Chapter 11

Ozara

Ozara stood in the sorcerer tower library, arms crossed as she anxiously waited to embark on her mission. Her current setting didn’t lighten her mood. It was a dark, dreary chamber filled with high shelves, dusty tomes, numerous scrolls, and rectangular wood tables surrounded by chairs.

The only natural light came from several tall, narrow windows that allowed airflow when open. All of them were firmly closed and locked now. They’d also pushed back all the furniture to provide them with plenty of space, which they’d need.

She couldn’t help her nervous jitters, though they’d been planning and preparing for weeks. Today, she’d do something she’d never done before, and it would be dangerous on many levels. None of her previous missions could compare.

Xanath and Kade had finally acquired all the rare stones and ingredients necessary for a complicated spell to transport her to where she needed to go without having to fly through enemy territory for over a thousand miles. She hoped to Zorya it would be worth leaving her daughter and risking her life. Though she had doubts, she dared not reveal them to the others. They counted on her to succeed. Failure would likely mean the deaths of everyone, and that helped keep her motivated—no matter the risks.

Skylar stepped forward with a large, green camrium backpack. “I squeezed in all the supplies I thought you might need, along with dried meat and other food for the times when you can’t hunt. There is also an invisibility potion that will last four hours if you need it.”

She bet Thatcher had made it. He was a fifty-year-old sorcerer who’d been with the Taugud his whole life, specializing in defensive spells and the occasional potion. No one saw him much since he preferred to keep to himself.

“Thank you,” Ozara said, taking it from her. The pack straps were designed to extend to fit her dragon form, and it wouldn’t burn when she shifted. “It’s perfect.”

“I hope I’m as brave as you someday,” the young sorceress said with a tremulous smile.

She patted her shoulder. “From what I’ve seen, you will be.”

Ozara had a way of seeing people that others didn’t, and Skylar showed true promise. It was good Aidan had taken over the toriq. He would encourage the young woman to nurture and foster her powers for the benefit of everyone instead of suppressing the sorceress as the previous pendragons had done. She was among the few with great offensive magic.

“Is there anything else I can do?” Skylar asked, worrying her lip. “I wish I could help even more, considering what you must do.”

“Keep an eye out for my daughter,” she said, attempting to keep her expression stoic. It had been difficult saying goodbye to Leilany an hour ago, and she’d barely held back her tears. May the dragon goddess be with her so she can return to her family safely.

“I can absolutely do that.”

The pendragon entered the chamber—his powerful aura filling the space. She caught his solemn features as he stalked toward her, and to her surprise, Aidan pulled her into a tight hug. For a second, she stiffened in shock before forcing herself to relax.

Ozara could manage her emotions well, but her mate’s brother had never embraced her before. Something about it touched her deeply and made the gravity of her mission even more real. While she understood her value to their toriq, no other leader had made her feel vital and precious the way he did. She had no doubt he cared for her as a person, not only for her talents.

He pulled away. “You have my deep gratitude for doing this despite the danger. If anyone else stood a chance of pulling this off, I would have asked them instead, but you are our best hope. I have complete faith in you.”

“I know, milord.” She lifted her chin. “It’s important, and I’m more than willing.”

She’d conducted many risky missions, but this one had the highest probability of her not returning. Despite that, she couldn’t refuse or let him see her doubts. It would be worth it if she got what they needed.

His expression tightened. “Come back alive. I hope you’re successful, but the most important part is that you return to us. Your daughter and my sister need you. Not only that, but we all love you and will miss you while you’re gone.”

A lump rose in her throat, and she had to force it down. She really mattered to him.

“Of course,” she said in a whisper.

Kade cleared his throat. “Ahem. We’re ready.”

The older shifter had a compassionate look on his face.

“May Zorya be with you,” Aidan said, moving to stand near the chamber door.

She pulled the pack over her shoulders as four sorcerers—Kade, Xanath, Skylar, and Morgan—surrounded her. Each held a different colored stone in their right palm and closed their eyes. They began chanting. She had no idea what the words meant, but she could feel the energy of their power stirring the air.

One by one, with their left hands, they tossed a mixture of herbs at a circular symbol drawn on the floor directly in front of her. Steam rose from it, taking shape in the air. It tickled her nose, smelling of earth and magic.

The sun was setting—the precise time of day the spell had to be cast—and they’d had to wait for a full moon. So many factors had to be considered for this to work. Nervous anticipation thrummed through her, but she made herself stand perfectly still. She was a professional.

A minute passed as the steam coalesced into a perfect circle before her.

The sorcerers took a step closer, stopping several paces from her. They began swaying, and their chanting grew louder. Her skin hummed as the magic grew more potent by the second, with sparks flashing around the room.

Right when she thought they couldn’t chant any louder, they let out a shout and then stopped. Within the circle of steam, a dark hole appeared. She couldn’t see anything beyond it. They’d told her what to expect beforehand, but taking the two steps required to enter the black void was hard. Ozara hesitated for a moment. No one spoke or urged her to pass into it, but she knew they waited expectantly.

She had to draw on every ounce of her courage and trust they’d gotten the spell right.

Taking a deep breath, she leaped into the inky blackness. As soon as her body phased inside, a falling sensation overtook her. She swung her arms wildly but couldn’t find anything to grab, nor could she see. An eternity seemed to pass before a faint circle of light appeared below. The sound of thunder filled her ears as she approached it, the volume rising to the point of hurting her ears as she got closer.

It ended with a shocking boom when her feet slammed into the ground, and her knees buckled from the force. Her body crumpled into a ball, with pain shooting through her limbs. Nothing felt broken, but the landing jarred her bones. As her vision returned, small streaks of lightning zoomed across the area as the portal closed.

Ozara rolled onto her back on the scorched grass, trying to catch her breath as the magic faded and daylight surrounded her. She’d been on some terrifying missions but had never used a portal to reach her destination, and she swore never to do it again. That had been unnatural.

Glancing around, she noted a low mountain range in the distance to her right and the scent of the ocean to her left, though she couldn’t see the body of water. They’d told her to expect such features when they’d sent her to California and to use those as guides to ensure she arrived at the correct location. She was supposed to be near Monterey Bay and the Craegud jakhal.

It likely wouldn’t take the shifters long to respond to her arrival since she hadn’t exactly been subtle. She hoped they were open to her visit since the Taugud hadn’t spoken to the sister toriq in many years—not since before they’d returned to Earth.

Ozara rose to her feet with a groan. Her back and knees ached as she stumbled a few steps through a field covered in dry, overgrown grass. She had to keep moving, or the vegetation would ignite from her body heat. Her head swam as she found an open patch of earth to catch her breath. It would take a bit to recover and get her bearings.

She inspected her surroundings more thoroughly. From her vantage, she couldn’t make out any signs of human civilization close to her other than a two-lane road damaged by cracks and potholes. Aside from that, it was mostly trees and brush to break up the rugged landscape.

After gulping down some water, she forced herself to continue. At least the pavement ahead would be easier to navigate. Each step hurt, and though the road was only two hundred feet away, it took her several minutes to reach it. She glanced to her right and left, heading toward the ocean. Though she couldn’t say why, that felt like the right choice. Her instincts rarely steered her wrong.

Ozara considered shifting so she could fly and save her aching knees, but remaining in human form would be safer since she couldn’t be certain she’d landed in shifter territory. Magic was a tricky thing. Xanath had promised he’d get her somewhere close to the jakhal, but he’d warned that she could end up fifty miles away or more. This could be pure dragon land.

Soon, she came upon the outskirts of a neighborhood. The houses appeared old and worn, but a few people were out cooking on grills. Two men and a woman looked at her and stiffened. She concentrated on changing her eyes to appear like a human’s, matching them to the same shade as Bailey’s brown color instead of her reptilian yellow.

Everything else about her would seem normal except her camrium tunic and pants. Then again, if she were in shifter territory, the locals would have seen such garments before.

“Excuse me,” she said, limping toward them. “Can you tell me what this place is called?”

She knew she hadn’t landed too close to the jakhal, or the shifter guards would have noticed her grand entrance and confronted her immediately. Ozara had a basic mental map of where the Craegud resided, but she needed to know her starting point to get there.

The woman frowned. “Where did you come from?”

“It’s a long story,” she said, preferring to avoid talk of magical portals.

“You just walked from the old Fort Ord range area, but most of us avoid it because it’s full of wild animals and snakes. There are boar, mountain lions, and all kinds of dangerous stuff back there. You could have gotten hurt without a weapon.”

She’d noticed a few snakes, but they’d slithered away from her as soon as she came close. No wildlife would mess with a dragon—even in human form.

Ozara shrugged. “I can handle myself.”

“If you say so.” The woman shook her head. “Where are you heading?”

She debated her answer but decided the truth wouldn’t hurt. “I need to find the shifter fortress.”

According to the elders who visited the territory many centuries ago, the Craegud had their own version of one. They were like the Taugud in that they preferred a sturdy structure for their jakhal.

One of the men, a guy with short blond hair in his late twenties, narrowed his eyes. “That’s just south of Carmel in the Big Sur area and quite a walk from here. What business do you have with the dragons?”

“I need to speak with them,” Ozara said plainly.

The woman laughed. “They might not be as bad as those green ones, but they aren’t going to let a strange woman walk right up to the fortress. Not many humans are allowed to get close. Those who do work for them or did something to earn their trust.”

She decided she’d gotten all the information she needed from these people. “Not to worry. I don’t plan to walk, and they will want to talk to me.”

Ozara let the flames overtake her, amused as the human’s eyes widened in shock.

The blond man muttered, “She sure didn’t look like a shifter—her eyes weren’t like theirs.”

Their opinion hardly mattered to her now that she had the information she wanted.

A couple of minutes later, she took off into the sky, heading south. Now that she knew where she was and where to go, she agreed the humans were right. Depending on its precise location, it might take a full day or two if she walked all the way to the fortress. Flying would get her there in less than an hour, based on her calculations after memorizing the map of the area.

As she gained altitude, she finally got a good look at the ocean to the west and gawked at the view. It was stunning, with serene blue water as far as the eye could see. This was the first time she’d been near anything larger than a lake, and it was beautiful. She prayed she made it home safely so she could describe the scenery to Phoebe and her daughter. They would love to hear about it.

Ozara continued south over Highway 1, knowing that would lead her in the right direction. Though it was damaged inseveral places with cracks, and a whole bridge section had been obliterated, it still made a reliable guide, along with the nearby ocean.

She passed over several towns dotted one after the other before reaching a more heavily wooded area. Since she wasn’t part of the Craegud toriq, their fortress would not be as easy to locate from a distance. Natural magic would shroud it from her view until she got very close. She shouldn’t have worried about that, though, since two red dragons—a male and a female—spotted her within minutes of leaving the last town and approached her quickly.

Who are you, and what are you doing here? the male growled in her head, using the common dragon language.

She pulled up sharply, maintaining her current position in the air. I am Ozara. My pendragon, Aidan of Taugud, sent me on a critical mission to speak with your toriq.

You have traveled far. The female narrowed her eyes. The lands between our toriqan are treacherous, especially at present.

I am well aware, Ozara said, lifting her head. But war is coming, and we must seek as many allies as possible if we wish to survive. It was a risk worth taking.

Show us your stomach, the male demanded.

Of course, they had adopted the same practice. They’d been living near the Kandoran for even longer. She did as he requested, angling herself enough to give him a full view of her scales.

The female gave her a good look before her yellow eyes softened. Years ago, one of our sorcerers predicted a Taugud messenger would come to us around this time, but we had no description and could not be sure you weren’t tainted. Please forgive our caution.

Ozara beat her wings to move a little closer. I would expect nothing less, but may I see your stomachs, too? We’ve had no news from your region in many years. I must take care as well, especially with the chance I took to come to you.

Of course, the female Craegud said.

Both angled to give full views of their crimson stomachs before righting themselves.

Ozara swished her tail. Thank you.

We must take you to a secure location before we alert our pendragon. Please follow us. I will ensure food and drink are brought so you may refresh yourself.

Some of the tension eased from her. Ozara hadn’t been sure how her reception would go, but she’d hoped the Craegud would be amenable. While they might not be in direct danger now, they would be eventually. The only way to stop it altogether was to unite.

Thank you. I would appreciate that, she said.

***

Ozara had just finished a light meal of roasted beef, bread, and fresh vegetables. Though the portal made it easy for her to reach the coast, it wouldn’t be long before she had to undertake the difficult journey home. There wouldn’t be many opportunities to hunt for food, and she could only hold so many supplies in shiggara. Every chance she had to eat, she would.

Currently, she sat inside a circular stone structure that was completely open on the inside other than a central support pillar with tables and benches surrounding it. The guards had informed her that the Craegud had built it a few years before when they worried the Kandoran would continue to invade to the west. They’d needed a secure place to meet where seers’ magic could not penetrate the inside, and they could use it for discussions and planning.

While the enemy had spread farther into Arizona and parts of Utah, they had not reached California before they stopped and looked to the east for expansion instead. It was only a matter of time, though.

According to the guards, they suspected the Kandoran intended to expand their army on the other side before trying to take anything more to the west. Of course, no one could be entirely certain what they might do or why, but the maps on the walls showed the “known” progress of their mutual adversary since arriving on Earth. Ozara had helped them fill in details they didn’t have for the central part of the continent.

A large male stepped into the open doorway, filling the frame. Ozara immediately stood and respectfully bowed to him. No one had to tell her who had arrived because his power and authoritythickened the air.

“Thank you for seeing me, milord.”

“You may call me Wren. You traveled all this way alone?” the Craegud pendragon asked, coming closer so she could see him better.

He had long, brown hair, brawny shoulders, and thick muscles. His red and black camrium tunic and pants fit him like a glove with intricate designs threaded into his front chest piece. According to what she’d been told, he’d been in power for several decades, had a mate and three offspring, and his people respected him. He was described as stern yet fair. Of course, his guards had told her all this, so she would have to judge him for herself.

“Time was of the essence, and we couldn’t take any chances,” she said, clasping her hands in front of her. “Our sorcerers spent weeks putting together a portal spell so that I could reach you more quickly.”

Wren lifted a brow. “I had no idea such magic existed.”

“Neither did I.” She smiled. “But they found it in an old book of magic while searching for other spells we might use against the Kandoran. We will be facing them in war within the next few weeks.”

He gestured for her to sit and did the same across from her on another bench. “We suspected as much. From what we’ve heard from the nearby toriqan—especially the Gorkan and Zagoran who border them—the Kandoran have reduced their numbers significantly by killing or assimilating them. They’ve also left behind a dark taint of magic that makes dragon and human trespassers ill. As a result, we’ve avoided going near their borders.”

“We have encountered something similar near us,” she said, scrunching her nose.

Wren cocked his head and looked at her discerningly. “What do you hope to gain from coming here?”

“We are hoping you would be willing to join us in the war—either bringing warriors back with me to fight on the eastern side or starting an attack from the rear to divert some of their attention. Any assistance you can provide would be appreciated. All the predictions say if we lose, then it will be the end of everyone on the continent in a matter of years. They will absorb us all.”

The pendragon nodded. “I’ve heard something similar, but instigating a fight with them from this end when they aren’t paying attention to us could be disastrous.”

Ozara was afraid he might say that.

“How is your relationship with the nearby pure dragon toriqan?” she asked, hoping he didn’t find her presumptuous for inquiring.

He grunted. “Until a few years ago, we didn’t get along with most of them, but we’ve strengthened our ties over the danger of a more powerful enemy threatening us. We even helped them prevent the Kandoran from spreading farther west two years ago. Otherwise, they’d already be on our doorstep.”

“You must have learned a thing or two about them then,” Ozara said, thankful he was being open and sharing information with her. She’d expected more resistance.

“Yes.” Wren rubbed his chin. “They are a formidable enemy and growing stronger. I agree they must be stopped, but it will not be easy, and any dragons who get in their way risk death or worse.”

Worse meaning…assimilation.

“Would you consider helping us?” she asked hopefully.

The pendragon stood. “I will consult the elder’s council tonight. This is not a decision I can make lightly or on my own, but some have predicted we must take a stand soonerrather than later to survive. It is a matter of convincing the rest that may be difficult.”

“Is there anything I can do to help?”

“Perhaps.” His brows drew together. “I may call on you to speak about what you’ve seen of the Kandoran from your side, so that they may make an informed decision.”

Ozara nodded. “I can do that.”

A female shifter stepped lightly into the stone building. She was the same height as Ozara, but her curves were fuller, and hermuscles were more pronounced. Standing in a regal manner near the entrance, her black hair was left loose and wavy to fall down her back with an elegance not everyone in her gender could manage. The faint crackle of energy around her implied she had some magical powers.

“Ujala,” Wren said, frowning. “What are you doing here?”

The female shifter dipped her chin in respect. “This is the expected visitor from Taugud, correct?”

“Yes.”

“Good.” She smiled gently. “We have little time, and I have many questions for her.”

“If this is about…” the pendragon began.

She raised a conciliatory hand. “Please, milord. You need not stay when I know you must call for a meeting with the elders’ council immediately. I will gladly keep our guest company until you return.”

Ozara gave Ujala a confused look. “I’m sorry, but who are you?”

“I assume you’ve met Galadon?” she asked, referring to the lone shifter.

“Yes,” Ozara said carefully.

“I am his mother, and if Zorya wills it, I will travel back with you soon to save my son before it’s too late.”

Shock hit her so hard thatshe stood frozen, unable to formulate words. This visit had just taken a hard turn she never would have expected.