Chapter 9

CHAPTER NINE

T he wind caressed Jaxxon’s face, lifting his jet-black curls. His thoughts drifted to distant places where no one knew his name, no one depended on him, and no one would lose their lives because of his failures. The pristine world beneath him lay indifferent to his struggles.

Riding the current over a foamy, turquoise ocean, he sat astride Kylo in rare silence. There was no need for words between them. The solitude with his dragon was what he needed.

Jaxxon breathed in the scent of saltwater and felt the weight of the past fall away, if only for a moment. Moments like these helped him hold on to his sanity.

Kylo’s black wings flapped rhythmically, gliding effortlessly over the rippling water below. His dragon’s body shifted beneath him, powerful muscles flexing like a well-oiled machine. Jaxxon sat comfortably among the many scaled groves along Kylo’s back as if some miraculous power had joined them. They were a perfect unit.

“I came to Mineva to stop Prince Aeralis,” Jaxxon muttered aloud, his voice carried away by the wind, “to stop him and his demon horde before they could unleash more destruction. But now—” His chest tightened. “Now, everything’s different. I’ve found what I’ve dreamed of—Crelentian females to restore our people’s legacy.”

His brow furrowed as he thought about how much he had already lost. Would fate take this chance away from him too?

Kylo huffed. “I’ll help you protect her, so stop fretting. You’re distracting me,” he growled before veering right toward towering mountains with a river running between them. He had unmatched speed and maneuverability in tight spaces. They whizzed through the range, weaving back and forth, turning at sharp angles to keep from barreling into the rock face.

“ Whoa! Can’t you warn me before you make a move like that? ” Jaxxon asked through the bond they shared.

“ Maybe I’ll ride on your back next time. Let’s see how you fly! ” Kylo replied, his deep laughter rumbling down the bond.

“ I wouldn’t have to hold on so tight if you didn’t try to kill me every time we fly through a mountain range. ” Jaxxon chuckled, gripping Kylo’s scales tighter as they banked hard, narrowly missing a sharp outcropping of rock.

“ I thought you like living dangerously, ” Kylo teased, his violet eyes glinting as he glanced back at Jaxxon. “ Besides, if you fell off, it would save me the trouble of listening to your endless brooding. ”

They broke through the cloud cover and suddenly felt the sun’s warm rays. Kylo’s scales shimmered as his violet and black scales with streaks of silver caught the rays. Jaxxon couldn’t help but admire the sight—Kylo was a work of art, despite having the attitude of a grumpy painter.

“ You’re all heart, Kylo. Really. ” Jaxxon gave him a playful punch on the back of his neck. “ Anyway, you’ve been acting a little weird lately, too. Anything you want to talk about? ”

Kylo was silent for a moment, his wings shifting slightly as they caught a new current. The dragon’s usual banter faded, replaced by something more contemplative.

“ I’ve been thinking—” Kylo’s voice was quieter now, more thoughtful. “About the others. The ones we lost. ”

Jaxxon’s grip on Kylo’s scales tightened as he heard his dragon’s tone change. Kylo rarely talked about the past. The destruction of their kind—losing the Celestial dragons. It was a pain they both shared but seldom spoke of.

“ I know, ” Jaxxon said softly, the wind seeming to quiet around them. “ I think about them too. Every damn day. ”

“ It’s just— ” Kylo hesitated, and Jaxxon could feel the weight of his emotions through their bond. “ For the first time, I have hope. I feel a shift in the air. Something big is about to happen. ”

“ I feel it too, my friend. ”

“ Well, that’s enough dragon bonding. Let’s have some real fun! ” Kylo pivoted, slamming his feet into the rock face, sending them hurtling forward into a sharp turn.

“ Drak! You were supposed to warn me! ”

“ I did! But if you’re afraid of some air fun, I could drop you down a mine shaft ? — ”

Jaxxon laughed, the rich sound echoing through the mountains. “ You wouldn’t dare. You’d miss me too much. ”

“ Don’t flatter yourself, ” Kylo shot back. “ I only keep you around to rub the hard-to-reach places on my wings. ”

“ Ah, so now I’m your masseuse? ” Jaxxon laughed louder, rubbing Kylo’s back in a vigorous, circular motion.

“ And you’re not even good at it! ” Kylo roared with grumbly laughter that had Jaxxon nearly in tears from laughing so hard. Kylo’s wings tilted slightly as they flew past the river and toward a forested area within the mountain range.

The dragon swiveled his neck, his tone becoming light again. “ Now, be quiet while I search for treasure. ”

Angling his wings and picking up speed, he maneuvered between the jagged cliffs. The land blurred in a mix of red, rocky terrain and green forests. Grinning, Jaxxon held on tightly, bracing himself for the ride’s intensity.

Kylo flew like a tornado through the tight passages, narrowly avoiding the rock walls. The exhilaration was intoxicating, and for the first time in hours, Jaxxon’s heart felt lighter. And he was sure that Kylo’s did too.

Pivoting, Kylo slammed his talons into the rock face again. Something shiny jutted out of the mountainside. One more kick and the beautiful pink jewel was in his talons. With a quick flick of his massive talons, Kylo tucked the gem inside a hidden pocket of scales on his iridescent hide.

“ You and your shiny objects ,” Jaxxon teased, shaking his head.

Kylo would never tell Jaxxon why he collected shiny objects. But deep down, Jaxxon knew Kylo hungered for the touch of a female dragon. But there were no more female dragons. Thanks to the Vralgari. Kylo and the others were the last of their kind—the last Celestial dragons.

“ All right, let’s get back to work. I am a warlord, you know! ”

Kylo roared as he flew fast, rejoining the other dragons and their men.

They headed toward the large mines in the northern part of the colony. They had been tracking the demon horde for the last day, giving the other men a break. Tiara and the girls were safe within their outpost. He didn’t want to make them suspicious by showing up each day. So, he left them to their routine over the past few days since seeing them at the nightclub. However, he and his men wished they’d been invited to the Sunday dinner the women enjoyed.

“There.” Zade pointed as he and Galan flew alongside them. His men had been following him at a distance, likely knowing he needed time to process everything happening.

They saw their men on the ground use their crystal coms to signal their location. Just ahead of them, moving through the streets, was the demon horde, accompanied by two Vralgari. His men were keeping their distance, knowing they were dead if spotted. They never had enough numbers to kill those bastards and couldn’t afford to take them on unless there was no other choice.

So far, the demons had kept to the mines in the north. Neither side seemed any closer to figuring out what caused the magical energy burst that people had rumored took place. And they hadn’t pinpointed precisely at which mine the event occurred since rumors were everywhere. Apparently, there weren’t many witnesses to what happened, making it challenging to determine who might possess a magical object of great power.

After confirming the Vralgari and their horde were still searching in the north, Jaxxon took his men west. “It’s time to raid!”

“Hell yes!” his men echoed as they changed course, flying fast.

The mines in the west were like those in the south. And so were the merchants. They surveyed the goods they needed. They even offered fair prices. But several merchants thought they were too good to barter with Crelentians. The dumb bastards believed their gangs would keep them safe.

A few hours later, Jaxxon and his men had taken what they wanted and more. Swollen lips, broken arms, and worse littered the trading villages in the west. But while there, Jaxxon learned that numerous magic wielders had been found dead in the villages there.

The demon horde and Vralgari were here searching for the magical object! And now they’re killing magic wielders in the north in their search. Jaxxon rubbed his chin, narrowing his eyes. Drak! They’re getting around faster than expected.

The Vralgari and their demon horde were likely interrogating and feeding on anyone with magic, and time was running out. Jaxxon knew one thing about Prince Aeralis—the bastard was calculating. The Vralgari were probably getting close to finding the magical object and didn’t care who they killed to discover its whereabouts.

Gathering his men and their dragons, they launched into the sky. They flew in a close formation.

“Be careful. The Vralgari and their horde can show up anytime,” Jaxxon told his men. He turned to the dragons. “Kylo and Galan, watch the younger dragons. And stay vigilant.”

Kylo and Galan huffed, puffing out their chests and flexing their muscles as they spread their wings wide. Galan blew smoke in Jaxxon’s face as the men laughed. Jaxxon waved his hands as they flew through the smoke. He chuckled. The dragons know how to have fun. They spent too many years engaging in horseplay with us!

“I saved your ass the last time you were in trouble, Jaxx!” said Galan. “You don’t have to tell me to stay vigilant!”

“Oh, not that story again!” Jaxxon swore. He held onto Kylo as they glided along the calm wind. The dragons flew closer to hear. Galan roared with laughter as he winked before launching into the story.

“Jaxx had the Vralgari on his ass and a cliff in front of him. Jaxx ran like a madman, dodging left and right, but couldn’t shake the Vralgari. They were coming in fast. And Kylo was off somewhere searching for goddamn treasure!” Galan blew fire into the sky, causing Kylo to match it.

“I wasn’t searching for treasure!” Kylo bellowed, snapping his jaws toward Galan’s side to move the giant dragon from his air space. But Galan loved this story, and he loved pissing off Kylo.

“Jaxx had to jump off the cliff, screaming like a maniac as he fell toward the ground. And only I was there to catch his ass mid-air!” Galan’s laughter was a mixture of snarls and growls. The men laughed as Zade confirmed the story for the thousandth time. He told everyone how they saved Jaxxon that day, carrying him to the ground, where Kylo picked him up.

Jaxxon laughed, thankful the harrowing event was in the long distant past. It wasn’t the first time the Vralgari had tried to corner him, and he knew it wouldn’t be the last.

The Vralgari had taken over his world, Crelentia. And for the past decade, the Vralgari and their demons relentlessly chased them, hellbent on destroying every Crelentian and Celestial dragon. But Jaxxon and his dragons were tough. They didn’t back down from a fight. And now they were on a mining colony far from their home, trying to thwart the Vralgari’s efforts to gain more power. It was a risk to come here, but damned if it wasn’t turning out to be worth it.

“Don’t worry, Jaxx. If you get into trouble, I’ll swoop down and crush the Vralgari in my jaws!” rumbled Kylo, his tone serious. The competitive nature of the dragons was addictive, and Jaxxon knew the men would follow suit.

“No! Stay the hell away from the Vralgari and their demons. They can’t know you’re here.” Jaxxon looked around at all his men as they flew their dragons into formation around them.

“We’re not on Crelentia. We don’t know these skies the way we do at home. So, we can’t take any unnecessary risks.”

Playtime is over! Jaxxon sighed deeply. He was hard on his men, and he knew they sometimes resented it. Hell, even he wanted to have fun. But a warlord chose his fun moments carefully, and often, fun was a luxury he couldn’t afford. He had to keep them safe. He had to keep them alive. It was his idea to come on this risky mission, and he didn’t want to lose anyone.

“All right, let’s head back to the safety of the south. The horde hasn’t been there. But it’s only a matter of time before they search there too if they don’t go east next.”

The men enjoyed the open air, as did their dragons. It was a long flight back.

Finally, the dragons landed on a grassy hill near the southern colony. Jaxxon and his men walked back toward the mining district where they were staying. They talked and laughed as they entered the area.

“BOOM!”

“What in hell?” Jaxxon looked into the air, seeing swirls of fire.

Kylo and Galan were at it again. They were fighting about something and sparring.

Bonding with Kylo, Jaxxon yelled, “ Don’t make a spectacle of yourselves like a fucking sky show! ”

Kylo roared. The sound shook the mining colony windows before he and Galan moved into the cloud cover. Jaxxon could only assume they continued their fight out of sight. He and his men placed bets on which dragon would win in an actual battle.

Jaxxon and Zade argued it would be one of theirs to claim the victory, but a few of the other men claimed their dragons were just as big and even meaner. Kylo’s and Galan’s violence triggered a chain reaction among the Crelentian males as they got riled up. Being bonded with dragons meant each dragon rider shared their dragon’s thoughts...and moods unless they tuned it out. Before long, the men were in a brawl at a tavern. They didn’t know who threw the first punch or what even started the fight. But it felt good.

“You’re all violent!” Zade laughed as he shook his head, the cuts on his face from the brawl already healing. The men were still linked to their dragons, each hearing and feeling the other.

“What did you expect? We were raised by violent fucking dragons!” yelled one man. Everyone laughed. The dragons growled through their riders’ bonds from high above the clouds, clearly not enjoying being blamed for the men’s poor behavior. The men bowled over in laughter.

“ And we should have eaten you! ” Kylo said to Jaxxon. The other dragons passed Kylo’s message down their bonds as the men hooted and clapped. They and their dragons had been raised together. No bond was stronger. They loved and would kill for each other. And they were all goddamn troublemakers.

Everyone’s tattoos suddenly flared, linking them with their dragons, sending shadows everywhere. Leaving the tavern in ruins, the men jogged to the rooms over the bar where they were staying.

Cloaked in their shadows, they could stay out of sight and strike hard and fast, taking what they wanted and killing those who stood in their way. And somewhere on the rooftops of the tallest industrial buildings, their dragons watched over them. It was how they survived and how they’d once again rise as the legendary Crelentians, Protectors of the Celestial Realms.

B y the time they got cleaned up and met downstairs at the bar for dinner, Jaxxon was starving. Some of his men had kept a watch on the women while Jaxxon and others conducted raids for supplies. Another group kept track of the Vralgari and their horde in the north. Jaxxon had an entire team trying to find the magical object. They didn’t have many leads, and apparently, neither did the Vralgari.

Several men who hadn’t gone to the nightclub joined Jaxxon for dinner, bringing in reports of their raids. They’d gathered much-needed supplies, but it wasn’t nearly enough. But they were used to never having enough.

“Jaxx, tell us about the women you found. We want every detail,” said the men with hunger in their eyes. Not for sex but for companionship—for a future.

Jaxxon told them about the women. His men hung onto his every word.

“But how do you know which are Crelentian females?” one asked, all eyes going wide as he told them about Zade’s exotic dancing on a table while he had been concealed in his shadows.

Jaxxon slapped Zade on the back, growling, “Did you have to remove your clothes? Fucking show-off!”

“Well, now we know which of Tiara’s friends are Crelentians. All of them!” Zade laughed. His dancing had worked. Tiara and her friends were the only women in the club who’d seen Zade performing within his shadows.

The new arrivals whistled. “Can’t wait to meet them!”

“We have to take them home. We can’t have them spend another minute working in a goddamned mine!” said Zade, pounding on the table.

“Agreed! We might not have much, but we can provide shelter, food, and?—”

“Crelentian lovemaking!” someone yelled, sending everyone into boisterous laughter.

“Now, now! Don’t get ahead of yourselves. These women don’t know who we are. We don’t have a good reputation,” said Hassan, narrowing his eyes at Jaxxon. “Jaxx has already been an ass.”

“Me?” Jaxxon pointed to his chest. “Zade here is the only one who’s shown his ass!” The men laughed loudly. They enjoyed the break. The possibilities of a new life had them in a great mood. At one time, all they had wanted to do was fight. Now all they wanted to do was fuck and make babies. Lots of Crelentian babies.

But as everyone grew serious, they talked about what they had to offer the women.

“We’ll show them how our mothers, aunts, and sisters were treasured above gold and all the riches in the universe. We’ll show them what it’s like to be a precious jewel — admired and cared for.”

“They’ll have to come with us. Who can turn that down?”

“Well, there are some things we haven’t talked about. The women are...let’s just say, not like traditional Crelentian females. They were dancing wildly, singing loudly, and even gambling!” said Jaxxon.

“Gambling?” said one man, standing up with a deep frown.

“We’ll figure it out once they’re home with us.” Zade dug into his plate of food.

The rumors that had surrounded Tiara since their first encounter gnawed at Jaxxon.

Tiara—a hustler, a weapons dealer, someone who thrived in the chaos of a gloomy city! He shook his head. He could see it in how she carried herself, confident and defiant, a woman who wasn’t used to following anyone’s orders. That’s going to be a problem. He bristled.

He’d also learned that she and her friend, Maya, were ruthless and known to get into trouble. She’s dangerous, and so are her friends. A low growl rose in his chest. I need someone to help save my people, not someone to bring more trouble. Drak! My men and dragons are trouble enough! He sighed.

But that wasn’t his only concern. Tiara also seemed drawn to luxury. He narrowed his eyes, remembering how she had lingered at a stall at the marketplace, admiring a piece of intricate jewelry. Another merchant caught her attention with a fine silk shawl, the kind of luxury that Jaxxon and his men didn’t have. She moved easily among the finery, her fingers brushing over expensive trinkets like they were already hers.

She’s drawn to the sparkle of wealth, to things I could never give her. What use does a woman like her have for a brooding warlord who fights for survival instead of riches?

He didn’t want to change her ambitions—her desire and demand for more. Hell, as a shadow raider, his people took what they wanted. And they once had great wealth. Wealth that he would again get for his people and her. But will she be willing to wait for it? His chest tightened at the thought.

Jaxxon was a warlord and a shadow raider. He didn’t have gold or jewels and didn’t offer luxuries. All he had was the strength of his arms, the weight of his shadows, and the loyalty of his heart. But would that be enough?

One thing he knew for sure. He wouldn’t walk away. He would take on the challenge. And he would win. And he would take her further than she ever imagined. He’d take her to her ancestral home. And he’d teach her what it meant to be Crelentian.

He smiled, finishing his plate and grabbing seconds before they were all gone.

Jaxxon spent the day with his men, discussing what they had learned from all their surveillance of the women’s routines. They listed the names of the women who saw them cloaked in their shadows at the nightclub. They had monitored the women after their Sunday dinner and followed them when they had a gathering, which his men described as a sorority meeting. By the end of their surveillance, Jaxxon’s men determined that the teenage girls were also Crelentians.

The one thing all the girls had in common was that their mothers had been astronauts. Women weren’t allowed to fly on Crelentia—the inherent dangers of flying were too great. Crelentians were shadow raiders and legendary traders that traveled the galaxy. But their females enjoyed the safety of remaining at home, knowing the men would bring them back whatever their hearts desired.

“How do we convince them to return to Crelentia with us? Anyone have ideas?” asked Zade. No one had any ideas.

“The girls probably don’t want to go anywhere with us after how mean Jaxx was to Tiara at the nightclub when she kicked his ass playing cards,” said one man. “He acted like a real sore loser.” They gave him a hard time. They’d already made it clear after the club that Jaxxon didn’t make a good impression. He’d told them to all fuck off, but it was also why he had avoided the women the last few days, not wanting to mess things up further.

I wasn’t that bad! She hustled me and then had the nerve to offer me a drink! But by the end of the night, she couldn’t take her bewitching hazel eyes off me. But he knew his men were likely making a valid point. He knew he could be a real hard-ass. But she was also trouble. And trouble was the one thing he didn’t need.

Jaxxon got up, telling the men he needed fresh air and wanted to check on the dragons. Going out the back door, he was again in the alley outside the bar. Leaning against the wall, he folded his arms across his chest. He looked up at the stars, knowing one belonged to Crelentia.

Zade came out shortly after. He was observant and never missed a thing. “Look, Jaxx, I know you’re worried about taking on more responsibilities, but these women are worth it.”

He grumbled but didn’t respond.

“Jaxx, you have to be on your best behavior?—”

Jaxxon gave him a warning glare.

“We all have to be on our best behavior to win these women over and get their consent to return to Crelentia with us.”

“I have my doubts. These women might be more trouble than they are worth. And too fucking independent.” He continued leaning against the wall.

Zade joked, “I have some ideas.”

“What, showing your ass!” Jaxxon chuckled .

“No, smacking some!”

He laughed and hooted agreement as Zade acted out a light spanking. Zade was a character. He knew how to pull him out of his moodiness. He was the best family he could have asked for and the only one besides Kylo who could talk to him.

Returning to the bar, Jaxxon gave the teenagers more bartering assignments since they did a great job making good deals. It was getting dark, and he needed them to make some deals with those who only worked at night—weapons dealers and smugglers. He sent one of his more seasoned men with them to ensure their safety.

Back in their rooms, Jaxxon pulled up a satellite image on his communications crystal, reviewing the locations where the bodies of people with magic had been found. He was looking for a pattern to how Prince Aeralis and his demons were conducting their search. But he didn’t find any clues.

I must find the person with this magical object before Prince Aeralis!