Page 14 of Mountains of Mist and Magic (A World of Sun and Shadow #4)

T heir pace back to the Snow Lands was grueling, and Selenia knew she'd arrive at the lodge covered in bruises and with every muscle sore. But that didn't stop her from riding as hard as she could, with Sion behind her. They rode through the night, under the cover of the trees as much as they could. Anytime they had to traverse a field or meadow, Selenia could feel the sweat accumulating on her brow and her heart raced until they were back under the protective shelter of the trees.

Selenia was desperate to reach the lodge before the dragons, and eager to tell the others what she had learned from the Murcurial. She had shared the message with Sion, but it didn't provide him with any insight. But perhaps Almory would know. Or maybe Renya.

But first, they needed to ensure that their family and friends were safe. She hoped that if the dragons managed to get past the protective wards of the lodge, Cressida would call them off. But she didn't trust the evil husk of a woman. Or her sniveling cousin.

Selenia had finally given up on killing Brandle, even though the notion was still in her head from time to time. There were days when she woke up determined to end both his and Cressida's lives. But when she looked at Sion, she realized that it wasn't her right. If anyone should have the pleasure, it should be him.

“Are you okay, Little Fox?” Sion called over the swirling snow.

“Yes,” she lied, trying hard not to wince. Every single part of her ached, and she was so exhausted that she was afraid she would fall off her mount. Sion had offered to let her ride with him, but she knew it would slow their progress, so she trudged ahead. She was freezing without her thick cloak, and instead had a saddle blanket wrapped around her.

Mile after wintery mile they rode, until Selenia finally saw the village emerge through the flying snow. She felt a surge of adrenaline work through her, hoping they'd beaten the dragons to the lodge. She supposed that the blizzard was a good sign, meaning that the dragons hadn't managed to hit this area since their presence seemed to affect the climate. Sion charged ahead, his stallion outpacing her mare. Selenia followed him up to the gates of the lodge, pushing her horse hard. Gravel and snow flew from the horse's hooves, leaving a messy trail behind them as they finally approached the courtyard.

Sion dismounted, leaving Selenia behind to fend for herself, for the first time ever. She slid down her horse as Sion threw open the double doors to the lodge. Selenia followed swiftly behind.

“Phillippe! Phillippe!” Sion shouted, running from room to room.

“Sion?” Just as they turned the corner, Grayden came out from his office.

There wasn't any time for a joyful reunion between the two.

“Grayden! Dragons! They could be on their way at any moment!”

“What do you mean?” Grayden said, instantly rushing towards the staircase, taking the stairs two at a time to the upper level. The pair followed him, with Sion recounting their journey.

“We were on our way to the Sun Realm, and we came across Cressida's dragons. They're searching for her, and from what we've seen, they'll attack anyone in their desperation to get to her.”

“Renya!” Grayden bellowed, as he threw open the door to their room. “Quick!”

Renya appeared at the door, her hair damp, but she was fully dressed in a loose-fitting tunic and soft leggings. “What's going on?”

Selenia finally caught her breath. “Cressida's dragons are on their way to find her. We have no idea how far behind they are, but they're leaving a trail of destruction in their wake.”

“I know what we need to do,” Renya said, looking at Grayden. Selenia watched the look between the two, and realized they must be communicating silently. Grayden nodded, and Renya rushed out into the hall.

“We need Cressida to summon them and call them off. We can't have them hurting anyone in the village.” Renya had a grim but determined look on her face.

Sion sneered at the mention of Cressida's name, but looked resolved.

“I'll go talk to her,” Renya continued. “Grayden, will you come with me?”

“Of course,” he said, following her back down the stairs. Just as Selenia reached the top of the stairs, Esmeralda came out of her room, with Phillippe behind her.

“What's going on?” Phillippe bellowed, instantly pulling Esmeralda protectively behind him. Selenia wanted to ask why they had both come out from Esmeralda's room, but now wasn't the time.

Sion filled the couple in while Renya and Grayden disappeared down the stairs.

“I'm so sorry,” Esmeralda said, sweeping Selenia up into a warm hug. “That must have been horrifying.”

Adrenaline was still surging throughout Selenia. “It was terrible, but I was more scared about what could happen here and in the village. I know the lodge should be protected, but the village isn't.”

“You need to get something dry and warm on,” Esmeralda said, and Selenia only then realized she was shivering.

She let Esmeralda pull her into her own room, and Phillippe left with Sion.

Doria appeared almost instantly, before Esmeralda could even shut the door. “Can I be of assistance?”

“Could you draw her a bath?” Esmeralda asked, helping Selenia out of her boots. “She's positively frozen.”

Doria nodded and raced off to Selenia's bathroom, and then Esmeralda began searching through Selenia's wardrobe. Selenia shucked the rest of her clothes, and Esmeralda handed her a robe and then set a nightdress on the bed.

“No nightdress, I'm going to help with the dragons,” she said, walking into her bathroom. Doria patted her on the shoulder and left, no doubt to bring her something to eat.

“Are you sure, Selenia? You've been through so much already.”

Selenia let out a sigh as she slid into the warm tub. The hot water eased her aches and pains, but her skin tingled and burned a bit from the sudden change from freezing cold to piping hot.

“Yes. I'm in this too now.”

“I wish I was as brave as you.” Esmeralda's voice came quietly through the door.

“I'm not brave, Esmeralda. I just—I can't let Sion do these things alone. That's what it means to be fated. Wherever he goes, I go. Even if he goes to his death, I'll follow right behind him, gladly. I couldn't live with him gone. And—I wouldn't want to.” Selenia quickly scrubbed her body, not even bothering to wash her hair. The bath was meant just to warm her up, but she couldn't resist cleaning a tiny little bit while she was in there.

“I wish Phillippe felt that way about me.” Selenia didn't have to see Esmeralda's face to know there was great sadness etched upon it. How hard it must be, to be around her and Sion, Renya and Grayden. She once again felt anger rage through her, directed at Cressida and her dragons. She was sure the Murcurial could have done something for Sion and Esmeralda. But no. She died a tragic, senseless death.

Selenia rose out of the tub, grabbing a towel and quickly drying off. There was no more time for idleness. Every second counted, and she was determined to fix their world, no matter the cost.

But her determination would come sooner rather than later, it seemed. Before she could even slip her robe on, she heard a terrifying roar.

“Selenia!” Esmeralda cried, bursting into the bathroom. She passed Selenia her gown and helped her lace up the back.

“What do we do?” Esmeralda asked, picking up Selenia's boots and passing them over to her.

“We do whatever we can. Whatever we must.”

The pair rushed out of Selenia's room and down the staircase. They could hear servants screaming and shouting and saw the frantic and desperate looks on their faces. The entire lodge was in sheer pandemonium. Selenia watched Renya's aunt running towards the sublevels, and she nodded at Esmeralda and they both followed Agatha down the back staircase. Selenia took the stairs two at a time, and the roars got louder the lower they went.

They finally made it to the sublevel only to find more chaos. One of the dragons, the maroon male that Selenia recognized earlier, had partially tunneled through into one of the cells, and Renya's aunt was trying to restrain Brandle as he attempted to slip out of the breached cell. It appeared that Cyrus’s weakening magic was no longer a match for the power of three grown dragons.

“Renya!” Grayden screamed, as another dragon broke through the wall next to her. Renya's aunt instantly turned her focus to the new threat, and Selenia watched in horror as Brandle slipped through the small opening and outside of the lodge.

“Sion!” Selenia screeched, but he was already aware, heading out of the sublevels to make his way outside and after Brandle.

Selenia was torn, so much was happening, and she didn't know what to do or whom to help. Phillippe was trying to break into the cell, but his lack of magic meant that he was basically just hacking away at impenetrable bars with his broadsword. Grayden had his own sword drawn and was trying to conquer the largest dragon who had now worked its way into Cressida's cell, and Agatha and Renya were trying to use their magic to cajole the dragon who had breached Brandle's cell.

It took a split second to make up her mind.

“Esmeralda, go find Almory. See if he has anything to slow down or stop dragons. Find Dimitri too, we might need his expertise to heal anyone wounded.”

“Where are you going?” Esmeralda had to shout over the deafening sound of growls and snarls, and steel on steel.

“After Sion,” she said, turning her back and heading up the stairs as fast as her legs could carry her. Selenia had a pit in her stomach over leaving her brothers and Renya to deal with the dragons, but Sion…he was her future. And he wasn't fully healed, had no magic…he was no match for Brandle.

Selenia reached the main hallway and ran out back towards the gardens, where she imagined the dragons had tunneled. Sure enough, right outside of the tree line she could see monstrous pits and could make out the back end of the dragons. The sound of their talons in the frozen dirt made Selenia shudder, and she pictured the damage they had done to the Murcurial.

Her eyes frantically looked for Sion, and she could see him in the distance, running up a hill, assumingly in pursuit of Brandle. Selenia knew there was no way he would catch up to him, not in the shape he was in and with the head start Brandle had. But she knew what Sion had been through and knew he would take personal responsibility for Brandle if he escaped.

Selenia struggled up the hill, her boots filling with snow. Her hands were bare and quickly turning red, and the ends of her wet hair were freezing in place. The trees of the forest started to thicken, and a branch smacked her in the face, cutting a gash against her forehead. But she kept on, trying desperately to catch up to Sion.

Suddenly, another roar caused her to sink to her knees. Another dragon? Where in the world did this one come from? Selenia couldn't see the creature, but the sound came from up the hill. She looked behind her, only to see three dragons still trying to tunnel into the lodge. No, it must be a new dragon.

Sion suddenly stopped, but Selenia kept running towards him. Towards the roar.

If another dragon was there, and Sion was undefended against it, that's where she would be too. She'd die with him. Even if it was a horrendous death, it wouldn't matter. They'd be together for eternity.

The rogue dragon finally came into view, soaring several hundred feet in front of her, and about one hundred feet in the air. Selenia's breath caught in her throat.

It was Beauty.

Selenia had completely forgotten they had their own dragon defense.

“Beauty!” she shrieked, and the dragon flew closer. Selenia instantly saw what Beauty carried in her mouth, and another tremor of relief coursed through her.

Beauty had Brandle in her jaws. In his panic to get away, he must have crossed over into the magical paddock that Cyrus had enchanted before Renya and Grayden left for their honeymoon. Beauty was full size now, and she had needed a larger place to roam, so Cyrus had enchanted the north hill as her enclosure. There were no visible bars, so the dragon didn't have the appearance of being caged. It would have been easy for Brandle to mistakenly cross into her territory.

Sion finally noticed Selenia, and headed back down the hill towards her. From the look on his face, she knew he was unhappy at her interference and for putting herself in danger. She knew she would hear about it later, but she didn't care.

Beauty finally dropped down to the ground, next to Selenia and Sion. Brandle's screams and sharp cries pierced the frigid air. He was still alive but thrashing violently in the beast's mouth. One leg stuck out at an odd angle, and Selenia instantly knew it was broken.

Almost as if she was spitting up a bad meal, Beauty launched Brandle at the snow, right in front of Sion's feet.

“Good girl, Beauty,” Selenia heard Sion whisper.

Brandle scrambled in the snow, trying to get away. Beauty quickly nudged him back down with her strong snout, and then looked at Sion expectantly. It was almost as if Beauty knew that it had to be Sion. The dragon could have easily killed Brandle, but instead, she maimed him and brought him to Sion.

Selenia hadn't realized how intelligent dragons were.

Beauty's pink eyes continued to stare at Sion, unblinking. Selenia held her breath, frozen as the situation played out in front of her eyes.

Sion pulled his dagger out from his boot, and Brandle started shrieking again, begging for his life. Selenia could barely make out his words, the sounds from the tunneling dragons drowning out the cries.

She watched as Brandle tried desperately to stand, but he fell back down in the snow. Sion moved swiftly, grabbing him by the collar and pulling him up. Sion's hand rose, but he hesitated for a split second.

“Do it, Sion,” Selenia whispered to him.

It was all the encouragement Sion needed. In a flash, his dagger struck, and blood came forth, splattering the frozen snow with a hiss as hot met cold.

Sion dropped the body, stepping back quickly, almost as if he couldn't believe what he had done.

Beauty gave a happy chirp and grabbed Brandle's body, taking away the evidence of Sion's deed.

They were alone on the hill.

Sion came over to Selenia, his mouth open like he was going to scold her. But instead, he just pulled her to him, and they both watched as Beauty flew farther into her enclosure, carrying Brandle's limp body into the mountains and out of sight.