I grabbed a knife off the table and then a second, pushing down the clawing fear inside my chest. These Druman were like the others we’d fought in the mountains, barely more than animals with matted hair and filthy clothes. Their stench wafted on the breeze, and my heart begged me to flee. Even though I wanted to, I wouldn’t. I could do this. I’d done it before, more than once, and while I still had fear, there was nothing paralyzing me from dealing with these monsters.
Ryn! Tyrrik yelled through our bond again. He was pumping his wings as fast as he could, the darkening sky blurring as he sped toward me. He would feel my fear, and there was nothing I could do about it. My mind was too fuzzy from the lemonade for me to focus enough to block him. With everything else going on around me, I probably wouldn’t be able to do that and fight the Druman.
I could feel Lani next to me, and I turned to yell at the two sisters, but Kamini had dropped to the ground, her head lolling to the side. Lani remained rooted, her eyes closed as she tried to push the net over Zivost.
“This can’t be happening now,” I muttered under my breath. Not when we were so close. I grabbed Lani’s wrist to get her attention. I raised my voice and shouted over the horrible melee, “You’ve got to get out of here.”
The Phaetyn queen startled, and her gaze locked on mine. “What’s happening?”
I shook my head and pointed at Kamini. “Watch Kamini. She’s fainted. No matter what happens, stay here until Tyrrik comes. Do you hear me? Even if I have to fight.”
Lani nodded, eyes focused on her small golden net above.
Bloody drak. Clearly, she’d had too much to drink too.
I ran forward, scanning the crowd, relieved to see Kamoi leading a group of his guard toward the Druman, their spears dripping with fresh blood.
The massive emerald Drae had disappeared, and I shouted at Lani to put the net up, hoping we could shield from further attack.
My stomach roiled as one of the Druman sliced through a Phaetyn guard. I roared in protest and rounded the table as blue scales crawled over my skin. I ran forward, and in a pulse of blue light, I shifted into my Drae form, tail lashing in fury.
I bellowed at the mutant bastards as I charged forward, stopping to whip in a circle to swing my spiked tail at a group of them charging me.
Several of the Druman growled and grunted, and two of the creatures flew through the air, their bodies broken and mangled. I turned back and roared again, slicing through one and then another with my talons. Black blood spilled to the ground, and I scooped up a mutilated torso, launching it back at the remaining monsters.
I glanced up at the skies, my heart in my throat as I saw the golden net wavering, still not even a quarter of the way across the forest. What was wrong with Lani? What was taking so long?
Another roar thundered from above, and the emerald Drae, my father, appeared above me. He spewed fire into the forest as he descended into the clearing.
11
Phaetyn’s screams filled the courtyard outside the Rose Castle as white-hot flames enveloped them, burning them alive. Those lucky enough to avoid the fire unscathed turned to flee.
The emerald Drae landed, the ground shaking with the force, and he towered over me.
My knees shook as I instinctively tried to sag and make myself smaller in some pitiful attempt to escape the emperor’s notice. How was he here? For all our plans to kill him, I hadn’t been prepared for this moment.
My daughter, he crowed.
His pride filled me until it was all I could fathom.
Draedyn was bigger than Tyrrik. My father’s scales were a deep emerald, but several areas of his body lacked the jeweled-like armor as if the pieces had been plucked or carved away. His eyes were a glowing green, the same color as his scales, but despite the vibrant color, there was no life within their depths.
You are magnificent, he said. I’ve been searching for you, and here you are, my most incredible triumph.
Satisfaction thrummed through me. How I’d craved my father’s approval. I yearned to make him proud. To be a daughter he could trust.
I have longed for our meeting. Dreaming of the time we would be reunited. Whatever lies you have heard of me, I hope you will grant me the opportunity to prove my paternal love for you.
I could feel the honesty of his words, his sincerity. I thought of how, as a child, I’d wished for my father, and here he was. But if my wish had come true, why did it feel wrong? No, he just wanted a chance. Confusion swirled in my mind, and I wrestled to hold onto what I knew.
You must come with me to my castle and be the princess you were meant to be. Let Draeconia know of your greatness so they can worship you at my side.
I lifted a claw in his direction, the trickling of his excitement spreading to the tips of my talons and down my ridged spine.
I could feel how much he wanted this, and I wanted it too. This would fill the healing hole inside once and for all. This was the answer to my problems. Yes.
Before we go . . .
The emerald tendrils of his power pulsed against my mind, forcing my Drae powers to part and let him inside. Excitement turned to fear, and he clearly felt the shift within me. His presence flooded into me, shattering the natural Drae barrier encasing my mind, to take up residence, gripping my will in his own.
I couldn’t move. Why couldn’t I move? I still had my mind, but an oily emerald-green power, my father’s power, was disconnecting me from controlling myself.
Bring me the Phaetyn.
An image of Kamini, her silver hair up in an intricate updo, wearing her plain crown, filled my mind, and I struggled to control my body. No. Not Kamini.
I pivoted, unable to refuse my father’s bidding. My body walked toward the princess, under his complete control.
My mind screamed, but I stepped toward the table where Lani and Kamini were hidden. My insides twisted, splintering, and my heart broke as I batted the table away and exposed Lani, an unconscious Kamini, and a half-dozen other cowering Phaetyn.
I flicked Lani away with a talon, mentally begging her forgiveness for what I was about to do. And then I plucked Kamini up.
Ryn! Tyrrik screamed my name, and I regained partial use of my vocal chords, releasing a strangled noise. I tried to break from the emperor’s hold, but I couldn’t respond to my mate. The brief reprieve was over, my voice was gone, my control was void. The only piece of Ryn left was my awareness, but I had no way to enact my will. Even the choice to do nothing had been ripped from me, I couldn’t access my Drae powers at all.
Lani screamed, and Kamini was still in her faint in my claw. I turned back to my father, carrying my friend to him.
You are everything I’d hoped you be. And because of that, I have left you with your mind as reward for pleasing me, daughter. Remember, I could have taken that, too, but I chose to be merciful.
Disgust surged from within, but I crossed the clearing toward the green Drae.
I’m coming, Tyrrik called to me.
I could feel him drawing near, and a tear slipped down my cheek.
Tyrrik, I managed to get through, jerking when Draedyn tried to take possession of me again. I stumbled, and poor Kamini slipped through my talons to the bloodied ground.
Don’t let him take her, Tyrrik threw at me.
Draedyn lunged forward, his claw scooping up the dirt beneath Kamini as he grabbed her.
I bellowed in outrage, and the alpha’s hold on me lessened as Tyrrik’s proximity gave me strength. Hurry!
Lani leapt from behind the toppled table, and I shifted to block her, immediately grasping the emperor’s mistake. He thought Kamini was the queen because she wore the crown.
Kamoi ran out from within the trees, several other Phaetyn with him, screaming as he raised his spear on behalf of his cousin.
Draedyn didn’t even flinch. He extended on his hind legs and, with his talon’s extended, severed the heads of two guards. He snatched up Kamoi and two other Phaetyn in his claw, Kamini dangling from his other. With another bellow, the emperor glanced my way.
I rule through fear, daughter. Always fear. But I believe there will be love for us after the fear has passed.
With a snap that had white lights exploding across my vision, he released me. His oily powers slipped away and allowed my blue Drae tendrils to reconnect with my mind.
My body shifted, and I dropped to my knees and screamed as he took off into the twilight sky.