Page 8

The dragon’s massive form descended from the clouds, wings beating the air with a sound like thunder.

Scales the color of molten gold caught the pale light, and its eyes glowed with a fierce, predatory intelligence.

It landed heavily in front of the cave, blocking our path, and its lips curled back in a snarl that revealed rows of razor-sharp teeth.

The ground trembled beneath us, and I stumbled back, my heart hammering in my chest. “Everyone, get back!” I shouted, my voice rough with panic.

The dragon reared up, its wings spreading wide, casting long shadows over the clearing. It let out a roar that shook the trees, a sound that reverberated through my skull and rattled my bones. My magic flared in response, surging toward the surface like a wild animal straining against its cage.

I raised my hands in a sign of peace. “We’re not here to harm you or create trouble. We just?—”

But I never got to finish the sentence. The dragon lunged, fire pouring from its mouth in a searing wave.

Lacey barely managed to throw up a protective barrier, but the flames licked around the edges, scorching the trees behind us. The heat singed our skin, even through the magic, and beside me, Lacey gritted her teeth, struggling to keep the barrier intact.

“Keep moving!” Levi shouted, his voice cutting through the roar of the flames.

He spun to the side, darkfire crackling around his hands as he launched a bolt of it at the dragon—not to harm, just to distract.

The flames swirled around the dragon’s scales, harmlessly deflecting off its molten-gold hide.

It snapped its jaws, letting out a guttural snarl, and turned its glowing eyes toward Levi.

Aspen and Boise moved in sync, casting spells to reinforce Lacey’s barrier and direct the dragon’s attention away from the cave entrance. Abbie and Maggie were right behind them, waiting for an opportunity to act.

“You have to listen to—” I tried shouting, but had to quickly shut my mouth and duck as the dragon’s tail swung through the air, smashing into the trees beside us.

Wood splintered, and I heard Maggie gasp as branches cracked and rained down around us.

I couldn’t risk letting my own magic out. If I lost control, I’d become a danger to all of us. So, I focused on staying light on my feet, dodging and weaving through the chaos as the others kept the dragon occupied.

The ground shook with every impact of the dragon’s claws, each tremor sending leaves cascading from the canopy above.

Aspen flicked his wrist, sending a stream of magical rays toward the dragon’s side. It barely flinched, the electricity crackling harmlessly over its scales. “This isn’t working!” he growled, frustration clear in his voice.

“We can’t hurt him!” I called back, ducking another sweep of the dragon’s tail. “We need the crystal! If we make him angry?—”

“He’s already angry!” Levi cut in, his darkfire wrapping around the dragon’s foreleg like chains, barely managing to slow its movements. The dragon let out another ear-splitting roar, its eyes blazing as it strained against the darkfire’s hold.

“Enough!” the dragon bellowed, and for a split second, the air seemed to tremble with the weight of his voice. He broke through Levi’s restraints with a twist of his massive body, snapping his head toward me. I froze, caught in the intensity of his gaze, and my breath hitched in my throat.

But then the dragon paused, nostrils flaring as he scented the air. His eyes—glowing with that molten gold—narrowed on me, his head tilting slightly. For a moment, I thought he would attack again, but instead, he drew in a long breath, and the tension in the air shifted.

“I smell dragon magic on you,” he rumbled, his voice like thunder rolling through the forest. He straightened slightly, his wings folding against his sides, though the wariness never left his gaze. “You are tainted with it. Explain.”

Taking a deep breath, I stepped forward, my hands raised in a gesture of peace.

“My name is Ariella,” I began, my voice as steady as I could make it.

“A prince of the underworld stole my magic and several others, including dragon magic. Later, all of that magic ended up inside baby dragons—newborns. They gave me my magic back, but… they gave me more than that. Now I have my own magic, and all this other power I never wanted.”

The dragon’s eyes narrowed further, but he didn’t attack. He studied me, his gaze piercing, as if he could see straight through to my soul. “You speak of new dragons?” he asked, a strange note in his voice. “I have been without contact with the outside for many years. Is this true?”

“Yes, it’s true,” I said, my heart still hammering in my chest. “They’re growing and well protected. But people around me aren’t. I need that crystal in your cave to help me shed the magic that doesn’t belong to me.”

The dragon huffed out a breath, steam rising from his nostrils.

“Dragons are rare. There are too few of us left. The return of more is a good thing.” He studied me for another long, tense moment, and then his gaze flicked over to Levi and the others, still poised to strike if the dragon made any sudden moves.

I dared to take another step closer, lowering my hands slowly. “You don’t have to fight us. We just need the crystal, and I promise, we’ll return it once we’ve used it. We mean you no harm.”

The dragon’s form shimmered, his massive body shrinking and contorting until he stood before us in human form.

His human appearance was rugged, weathered, like a man who had spent decades living in the wild.

He looked to be in his fifties or sixties, with sharp blue eyes and a thick beard streaked with gray.

Despite his age, he had the kind of presence that filled the clearing, the power of his dragon form still thrumming beneath his skin.

“What crystal?” His voice was low, rough with age and suspicion.

“One that holds on to magic,” I said, not really sure. I glanced at Maggie. She had seen it in her vision. I had no idea what it was or what it looked like.

“Hm, t-the green one,” she stammered.

The dragon let out a huff, smoke coming out of his huge nostrils. “You think I’d lend such a treasure to strangers?”

I met his gaze head-on, my heart pounding.

“I understand why you wouldn’t trust us.

Who are we, right? Strangers invading your space and asking for one of your treasures?

But we have no other choice. Without that crystal, I can’t control this power, and it could destroy everything I’m trying to protect. We just need a chance.”

The dragon shifter’s expression changed, a flicker of something softer passing through his eyes. He glanced toward the cave, then back at me, a frown tugging at the corners of his mouth. “And what will you do once you’ve freed yourself of the extra power?”

I hesitated, but only for a moment. “I’ll fight for my home, Elysium. My realm is at the brink of war and I think I can stop it.”

He studied me for a long moment. “I know what it is to want to protect your home … and to lose it.” He nodded slowly.

“You have the eyes of a warrior… even if you carry a burden too heavy for one so young. Very well. But I will not simply hand over the crystal. We will seal our agreement with a blood promise.”

I blinked, surprise flickering through me. I hadn’t expected him to offer so easily. “What kind of promise?”

He stepped closer, pulling a small, ornate knife from the belt at his waist. “We cut our palms, let our blood mingle. You will return the crystal when your task is complete, or you will bear the weight of breaking the bond.”

“And what is the weight of breaking the blood bond?” I asked, my voice low.

“After a week without returning the crystal, you’ll experience growing pain that will only increase, to the point of madness.”

I stilled. That was a serious thing, but I had no reason to keep the crystal.

Levi cleared his throat and I glanced at him. “I don’t like this, sweetheart.”

“It’s not like we have a choice.” Taking a deep breath, I held out my hand to the dragon shifter.

He nodded approvingly and made a small cut across his own palm before offering me the knife. I followed suit, wincing slightly as the blade bit into my skin, and pressed my bleeding hand against his.

The moment our blood touched, I felt a rush of magic course through me, binding our promise like a thread of flame. The dragon shifter’s eyes flared with a brief flash of golden light, and then it faded, leaving behind the weight of the bond between us.

“It is done,” he said, stepping back and tucking the knife away. “Follow me.”

He led us into the cave, and I had to admit, it was impressive.

Treasures were piled high on every surface—gems and gold, ancient artifacts that glimmered in the faint light filtering through the entrance.

The air was thick with the scent of earth and old magic, the walls of the cave humming with latent power.

The dragon shifter rummaged through a chest covered in dust, muttering to himself as he searched. Finally, he pulled out a green gem the size of my fist, its surface smooth and shaped like a delicate shell.

“This one?” he asked.

Maggie nodded, her eyes transfixed on the gem. “Yes. That’s the one.”

He held it out to me. “The Stelen Stone.”

I reached out, my fingers brushing against the crystal. The moment I touched it, a pulse of energy shot through my hand, and I gasped, feeling the power contained within the stone. It was like touching a living thing, thrumming with ancient magic.

“Thank you,” I said, my voice barely more than a whisper. “I promise, I’ll return it.”

The dragon shifter nodded, his expression somber. “See that you do.”

We left the cave and the dragons stayed by its mouth.

I glanced at him. “I don’t know your story, or how you came to be here, but the dragons and dragon shifters live in a hidden island nowadays.

I know a dragon shifter, Kazrath. He’s hard to get ahold of, but I can give you his contact number if you want. ”

The dragon shifter’s nostrils flared. “No.”

He turned and entered the cave again.

I stayed there for another moment, watching the dark cave. There was a story here, but I didn’t have time to dig through it, and apparently that wouldn’t be welcomed. So I followed the others to the forest's edge, where Aspen prepared to open a portal.

Aspen’s portal shimmered to life, and we crossed back to the warehouse, where the air was thick with tension. Even though I felt more control than I had in the last couple of hours, I rushed to the witch’s circle.

Everyone stood just outside the circle’s line, looking at the gem in my hand.

“We did it,” Lacey said.

“Good job, Maggie.” Abbey nudged the shoulder of her sister, who blushed instantly.

I looked at them all. “Thank you.”

“Step one down.” Levi pulled out his phone. “Now for step two.”