Thelittle creature wailed in its mother’s arms as she lay in bed.Theking’s whore, whoever she was, fretted over him, cooing and rubbing her nose on his cheek.AllIcould do was watch in disgust.Thistiny, pathetic thing was nothing.Butmy father looked on with something in his eyes thatIhad never seen.Inthat tiny thing, he saw his own flesh, his own blood, his own soul.
“Yousee,Hadeon, we’ve done it.Wehave theDragon’sheart, and now no one can stand against us.Thisworld will be ours for us and your family.Nothingis in your way.”Hewaved to the beasts on the bed.Helooked at me, andIfinally saw it.Itwas greed.Iwas just a youngling again, chained up.Andhe was dead, thatDragonwas dead, andIheld his heart, but still he laughed at me.
Ifelt my power surging inside my body, andIcouldn’t control it.Ididn’t want to.Theywere all small; they were all weak.Iwas theGreatHero, the one who was prophesized, and they were nothing. “You’reright, father.Nothingis in my way.”Ireleased, lightning flew from every point on my body, andenveloped the room.Myfather was immediately incinerated.Alook of shock was the last thing that was etched on his face as it burned away in ribbons.Ididn’t even look at the woman and babe.Ionly heard a faint shriek and smelled the burning of flesh.Ilet everything release until the walls shook and nothing existed but the crackle of my power.
Itfaded, andIwas left in the scorched room.Istepped over my father’s destroyed body without a second look.Theywould come for me, andIwould kill them all.
Theymust have been close becauseIhadn’t even left the room before the door flung open andPlagisflew in with a trio of guards.Iraised my power again to cut through them.
ButPlagisspoke first. “Oh, what a great tragedy,YourMajesty.”Ipaused.Iwas not the king.
Theadvisor held my gaze. “Whata great tragedy to have befallen theGreatHero.Hisown family, murdered by rebels from thePearlKingdom, in their own home.”
Iquelled my power.Evenan imbecile would have known this was my doing, butPlagiswas no fool.
“YourMajesty, we must make haste.Thepeople will want to see that their future emperor can take swift action against such an offense.”Heled me down the hall and motioned for the guards to close the door.Yes,Plagiswas no fool.
“I’llmake sure that is taken care of,YourEminence.Youwon’t have to think on it again.ButIhave heard that the newDragonKinghas arrived in the city, ready to swear fealty.Whata powerful tool to have against thosePearlKingdomrebels, yes?”
PresentDay
Plagishad been wise to send a slave with his note of the defeat inXyr.Istepped over his charred body asIrushed to a lower wing of the palace.Mymagic struck out asIwalked, cutting swaths through priceless tapestries and ornaments.
Thehalls quickly emptied of any souls who valued their lives asIheaded toward my goal.
Ireached the healer’s wing and flung open the door to the main recovery area.Twohealers fussed overLuxosuntil they heard my approach and scattered like cockroaches.Whatlittle color was left inLuxosfled him asIstood over his bed.Hisentire torso and the side of his face were heavily bandaged, andIcould smell the putrid liquids leaking from his wounds.
“Youhave one chance to explain this failure,Commander.”
Luxosgritted his teeth as he tried to sit up but ultimately failed. “Thebitch had magic.”Now, that was interesting. “Thehealers said it was dragonfire.”
Thescar across my own chest seemed to heat at that. “That’snot possible.”
“Ican assure you,YourEminence, that it very much is,”Luxosgroaned as he tried to move again.Isaw a yellowish-orange stain blossom on one of his bandages. “Shecalled herself his mate.”Yes,Abraxashad said the same.
“Thenyou have failed me on numerous counts,Luxos.”Hefroze, no longer moaning and adjusting to his wounds.Ifelt his shadows lingering just out of sight, butIknew he wasn’t foolish enough to use them.Hehad learned better long ago.
Ileaned over and gripped his jaw, and he hissed asItouched the burn on his face.Hisshadows rose but did not strike.
“Youfailed to discover the princess’ powers.Youhave failed to bring me the dragon’s heart or, at the very least, vanquish him.Youhave failed to win me his city, and now…”Ilet my magic lace over his open wounds until his shadows squirmed andIcould hear them squeal. “…you have failed to bring me the greatest treasureIcould imagine.Themate of the last dragon, a fragile and weak little girl.”Isent lightning through him.Hewouldn’t scream, but his shadows flailed, revealing his agony.
“Tellme whyIshouldn’t kill you now.”
“Ican still get-t them for you.”Hecould barely talk through his clenched teeth.
“Andhow will you do that after so many failures?”
“Thesame as before.Takethose they care about.They’llcome right to you.”
Ilet my magic recede and releasedLuxos.Helay panting and sweating on the bed.Hisbandages were now coated in blood.Istood. “Thisis your last chance,Commander.Donot fail me again.”
Chapter 42
Tori
“I
want his head on a spike.Iwant his blood in the streets.Iwant—”
