Chapter Four

Tari

A fter flying all morning, we stopped at a small island for a quick lunch and continued flying until evening. We circled above a large clearing in the center of the jungle, marked by patches of grass and mossy earth dotted with colorful flowers. I remembered this island from last time, for it was bigger than the rest with a massive volcano in the center. The vegetation was thicker here, and there were wyverns clinging to the treetops and circling in the skies nearby, though none approached as we landed in the clearing.

I had a strange feeling, almost as if they were waiting for permission to approach, not from me or Shiri, but from someone else.

Bea whimpered after we dismounted, her wings pinned back as she alternated between scanning the treetops and searching the skies.

"What's wrong, girl?" She flinched when I stroked her neck, and I feared what had set her on edge.

The rabbits thumped in my sack, and they continued to thump after I handed my bag to Finn. They refused to leave the sack when he set it down on a soft patch of grass.

Shiri and her mates landed beside us. Shiri's mates got to work setting up a fire, and the girls ran to Finn, climbing all over him while giggling. But then they gasped when a dark shadow blotted out the sky.

Radnor landed with haste, stumbling before unceremoniously dropping Helian in the dirt. He had a crazed look in his eyes and appeared even more agitated than Bea.

Helian hunched over, clutching his gut, his long hair hanging over his face. He vomited in the grass, splattering his chest while chunks clung to his hair. I jutted a foot forward, fighting the urge to go to him and at least heal his nausea.

Ash grasped my elbow, pulling me against him. Don't go near him, Tari.

I shook my head. I won't.

What had come over me that I had tried to go to Helian? I shuddered to think what could have happened had his demon gotten hold of me. I couldn't believe I was actually starting to feel sorry for the Fae, though it was his fault he was in this predicament. He'd courted the demon bitch Arabella, despite knowing he was my fated mate. And now that he was demon possessed, Radnor wouldn't allow him to ride on his back. My hand instinctively flew to my gut. Just the thought of being forced to hang from the dragon's talons all day made my stomach roil with nausea.

The dragon paced back and forth like a caged animal.

"Radnor?" I asked aloud, afraid to approach him when he arched back like a feral cat.

His nostrils flared as he looked around with wide eyes. The scent is stronger here, he said as if that explained everything.

Helian sat up on his knees, his complexion looking a little green, though he appeared otherwise okay. "What do you think it is?" he asked the drake.

Radnor let out a strange whimper, backing away.

"What do you smell?" I pressed.

Ash turned up his chin and scented the air. "Two dragons."

Radnor crouched low, letting out a growl. Impossible.

I gave Ash a look. "He doesn't believe you."

Ash shrugged before pulling a rope out of his pack. His nostrils flared again. "Both dragons are female."

Radnor let out a pitiful whimper, his ears flattening as his gaze darted from me to the sky. Bea whimpered, too, crouching low as she scanned the jungle.

Radnor had never struck me as the sort to be scared of other dragons, and I hadn't seen Bea this agitated since we'd found Beau's body.

"Could I relieve myself before you tie me up?" Helian shot Ash a pleading look as he stumbled to his feet.

Ignoring Helian, Ash faced Radnor, tapping his nose. "A wolf's nose never lies."

Radnor growled louder. I was grateful when Finn backed away with the girls, keeping them out of Radnor's line of fire. He pushed them into Shiri's arms, and she took them behind her mates as they formed a barrier with their spread wings. Bea let out a squawk and slowly backed toward the jungle behind her. What was going on?

Why did these scents have Radnor and Bea so on edge? And who were these dragons?

"Should we follow the scent?" Helian asked while brushing vomit off his tunic.

Radnor let out a keening whimper. It could be a trap.

"What if it isn't?" I asked.

Radnor shook his head, steam pouring out of his nostrils. She was killed by the satyrs decades ago.

My mouth fell open as I recalled the story Radnor had told me at Dunhull. "Your mate?"

His heavy jowls turned a frown. Yes.

I'd been wondering what dragon he'd scented last night. Could it be true? His mate was alive? "What if she wasn't?" I asked.

He let out an agonized roar. I saw her die. I held her lifeless body.

"Did you?" I pressed. "Or did the mind spinner make you think you did?"

He snarled, arching over me and blowing smoke on my head. The mind spinner's magic doesn't work on dragons.

"Are you sure about that?" Helian asked.

Radnor roared in response.

And then everyone froze when two more roars echoed in the distance.

Finn grabbed the rabbits and joined the girls behind Shiri's mates. Ash latched onto my arm, hovering protectively beside me when two shadows circled overhead.

Radnor crouched low, snarling when a golden dragon about two-thirds his size landed in the clearing opposite him and a smaller dragon about the size of a wyvern or Malvolia's winged horse with glistening orange scales landed behind her. The smaller dragon had luminous, golden eyes just like Radnor's, though her singular pointy horn jutting from the top of her short snout was exactly like the golden dragon's. She was a perfect blend of the two dragons. I knew these were his mate and child and that Radnor had most definitely been fooled by Thorin.

But even more surprising was the pull I felt toward the golden dragon, much like the bonds I felt with my mates, only different. Rather than feel the strong desire to mate with her, I felt a different kind of pull, and I had to fight hard the urge to jump on top of her scaled back and fly off with her into the heavens.

This was the pull I should've felt with my rabbit, Demon, which meant this dragon was my real familiar or perhaps more than that. Much, much more.

Shiri gasped as she walked toward the dragon, her mates protectively at her back.

Do you feel the pull? I asked my twin through thought.

Yes. She stopped, hands clenched by her sides, and looked at me with wide-eyed alarm. Do you?

Most definitely, I answered.

"Who are you?" I asked the dragon.

She puffed up her chest and turned up her chin while leering down at us. I am Isa Fireborn, she said to me through thought, daughter of the last great dragon queen Dementa Fireborn, bonded to the goddess Maiadra. She craned her neck toward the smaller dragon behind her. And this is my hatchling, Triss Fireborn.

"You're Radnor's mate," I blurted, "and Triss is his child."

Her top lip curled up in a snarl. I have no mate and Triss has no father.

Shiri clutched her throat, her gaze darting to Radnor as he gaped at his mate and child.

Triss whimpered like a frightened puppy.

Then Radnor jumped up with an agonized roar. What deception is this? He looked at the dragon pair as if they'd shot a spear through his chest. Isa is dead!

Isa sat up like a bored feline, her tail slapping the ground. And yet, here I am. I told you not to leave us. Her eyes narrowed on Radnor. I warned you the mind spinner would trick you, but you cared more for the satyrs than your mate and hatchling.

Radnor looked as if he'd swallowed a slug. What?

You had to warn them, she continued, snarling at Radnor when he took a step toward her. You said they were Fae-kind's last hope, and just as I'd predicted, the mind spinner got to you first.

No. He shrank back. I'm a dragon. His magic doesn't work on me.

Isa rolled her eyes. It did, and apparently it still does.

His voice faltered. No.

Isa turned from him with a huff as if he wasn't worth her time. My knees weakened when she glared down at my sister and me with dark crimson eyes. You are the white witches prophesized to defeat the demons.

I shared a look of shock with Shiri before finding my voice. "We've never heard of that prophecy."

She clucked her tongue. Of course not when the entire Faedom is under the mind spinner's spell. Her gaze sharpened on me. I sense even more confusion in your mind.

"The mind spinner erased my memories a few years ago." I shared a smile with my sister. "I'm slowly getting them back."

She arched a scaled brow. Have you tried the Retinea herb?

"No."

She motioned toward the forest behind her, and that's when I noticed the thousands of glowing eyes blinking back at us. Wyverns. It is a favorite tea among the satyrs here and in Caldaria. It grows in abundance here, she said, unconcerned by the wyverns. You will drink Retinea tea, and your memories will come back.

"Oh, thank you," I said, my gaze darting back to Radnor as he paced like a caged animal.

Isa's gaze sharpened on me. I sent two wyverns to you. Why have you returned with only one?

Bea let out another pitiful squawk and sidled up to me, her head down.

"It was you who sent them?" I asked Isa as a wave of guilt washed over me at my inability to save Beau.

She tilted her head. Of course.

"I'm sorry." I hung my head. "Beau was killed."

I jumped, and magic pulsed in my fingers at a cacophony of deafening squawks.

My mates growled beside me, snarling at the trees that shook around us as the wyverns mourned the loss of their friend.

A surge of guilt welled up in my chest. I knew wyverns were smart, but I'd no idea they were so empathetic. The realization humbled and shamed me.

Triss whimpered, lying flat on the ground, covering her ears with her paws. Isa let out a roar, and thousands of wyverns took flight from the trees, bumping into each other like erratic bats before disappearing into the evening sky. Bea remained with us like a loyal hound, though I suspected she'd rather fly off with her kin. I didn't deserve her dedication.

I looked over my shoulder at the girls, who clung to Finn. ‘I won't let them hurt you,' I mouthed.

My heart clenched when they looked back at me like frightened baby birds.

I turned back around when Isa loudly cleared her throat. His name was Frode, and she is Freya. She nodded toward Bea. There was no mistaking the note of accusation in her voice. Why didn't you protect Frode?

"I didn't know he'd flown off," I answered.

He flew off? Steam poured from her flared nostrils. He was ordered to remain by your side.

Helian stepped forward, his cheeks flushed crimson. "It's my fault."

Isa crouched down on all fours, snarling at him like a rabid dog. How do you mind-speak me, Fae?

"Perhaps it's my connection to Radnor." Helian motioned toward Radnor, who was still hunched over at the edge of the clearing like a toddler who'd been sent to the corner. "I'm his rider."

Isa reared back, her eyes narrowing on Helian. Then she arched her long, snake-like neck and hovered over him, spit dripping from her fangs and hitting the ground by his feet. You look and smell like the spineless toad, King Fachnan.

He visibly swallowed while staring up at her. "He was my father."

Was? she asked.

He swallowed again then nodded at Ash and Finn. "They killed him."

She tossed back her head and laughed. Good riddance.

Helian winced but didn't say anything, and I wondered if he had secretly cared for Fachnan. Or maybe he was afraid she'd make him her evening snack.

You took on a rider after centuries of refusing to become a Fae's pet? Isa let out a low chuckle while glaring at Radnor. My, how the mighty have fallen.

Radnor jerked back as if she'd spewed fire at him. I'm not his pet.

She made a sound of disgust before scowling down at Helian. Tell me how Frode died.

Helian ran a shaky hand through his hair. "We were trying to spare Anya from having to go to battle against Malvolia's army." He nodded toward me. "We flew into Malvolia's camp to set off a bomb." He shot Shiri a dark look. "But her sister used her siren voice to force us to fly off with it."

Shiri's mates grumbled, looking like they wanted to do nothing more than burn Helian to ash, and I didn't blame them.

Shiri looked at Helian with a disgusted gleam in her eyes, as if he wasn't fit to breathe the same air as her. "Yeah, rather than kill thousands of innocent people, including my nieces and mates."

Helian held up his hands in a gesture of surrender, sputtering words I couldn't comprehend.

Isa released more steam from her snout. "You caused that giant explosion?" she asked Helian.

His jaw dropped. "You saw?"

The whole world probably saw. The dragoness shook her head, clucking her tongue. No doubt you've awoken every demon from here to the human lands. She paused, her eyes narrowing, her voice laced with suspicion . How are you not dead, Fae?

He scratched the back of his head, looking like a child who'd gotten caught stealing sweets. "I was protected by a curse chamber."

A curse chamber? You're no fire mage. Her eyes widened then narrowed. Are you demon possessed?

I sucked in a sharp breath, fearing she'd incinerate him. "We're working on getting it out of him," I blurted.

She looked at me through sideways slits. I can get it out of him easily enough.

"No!" I hollered, magic burning my fingers when she puffed up her chest, fire racing up the long column of her throat. What was I supposed to do? Kill the dragon who was probably my familiar to save the mate who'd rejected me?

Helian's shoulders sagged as if he'd accepted his fate.

Before I had to make a choice, Radnor jumped in front of Helian with a roar. You will not harm my rider.

The fire beneath her scales extinguished as she puffed up her chest, growling at her mate. Oh, how quickly you come to his defense.

The two dragons circled each other, tails slapping the ground while Triss backed away from them with a whimper. I feared they'd launch into a fiery battle if I didn't do something.

Magic swelled my fingertips so much they ached when I was struck with an idea. "Stop this!" I struck the ground between them with my magic.

The dragons backed away when the ground rumbled and split open. Helian just stood there until Radnor pushed him back with his tail. Ash pulled me back, and Finn and Shiri's mates hovered protectively over my sister and children as thick roots shot from the deep crevice and stretched toward the sky, branching out like a clenched hand opening up. In a matter of seconds, I'd grown a tree similar to the one in Fachnan's court, only this one was wider with white flowers hanging off the branches.

I clenched my fists by my sides when the dragons scowled at the tree, then at me. Refusing to be intimidated, I turned up my chin, matching their glares as ire coursed through my veins. "If you wish to fight, take it somewhere else." I jutted a finger toward the sky. "Not where you can injure my children."

Radnor's face fell, a wounded look in his golden eyes as he backed away from his mate.

Isa bowed her head. I'm sorry, Goddess. It was not my intention to put your children in harm's way.

I swallowed at that but didn't answer, still aggravated with both of them.

Shiri cleared her throat, addressing Isa. "Do you know how my sister and I can mind-speak you and Radnor?"

Isa sat back on her haunches, her tail wrapping around her paws as she looked from Shiri to me. You don't know?

I scratched the back of my head, giving Shiri a questioning look. "I thought it was because Helian is my mate, but now I'm not so sure."

You mind-speak Radnor through your bond to me. Isa flashed what looked like either a smile or a snarl. Don't you feel the pull?

I nodded. "I just wasn't sure what that pull meant."

Isa bowed her head. Just as my mother and the goddess Maiadra were bonded, so am I bonded to both of you.

Shiri gasped. "Oh!"

I swore when my daughters moved past me in a blur, holding hands while running straight for Triss.

Before I could call them back, Blaze flew at them with unnatural speed, snatching them off the ground. They squirmed in his arms as he flew back, depositing them on the ground in front of us. Finn took them in his arms, mouthing his thanks to Blaze.

"Girls," Shiri scolded, not waiting for me to discipline my children as she wagged a finger down at them.

"May we ride Triss?" they asked her.

Ash and Finn let out growls of disapproval.

It's too dangerous, Ash said to me through thought.

I know, I answered.

Shiri opened her mouth to speak, but I cut in. "I'll not have you break your necks." I frowned down at them. "You're staying on the ground."

The girls pouted, and Shiri gave me a funny look. Drae wrapped a wing around her, kissing her cheek as if she somehow needed comfort. Had I offended her?

"Aww." Ember's features fell.

Aurora stomped her foot. "But we want to play with her."

Triss came barreling toward us, her tongue lolling to one side like a playful puppy wanting us to throw her stick.

Isa growled at her hatchling, stopping her with an outstretched wing. Triss, no, she said to her child. These Fae don't trust us.

The hatchling fell on her bottom, her wings dragging the ground as she let out a pitiful wail.

"We don't mistrust you," I blurted. "The children are too young to fly without an adult."

Aurora's eyes were glossy with unshed tears. "But her soul calls to ours."

Isa sat beside her daughter, wrapping a wing around her. It appears our daughters are bonded as well, she said to me.

I swallowed at that, an uneasy feeling turning my veins to sludge when I thought of the mischief my children could get into with a young dragon. "Yes." I chewed my lip, my gaze darting from Triss to my children. "It does."

Isa looked down at her child, her eyes shining with love as her mouth hitched back in a subtle grin. Triss, you may play with the children, but please remain on the ground.

The dragon let out a high-pitched squeal and flopped like a playful puppy. When she rolled onto her back, her tail slapping the ground, the children ran to her. I tensed when the children climbed on top of her, but the hatchling was surprisingly gentle, careful not to roll over on the girls while they rubbed her belly.

Radnor cried out, sounding like a dying whale as he watched them play, his depression and longing a palpable thing like his hot breath that fogged the air. When he jutted a foot forward, Isa snarled at him. Radnor snapped at her then jumped into the sky, nearly smacking Helian with his tail. He let out several enraged roars as he flew away.

"How old is Triss?" I asked Isa.

Three and twenty, she answered.

I arched a brow while motioning toward Shiri, though my sister didn't look at me. "That's our age."

Dragons age slower than Fae, Isa said. Triss is still a hatchling in dragon years.

Obviously, for Triss was only about a third Isa's size.

You must be tired and hungry after your journey , Isa continued, then she motioned to the trees behind her. You may retire with us at our temple.

"Thank you, Isa," Shiri answered before I could speak. "That's very kind of you."

I gave my sister a funny look, wondering why she hadn't discussed it with me, but she refused to look at me. Had I offended her by cutting in when the girls asked if they could ride Triss? I was their mother, after all.

Your mates and children are welcome as well. Isa flicked her tail toward Helian. But the demon is not allowed.

I motioned toward Helian. "I can't leave him alone out here."

He's not alone. She let out a low, dark chuckle, so powerful it reverberated the marrow of my bones. He has his pet dragon.

"Go, Anya," Helian said, motioning to the large shadow that flew in erratic circles above us. "I'll call Radnor back."

Isa flashed a fanged grin while leering down at Helian. Like I said, his pet.

Flora Avias

FOR TWO DAYS DERRICK and I hid in the city of Thebes and observed the castle perimeters, watching as workers carted away the rubble from what was once the dungeon turret. From what we'd gleaned, Radnor's rescue mission had been a success. They spoke of the dragon's attack in the pubs and in the streets. They also gossiped about the possibility of another war between Delfi and Caldaria. There were also whispers of Thorin and the spell he'd cast over the queen and country, and from what Derrick and I gathered, my sister finally realized she'd been tricked by the mind spinner. But what they spoke of most were my daughters, namely Shirina's betrayal and what they suspected Malvolia would do if she confronted her. I repressed a laugh at that. My sister would do nothing. For years my daughters hid from their aunt within the gloomy shadows of the Periculian Forest, but they would hide no more, for they were far more powerful than Malvolia.

I longed for the day when my daughters confronted Malvolia and struck the bitch down, and I prayed I could be there to cheer them on. It mattered not that Malvolia was under Thorin's spell. Her love for her family should've outweighed her paranoia. Guilt flushed my chest when I thought about how Thorin must've tricked me into believing one of my daughters would turn evil. But I didn't banish Shiri or hunt her down. Whatever Thorin had made me believe, Shiri was still my child, and Derrick and I had protected her. The heat in my chest manifested as guilt, fanning throughout my body like a furnace. Though we'd kept her safe, we hadn't loved her like we'd loved Tari, and we certainly hadn't trusted her. The flames of guilt burned brighter, threatening to tear a hole through my chest. If we survived the inevitable demon war, we'd have to make it up to Shiri. For now, we had to focus on saving Marius without losing our heads in the process.

On the morning of the third day, Derrick and I had gathered enough information and had slipped easily enough into the palace, having assumed the faces of servants we'd seen leave the castle heading for the morning market with empty baskets in their hands. We entered through the basement kitchens and quickly exited with trays of food. As I focused on balancing the heavy tray laden with steaming eggs and fresh fruit, I tried not to think about the fact that I was inside the castle of the sorceress queen who'd tried for so many years to kill my family. Not much had changed since I'd last been in my old home, though perhaps the servants seemed more on edge, a gloomy pallor settled about the place. The castle halls were as opulent as ever, golden sconces lighting the way, our footsteps muffled by the padded carpet, a stark contrast to the hovel my family had lived in for the past twenty-three years. It didn't take us long to find Marius, for I simply followed that tug on my heart leading me to his bedchamber. There were no guards outside his door, an auspicious sign. Did this mean he was no longer my sister's prisoner?

Derrick and I shared nervous looks as he nudged open the unlocked door. There were no guards inside the room either. My legs felt heavy, as if I was trudging through mud, as we walked through an opulent sitting room toward the open patio doors. A cool ocean breeze blew the gossamer curtains while sunlight filtered into the windows.

Derrick set his tray down on a table by the hearth and took mine from me, setting it down, too. Then he wiped his palms on his pants, a bead of sweat dotting his brow as he stared longingly at that open door.

He's out there, he said to me through thought.

I know, I answered. I can feel him.

He latched onto my fingers with a trembling hand and smiled down at me, his eyes watering with fresh tears.

A mixture of anticipation, excitement, and dread twisted my stomach in a knot and made my heart flutter, and I felt as if I was walking on air as we made our way to the door.

Marius was sitting on a balcony chair, angled to the side, his wings draped behind him, a big smile etched into his face while rays of morning sunlight beat down on his ruddy cheeks. An untouched tray of food sat beside him, steam from his full mug of tea rising into the air.

A strangled sob escaped me, and Marius shot up, his dark gaze focusing on us. He looked at us a moment, a question in his eyes, and that's when I remembered to change back our faces. I made the shift while also touching Derrick's face, changing him back to my handsome mate.

Marius stood then stumbled toward us. "Flora? Brother?"

"Yes, my love." I released Derrick's hand and held out my arms to Marius while struggling to speak through a constricted throat. "It's us."

And then he fell into our arms. I clung to my mate, alternating between sobbing, laughing, and kissing Marius's tear-stained face. At some point we tumbled to the ground, our legs no longer strong enough to hold us. I found myself on Marius's lap, his bony knees digging into my bottom. I kissed away his tears, dismayed by the shallow angles of his face. She'd starved him!

After we cried more tears than I ever thought possible, he finally pulled back, clutching my arms and looking from me to Derrick as if we were ghosts. "I can't believe you're here."

"I can't believe you're alive," Derrick said through a sniffle as he wiped his eyes with the backs of his hands. "All this time we thought you dead."

One brow shot up. "Does Malvolia know you're here?"

"No," I said on a snarl. Just the mention of my sister's name made my heart pound with rage. "And we have no reason to tell her."

"She'll find out." Marius's eyes widened, reminding me of a frightened child. "She has spies all over this castle."

"We'll be long gone by then." Derrick stood, holding his hands down to us. "Can you fly?"

I took Derrick's hand, standing beside Marius and clutching his arm, fearful he'd disappear if I let him go.

Marius's pale cheeks turned a bright crimson. "I'm not leaving Thebes."

I gasped, clutching my throat. Surely, he couldn't be serious.

Derrick's features fell. "Brother, we have to."

Marius shook his head. "And go where?"

Anxious laughter burst from my throat. "Anywhere but here."

"Your sister no longer believes we're trying to take the throne," Marius said as he dragged a hand down his face. "It was a trick by the mind spinner."

"I know," I blurted, "and I don't care." Just because she was no longer under Thorin's spell, didn't mean I wanted to be anywhere near my twin, and I especially didn't wish to remain in her castle.

Marius squeezed my shoulder, his voice breaking on a plea. "This is your chance to reconcile."

My skull felt like a steaming kettle on the verge of exploding. He couldn't be serious! "With the bitch who imprisoned my mate for almost twenty-four years!" Bitter laughter escaped my throat. "Who put a price on our daughters' heads!"

"Yes, that bitch."

I spun around, glaring as I stared into a face I should have known as well as my own. I felt as if I wasn't looking at my twin, but an entirely different person. She had dark face paints on her eyes and lips, her hair piled in an austere coronet, and a crown of jagged black thorns on top of her head. She wore black tights, black, heeled boots, an indecently short skirt, and a plunging neckline that left little to the imagination while her black cloak flowed behind her like a swath of ink. She was the personification of wickedness, and I hated her with every breath in my body.

Derrick jumped in front of me, twin flames arcing off his hands.

"Put away your fire, Lord Derrick," Malvolia drawled with disinterest while examining grime beneath her fingernails. "I'm not going to fight you. Besides, you know you'd lose." She stepped to the side, turning her stony gaze on me. "Flora."

It took all my willpower to keep my knees from buckling. Only the flames of rage pumping through my veins kept me standing. "Malvolia."

"Are Shirina and your other daughter well?" she asked with an air of indifference, as if we were discussing the weather.

I worked hard to unclench my teeth. "No thanks to you."

She flinched as if she'd been slapped before plastering on another bored expression. "You both look tired." She motioned toward Derrick. "I'll have the servants prepare baths and send more food and fresh clothes. I take it you'll need some time to reacquaint yourselves with Marius," she said too casually, as if she hadn't been the reason for our separation. "I'll give you today, and then tomorrow we will plan Thorin's demise as well as that of every other demon who threatens our realm."

I gaped at her, waiting for her stony fa?ade to crack. "That's it? You imprisoned and tortured my mate for almost twenty-four years, you tried to kill us and our children, forcing us into a life of squalor and fear, and that's all you have to say to me?"

Malvolia heaved an audible sigh, looking at me as if I were an unruly toddler. "There's a lot I have to say to you. I just didn't think now was the time."

I shook off Derrick's grip, jutting a foot toward my twin. "Say it."

Her face fell before she plastered on another stony fa?ade. "I'm sorry."

Flames of rage raced across my skin as I glared at the bitch who'd made too many years of our lives a veritable hell. "Fuck you."

"Flora." Derrick reached for me again, fear reflecting in his eyes.

"It's okay." Malvolia shrugged, having the fucking nerve to look contrite. "I deserve it."

She didn't duck when I grabbed a handful of eggs off the tray and threw them at her face. "Fuck you, you fucking evil bitch!"

Flora, Marius spoke through thought as he dug his fingers into my arm.

"I fucking hate her for what she did to us." I shook him off and jutted a finger toward my twin's chest. "I fucking hate her!"

"Come here," Marius murmured, pulling me against him.

A sob tore through me as I clung to his neck while fearing he'd vanish, turning to mist in my grasp. I couldn't stop the cries of anguish that tore through me, even when Derrick joined in the hug, my two fire mage mates wrapping me in a warm embrace. At some point, I collapsed in their arms, and they carried me to the bed. I thought I heard my sister run off, but I didn't care. I no longer feared the bitch, for there was nothing more she could do to hurt us. She'd already broken me, shattered what was left of my soul, and I didn't know how I could put it back together.

Helian

AFTER EVERYONE FLEW off, I sat down on the exposed root of Anya's new, giant tree, waiting for Radnor to return. I had already called to him through thought. I knew he heard me, for his agonized cries resonated in my mind. Though I was relieved his mate and child were alive, I was worried about my friend. Never before had I seen him so distressed. I shuddered to think that the mind spinner had gotten to him, too. Just how powerful was this mage?

I blinked up at the evening sky as a shadow passed overhead, flying in erratic circles. Radnor let out a roar, shooting fire into the sky before spiraling toward the earth like a falling star, landing with a crash in the middle of the jungle, causing colorful birds to shoot into the air with angry squawks.

I jumped from my seat. Radnor, you okay? I projected to him.

I will never be okay, he answered. She no longer loves me.

I heaved a sigh, knowing he was being dramatic. Will you come here? I asked. We need to follow them.

Don't follow them, my demon hissed. The dragoness will try to kill you.

I inwardly cursed. My demon, who went by the nickname Nox, had been quiet for so long, I was starting to hope he'd gotten bored of me and left to find a new host. Kill me, or kill you?

Both of us.

I refused to believe him. Anya won't let her kill me. You, on the other hand, I can't make any promises.

You put too much faith in the white witch . His words were punctured with a cruel taunt. She has no use for you when she only has eyes for her shifters.

I swallowed at that. Anya loves me. My words sounded false, even to me. I wouldn't blame Anya if she no longer loved me. I didn't deserve her love after all I'd done.

Yet, it was Radnor who saved you from the dragoness, not Anya.

She would've if he hadn't stepped in. My words lacked conviction. I was unsure, and Nox knew it.

She would've let you burn.

Shut up, I snapped, clenching my hair as frustration pounded a drum in my skull.

Doing my best to put my demon's words out of my mind, I went to Radnor after he emerged from the jungle, smashing trees in his wake. I leaned against one meaty paw. "You okay?"

He blew steam on my head while exposing his fangs. I will not be okay until I slowly pluck off the mind spinner's extremities and burn them while he watches.

"At least Isa isn't dead, and you have a hatchling." I tried to infuse a note of hope into my voice, though I understood Radnor's heartache all too well, for I didn't know if my mate would ever forgive me either.

He ruffled his wings then turned his gaze toward the sky. They might as well be dead, for they treat me like I don't exist.

I forced a note of confidence into my voice. "They'll come around."

He gave me a knowing look. You underestimate a dragon's grudge.

"You came for me." I slanted a smile. "Even though I behaved like a troll's boil."

He leered down at me, his brow furrowing. Is this your way of apologizing?

"I'm sorry, Radnor." I leaned into him, patting his leg. "You've been the very best of friends." My chest tightened as memories of my behavior warmed my face with shame. "I should've never taken out my frustrations on you."

He sat back on his haunches, his tail slapping the ground. I guess I'll have to accept your apology since neither of us have any other friends.

I dragged a hand down my face, smiling up at him, even as my soul felt like it was being split in two. "We're in a sad state."

He whimpered, his tail slapping the ground. We are.

I pushed off from him, pacing the ground while being careful not to trip over any new roots. "But take it from me. We're not going to change our circumstances by sulking."

He gave me a curious look. What do you propose we do?

I punched the air, feeling a sudden surge of confidence, though I feared it was probably an act of desperation by my fool heart. "We go to that temple and demand they accept us."

His luminous eyes narrowed. And if that doesn't work?

I shrugged, slanting a smile. "Then we grovel."

He shrank, looking at me as if I had a contagious disease. We should probably skip straight to the groveling.

My shoulders fell as his words sunk in. "Yeah."

Are you going to walk there , he asked, or do you need a lift?

I perked up at that. "A lift would be great, but maybe this time I could ride on your back."

His low, dark laughter shook the marrow of my bones. Not until you get rid of your parasite.

"Fair enough," I said, ignoring Nox's cursing.