I jerked, snapping shadows out in front of us just as Emon’s paws left the last shadow I had provided and glanced back at the firedrake. “Tell him to drop below us.” Riella squealed with excitement as I sent silently to Emon,“Stay in your panther form. I am going to mask Riella in the shadows and then she will blend in with your own body.”
Emon grunted,“A panther riding a fucking dragon. Tyr is going to be laughing his ass off when he hears about this.”
The firedrake’s great wings stretched widely and he bowed his elegant head downward before swiftly cutting through the air below us, hovering for Emon to land.
Dropping the last shadow, Emon landed, claws scraping to find purchase against the ruby hues of the firedrakes scales before finally finding his footing. Crouched low, almost flattening his body along the spine of the dragon, I couldn’t help but laugh at the timid way Emon’s panther ears were pulled back, his entire body vibrating with irritation and caution.
The firedrake roared, spitting flames that made Riella clap happily before descending effortlessly down to the cliffs.
“Riella ask him his name for me please,” I called, slipping off Emon carefully, standing on the firedrake’s back, the winds doing nothing to cool the thick atmosphere of the Vagari.
“He calls himself Ignaz,” she said, looking down at me from her perch atop Emon, studying me with interest. “Can I do that too?”
I shook my head, watching disappointment morph across her face. “Not today, little one. You must stay hidden, please ask Ignaz if he told the one summoning us about you.”
Riella tilted her head, her crown slipping slightly over her brow as she nodded while listening. Shaking it, she grinned, “He says he has said nothing, they only know a female is riding a panther.”
“Thank fuck,” Emon growled along our bond, his body tensing when the firedrake’s wings flapped lazily.
I sighed with relief and then crouched low, sliding my way up to the long neck of the firedrake, dropping my legs with my knees bent on either side. I patted its scales soothingly. “We are seeking The Well of Souls my friend. It is imperative that we get there and that my daughter stays safe. Keep her a secret for as long as you are able. I will be hiding her when we land.”
The great fire beast rumbled back and I did not need Riella to interpret to know he agreed with my task.
“Thank you Ignaz.”
The firedrake warbled and I scratched its scaly head, listening to its deep purr. My many years of fighting then taming the dragons on the Southern Mountains of Faerie were paying off. I did not speak of my time there…ever. The fate of many lives depended on my silence, including the dragons that lived there, but maybe one day I could share the story for Emon’s book,The Unaccounted Life of the Last Shadow Fae.
I smiled at that.
“I have to admit, I don’t like riding dragons but the view makes up for it.”
Feeling Emon’s predator eyes heating up my backside, I laughed, “Yes the view is spectacular,” I teased, nodding to the deep red skies and then down to the regiment of beasts that were drawing closer. “Riella, it is time to hide now. The shadows will mask you but you must stay brave and silent for me.”
I did not wait for her answer when I shifted to my aura sight searching for the light that shined brightest amongst them…the true leaders. Standing out within the dimming auras, a brilliant red glowed, its bold power almost tangible from such a distance.
Reaching out and I patted the dragon’s flared head, smoke curling up around my fingertips, “Bring us down now Ignaz.”
The dragon huffed its assent before he dipped into a deep dive, plummeting towards the cliff and the army waiting there. Emon’s hiss of distaste could be heard over the rushing wind along with his claws scraping sharply against the dragon’s back to keep his seat.
Grimly, I cloaked Riella in more darkness from the firedrake’s very own shadow racing below us and then sent a prayer to the goddess to keep her safe. Rearing with the great beast, his wings beating to slow his ascent, we landed with a loud thunderous boom that shook the stoney earth beneath its four legs.
Before it could even raise its head in a flame filled roar, Emon and I launched ourselves off the beast in an ostentatious display of power that would have my brother laughing his ass off at the sight of it. But it was enough to send their stoic regiment reeling back, scampering away from the fire and the shadows rolling off of me in waves of darkness. Behind me, Emon bared his teeth and hissed, his great head hovering above mine menacingly.
I patted his side, my eyes never leaving the red aura when I turned off my sight to reveal the hard violet eyes of a tall beautiful female with pure olive skin. If I didn’t know any better I would have thought her to be human but she was far from it.
And flanking her sides, stood two dominant males. One with great black leather wings, curling horns, and a red skinned body and the other, a glaringly beautiful being with auburn hair, bright blue eyes, and even brighter white feathered wings.
It seemed that none of us were ready to break the silent stand off between us.
I tilted my head.“Are you thinking what I am thinking, shifter?”
“That that feathered bastard looks like a goddess damn angel in the middle of the Vagari?”
I hummed back to him,“Yes that is exactly what I am thinking, but why would an angel be in the equivalent of hell?”
Stepping forward from the protection of her males, all arrogance and insolence in her demeanor, the violet eyed female brokethe silence, "Who the fuck are you and why are you trespassing on my lands?” She said in a silky smooth tone despite her condescension.
A common trait of a young ruler…a very young ruler if I were to guess correctly, especially compared to my two thousand year old status. Her claim on this realm did not go unrealized however and my lips curled into a tight smile.
