“I’ll be fine. See you soon.”

  She gave me one more solid squeeze, then I pulled away.

  I walked out of the trees and right up to the cabin. The guards moved as one, stepping away from their posts to stop me from approaching. “I need to speak with Zion,” I announced loudly. “Please, it’s important.”

  “No, you’re going to turn around and walk away,” one instructed. “Now.”

  “I have to see him. You don’t understand.”

  They eyed me suspiciously, as though I was going to throw myself at them. They couldn’t know the curse had been lifted from me unless they got Amelie to talk. I always told her she was a damned poor liar. Unless they hurt her to get to the truth. Anger rose within me as I took another step closer.

  Every guard closed in, ready to fight to keep me away.

  Good. I was in the mood to punch something.

  “Either let me in or get ready,” I warned.

  “You are not permitted inside. Turn around.”

  The tingling sensation started behind my eyes again. They were trying to use that curse on me. I wasn’t about to lose my memories, not now when we were so ready to save everyone and get them the hell out of here.

  I took another step.

  One of the dragons grabbed hold of my arm.

  I wrapped my hand around his neck.

  His eyes widened in panic, and he withdrew his other hand from his pocket where the charm probably was.

  “I said I wanted to see Zion.”

  He grappled to get free.

  I tossed him over the heads of the other guards and into the wall of the cabin. He slid to the floor of the porch as the rest surrounded me.

  They were nothing like the Black Diamonds or the Blood Moon Priests I’d fought.

  One after another, I decked and kicked, sending them flying into the cabin.

  The last one was a big dragon. Much larger than the others. His fist slammed into my side.

  I grunted as I took the hit and took hold of him by his shirt front. “Tell Zion, I’m ready for him, would you?” I hefted the man over my head and threw him into the front door.

  He crashed through, and I heard a panicked yell from inside.

  “Zion. Come out here and face me, you coward.”

  There was movement inside and outside.

  Many of the dragons Zion claimed to have saved gathered around the cabin, whispering and muttering.

  Cara, Darren, and the others on our side remained out of sight.

  Zion stepped far enough out the door to see all his guards on the ground.

  Eyes wide in panic, he bolted back inside the house.

  I took off after him.

  More shouts erupted from the gathered crowd, but I had no time to deal with them. At least, not yet. I had to get to Zion. I needed to stop him from hurting Amelie and from killing the rest of the Shadowguards.

  I slipped as I took a corner too fast and ended up in front of an open doorway.

  A horrific sight was just beyond.

  Perched on a pedestal, the artifact driving his power pulsed with life.

  Next to the pedestal, Zion held a dagger to Amelie’s neck.

  She sagged in his arms, barely able to keep her eyes open. The artifact was draining her of life.

  “Let her go,” I demanded, taking a step closer.

  Zion pushed on the blade against her neck. “Why should I? You are trying to take everything from me. I saved these people. I did it.”

  “By lying to them,” I argued, not looking at him. My gaze trained on Amelie. “By tricking them. You should have fought with the rest of us. You should have fought Radnak and the Blood Moon Priests. Look at yourself. You’ve turned into one.”

  “I will never be like those monsters.”

  “You already are. That plant behind you is stealing souls. It’s killing them all.” I shook my head, disgusted. “It’s killing you.”

  “No, I’ve won. I’ve saved them all. Now they will give me the respect I deserve.”

  “Deserve? It’s not about what you deserve.” I slid my foot forward slightly, and he didn’t react. “It’s about what’s right for our clan. Slade is who’s right. With Everest by his side. Not this. Not lies and more deceitful magic.”

  Amelie’s legs gave out.

  Zion hoisted her up harshly, dagger still at her throat. “Back off.”

  “You will not hurt her. You will not hurt any of them. Not anymore.”

  “Yeah? And you’re going to stop me? How? I have the magic.”

  “You do, but you’re not a true dragon.”

  Amelie’s eyes met mine. I sucked in a deep breath. She nodded.

  Fire rose from deep within my body.

  She yelled and shoved Zion.

  He lost his grip on her.

  She hit the floor as he stumbled to the left.

  The second she was clear, I let loose.

  My fire surrounded the plant, and it shrieked as if truly alive. The flames devoured it.

  Zion yelled, attempting to get to me.

  Amelie threw herself at him, and they hit the floor, rolling around. That dagger flashed and just when he was going to bring it down on her back, I shifted my fire toward him.

  He yelped.

  Amelie reached for my hand as the plant’s screaming turned shrill. It pulsed swiftly, like a dying heart, then exploded in a ball of red.

  I curled my body around Amelie to protect her, but the blast threw us out of the house.

  Ears ringing, I kept my head down and secured Amelie in my arms as debris from the cabin crashed around us.

  “Tank,” she whispered, her hands pressed against my chest.

  “I’m alright. You?” I leaned back to see her.

  Her eyes swirled as her power and strength returned.

  “Yeah, think I’m good—Tank,” she yelled, as she was jerked from my arms and tossed aside.

  “You bastard,” Zion snarled, holding that damned charm in his hand. It oozed red, dying. Clearly, there was enough power left in it for Zion to pose a threat. “We’re not finished. Attack! Take them. Take them all down!”

  Cara shouted for the others to fight back.

  Zion’s knee slammed into my chin.

  I was thrown backward, but got up in time to stop the next hit.

  All around us, the guards battled those from whom the curse had been lifted.

  Not realizing what was happening, others fought alongside the guards, against us. Their minds remained clouded by the curse. If we didn’t find a way to break through to them soon, we’d be overwhelmed. Someone was going to get hurt and seeing dead Shadowguards was the last thing I wanted out.

  How could we get through to them?

  Above us, the night sky was clear. The dome was gone, destroyed when the artifact burned.

  If Selma did get the message, backup would hopefully be here before this fight got out of hand.

  I caught Zion’s fist midair, ready to clock me, and bent his arm, forcing him to his knees. I overpowered him, punching him repeatedly.

  He grabbed hold of that charm again, and something inside me snapped.

  As the tingling struck me harder this time, threatening to steal away my memories, my sense of self, I shifted into my dragon. My roar shattered the night.

  The fighting around us paused momentarily as my wings spread wide.

  Clutching Zion in my claws, I took off into the sky.

  Zion yelled as he struggled.

  From below, Amelie shouted my name, but I wasn’t landing. Not yet. They believed him to be their clan leader and damaged by Radnak or not, any clan leader would have no choice, but to shift if dropped a high enough. Instinct would take over, and he would be forced into his dragon form. The only thing an injury might do was stop him from remaining in his dragon form for more than a few moments.

  “Get me down from here!”

  I growled and rolled.

  He yelled and screamed as we circled over the fighting below.

  I paused when more dragons flew in from the east, roaring and calling out to me. Hollow Wells and other Shadowguards.

  The Hunters had arrived after all.

  One of the dragons bore two familiar warlocks on his back, Peter and Victor.

  “You want down?” I growled, holding Zion at my mercy. “Fine. Save yourself.”

  I let him go.

  He fell, screaming and tumbling, head over heels.

  I flapped my wings, watching and waiting, knowing he wouldn’t shift.

  Grunting in satisfaction, I dove after him and right as he was ready to slam into the ground, I caught him and shifted.

  We landed.

  He was shaking and cursing, and empty-handed. The charm was long gone, having slipped from his grasp.

  Every single dragon he’d tricked looking at him with new eyes.

  One by one, the curse lifted from the Shadowguards as the Hunters landed around us.

  Amelie was talking to Peter and Victor. Everyone else was watching Zion and me.

  “You,” he snarled, gasping for air as he pointed an accusing finger at me. “How dare you? You tried to kill me in front of all these witnesses. I will have you arrested for this.”

  “I think you should be more worried about your own hide.” I crossed my arms and nodded at those around us. “I don’t think your village is very happy with you.”

  “Hollow Wells?” He stumbled backward as if he still had a chance of escaping. “You brought them here? Hunters? They’ll kill us all. Are you mad? You’ve destroyed us.”

  There were shouts for him to be arrested.

  None of the Shadowguards seemed worried at all about the Hunters, seeing as half of them were their own kin.

  Instead, they formed a circle around Zion and the guards who helped him keep his lie alive, demanding answers.

  His mouth opened and closed, but no words came out. He had nothing to defend himself. He nearly killed all for what? The desire to be seen as a brave warrior?

  The moment he took a step to run, I lunged forward and cut him off.

  My hand closed around his throat, cutting off his air as I lifted him off his feet.

  “You are going nowhere.”

  Nineteen

  Amelie

  “Tank, don’t,” I urged, sprinting forward to grab his arm.

  He held Zion by the throat. “He kept them trapped here for years, under a damned curse. He let them believe he was our leader. That they were the last ones alive.” He squeezed harder.

  Zion kicked and sputtered, his face turning red.

  “I know, and I get it, but you’re not a killer.”

  “I’m a warrior.”

  “Yes, but the war is over. Please,” I said, tugging on his arm. “Don’t do this. Let the Hunters have him. They’ll lock him up. He’ll never be able to hurt anyone ever again.”

  His jaw clenched, and smoke trailed from his nose. If he decided to kill Zion, there was no way I could stop him. Not with sheer force. And using magic against Tank was not on my agenda. Ever.

  I willed him to see what this would do to him. He’d feel better for a day, and then the guilt would slam into him. He was not a murderer. Zion was an imposter and a liar, a greedy asshole, but we stopped him before he killed Danny or the others. And he’d saved me.

  One by one, Tank’s fingers loosened their grip, and he dropped Zion to the ground.

  He sputtered and coughed, cursing harshly as he crawled away from Tank. “You bastard, you think this is over? You think you’re so great? Or Slade is? You all are fools. The other clans will turn on you. They’ll kill you all,” he ranted.

  Tank drew his foot back and nailed Zion in the face. He grunted and flew backward, hitting the ground for the second time. This time, unconscious.

  I raised a brow at Tank.

  He shrugged. “What? You said nothing about knocking him out.”

  “Feel better?” she asked.

  The Hunters moved in and hauled Zion up, bound his feet and wrists, then dragged him away from the Shadowguards he’d betrayed. The guards who’d turned on their own were bound and taken away to be punished for their crimes.

  The Shadowguards spat and jeered as they passed. Too bad Zion couldn’t see his going away party.

  I finally answered Amelie’s question. “No, not until we get the rest of my people home where they belong.”

  “Actually,” Cara said, cringing as she approached her big brother, “this is our home.”

  “You can’t be serious.” He shook his head as he looked around at all the dragons who were nodding in agreement with her. “He kept you trapped here, and you want to stay?”

  “The barrier’s gone,” she reminded him. “Zion’s gone now too, thanks to you and Amelie. We remember everything about who we are and where we came from.” She shrugged, taking his hand. “We’ve built a pretty good life here.”

  Tank hung his head, looking beyond dejected. “I thought… I just… never mind.”

  “Hey,” Cara said when he tried to pull away, “just because I want to live here doesn’t mean I’m never going to come and visit you and Amelie. I want to see my big tough warrior brother farming and riding around on a tractor.”

  He laughed then pulled her into a hug. “You’re right. You’re grown now. You don’t need me hanging around.”

  “That’s right.”

  He set her down then turned to Darren.

  Darren smiled hesitantly as he held out his hand.

  Tank ignored it and hugged him. “Welcome to the family. My warning from before stands. Remember that. You break my sister’s heart, I’ll kick your ass.”

  “I believe it.” Darren gave me a hug after Tank let him go. “Thank you both so much.”

  “We’re family. This is what we do.” Tank draped an arm around my shoulders. “Guess there’s nothing left for us to do.”

  When he looked at the village this time, he smiled. The curse was lifted. The Shadowguards were free to come and go as they pleased. They knew where the valley was, where their true leader was. If they wanted to find us, they could.

  “Won’t you stay another few days?” Cara asked. “We need to celebrate.”

  “I don’t see why not,” I told Tank. “I’ve got nothing going on. Peter and Victor can take word back to Selma for us.”

  I searched the gathered Hunters for my friends. When I couldn’t see them, I told Tank I was going to find them.

  “Amelie, over here,” Peter called.

  I hurried to him and Victor.

  “You just can’t enjoy a quiet life anymore,” he teased.

  “Got you out of the mansion, didn’t it?”

  “Yeah, it did. Thanks for trusting me to come and help you guys out.”

  “The only one still mad at you is you. Time to move on.”

  The Hunters gathered near the portal they opened, Zion’s unconscious body between them waiting to head back to their headquarters.

  “You two going back to the mansion?”

  “As soon as the Hunters leave,” Victor confirmed. “You and Tank coming?”

  “Think we might be staying here a bit longer… Wait, what’s that?”

  A quiet humming came from Peter’s pocket. He reached in and pulled out a gold coin like the one I used to call them here. “Message from Selma.” He rubbed the coin.

  Selma’s voice sounded. “Everest is in labor. Amelie and Tank need to get back to the mansion quickly.”

  “Everest,” I whispered, then bolted. “Tank, we have to go.”

  “What’s wrong?” he asked, taking hold of me when I nearly fell over in my haste to get to him. “Amelie?”

  “Everest’s having the baby.”

  “Isn’t she early?”

  “Yeah. We have to go. I’m sorry, Cara.”

  “No,” she said, shaking her head. “Please, go. We’ll see you both again soon enough. I promise.”

  She hugged Tank once more as he kissed her cheek.

  I gave her a quick hug, and then we raced back to Victor and Peter who’d convinced the Hunters to let us hijack their portal and use it first. I was worried they would say their business was more urgent, but after a quick phone call to HQ, their commander gave them permission.

  I mumbled a hasty thanks then the four of us jumped through the portal, landing on the lawns at the mansion. Lucius frantically passed across the front steps when he spotted us. He waved his arms as we neared.

  “How long?” I asked, following him inside.

  “Not long at all.”

  A scream startled us.

  He gasped.

  “Is it bad?” My heart sank, praying to the goddess that Everest and the baby would be alright. “Lucius?”

  “I don’t know. She was fine. She and Slade were out in the gardens, and then she was in pain. We brought her inside as quick as we could.”

  A second scream had me cringing.

  “I wish I could tell you more.”

  “Thank you, Lucius.”

  Without another word, we reached the door to Everest’s room.

  I wrung my hands each time Everest cried out.

  I paced from one end of the hall to the other.

  Every so often, in-between Everest’s shouts, I’d hear Selma murmuring comforting words and Slade trying to reassure Everest.

  Tank’s jaw was set with concern. He held my hand a little too tightly, but I wasn’t going to say anything.

  Everest let out one more scream and then there was nothing.

  I stopped walking, and we looked at each other.

  A hush fell over the mansion.

  I glanced at the door as it opened. “Slade?”

  He stumbled out, holding a hand to his face.

  Tank went to him immediately to hold him up. “Slade, are they alright? Is Everest…” He couldn’t get the rest out.

  Slade lifted his head. “We weren’t sure what was wrong, but apparently, my children wanted to be born early.”

  Tank and I gave each other a surprised look.

  “I’m sorry. Did you say, children?”

  Slade’s face broke into a huge exhausted grin. “Twins. We have twins.”

  Tank slapped him happily on the back, letting out a yell of celebration.

  “But the ultrasounds. No one ever said anything.” I was so confused. Everest was sure they were only having one.

 

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