Page 166 of The Night Firm

"We need to get out of here," I shout as I survey the damaged, overturned carriage.

Pulling on my power, I use the wind to right the wagon, setting it back on its wheels, but it tilts to one side since one of them is broken. The horses are still in a panic, and I approach them cautiously, infusing myself with light as I pour peace into them. They calm quickly, despite the tumultuous storm still raging around us.

I pat one on the nose, murmuring reassuringly to them.

Before I can figure out how to fix the wheel and get us back on the road, the Dragon's Breath above us begins to shimmer and stretch, a tear appearing in the fabric of the world itself, revealing a true wonder. A dragon, the largest I've ever seen—easily three times the size of the others, flies through the tear and hovers in the air. Her wings are stretched wide and she is covered in golden scales that glow like the sun. She lowers herself to earth, shifting into human form as she does, until a woman stands there, and everything about her is golden; long hair golden and wavy, an intricate golden crown on her head, and golden wings draped over her back like a cloak. Her skin is iridescent and shines brightly and her eyes are golden orbs. She wears a gown that shimmers with flecks of gold that catch in the light, and her presence causes all of the dragons to stop their arguing and land, turning back to their human form even as they bow before her.

"Who's that?" I whisper to Elijah, whose jaw has dropped in amazement.

"That…the gods help us, that is Amir'Amora'Akar. The Mother of Dragons."

Chapter 3: The Mother

Out of theash

I rise with my red hair

And I eat men like air.’

~Slyvia Plath, Lady Lazarus

I'm momentarily paralyzedby the wonder of her, but then, as Elijah attempts to pull me into a curtsy, I take Ana's hand and usher her back into the carriage, which wobbles with her weight but doesn't tip over.

"Stay in here and stay hidden," I whisper, and I take the baby dragon from Sebastian and hand her to the girl. "And keep Zara hidden. Can you do that?"

Ana nods, her eyes wide and scared, but she doesn't hesitate to take the infant.

I close the door behind them and hope they go unnoticed, because shit's about to get real, and I'm just going out on a limb here, but I'm pretty sure it will not go well if all the dragons in the world discover we are trying to kidnap the only baby dragon in existence. I mean, I could be misreading the situation, but given the glares I'm getting from the Night brothers, I'm pretty sure I'm not.

"Why do my children fight amongst themselves?" the Mother of Dragons demands, her voice carrying over time and space and into the very souls of each of us, or so it feels.

Dath'Racul looks cowed—and I rather enjoy seeing the arrogant ass taken down a few notches by mommy. But then I look at the golden dragon again and feel my insides coil and wrap around themselves and my brief delight at his discomfort turns to reluctant empathy. This is not a woman to mess with.

"Mother," Racul says, his voice still powerful despite his humbled position. "Ventus attacked me, accusing me of taking the life of Lyx, but it is not true."

Amora seems to grow in size as her anger envelops her like a cloak. "Two of my children have died. Two immortal beings of ultimate power ripped from the worlds. It is unthinkable. Who has done this thing?" she demands. "It was not one of you; it cannot be one of you. That would be beyond blasphemous."

"I do not believe it was any of us," Racul says, tossing a cross look at his brother. "Ava'Kara gave her life voluntarily," he offers.

Amora scoffs. "I am well aware of what Kara did and why. To preserve this dilapidated, failed experiment of a world. As if the life and soul of a dragon was worth this scrap heap."

My blood boils at her words, and my spine stiffens. Derek shoots me a cautioning glance.

"What has become of Kara's child? Where is my grandchild?" Amora looks around as if one of the dragons might magically produce her from thin air.

I shift uncomfortably and pointedly do not look at the carriage, even though we might as well be invisible to the dragons. Which suits me just fine.

"We have not yet been to the scene of the crime," Racul admits. "We do not know where the child is."

"Because you were too busy fighting amongst yourselves," she shouts, her words like daggers piercing the hearts of her children. "Behaving much like the vagabonds you created this world for."

They all drop their heads. It's clear there's no good answer to that, so they don't try.

"And what of Lyx'Ara?" Amora asks. "Her death was not voluntary. Someone must pay."

"We will begin an investigation," Racul says. "Her killer will suffer."

"You are correct in that my child," she says, a saccharine smile spreading over her lips but never reaching her hard golden eyes. "That is why I have come. To punish those who would harm my children."