Chapter 29

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

“ W ait for me!” Tiara heard Lori pant as she tried to keep pace with her. Getting invited to Jaxxon’s meeting was exciting but also terrifying after what happened in the valley. After his speech, the younger boys and adolescent dragons swarmed Jaxxon. Some were overwhelmed with emotions, and others were clapping. But Hassan and a small group who stayed off to the side looked bitter and angry. How could they still fault Jaxx after what he described? Assholes!

She felt a mixture of fear and grief at what happened to him and his people. She had tried to reach Jaxxon in the valley. I tried to get close enough to—? What would I have done? She shook her head as she ran, nearly losing her balance.

She was hopelessly in love with the brooding man. And knowing what made him so harsh and unrelenting made her love him even more. Yeah, I was going to kiss him silly! She was almost thankful he and Zade took off on their dragons before she got close enough to make a fool of herself.

After the gathering in the valley, to her surprise, an escort came to take her to a closed meeting. And now, she and Lori were running to get there on time .

They were led to an enormous cavern where a big circle with Crelentian symbols was carved into the floor. At the head of the circle stood Jaxxon and Zade. Kylo and Galan were on the opposite side. She nearly rolled her eyes when she saw Hassan. A dozen other men and dragons were gathered.

Their escort told her and Lori to wait by the door. He went to whisper something to Zade, who then whispered something to Jaxxon. Jaxxon looked at her, and she swallowed. So much passed between them at that moment that her magic jolted alive—light wreathing uncontrolled around her hands until his shadows clamped around them. His touch spoke volumes—anger, doubt, and desire. And then his shadows were gone.

“Tiara and Lori, you may come forward and stand on the circle,” said Jaxxon.

Two men moved, making room for them. Given the glare on some of the men’s faces, she and Lori were unwelcome guests. She was glad Maya chose not to come, saying she didn’t want any part of looking for danger. Maya was happy to stay with the other women and girls in the safety of the conference center that had become their home.

“They are only observers!” Jaxxon said, looking at a few of the men, including Hassan.

“We call to order a Crelentian War Council meeting.” Jaxxon looked at everyone. The men and their dragons joined their shadows, creating a stream of black light that twisted into an unbreakable chain of shadows that vibrated the cavern.

May the light of our elemental magic unite the celestial stars.

May the shadows bridge our path to them.

Hail Crelentia! Protectors of the Celestial Realms!

After saying the Cra’al-tha’ren chant, they turned to business.

“We’re going to find the dragon breeding grounds and gather needed supplies,” announced Jaxxon. Everyone nodded, but no one said a word .

“We need to formulate a plan to be successful.” He then turned to Kylo and Galan. “What do we know about dragon history and their breeding grounds?”

“Dragons are secretive creatures. Our history is passed down to us when we reach puberty. But the attack happened before my father, King of the Celestial dragons of the South, could pass all his knowledge to me.” Kylo sighed deeply.

“My father sent the telepathic message to Jaxxon’s father to save the children and hatchlings when he felt his mate, my mother, dying from the poisoning. He knew they were under some attack.” Kylo shook his wings as his tail hit the ground.

Tiara and Lori jumped, hanging onto his every word.

“If not for him, everyone would have died,” rumbled Kylo as he continued, “He joined forces with Galan’s father, King of the Celestial dragons of the North, and flew as many dragons to safety as he could.”

“My father had a powerful violet fire that could open portals. But he was the first targeted by the Vralgari, who’d done their homework. They targeted the portal jumpers—my father and Galan’s.” He blew steam through his nostrils, remembering that day. “They were both ambushed and killed.”

“Crelentians used their fleet of spaceships to defend the airspace from attack, and the portal jumpers were instrumental to their defense. But that day, everyone on Crelentia was celebrating, including our air defenses. So, we couldn’t thwart an attack we didn’t see coming.” Jaxxon shook his head, clenching his fists.

Galan snarled as he swiveled his neck, looking at those gathered. “Celestial dragons have the most ancient and powerful form of Crelentian elemental magic. The Vralgari were after our magic—a powerful food source for their kind.” His throat filled with violet flames, but he didn’t unleash them. “It’s why they hunted us! We had no idea such vile creatures existed.”

Kylo nodded before continuing, “We weren’t old enough at the time to have gone through the dragon rites of passage where we would have been told where the breeding grounds were located. ”

“Our fathers tried to transfer as much knowledge as they could through the familial dragon bond before they took their last breath. But we cannot access all of it because we are still too young,” said Galan solemnly. “But if we uncover power stones and find the dragon breeding grounds, the ancient magic within Crelentia will be unlocked.”

“I’ve had dreams of buried power stones. And of the female dragons, our mates, who wait for us to find them. Dragons mature at rates determined by what fate believes is needed. It’s the reason Galan and I matured faster than most dragons.” Kylo’s deep voice was filled with hope. He looked Tiara’s way, and she smiled.

“If we hatch more dragons, some will mature rapidly,” said Galan, looking at the dragons gathered and then at the men.

“If we restore our army of dragons to even a quarter of what existed before we were ambushed into a war we didn’t see brewing, we could stand a chance against the Vralgari,” said Galan, his tone deep and vibrant.

Everyone clapped, murmuring excitedly about restoring the Celestial dragons and finally finding mates for Kylo and Galan.

Tiara noticed Jaxxon stood quiet and contemplative, letting everyone talk. But finally, he called the meeting back to order.

“If we find the breeding grounds, can we hatch the dragons without the women being present?” he asked Kylo and Galan.

“Without us?” yelled Tiara, stepping off the circle into the center. “We’re not staying behind! And you’re not taking the amulet from me!”

Jaxxon’s shadows struck fast as lightning, shoving Tiara back to the line. The cavern vibrated. “Stepping into the circle during a War Council meeting is a challenge. Do you wish to challenge me in combat?” he bit out, his shadows still swirling around him.

“Um...no!” She frowned, not understanding the rules of the meeting. “I just wanted?—”

“You speak when spoken to, Observer! You’ve been warned. Step into the circle again, and you won’t like my reaction!” All the men nodded, even the dragons.

What the? Tiara was pissed, glaring as she shifted back and forth on the line. Lori tried to hold her hand to calm her, but she snatched it away. The daredevil in her wanted to go toe-to-toe with Jaxxon, who, just moments ago, she wanted to kiss. He narrowed his eyes when he saw her snatch her hand away from Lori’s, and she glowered at him.

You’re not the boss of me!

Jaxxon winked as if reading her mind before sending another powerful jolt. “Ouch!” She looked down as his shadows dematerialized in a flash of smoke. She rubbed her stinging hand. How the fuck is he doing that?

Kylo’s voice was more profound than usual as he spoke. “The women must go. They are the only ones who can hatch the dragons. And while we could activate the amulet without Tiara, she can manipulate it in ways we cannot.”

He looked at Tiara as his slit pupils narrowed as violet light shimmered softly along the scales of his throat. “Though I don’t wish to endanger her, Tiara must come with us.”

“I’m going too,” said Lori, her voice trembling as she looked down at the line to ensure she hadn’t stepped off it. “And I’m a healer. I’ve been practicing with Galan. I can help if we get into any trouble out there.”

Galan nodded, informing the men that Lori’s healing powers were extraordinary, sending her blushing. The men murmured, exchanging glances at Lori approvingly. Tiara wasn’t surprised at their reaction. She’d read Crelentian females were legendary healers—the one job they encouraged women to do.

“Tiara, call forth the power of your amulet. Let’s take a closer look at the magical map,” commanded Jaxxon. He was all business as the planning began.

Tiara breathed deeply, letting her magic flow into the amulet. The map appeared in the center of the circle. She was proud of herself. She was getting better at handling the amulet .

“Can you make it larger?” asked Zade. Tiara tried several times before the map enlarged, slowly spinning on an invisible axis. She breathed deeply, glad the amulet didn’t do something unexpected.

“Look there,” said Zade, pointing. “That symbol rests inside the Villagio Mystic Mountains. I think that symbol is the amulet itself. I bet as we go on our quest, the symbol showing the amulet’s location will move with us.”

Everyone agreed. They identified a few other landmarks, including the Villagio Talarien Laec’tharion Sereanethar .

“If that symbol represents the magical library within our Villagio fortress, there are other libraries out there,” said Zade, pointing to at least three more magical libraries.

Zade turned the map on its axis. “We’ve always known these magical libraries existed. The library here in these mountains is the only way we learned how to survive, to fly the few ships docked here, and to use our magic. Who knows what secrets lay in the other libraries.”

Tiara noticed Zade’s eyes lingered on the fortress in the North Kingdom. It must have been his father’s kingdom since she knew Jaxxon’s kingdom had been in the south. Which left her to assume the kingdom in the middle was where their mothers had co-ruled as the Light Queens. She had many questions, but now was not the time to ask.

“We know the symbol that pulsates is a dragon breeding ground. It’s the only explanation for why the dragons and Tiara feel a dragon heartbeat when focused on that symbol. But what are the other symbols?” asked Jaxxon.

Kylo leaned in close, taking a good look at the map. “I don’t know what the symbols mean. But if we start here in the Villagio Mystic Mountains, these symbols form a path to the breeding grounds.”

He rotated the map to the left. “I think these are objects or power stones we must gather on our way to the breeding grounds.” He looked at Galan, who agreed .

Tiara timidly raised her hand. Jaxxon nodded, allowing her to speak. “What are power stones?”

They told her they were magical jewels, bestowing great power on their holders. Dragons highly prized them and often buried them with other treasures and artifacts. Finding a dragon trove of power stones would be a game changer in their war with the Vralgari.

“Your amulet is an artifact,” noted Jaxxon. His tone was unreadable, but Tiara swallowed.

“Can we zoom in on the map to see the exact location of the dragon breeding grounds and the other symbols?” asked Hassan. All eyes were once again on Tiara.

“I’ve tried,” she said. “But the map—it isn’t exact. It doesn’t give precise locations. It just points us in the right direction.” She looked away, hoping no one noticed her elevated heartbeat.

“We’ll be on our own when we get to those destinations. But according to everything Zade and I read in the library, magical maps don’t show precise locations in case they fall into the wrong hands. Instead, they are clues we must unravel once we begin our journey.” Jaxxon looked at Tiara, his eyes narrowed. “Unless you’ve already figured out some clues.”

It wasn’t a direct question, so she kept her eyes on the ground, remaining silent. She knew if she told them everything, they’d likely take the amulet from her neck, find the dragon eggs, and bring them back to the fortress to hatch. She couldn’t risk staying locked away in the fortress. Her mother wouldn’t have wanted that.

She was their equal, and there was only one way for them to realize it. It was what the Goddesses of War had always said. “ Only when you fight alongside men and dragons will they realize the worth of a female—when their neck is on the line, and a woman is the only thing standing between them and death. ”

They strategized which riders and their dragons would go on the journey, with others staying behind to defend the fortress. Tiara didn’t want to leave her friends behind, but knew they would be safer.

She was terrified of going, but she had to do this. Lori grabbed her hand several times as the men discussed the weapons and supplies they would need to bring on the journey. They were expecting many dangers along the way, including from other predators just as dangerous as the Vralgari. Tiara swallowed. What other predators?

Lori wasn’t a fighter like she and Maya, but she couldn’t imagine anyone else by her side on a dangerous mission. They had faced untold horrors on the mining colony, always looking out for each other’s back when those with more powerful magic preyed on them.

Tiara and Maya both had a vicious streak that, when unleashed, was fury untold. Tiara was bold in her fighting techniques, always ready to go on the offensive. Maya had a quiet vengeance that you never saw coming until she was walking away from your blood-drenched corpse.

But Lori was a healer by heart, never wanting to kill anyone. She always looked for another way out of a fight, anything that didn’t involve confrontation. She would fight to defend others and was quite good at negotiating a truce, even when Tiara and Maya wanted to fight. Tiara smiled, knowing the men had much to learn about her and her friends.

Jaxxon crossed his arms over his broad chest, looking each man and dragon in the eye.

“My entire life, I’ve wanted to restore the Crelentian legacy with Crelentian families and Celestial dragons. Now...we have a chance to make it all happen.” Everyone nodded, cheering for a new day for Crelentia.

“We cannot let the Vralgari get the amulet...or learn we have found Crelentian females.” He looked briefly at Tiara and Lori. The men and dragons swore to give their lives for them, bowing along the circle in their direction.

“Thank you!” said Tiara, curtsying as a few men smiled. “You won’t regret letting us go with you.” She turned to Jaxxon. “We’ll stay out of your way.” He didn’t look convinced.

Jaxxon turned the map on its axis, sending his shadow magic encircling the nearest symbol to the Villagio Mystic Mountains. He scrunched his brow. “There are several ways to go. Drak! But they’re all dangerous.” He studied the map, finally settling on the least dangerous route.

“We will leave at dawn. Our first destination is the Sea of Cadence.”

Tiara saw the men’s shadows darken and didn’t miss the worry reverberating around the room. Even the dragons shivered.

The men began departing, and Lori went to stand with their escort. Tiara moved forward, stepping over the line and nearly falling on her ass when she realized she had to go around. Jaxxon watched her the entire time, his eyes tracking her movements like a predator letting its prey get close enough to spring. She bumped into several men trying to get to him. No one stepped into the circle as they began leaving through various entrances she hadn’t noticed before.

But there Jaxxon stood, in the same spot, watching her. His expression was unreadable. Zade walked off, leaving them alone once she came before him.

Looking up at him, she’d forgotten just how much he towered over her.

“I’m sorry for your loss.” Her throat seemed to close as she tried to breathe. “I didn’t know what happened to your mom...and all the females and their dragons. When I kept asking all those questions, I had no idea I was dredging up painful memories.” She sucked in a sob, but the tears wouldn’t stop. “I’m sorry I pushed you, Jaxx.”

She didn’t realize she was crying uncontrollably until he pulled her into a firm embrace, whispering into her hair, “Now you know why I tried to keep you safe in your quarters.”

He looked at her. “I’m sorry if I’ve seemed harsh. You mean everything to me, and I’m trying my best. I can’t lose you!”

“The Vralgari must be stopped! Those heartless bastards!” she cried out as she trembled against him.

Heat flooded her as she felt his hands moving along her back, resting dangerously low around her waist. He pulled her closer. His scent set her on fire as his fingers rubbed in tiny circles. He sighed deeply, and then he stepped back. He gently placed his hands on her shoulders.

“I’m responsible for keeping everyone alive.” He held her eyes. “I can’t afford to make a mistake. Even with you.”

She frowned. “What do you mean? You’re not making a mistake with me.” She looked at him, seeking clarification, but he only shook his head.

“I don’t want you out there with us, Tiara. I can’t protect you from the unknown.” He grimaced, his face a mix of worry and suspicion. “If you’re not telling us everything about the amulet, you could endanger everyone.”

“I’m not going to endanger anyone. I’m not afraid of what’s out there,” she said quickly, looking down at her feet. She wiped away her tears. She felt him staring at her as he gently lifted her chin, forcing her to look at him.

“It’s okay to feel fear because it may be the one thing that keeps you alive when your mouth gets you in trouble.” He stared at her, trying to read her, but she wouldn’t give him a reason to exclude her from the mission.

“Jaxx, I can protect myself. I’ve been on my own since my mom died. I wasn’t even a teen at the time. She wouldn’t let anyone cage me. And neither will I.” She moved out of his grasp, searching his eyes. But all she saw was darkness as his jaw set.

“You’re hiding something.” His voice was gruff, and his eyes darkened as he stared into her eyes.

“You can trust me, Jaxx!” She ran her hand across his jaw, leaning in to kiss him.

“Your ancestors said the same thing. And then they stole the amulet!”

His words were a blow like a hammer hitting the nail on the head.

She turned red and stammered, “They…they had their reasons. They wanted to be equals. And they wanted to ride their dragons and raise their sons. Can you blame them for wanting more? ”

He frowned as if he didn’t know their story. But it was clear he didn’t care as he shook his head.

“Instead of searching for ‘more,’ they should have been happy with what they had! More is not always better!”

“I don’t want to debate the past. Jaxx, you and I can reshape our future!” She wanted to kiss him so badly that her lips trembled not from fear but love. But she couldn’t back down. She had to stand her ground.

“This isn’t a gambling table, Tiara. You’re not the one holding all the cards.” He glared, his brow furrowing. “Prince Aeralis of the Vralgari is holding cards too!”

“I’m holding the amulet, which trumps everything!” She jerked her hand away from him.

His shadows struck with precision as his hands wrapped around her arms, pulling her forward as his shadows gripped the amulet. But he didn’t take it from her.

“The amulet can’t save your life, Star Diva!” His eyes roamed her body with such longing that she knew she had to have him. “This isn’t a game!”

“Let me help you save Crelentia from the Vralgari. Let me help you find justice.” Her eyes teared up again as she looked at him, knowing all he had lost. “Jaxx, I can’t imagine how you must feel.”

“I don’t need your tears. When we step out of these mountains, I demand your obedience.” His words were harsh and rough. He pulled her closer, his shadows wrapping them in a veil of darkness.

“When we leave the safety of this fortress, I’m not your friend.” He kissed her savagely. “I’m your warlord!”

“ W hat happened when Jaxxon pulled the shadows around you?” asked Lori, her hands shaking as they followed their escort back to their quarters. “I was afraid he was going to kill you or something,” she said, looking Tiara over for the second time.

“I can handle, Jaxx,” the words left her mouth even though she didn’t believe them. Tiara walked, her legs unsteady from the memory of his kiss. And his words.

This brooding man carries the weight of his people on his shoulders. I can tell he fears making a mistake that will cost lives. She tensed, knowing how much she feared doing anything that would endanger her friends. She understood his fears, though she’d never lived in hiding like he had. I can’t even imagine how it must have felt knowing your entire legacy had been taken from you and their murderers were still searching for you. Still trying to suck the life out of you—literally!

Tears glistened on her lashes no matter how much she tried to put on her brave face for Lori. Jaxx feels so much regret for not helping when his father and uncles died that it’s slowly eating away at him, making him almost uncaring. But I know he cares for me...even if he thinks it might be a mistake.

“What’s going on in that mind of yours?” asked Lori. “I can tell something happened between you two.”

“Jaxx thinks I’m reckless. He doesn’t trust me!” said Tiara, twisting her lips. “I’ll just show him I’m not a risk. I’ll follow his orders. And I’ll stay on my best behavior.”

Lori laughed, making a comical face until Tiara laughed too. “I will!” She burst into more laughter.

“Well, that man is really intense,” said Lori. “You need to be careful, Tiara. You’re not telling him everything, which isn’t fair. I don’t think he’s playing when he says he’ll punish you.” Lori winked.

“Hmm, he does look like an intense lover! Maybe I’ll break some rules on purpose.” She giggled, getting herself all hot and bothered. Jaxxon was hot. And she planned to fan the flames.

“Tiara has a crush!” joked Lori. Tiara hunched her shoulders, not intending to lie about it .

“Wait...oh, no! Is this more than a crush?” Lori’s eyes went wide.

“I don’t know. I’ve never felt like this before. Something about him touches me in ways no one has before. I mean...I’m dreaming about him every night.” She laughed, rubbing her hands together. “It’s like we’re fated mates or something. I can’t explain it. He feels...like home.”

“Wow, that sounds like more than a crush. It sounds—sweet.” Lori hugged her, joking that Tiara had enough goodies to satisfy Jaxxon’s sweet tooth.

“Well, right now, he thinks I’m going to give him one big cavity! He made it clear he plans to run from me. But I’m faster than he thinks.”

“Damn, girl! You’re falling fast and hard!” Lori’s mouth hung open as she gawked.

“Right? And I never fall first!”

Lori cracked up as Tiara told her about one of her more salacious dreams of Jaxxon. “Go, Tiara!”

They were still joking about Jaxxon when they entered the conference center. Everyone ran to them, asking questions about where they went and what happened.

Tiara and Lori told them about the meeting and the decision to find the dragon breeding grounds but didn’t go into details. Many of the women and girls were alarmed, knowing the Vralgari who killed all the women were still on the planet searching for Jaxxon and his men.

“Wait, let’s think this through before Tiara gets all of us killed!” Maya shouted.

“What the fuck?” yelled Tiara, turning to Maya, who stood in the middle of the floor.

“You had this amulet all this time! And you never said one damn word about it being magical!”

“I didn’t know!” Tiara looked at the questioning expressions on the faces of her friends. “My mom told me always to protect it. I had no idea it had magic until it helped protect us in the mine.”

“Well, even if we believe you—which I’m not sure I do, that goddamn amulet has done nothing but bring death and destruction.” Maya pointed at the amulet with disgust. “We lost our home. We lost Ms. Hazel! Who needs to die next before you finally get rid of that cursed amulet?”

Tiara gasped, grabbing the amulet as it began glowing. “This amulet is our legacy. It’s a path to restore the Crelentians!”

The other women agreed, yelling at Maya to stop with her accusations. Lori came to Tiara’s defense, agreeing they needed to help restore the dragons. Everyone turned against Maya as she continued to spout hateful words.

“Tiara’s always taking everything for herself!” Maya cried out, her lips trembling. “Tiara has the men, the magic, and now the dragons!”

Maya ran out of the room, saying she was tired of never having anything.

Tiara tried to run after her, but Lori stopped her. “Let her calm down, Tiara. You know how she gets. She’ll come back when she’s ready.”

Lori’s right. Maya’s dangerous when she gets like this. And Ms. Hazel isn’t here to pull her off me if we get into a fight. Tiara looked down the hall Maya had run through. In the past, Maya would disappear for days when she was angry. She would usually be off with whatever man she’d met, having fun and clearing her mind. But this time, there was nowhere for Maya to run to, and as far as Tiara knew, Maya wasn’t shacking up with any Crelentian males yet. She’ll return when she calms down.

Tiara and her friends began discussing who would go and who would stay. Maya had made it clear she wasn’t going. They could have used her on the mission. She’s a great fighter. But given her attitude, she’s also a significant risk.