knocking her teeth around.

Well, at least the guards hadn’t shaken Vahly.

Perhaps someday she’d be likewise immune to a matriarch’s dangerous presence.

Tapping claws against a large ruby set in the sheath of her short sword, Eux looked from Vahly to Arc.

“And greetings to you, Elven King. This is a new development.” She gestured to his crown of dark and light.

Arc winced like she’d struck him. “The Forest of Illumahrah has experienced a terrible tragedy. The Sea Queen flooded our plateau and killed all but us. I have taken the heavy mantle of leadership for what is left of my kynd.”

“You seem powerful. That will help. It’s too bad we’ve lost so many of your kynd before we even had the chance to work together against the sea folk.”

Vahly stepped forward, anger itching under her skin. “It is a personal tragedy. Not merely a strategic loss.”

Eux waved a hand. “Of course. Of course. Now…”

Something had distracted her.

“I have been in the western region, securing my familiar,” Vahly said. “Now we need help to travel quickly to the Lapis lands. We ask for your assistance.”

But Eux didn’t seem to be listening. Her nostrils flared, snakeskin green, and her eyes widened then narrowed. She pushed past them to stand over Ryton.

“What is this?” she demanded, her voice like lightning.

Black plumes of smoke slithered from her nose and gathered like clouds. The scent of dragonfire, citrus and charcoal, suffused the air.

She was going to light him on fire.

“Matriarch Eux, please hear us out.”

To his credit, Ryton didn’t bend or bow, just stared into her eyes.

“How does he breathe here?” Eux slashed a talon toward Ryton’s shoulder, aiming for the black beast’s arm. Blood welled where Ryton’s skin met the thing’s bone-like appendage. “What foul trick is this?”

Arc glanced at Vahly, silently asking if she wished for him to attempt an explanation, but keeping Ryton alive had been her choice and she had to do the persuading.

She stepped between Ryton and Eux, smoke choking her and forcing her to take shallow breaths.

“During my time searching the sunken Bihotzetik ruins, he took me into the sea. He deserves to die, surely, but he changed his mind and all but sacrificed himself to create an opportunity for me to escape. He is the reason I’m not currently strung up dead across a coral cross fashioned by Queen Astraea. ”

Eux blinked. “But why?”

“She reminded me of my sister, Selene.” Ryton rubbed a hand over his beard. “Scoff if you wish. Kill me if it suits you. But know that I will never again do her harm. I find my hands are unwilling to be the death of this human female.”

“Well, isn’t that touching.” Eux snorted and began circling Ryton. Then she whirled and faced Vahly.

Vahly flinched but stood her ground as the matriarch opened her mouth to speak.

“Amona knew about your journey into Bihotzetik’s flooded ruins, didn’t she?

You two decided this without informing me.

You thought it would be just fine to risk yourself, our only chance at defeating Astraea, by plunging right into enemy territory like a complete fool because of some twinge of newly born magic stirring inside you? ”

Lifting her head, she blew dragonfire above them, temporarily blinding everyone with the sudden brightness.

Vahly’s mind sprinted through explanations. But Eux had called Vahly their only chance, so perhaps no excuses needed to be given. Maybe Eux would bend to Vahly’s wishes if Vahly acted more like a Jade and owned her place in this world.

Matching Eux’s glare, Vahly raised her voice.

“Matriarch Eux, I don’t need to detail my decisions as Earth Queen to you.

You swore your allegiance, as did your fellow dragons.

If you choose to question me and attempt to intimidate me, you’re only hindering your own survival, both by lengthening my journey to end this war and by tempting the bonds of your oath to me.

So if you are finished with your pointless growling, I suggest you find dragons enough to carry us to the Lapis palace so I can continue trying to save your ungrateful scales! ”

Eux’s eyes glittered, and Vahly felt like a ram about to be devoured.

But a smile spread over the matriarch’s emerald face.

“Much better, Earth Queen,” she said, her voice crackling as if sparks hid between the syllables.

“It pleases me that you have at last found the fire inside you, the fire that will deliver my kynd.”

Arc looked at Vahly from the corner of his eye, grinning and coughing to cover a surprised chuckle.

Eux stepped away and spoke to two females who stood by the door.

Vahly looked back at the elves and exhaled in silent but dramatic relief, making them all smile despite their pain.

Soon they were ushered into a collection of rooms on the next floor up, given rough but hearty fare, and told to wait while the Jades gathered supplies for the ailing Lapis.

Magic drumming inside her, pushing her to run the entire length of the island, climb Kyril’s furred back, and fly with all haste possible to the Lost Valley, Vahly walked into Arc’s chamber.

Fatigue rode her shoulders like Ryton’s beast did his, but she wanted to help Arc, to be there for him as he worked on opening up the reality of his loss.

Source, give me strength.

Beside a small fire, he sat on a rug that showed the Jade’s symbol, a dragon skull. He was sharpening his throwing knives, but as she approached, he looked up, pausing in his work.

His gaze met hers, and heat snapped between them.

He dropped the knives, closed the distance between them, and took her into his arms.