Luxoscontinued his casual ministrations to the blade in his hand. “Itold that old foolPlagissending ships out there was a fool’s errand.Noone outside theDragonKingdomcan navigate those waters, not without some sort of guide.”
Thewoman gagged loudly asIpressed her down again, andIlet out an aggravated sigh, pushing her so she collapsed to the ground. “Getout of my sight.”Iwaved her away asIstuffed my cock back into my pants.Shehad the good sense to look afraid as she scrambled out of the room, glancing atLuxosas she left.Ifshe was looking for pity, she received none.Heonly gave her a disgusted look as she passed by.
“So, what would you suggest,Commander?”
“WithAbraxasgone, we should push his forces back.Theyare divided and lack a leader.Thisis the time to strike.”
Luxosknew as well asIthatAbraxas’ army waslarger than mine.I’dgotten lax these last few centuries, allowing him to run almost all military operations.Isaw now how he’d been pushing his advantage all this time, andIfelt my skin crawling with my power as anger built in me.
Luxosdidn’t flinch as bolts of lightning struck out across the room.Hethrew up a wall of shadows, blocking a bolt that came too close.Thatwas somethingIliked about the commander, his restrained control.Theattack fizzled out against his dark shield, and when it dropped, he was wiping lint off his shoulder.
“Evendivided, we stand to lose too many of our forces to a direct assault.”
Hegave a wicked grin. “Letme see whatIcan do inside the kingdom.Perhapswe can keep to the shadows.”
Iraised an eyebrow at him. “Hassomething changed?Youcould never enter the kingdom before.”
Luxosrolled up his sleeve, revealing dark glyphs snaked around his forearm.Theink still glimmered, and blood leaked from the edges of the tattoo. “Justhad the newHulduink these.Theyfeel potent.Infact, everything has felt more potent ever since…”
Hewas wise not to finish that sentence.ButIknew, forIhad felt it, too.Eversince the spring,I’dfelt it.Thewhispers of it on the wind, the echoes of it beneath my feet.ButafterAbraxashad changed, there was no denying it.Magic.Magicas it had been beforeI’dkilledMalech, and every last drop had dried up.Icouldn’t quite reach it, but it was there, just below the surface.Eversince he and that girl had slipped through my fingers.
“Iexpect results,Commander.”
“Ofcourse,YourEminence.”Heexited the room, andIcalled to the storm in my heart.Asit had for the last five hundred years,Ifelt the great stream of magic it called to, linked to the dragon’s heart locked away below my feet.
Isent the bolt out of my hand and into the armoire across my room.Thelightning fanned across the wood in an erratic pattern.Theentire thing disintegrated.
Letthem come.Letthem all come.Themagic of this world belonged to me, andIwould destroy any who tried to claim it.
Chapter 11
Tori
TheLeviathanhad considerately left the ship remarkably intact.Itwas flawless except for a few broken boards and ominously empty living quarters still scattered with the soldiers’ personal effects.Avlynquickly took the helm and began shouting words atJun,Pallas, and myself.Someof themIeven understood.
“Pallashas an excuse, but you two grew up on an island.Howdo you not know how to sail?”Avlynquestioned us as they bustled around the ship, tying knots and moving the sails.
“Wegrew up as royalty.Ihad people to sail for me.”Icrossed my arms over my chest.
“Thatis the most spoiled princessy thingIhave ever heard you say.AlthoughIremember our journey toXyr, so maybeIcan figure out why you never enjoyed sailing.”Avlynhuffed a laugh.
Evenjust the jostling of the ship as we prepared to sail had my stomach lurching.Ikept near the railing.
Pallaskept glancing at the dark water below; the color was drained from her face.
“It’snot coming back.Youcan relax,”Itried to reassure her.
“Howcan you be so sure?”
“Becauseit told me.”
PallasandJunexchanged a glance at that. “IthoughtTorididn’t have any magic?”Mybrother directed the question atPallas.
“Shedoesn’t.”
“I’mstanding right here, thank you very much.Whatwould you know about my magic?”
Hereyes returned to that dead stare; the color washed out of them. “HadeonwantedJun’sand your powers.Twinsare always born with more magic, or at least they were.Hethought maybe your powers just hadn’t emerged yet and went to great lengths to get it out of you.”
