Page 27 of Mantle (IMMORTAL FLAME #3)

~Vorzyr~

I still felt the ghost of their chains on my skin—phantom burns embedded deeper than the wounds they'd inflicted that day.

It gnawed at me.

But whenever it did, I didn’t turn inward now.

I either trained with Jaxon, immersed myself in my studies here at the Academy, or I confided in them. The ones I loved.

They were my family now.

And tonight, we were all coming together for more than just breakfast or some fooling around before we fell asleep.

I smiled as I reached Hollowshade Hearth on the northern edge of the grounds.

The peaceful, secluded structure that had become one of our special places to go ever since our first night here when we’d celebrated Nyx and he’d let loose for the first time with the Soulweld Ring having been gifted to him so he no longer had to worry.

I took in the rustic, circular stone pavilion with the wooden beams and slanted roofing.

I zeroed in on the blue and green velvet curtains in the place of a door.

No sounds from within.

Ariana, Kai, and Nyx weren’t here yet.

Well, they were coming from different places.

Ariana was with Cassius. They’d now searched literally half of the supernatural world with their spell for Ketheron.

No dice so far. It was a time-consuming and very specific spell that required a mass amount of power.

The Guardian Movement had authorized it on the condition that neither of them approached if the spell did find Ketheron.

It was just recon at this point in time and anything beyond that would bring a coordinated effort with the Guardian Movement, Cassius, and Ariana.

And, hell, Kai, Nyx, and I would be along for the fight also.

Although, Ariana was insistent on not calling it a fight.

She believed Ketheron was a victim who needed help.

She’d managed to convince Ryker Morgan and his associates of that, but the Inhibitor spell was still being worked on, and more aggressive plans to bring Ketheron down were still there as a fallback.

Nyx had just finished class and he was in a Ruminat hut using his dreamwalking to confer with Velra Nox about their Crossborn work.

And Kai was with Arcanum Order.

I’d just finished class.

No training with Jaxon for me today. I’d needed a breather.

And that was what we were going to lean into tonight—all four of us taking a much-needed break and spending some quality time with each other.

A familiar scent drew my attention and I turned to see Kai walking over. He didn’t have his coat on this time, just a V-neck black tee that pulled taut over his chiseled muscular torso, and a pair of his usual black dress pants.

I frowned. That was… off.

So was the fact that he hadn’t teleported in, and was taking his time walking across the grass instead.

“You seem… chill,” I spoke when he finally reached me.

He smiled and lifted a shoulder. “Yeah, it’s a chill night with the four of us, right?”

Yes. It was. But Kai didn’t exactly do chill.

He seemed relaxed, but there was something in his eyes… something hinting at intensity.

“Did something happen at Arcanum Conclave?”

He’d actually been quieter than usual lately, starting a few days ago when he’d returned from his work with the Order one night. He hadn’t addressed it or mentioned anything being wrong.

“Just trying to get into a relaxing headspace for tonight.”

“You’re stressed? It’s been a lot lately.”

“It sure has.” He laid his hand on my shoulder. “Let’s not focus on any of that tonight.”

“All right. I’m actually kind of focused on my hunger right now.”

He smirked. “Is that so?”

“Food-related hunger, you dirty-minded bastard. I haven’t eaten since breakfast. I got too caught up.”

“Just about food. Sure,” he said, with that devilish look of his.

And, damn him, something did stir in me.

“I would conjure one hell of a feast, but Nyx called it. He wants to do it.”

“Well, he better get here soon, or I’m gonna eat you .”

“Offer appreciated. Very much so, for the record.” He fingered my hair, sending a rush of sensation through me. “But we both know it will be the other way around. Just how you like it, hmm?”

I snatched his hand and our eyes locked.

Heatedly.

“Not until after dinner, sorcerer.”

“Mmm, invitation noted. Maybe I’ll fuck—”

I pressed two fingers to his lips. “Cut it out, or I won’t be able to focus on anything else but my dick.”

He nibbled on my fingers.

I started, and he wiggled his eyebrows at me.

I burst out laughing and released him, and he stepped back grinning.

He was really something, and he was in an exceedingly playful mood tonight.

Ariana would like that a whole lot.

And Nyx would revel in it.

Hell, I was right there with—

A sharp whistle rang out.

My muscles tensed.

“Did you hear that?” I asked Kai.

He frowned. “Hear what?”

It had to just be perceptible to supernatural hearing then. “Whistling. Someone’s here.”

As we both scanned the immediate area, it sounded again.

I zoned in on the location this time and spun to my right, staring at the tree line a hundred feet away.

And then a different sort of whistle rang out.

This one, I saw Kai register, as he turned in the same direction as me.

It was a sing-song type of whistle.

And that was when I knew who it belonged to.

I’d heard it before.

It was one of the aggravating things about the asshole in question.

Words followed then, matching the tune of the whistling.

“Dragon Born. Dragon Raised. Dragon Fallen.”

I snarled. Motherfucker.

“Show yourself, Draven!” I thundered.

A sudden, brittle crack echoed across the clearing—like ice splintering beneath pressure, and then a white mist slithered from the tree line, curling around trunks and low brush. Frost chased it, lacing bark and leaves.

And then he came into view, striding confidently and calmly toward us.

Draven Vortimer was like a shadow carved from frost, tall and broad-shouldered. His silver hair whipped around him, flowing down in soft waves past his shoulders. His almost white eyes cut through the night with definitive purpose.

He wore his usual navy coat, thick and heavy, and tailored to his powerful frame. The collar stood high, brushing his jaw, and it was lined with a dusting of frost, a nod to his ice dragon nature. Beneath it, his black shirt strained across his chest.

I frowned as he neared us, not picking up on that usual posturing or readily combative air. Dragons could always smell a challenge. And Draven didn’t smell like one. Not tonight.

“You come in peace,” I spoke when he reached us. “What was with those biting words, then?”

“Ah, my little rhyme? I figured it would set the tone for this meeting more efficiently than a whole speech.”

It actually had.

“Efficiency at the expense of being derisive and antagonistic,” Kai mused. “You may need to rethink your approach going forward and your interactions with any living being.”

Draven grinned. “Advice noted.” He looked Kai up and down in a studious, awed way.

“Especially from you. I am deeply impressed, sorcerer. What you were able to achieve against House Titanus is not easily done. Holding down ten dragon enforcers and the rulers themselves? Unbelievable. An incredible feat. I am in awe of you. House Vortimer could really use somebody like you in their arsenal.” He folded his arms across his chest. “Unfortunately, outsiders aren’t trusted or welcome in the Dracoryn Realm.

And, continuing on with that attitude… this meeting here with Vorzyr and I is dragon business. ”

“You are Cornelius’ contact.”

“That I am, sorcerer. Now, please leave us. We have much to discuss.”

I laid my hand on Kai’s shoulder. “He is family. He remains.”

“Hmm… family. Well, you certainly need a new one now. Fine. As you wish, old friend.”

Old friend. Sarcastic bastard.

“He and the other two I am also aware of are not your only family, and that needs to be addressed here. There is also Torvek.”

“Torvek?” I questioned.

His shoulders dropped, his brows pinching. “Ah, I see now that they didn’t tell you.” He actually looked upset for me. “I’m sorry. I thought that much had been conveyed. I wouldn’t have brought it up so… flippantly if I’d known.” He grimaced. “Torvek is your unborn little brother’s given name.”

As dragon also, he knew the power in a name.

And not being told that my own brother had been given one, was a painful slight from my family.

Yet another one.

“He’s not in danger,” I told Draven. “He’s their new heir, their new hope. Their means to ensure control of the Dracoryn Realm for centuries to come.”

“He’s not currently in danger, because protections have been put in place for him.”

“What protections?” Kai demanded. “And likely, more importantly, why are these protections needed for an innocent unborn baby?”

Draven eyed me. “Your parents believe that Torvek was untouched by Malrik’s infection of the Titanus bloodline. He was not.”

I choked. “What? That can’t be. They were so certain.”

“It was made that way. The same protective shield that they have enforced on you to hide your Celestial abilities so they can avoid the shame of having an impure heir, was placed on your brother—by my mother, Elyrren. You are aware that her senses are unlike anything under the Dracoryn sun, she is unmatched. The moment the baby was conceived and felt by dragon kind, she recognized it being different, and she took immediate action, using the assets that she has deep within House Titanus to perform the spell before your parents caught on.”

My breath caught. My brother wasn’t safe. Not from what they feared.

I looked at Kai. “A spell like that… would it be compromised during my brother’s birth? The intensity and power implosion involved in a dragon birth is colossal.”

“It could very well be, yes.”

“I need to retrieve him then,” I told Draven. “He’s unborn, but there’s a way to remove him from my mother without harming him… keep him in magical containment while he grows… until he’s born.”