Page 148

Jed is chomped in half—then swallowed whole.

Everything is happening so quickly, and I see what’s left of the Dragons make a run for it. The Dragon is huge, curled up on the ground he looked like the rest until he stands taking up half the cave, I can feel he is weak, his aura dim. He should have been gold like Silas, but his aura is grey, the grey of death.

Dragons start attacking him, while I see Matitus and Silas trying to get to us. I can sense Silas’s excitement through the bond, recognising his father instantly. His tail swings and I duck out the way, climbing up on the rock we were perched on letting my wings free. My magic fizzles slightly, surging like it is trying to build itself up. I look to the ceiling, wondering if I would make it when a fireball erupts the deafening noise of Dragons screaming as Silas breathes hell fire through the cave, his father blocking it from touching me. The cave goes silent besides the moaning and groaning of the beasts burning on the ground.

“Father!” Silas calls out to him. The Dragon’s head whips in his direction, and he whimpers, turning to me. His eyes go to the blade in my hand as I step back.

“No!” I gasp knowing what he wants me to do.

“Please it’s the only way, I need to pay for my sins little Aziza, I won’t have my grandchild pay them for me,” his voice flicks in my head like a whisper as his power starts to fizzle.

I feel tears slip down my face, a tortured look in his eyes as they flicker, losing their light.

“Please!” he gasps out in my head. I can hear my mates getting closer running toward us, feel Silas’s relief at seeing I am fine and excitement at finding his father as he climbed into the cave through another entrance and raced up the incline toward us.

I raise my sword. Silas screams, breaking my heart as he screams, “Elora, no!”

I plunge my sword into his chest and feel my sword heat up in my hands so hot I can feel the magic in it killing him like his soul is slowly bleeding into it. He grunts before a sigh leaves him, his body transforming to man as he stumbles into me so quickly, I almost lose my footing. His arms drape over my shoulders heavily.

“Thank you,” he gasps.

His aura turns white, his life leaving this world for the next. Silas’s pain smashes into me, a wave of pure anguish roaring through the bond.

My legs give out beneath me under his father’s weight.

Silas reaches us, ripping his father off the blade.

My sword retracts, my magic fizzling out, drained from the kill.

Silas clutches his father’s frail, lifeless body. His eyes snap to me.

Burning hatred shines back at me. He growls, dropping his father, stalking toward me. I scramble backward on my hands and knees.

Matitus rushes over.

“Did you know who he was?” Silas asks.

Tears brim in my eyes. I look at King Darshan—he looks like Silas, his hair graying, his skin deathly pale, his body frail and withered.

“He told…’’ but my words are cut off as he grabs me, his entire body trembling. His fist is raised when suddenly, Matitus and Dragus grab him away.

“She fucking knew!” he screams, fighting against them.

“Silas she is our mate, she did what she had to do, I trust that,” Matitus tells him.

“I don’t fucking care. I have lost everything because her, fucking everything. I gave up everything and she fucking killed him,” he bellows tossing them off like they are nothing.

I scream, trying to get up and make a run for it when he rips me back by my hair. I clutch his hand, trying to free myself as I feel my hair being ripped from my scalp.

“Silas she is pregnant,” Dragus screams, his fear hitting me. When Silas lets go, his rage burns hotter than anything I have ever felt, his hatred seeping into me so cold it chills my bones. He is acting like I killed his father in cold blood, if he would let me explain he would see but all I can feel is blistering hot anger through the bond, like I betrayed him. His grief at seeing his father only to lose him smashes into me.

He steps forward, his hand grabbing my throat.

“After our child is born, you leave, and I never want to see you again.”

“Silas!” I cry.

“No, you have taken everything from me. You leave Elora, but you won’t be leaving with my child,” he says, turning on his heel and walking out of the cave.