Page 91 of The Forsaken Heir

Aurelius hugged his father, and they exchanged a few whispered words.

Titus called over several servants who were laden down with coats, cloaks, and blankets.

The Hikshil had requested to arrive at the meeting upon dragonback to show that they were aligned with House Decimus in more than words.

They’d need warmth even with whatever magic they might be able to conjure for themselves during the flight.

After we were all dressed in warmer clothes, the four dragon shifters changed forms, and we climbed on their backs. Delphine and I were with Aurelius, Sahalie and Achakos on Vince’s back, and Kaskawan with Rasp, and Freddy with Octavius.

“Are you alright, little brother?” I called with a smile, watching the terror blooming in Freddy’s eyes.

He glanced up and visibly swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing like crazy. With wide, horrified eyes, he opened his mouth to speak, then closed it without making a sound. He nodded twice before reaching down and taking hold of the spines that lined Octavius’s back.

I chuckled and patted Aurelius on his head. “It’s okay. They’re really good at flying. If you fall off, he’ll more than likely be able to swoop down and catch you before you hit the ground.”

Freddy’s eyes bulged. “What do you mean?—”

Freddy never had time to finish his sentence because Octavius hopped off the castle parapet and took flight. The last thing I heard was Freddy’s terrified scream. Vince and Rasp took off behind him, and Cassius stepped forward to pat Aurelius’s inky black snout.

“Keep your promises, Aurey,” the king said. “I expect to see you again tonight. In one piece.”

Aurelius made a chuffing sound and nodded his huge head. When Cassius stepped back, Aurelius rushed to the edge and leapt out into open space. The strength and power of his dragon body always shocked me. Even with two adult women sitting on his back, he ascended into the sky effortlessly.

Delphine squeezed my midsection and pressed her cheek into my back.

“Tell me when we get there,” she shouted against the wind. “That’s when I’ll open my eyes.”

I chuckled and pulled the hood on my head down lower to block the chill.

If nothing else, I’d get to enjoy the flight there.

As terrified as Delphine and Freddy were of flying on a dragon’s back, I found it exhilarating.

Along with everything else Aurelius had shown me, it was one of the things I’d grown to love about him and his world.

If we were able to get out of this unscathed, I’d make him take me flying at least once a week.

It was something good to look forward to.

Something I wanted. I wouldn’t let my brother tear it away from me.

T he meeting place was indeed an hour’s flight from the dragon castle.

The clearing was in a forest in the middle of neutral land.

Neither the dragons, wolves, nor any other shifter had claim to it.

No one would have the upper hand there. We didn’t go directly there, though.

That wasn’t the plan. Instead, we landed a few miles off in a concealed cove.

After climbing off Aurelius’s back, Delphine and I stepped back to give him room to shift. When he was in his human form, he stepped forward and took my hand.

“Are you sure you’ll be alright?” he asked, gazing into my eyes.

“I will. I’ll have Rasp and Vince with me,” I said, trying to sound as confident as Aurelius had that morning.

“And Octavius,” he said.

“Right,” I muttered. “Are you sure you can’t come?”

He shook his head. “No. The fact that Bastien is being so blatant in his lies tells me he has something up his sleeve. He knows he doesn’t have me captive.

My guess? He thinks we’ll do what we did at the gala.

Reveal me as the true prince to argue against whatever he has. That’s when he’ll spring his trap.”

Sighing, I gripped his hand tighter. The last thing I wanted was to face Bastien without Aurelius at my side.

“Do you think that’s really what he wants to do? Everyone will be watching. Would he truly do that with all those witnesses?”

“I wouldn’t put it past him.” Aurelius cupped my cheek, brushing his thumb over my jaw. “You don’t really know what he’s like now. He’s a maniac. All he wants is us—the dragons—gone. Once we’re out of the way, he can do whatever he wants.”

“But the fae?—”

“Aren’t strong enough. They have their own warrior class to go along with their shamans, but they don’t have the numbers.

The magic helps, sure, but the sheer number of wolf shifters may still overwhelm even their best fighters.

” His thumb moved to my lips, and the touch sent a hot current through me.

“It’s all right. It’s overcast today. I’ll fly up above the clouds and circle the meeting point.

I’ll only come low enough to keep an eye on things.

Not to brag or anything, but I have pretty awesome eyesight.

I can see things you wouldn’t imagine from that high.

Like an eagle’s eye. Remember, I’ll be right there with you.

Only a few seconds away. You won’t be able to see me, but I’ll be there. ”

This was not an argument I wanted to lose, and I knew how it would end. Aurelius was dead set on this. I nodded and yanked him close, kissing him hard.

When he pulled away, he winked at me. “Don’t worry. I might have a few tricks up my sleeve if things go poorly.”

I shook my head. “What do you mean by?—”

Before the words were even out of my throat, he shifted and took off into the air, the thwap-thwap of his wings drowning out my question. Heart pounding, I watched him disappear behind the clouds.

Delphine tugged on my arm. “We have to hurry, dear.”

She took the seat behind Kaskawan on Rasp’s back, and I climbed onto Octavius behind Freddy.

My little brother looked back at me with anxiety-ridden eyes.

“This is fucking terrifying,” he cried even as Octavius took off into the sky. “I don’t know how you act this calm.”

I put my arms around his waist as the dragon beneath us bobbed and swooped higher and higher into the sky.

“You get used to it,” I said, resting my head on his shoulder.

The last few miles of our trip went by in less than five minutes.

Beneath us, the clearing became visible, as well as the people in attendance.

My jaw dropped as I saw what awaited us.

My family’s contingent was there, along with the wolf families allied to them, as well as dozens of others: fae tribes who weren’t part of the Hikshil; moose shifters, panthers, bears, and elk—all the native shifters from the new world.

Bastien hadn’t informed us how many people would be in attendance.

A sudden sick feeling twisted my stomach.

Most of the people here were either ambivalent toward Cassius or actively hated him for the mistakes and poor choices he’d made in the past. We were descending into a very dangerous situation.

Swallowing hard, I did my best to put on a regal and confident face as Octavius landed. The way the warrior twitched and turned his massive dragon head told me the sight of so many possible enemies made him nervous.

Before we’d even had time to get settled on the ground, a female voice rang out. “If you’d be kind enough to have your pretty little flying lizards shift to their human form?”

As I slid off Octavius’s back, I turned toward the voice.

Sasha. She stood with her shoulders back, basically preening as she strode forward.

It still astounded me that she was so loyal to Bastien.

He’d twisted her in some way, mentally brainwashing her over the years, creating a perfect right-hand woman to help run the family home.

I’d tried to help her the night of the battle in the conservatory, but she’d nearly gotten me killed.

She looked at me like I was vermin fouling up the place.

I grinned at her. “Surely, the powerful Laurent family isn’t scared of a few dragons?”

Her simpering smile faded, and she scowled. “You will do as requested, or this meeting is over.”

As badly as I wanted to ignore her request, the others had planned on shifting back when we arrived anyway.

Octavius hovered near me and Freddy, while Vince and Rasp stood near the Hikshil tribesmen and Delphine.

All three men eyed the assembly with wariness.

Even Rasp, who usually acted so immature and carefree, had his jaw set in a hard line as Bastien emerged from a small tent in the center of the clearing.

My brother sauntered forward, looking as calm and collected as he would attending a ball.

“Greetings to the Hikshil tribe,” he said, bowing to Sahalie and the others. “I trust your trip was uneventful?”

Sahalie frowned. “We flew in the sky. Is that not eventful?”

Bastien frowned, obviously caught off guard by the seer’s response.

“We are fine, Lord Bastien,” Achakos said. “Are you prepared to answer our questions regarding this prisoner of yours? You claim to have Prince Aurelius Decimus in your custody. Is that true?”

“It is,” he said, nodding his head once, his smile widening. “The terrorist Aurelius Decimus.”

“Interesting,” Kaskawan said, stepping forward. “When we left the dragon castle, Aurelius was there. I wonder how you could possibly claim to have him if he is safe within his family’s walls?”

Bastien somehow looked even more pleased by the question.

“Oh, I’m sure the dragons would love for everyone to believe the good prince was safe and sound and innocent of the charges against him.

If what you say is true, then the Decimus household has employed a skinwalker or shapeshifter to mimic the prince. ”

“Bullshit,” I snapped. A ripple ran through the crowd of onlookers. “You said the same thing about me at the gala, and Jolon proved I was who I said I was.”

Bastien glanced at me with visible disgust. “Perhaps he did, but the dragons murdered him before he could reveal his findings. Isn’t that true?”