Chapter 43

CHAPTER FORTY-THREE

J axxon felt good knowing Tiara was tucked away safely in bed as he walked toward his gathered men. Keeping the women safe was the highest priority. Yet, his instincts told him to remain on high alert. He had felt eyes on them before leaving the road and entering the forest that surrounded the raiding sanctuary earlier that day. Though the dragons’ magical mist concealed them from view, he knew danger wasn’t far behind them.

Shaking his head and rolling his shoulders, he still had much to do before he rested. He and his men had to prepare for where they were headed next.

He and his team knew the risks when they’d left the Villagio fortress to begin their quest. Even so, there was nothing more sobering than finding yourself before the howls of demons wanting to pick your bones dry. But they weren’t just trying to kill. Using their nets, they were trying to capture us! He didn’t like it.

“What is it, Jaxxon? You look more ominous than usual,” said Hassan, placing some supplies they’d found onto the back of a dragon and then sending it off. Zade came over to join them.

“Aeralis has never come at us like this before. He knows we were on that mining colony—” He looked at Hassan and then Zade. “Could he know the women are Crelentians?”

“He knows we have the powerful object he’s been searching for. That’s enough to make him come for us,” said Zade. “But given how many demons he sent, I’d say yes, that bastard likely suspects the women are Crelentians.”

“Let’s take the fight to Aeralis! He’d never expect it. Let’s pluck the wings from those red bats!” Hassan cast his shadows, letting them solidify into images of wings he then snatched from the air.

Jaxxon and Zade laughed, though they knew Hassan was serious. “I want that bastard just as much as you do. But we’re not ready to take on an army of Vralgari and their demons!”

“When will we be ready, Jaxxon? We kicked their asses on the water!”

But Jaxxon shook his head as the argument between him and Hassan escalated into a shouting match.

“Every day that you stay cautious, that bastard grows stronger!”

“And so do we! Or did you forget why we’re on this mission?” Zade exploded, shoving Hassan back. “I’m sick of your goddamn whining. You claim you’re so brave. And you imply we don’t have the guts to do it!”

Zade shoved him again and then pointed in his face. “If you want to fight them, let’s go!” Zade clenched his fists as he barked, “Ride with me now! Let’s take the motherfuckers down!”

Hassan’s eyes bulged as he swallowed. He hadn’t noticed Zade was on edge, but Jaxxon had seen it as soon as he’d approached them.

Hassan stared at Zade and then at Jaxxon. If Hassan was a betting man, which he wasn’t, he’d know not to mess with Zade when he got like this. Eventually he relented, fuming, but walking off without another word. He threw one last look over his shoulder at Jaxxon. A signal that they both needed to watch Zade. Jaxxon nodded, intending to keep his cousin close.

Kylo and Galan landed as Hassan jumped on his dragon and flew off .

Turning to Zade, Jaxxon’s shadows swirled. “I want to take down Aeralis once and for all. But only when we’re ready. Are you with me, cuz?”

Zade’s wild eyes cleared as he twitched, rubbing his hands together. A few moments passed before he finally answered, “I’m with you!”

They turned and entered the building to strategize, where a group of their men waited for them. They spent the next hour working. The sanctuary had everything they needed. But like everything else, it was a temporary solution.

“We can’t stay here too long. Too many people saw us on the roads these past few days, and I’m sure folks in some towns and villages saw the dragons flying overhead,” said Jaxxon.

“I agree. We must distance ourselves from the last town we passed and stay off the roads as much as possible.” Zade bit his lip, nodding as he finished packing.

Jaxxon leaned against the wall, crossing his arms over his chest. He looked around the compound, staring at the pictures of the kings. His father had taught him many survival lessons, and he intended to follow them.

“I don’t want to be inside this raiding sanctuary if the Vralgari and their demons learn we came this way. We don’t have enough men or dragons to protect the entire area outside the mists. The last thing we need is to get trapped inside our sanctuary.”

Zade laughed, a high-pitched sound of a man needing an outlet. “I can think of worse places to get trapped!”

“I second that,” shouted another man. Everyone laughed, but their eyes remained intense as they returned to Jaxxon.

“We’ll leave through the back entrance, far from any road or prying eyes. There aren’t any towns in that direction or people who would see the dragons flying. If the demons find our sanctuary, they won’t get through the traps around the boulders at the entrance. The Vralgari will be forced to go around, giving us time to lose them.” They all agreed with the plan .

The conversation became tense as they discussed where they were headed after the sanctuary. Jaxxon could feel Kylo’s worry through the bond.

The map showed no way around their next destination—a place with foes just as dangerous as those currently on their heels. A place so frightening that even warlords didn’t dare mention it by name.

“So, it’s settled then. We leave first thing in the morning.” Jaxxon clapped Zade on the shoulder and continued working.

By midnight, most of the men were asleep except those keeping guard. Going to check on the dragons, Jaxxon saw movement to his right.

In the moonlight, he saw Zade about to take off on Galan.

“Hey, cuz!...Are you okay?”

Zade turned toward him, his eyes swirling in violet hues that matched his dragon’s. Slamming his fists together, an explosion of shadows curled around him.

“I need to fight. I need to fuck. I need to kill something!” Zade barked as his shadow magic lit the night sky.

“Spoken like a true shadow raider!” Jaxxon bellowed, grabbing Zade by the shoulder and turning him back toward the compound. Zade was coming unhinged, and he knew exactly how he felt.

Jaxxon lowered his voice, and spoke slowly, looking into the darkness back the way they’d come. “But tonight, the only safe place is here. I feel something out there. And it’s getting closer.”

He could feel the Vralgari’s malice and hunger rolling off them from miles away, and it fueled the shadows simmering beneath his skin. He knew why Zade wanted to leave—what he craved to get through the night. But he couldn’t afford for Zade to snap. They had to stay together. Each man pulled the other from their dangerous vices to live another day.

They both looked up at the twin moons, longing for the day when they could restore their legacy.

“The amulet will help us turn this war around,” said Jaxxon, roughhousing with Zade, bringing him out of his foul mood .

“And maybe the women will make honorable men out of us,” said Zade, his grin wide.

“What? We’re fucking warlords!” Jaxxon shook his head, laughing.

The rest of their dragons landed in formation around the sanctuary grounds. The shadow masters and their dragons settled down for the night.

But neither man slept well. They knew what followed. And they knew what lay ahead where they were headed.

In the early morning, Jaxxon was restless. His night had been fraught with nightmares that seemed so real that he knew they were more than a warning. They were a promise that death was knocking on their door.

He wiped the sweat from his brow, turning to face the window. He saw a large shadow pass and then heard footsteps heading away. “Drak!” Jumping up, he threw on his clothes and boots. He flung open the door.

He saw Tiara heading off with Lakoda. They dashed into the tree line, disobeying all the rules he’d set. Growling, he ran after them. They headed toward the lake but then ran into the forested area where Tiara and Lakoda had raced the day before. They were beyond the protection of the mists.

“ Kylo, do you see Tiara and Lakoda? ” he called out with urgency through the bond as he left the mists. Something didn’t feel right.

Kylo responded that the forested area was too thick, and he couldn’t see from where he was perched. Kylo began flying toward Jaxxon’s location. He tapped into his dragon’s vision, scanning the area. It was still dark as the sun was just starting to rise. He looked behind him where the magical mists shimmered, beckoning him to return to its safety. But he had to find Tiara and Lakoda.

Small animals scurried away as he ran, looking for any signs of where they had gone. With Kylo’s enhanced vision, the forest area was magnified in glorious shades of color, sounds were louder, and scents were more intense .

He and his dragon growled. Concealed behind shrubs was a motorbike. It was far from the road.

“No one should be out here this early in the morning! I don’t like it,” said Jaxxon, picking up speed as he barreled around the trees.

“There are heavy footprints out here,” he said, bending down. “Fresh footprints!”

Shouting Tiara’s name, he heard nothing but the echo of his thunderous heartbeat. He cast his shadows out, praying for a spark of Crelentian light. He only found more darkness.

Jaxxon’s shadows swarmed as his battle hammer solidified. Crelentian symbols shimmered along its razor-sharp edges as inky black and liquid silver shadows raced along it, ready to cleave through his enemies. Only one fueled with the strength of a dragon rider could wield it, and right now, Jaxxon was prepared to shatter anything in his path.

His shadow magic fueled his strength and agility. He ran through the forest, jumping over logs and pivoting around hanging branches. He was ready to unleash hell. But what he found was a glimpse of paradise.

Tiara stood with Lakoda, plucking Velen pears from a tree. Wearing a hoodie and joggers, she was beautiful beyond compare. She was daring and disobedient. She would be the end of him, and yet, he desired more with each breath he took.

But Tiara was in danger, and so was Lakoda.

The footprints of the man he’d been following had suddenly stopped and were replaced with those of someone on all fours. Whoever it was, their footprints showed they had circled back behind where Tiara and Lakoda stood.

Jaxxon rushed to her, pulling her behind him. “Don’t move, Tiara!” He kept his eyes on the forest. “I got you!”

Tiara was startled, her face pale, when she realized something was happening. He pointed to the forest, letting her know they were not alone. His shadows wrapped around her—a shield so fierce it vibrated .

Kylo roared and landed, his wings unfurling in a display of dominance as he looked around the perimeter. The ground trembled beneath his talons while trees bowed under the gusts of wind he stirred. Kylo’s barbed tail swung back and forth as he stood stoically, a barrier between the danger and those he would protect with his life.

A rush of pride filled Jaxxon as he looked at his dragon, ready to rip apart their enemies. Jaxxon was a shadow master and Celestial dragon rider, Protector of the Celestial Realms. He couldn’t think of a better dragon than the one before him.

Whoever was out there, hidden within the dark forests, stood silent.

“ Demon! ” Kylo passed down the bond, swinging his head in an arc to look around.

Jaxxon stepped forward with his battle hammer raised in the air. It radiated with menacing power.

“Tell your master, Prince Aeralis, he may believe he’s a god. But Destiny’s Hammer is a god killer!”

Howls and screeches broke the silence—an army so vast and powerful it could raze everything they loved to the ground. It was getting closer.

Tiara shivered against him, her eyes darting back and forth into the dense tree line where a demon stayed hidden and quiet. Jaxxon could sense her fear, her hope, and beneath it all, the fierce resolve of her magic as it sparkled along her palms. Fear was replaced by radiant light—an intense fire in her eyes as she called Lakoda to her side, ready to fight to protect him.

“Stay close,” Jaxxon cautioned, leading Tiara and Lakoda back within the safety of the dragons’ mist, with Kylo in the rear. Nothing dared follow them into it.

A sense of momentary relief hit as they dashed toward the compound, where they could already see the dragons and their riders on high alert flying overhead.

Jaxxon looked back at Kylo. “I wouldn’t trust anyone else to watch my back. ”

“And I wouldn’t trust any other rider to wield my power.”

“Guess we’re stuck with each other, then!”

“Don’t forget about me!” said Tiara, grabbing Jaxxon’s hand. She smiled at Kylo and Lakoda, who stayed close to her side. Then she turned back to Jaxxon.

Her magic pulsed with power as a look of determination spread across her face. “I’m sorry I defied your orders by leaving the mists. But I won’t let the Vralgari and their demons destroy our spirit!”

She swallowed, shaking her head as she looked up at him. “My mom always said to bring a semblance of home no matter where I was. I was gathering fruit to make everyone a delicious home-cooked breakfast filled with spiced meats and candied Velen pear pies.”

Jaxxon looked at the overflowing satchel of fruit she carried. He knew she just wanted to make everyone feel joy. And she’d break every rule to do it. But not every rule is meant to be broken. He sighed deeply.

Her eyes met his, wide and filled with unspoken words. He swore and then kissed her quickly before pushing them to run faster.

Everything we’ve lived for and endured can’t end now! The deaths of the Shadow Kings won’t be for nothing. Our lives will not end here at the place meant to be a sanctuary! Jaxxon’s shadow magic intensified around them. He would never let that happen.

His desire to see their adventure to its end fueled his soul. And so did the promise of one of Tiara’s pies. He pushed Tiara and Lakoda to their limits as they ran to where everyone was gathered. He knew they were out of time. The Vralgari and their demon horde were coming.

It was as if he was running inside his nightmare, feeling the dark corners closing in. The clock was ticking. And the only way out was the back entrance.

As he reached Zade, his eyes confirmed what he already suspected.

“Drak! They’re moving to surround us!”