30. Riggs

30

Riggs

I spent the night on the roof.

Odd that I would be more comfortable up here than in my room. Was it a holdover from when I used to be a Dragon? Or just a sign that I didn't want company?

In fact, I certainly didn't want company. Or rather, I did, but the one I most wished to be with was someone I needed to think long and hard about.

Rising, I walked to the parapet and turned my face into the wind. At moments like this, with it dancing over my skin, I could almost imagine flying. Wings beat at the edges of my consciousness, but they were mere ghosts of what I'd once been.

Breana resonated through my fractured soul, and if one believed in Fate at all, she represented my future. But what could I possibly offer her? I didn't even remember who I was. And if I ever did regain my memories—there were those that wanted me to die in a much more permanent manner. I was looking at a lifetime of watching my back.

And then there was the blasted sword. It spoke to her, gave her strength where she most needed it. It was connected to her, too. Could I turn my back on it, and not her?

It wanted me to be something I could not be.

My mind spun away from that and focused on that Tez dude. He had drawn the sword.

And Breana had dreamed of him.

I wasn't prepared for the rage that coursed through me. Whoa. It seized hold, and for a moment, I just wanted to tilt my head back and roar to the clouds above.

But it would solve nothing. I could do better—I needed to think. I paced from one end of the roof to the other, forcing myself to breathe, to engage my damaged brain.

Cara had said bearing the sword wasn't always about becoming a leader. Which was good, because I just wasn't Emperor material. I may not have my memories, but even the thought of running the Empire instilled complete panic within me. The fierce joy I'd experienced when on the rescue mission, and when I'd fought Talakai, had proved I was still someone who craved action. Emperors might order it done, but they did not directly chase down underworld criminals or lift their swords against them.

I envisioned running the Empire as akin to wearing chains. Freedom was not an option.

What if that was what Fate had in store for me? If my family, and my people, required it of me?

That was why I was on this roof, I realized. Because not wanting to do something may not matter. Tyrez might be more suited to the Emperor position, but I knew that if push came to shove, I would go where I was needed.

Which only left me hoping with a new kind of desperation that Breana's idea that I had only been intended to bear the sword for another was bang on. Maybe its target had never been me. Tez might be the chosen one. But chosen to do what? He wasn't a Dragon. He couldn't help the Empire.

My brother could. He was everything an Emperor should be. But the sword had refused him. Why?

Cara had said the sword wasn't just about leadership. That it was about change. Well, there was plenty of that going around.

My brother. Tomorrow was the funeral for our family. And Tyrez might have to attend.

The knot in my gut twisted tighter. Would Taran use the funeral to come after my brother? Tyrez could be walking into a trap…

With a poof of flame, a Phoenix emerged in front of me.

I jumped back from the teleporting bird, brushing at sparks that landed in my clothing. I caught only a glimpse of its distinctive coloration before it vanished again, leaving motes of ash drifting in the night breeze.

I cursed my hellacious luck, because I was certain that had been Cara's bird. I rose and made for the stairs, intending to duck whatever new disaster the Watcher wanted me involved in.

Before I got there, the stairwell door opened, and Cara came through. She had the Phoenix sitting on her shoulder, and behind her was a small, cloaked form.

"I was pretty sure I sensed you up here," the Watcher said. "So I sent Flash to be certain." She gestured to her smaller companion. "He wanted to see you. I tried to stop him from coming, but stubbornness runs in his family." She turned to address the hood that twisted toward her. "I'll wait for you in the stairwell. You only have a few minutes. I want you gone as soon as possible."

The cloaked form nodded, and as she closed the door, turned toward me.

Before the hood lowered, I knew who it had to be. I straightened and regarded the figure with an outward calm that certainly didn't accurately portray the chaos in my soul.

"Hello, Mykal," I said.

The hood dropped to reveal a boy with tousled dark hair and bright, questioning eyes so very much like my own…

I had only a millisecond to appreciate that before he ran into my arms and hugged me like he had the strength of ten men.

My world shook, and then flew apart.

When I next blinked, I was kneeling on the roof with Cara standing over me. Warm, soothing energy pulsed from her, into me, as I gasped for breath. Something hot flowed from one ear, and Cara grimaced.

"Hold on. I'll lock that down," she said.

"I'm so sorry, Dad." Mykal was on his knees in front of me. "I shouldn't have come."

I gasped as the memories swirled through me, each one clamoring for attention. When I wiped at my ear, it had stopped bleeding, but my head still ached dully.

"It was only a minor issue," Cara stated as she pulled away. "And it might have been time to push things."

I struggled to put the images together. I saw an infant with a peach fuzz of dark hair, staring up at me with metallic Dragon eyes. The first time his wings had burst free from his shoulders, and how excited he'd been, even though he could barely walk. His tiny Dragon form clamped to my tail as I took him for his first flight.

Just fragments, but they came with an emotion that threatened to overwhelm me. I reached and pulled him against my chest.

He hugged me back. "I'm a little old for this display of fatherly affection. But I take it you now remember me?"

I nodded, unable to speak. More bits and pieces came to me. Very few were completely intact, but I didn't care.

I remembered him. My son .

"Okay. Dad, I didn't come here to be smothered." Mykal pushed me away. But his eyes were suspiciously bright as he sat back.

"Why did you come?" My voice broke on the last word, but I couldn't completely let him go. My hands remained on his shoulders.

"I needed to know," he breathed. "If you really had forgotten us."

Forgotten us. The despair in those words struck straight through to my heart. I thought of my family members hiding at that treehouse. But no matter how hard I focused, I couldn't dredge up more than a few images of my past with them in it.

Cara's hand touched my arm. "It will come, but this is a great start."

She pushed herself to her feet and regarded Mykal. "Your father has not forgotten you. His memories of you have been stolen, but he will regain them," she said. "But for now, you, my boy, have to go back. We are fortunate the gate guardian doesn't know you. You risked much by coming here."

She stared at him with a stern expression, but Mykal simply shrugged, and then grinned up at me.

"I'm glad I came," he said, unapologetic.

It was like looking in a blasted mirror. I grinned back at him.

"So am I."

The gate's bright energy dispersed, and I watched Cara start the trek back to the building.

As the dawn rose over the horizon, a part of me that had been tangled, eased. I knew my son. I remembered him.

If that miracle was possible, so were others. I just needed to see it through.

I would speak with Tyrez after classes and convince him not to go. And as far as the blasted sword was concerned, perhaps I had done my part by transferring it to those who could make a difference.

Staying at the academy would make it difficult to avoid what Fate seemed determined to throw my way. But what alternatives did I have? Could I skedaddle into the realms that were slowly being swallowed by the underworld? Become a mercenary and live my life serving myself?

The love of the fight, in the pursuit of what's right. The words flashed across my mind, some random fragment of memory. Something that had once been important to me. To become a mercenary, I would have to abandon half of that motto.

I'd convinced myself that my Legion warrior had died in a back alley in Drosfi. But now, I remembered my son.

Even if that was all I ever regained of my past, this academy could offer me a middle ground. Something to make my life meaningful.

My stomach growled. I had missed dinner, and my body was convinced I was starving. That basic physical need helped me put other things into perspective. The sword wasn't intended for me. That would become clear with time. Breana was still an issue that I needed to resolve, though. Fate was a cunning bitch, and not easily evaded.

Squelching my uneasy thoughts, I headed for the stairway, and breakfast. All my possible plans for a future were derailed by, of all things, a complaining stomach.

The cafeteria was full of milling students. The first thing I saw was Tez at the Team Hippogryph table, and I ripped my gaze away from him.

My tray was stuffed to overflowing by the time I decided it would be enough to ease my stomach. I glanced at the Dragon table.

Breana sat with the others—and she had the sword strapped to her back.

I gritted my teeth, told myself to stop being a child, and wove my way to her.

"Hey." Breana smiled. My heart did a complete backflip as I grinned like a fool at her.

Not a good start to my new state of indifference.

Breana stared at me. "Are you okay?"

I longed to tell her about Mykal. But here, there were too many ears. "Peachy," I said.

She caught the extra enthusiasm, and one brow rose.

"Where were you last night?" Sid asked.

"I had thinking to do," I said. "Did you sleep well?"

Sid frowned. "Not sure. I shredded the blanket. Again."

Adilyn sighed. "That's the third effing one in just over a week."

"Yeah." The Anisau grimaced. "I'm debating sleeping in the woods."

I picked up a bun that was so fresh my fingers dented it. "Well, the roof had these bodacious pointy-roofed turret things that I leaned against. Not as comfy as a tree."

Bree stared at me. "Bodacious?"

"Anything would be more comfortable than the roof," Nar stated at almost the same time. "Is that where you were?"

"It was quiet," I said.

Nar's brows rose. "Until a Dragon lands on you. They use it all the time."

I shrugged. "I'll bear that in mind."

"You were up all night, thinking?" Breana asked. I saw the worry in her eyes.

"Yeah. I'm okey-dokey now. I just needed the time to myself."

"You sound—different," she stated.

"I'm fine." My eyes dropped to her tray. "Not sure the green icing is an improvement over the pink."

Breana looked at her pastry. "I think their baker needs some new food coloring options. Green is rather unappealing."

Her mouth twisted, and even that expression set my heart on fire. I grabbed hold of it and shoved it somewhere deep. Her brows dropped as I concentrated on shoveling as much food into me as I could.

Adilyn and Leah were discussing the relative merits of glamoring as a means of escaping the morning run, with Sid providing occasional moral support—mainly that faeriedust won't help you if you're outrunning a troop of bloodthirsty mercenaries—and Nar never missing an opportunity to insert a sexually charged barb. The chatter gave me the shield I needed to remain silent.

I'd just gobbled my last mouthful of eggs when Cara appeared at the door. She first went to Tez, and when he rose to follow, she then came to us.

I looked from Tez to her.

"I'm working with all three of you today," she said.

I immediately regretted telling her that Tez could draw the blasted sword. And by the twinkle in Cara's bright-blue eyes, she knew just what I was thinking. I had no memory of what she'd been like before I'd almost died, but I had the feeling that meddlesome had been in my portrayal of her then as well.

It was only marginally reassuring that Tez didn't look any happier about it than I was. He stayed well away from me. And by the way he moved, I was quite certain he was armed. Knives, likely.

We had this ridiculous moment as we entered the hall outside the cafeteria, where neither of us wanted to walk ahead of the other. Cara solved it by pushing Tez ahead of herself.

No way I was turning my back on this blasted guy. We were halfway across the back field before I realized there was more to it than that—I was also keeping myself between him and Breana.

Perfecto. I silently cursed. I either wanted her, or I didn't. I needed to make up my mind.

No, I wanted her. I knew that. The question was whether I should allow myself to.

Cara glanced at me, and I swear her eyes were dancing. Blasted woman. Meddlesome wasn't a strong enough word. Did she think he belonged with Breana?

Or did she think he belonged with us ?

My mind rejected that notion outright. The guy was so arrogant he looked like he had a rod shoved up his ass. And something about him set off every alarm bell I possessed. He was nowhere near my size, but my gut said that he was dangerous as heck.

My gut? Just another confusing dynamic to add to my already chaotic life. Like I needed anything more.

We paused at the gateway while Cara oriented it. I expected to go through to the beach, but we emerged on a savanna instead. A line of trees showed where it gave way to forest along the horizon.

Not a drop of water in sight.

"Why are we here?" I asked.

"Today, I want you and Bree to use the power of the sword to help her shift form." She fixed her gaze on Breana. "First, I want to see how Caliel is doing. Just have a seat. Boys, entertain yourselves for a moment."

As she and Breana sat down in the waving grasses and linked hands, I crossed my arms and regarded Tez through narrowed eyes. He mirrored my stance and glared right back.

As entertainment went, it was a little weak. Although the tiny bird that left his shoulder to hover in my face was mildly amusing.

Fortunately, the women didn't link for long. Cara withdrew her hands and sat with her brow furrowed.

"Is he okay?" Breana asked.

Cara shook her head. "I can feel how hard he is working to keep the Ice Drake walled up—and the crystal dust is helping with that, although I think the sword is more effective. It is powerful, but it must be drawn for him to access the energy."

Breana nodded. "I slept with it like that last night. But it burned clean through the sheets. Almost set fire to the room, according to Adilyn."

Cara's brows rose. "The sword adjusts its power to need. That it would call on so much…" She trailed off, her brows lowering.

Breana bit her lip, but all she said was, "Is he getting weaker?"

Cara nodded. "I think so."

"Why? What can I do?" The pain in her voice twisted my heart. She really cared about the Gryphon that was trapped inside her.

"I'm not sure there's anything you can do," Cara said quietly. "There's no precedent for this. I have suspicions, but I cannot be certain as to why Caliel is fading inside you while Iskar is thriving inside Marcus. All we can do is feed Caliel as much as possible."

Breana stared back at Cara with tears in her eyes. She blinked them away, and vowed, "I won't let him disappear."

"The sword will help," I said, not really knowing if it would.

"Who is Caliel?" Tez interrupted.

We all turned to look at him. I wasn't inclined to answer, but Cara did.

"He's the Gryphon life essence inserted into Bree to help her shift form," Cara stated.

Tez's glance darted from Cara, to Bree, and back again. "She is possessed by another spirit?"

"Sort of," Cara replied. "Although Bree isn't really possessed, she works in partnership with him."

His fingers tapped on his thigh. "Are there others who are possessed like that?"

Cara watched him closely, but it was Breana who answered. "Not counting Marcus, there are five others," she said. "And one of them is now an underlord."

Tez didn't noticeably react, but I got the feeling that the news wasn't welcomed, or even necessarily a surprise. His gaze moved to the sword strapped to Bree's back. "Does the sword belong to her, or to him?" he asked.

This guy was really annoying me. I opened my mouth to tell him it was none of his business, but what emerged was, "Whoa, dude. If you really need to know, and you don't, she needs it more."

As his strangely intense eyes bored right into me, his pet bird, which had left to feed off the local wildflowers, returned to hover over him. When Cara held up her hand, it landed on her finger.

"This is a human realm species," she said.

Tez stiffened. It was a subtle thing, but I had the feeling she'd just touched on something he'd rather not admit to.

He shrugged. "I got her at a market." The bird returned to his shoulder.

"So you said," she replied as she stood up and offered a hand to Breana. "Okay, we don't want to aggravate the Ice Drake today. Bree can spend this session shifting to equine, and back again, using the sword's power. Riggs, practice lifting stones, just as you do water. Without the sword, you might find it more challenging." Her gaze shifted to Tez. "This savanna is full of bird life. I want you to summon it."

Bree was now staring at Tez, and I wasn't sure I liked the look in her eyes. No, I knew I did not like it. But all she said was, "You can call birds?"

He refused to look directly at her. "I have done it. Whether I can do it now remains to be seen."

"You can," Cara affirmed. "Bree will shift to equine. And Riggs will lift stones." Now we all stared at her. She huffed a laugh. "I'm getting the nonverbal equivalent of you're a crazy lady. But I'm not crazy, trust me. And you are each capable of what I just asked you to do."

"You are a crazy lady," I stated.

"Crazy like a fox," she said.

I frowned at her. "What's a fox?"

"It's a small reddish canine," Tez replied very quickly, and then he side-eyed Cara. "Or so I hear."

When she smirked at him with a satisfied air, he looked away. "I don't know if I can call the birds out of the blue."

"That is why we are here. So that I can show you how," Cara said. Then she clapped her hands. "Okay. Let's get this show on the road."

I grimaced, but turned my back to her and surveyed the ground beneath the thick grasses. It was littered with stones that ranged in size from wee pebbles to something as large as my hand.

From beside me, I sensed a surge—Breana had drawn the sword. It glowed like the sun, and the energy coming off it penetrated through to my very soul.

I wanted to push it away, but it didn't listen to me. Instead, it coursed through me as I envisioned the stones rising?—

The ground trembled beneath our feet and then heaved as rocks emerged to hover in the air. Beside me, Breana uttered small sounds of pain as she writhed her way to horse. I didn't know how to help her, so I just stood there surrounded by floating rocks.

"You're halfway there," I told her. "Looking very—equine."

Her breath hissed through her teeth as her body expanded, rippling with muscle.

As Breana rose on four strong legs, Cara coached Tez. "Call upon the emotions you experienced when the birds came to you before."

"That's not a good idea," Tez said.

"There is nothing you can unleash that I cannot handle," Cara assured.

Tez didn't answer, but I got the feeling he didn't agree. He did, however, take a deep breath, and held his hands aloft.

I was unprepared for the sword's energy to reach for him, too. As it took hold, he gasped, his body going rigid?—

And they came.

They rose from the grasses and emerged as tiny dots from the far-away forest to swirl in a giant flock above our heads. Birds in every size and description, the raptors flying with the songsters, formed a vortex with Tez in the very center.

The sword rippled his power back through me, too. The ground beneath us heaved as it did so. For just a millisecond, I felt as though I could fly.

Wings, no. But I stared down at hands that had sprouted talons.

Beside me, a glossy black mare snorted and tossed her head. Her eyes were wide as she stared at the birds dipping and diving around us. The surrounding air vibrated with energy. As though the birds were only the beginning…

Then Tez shut it all down. He lowered his hands and turned it off like flicking a switch. The birds scattered in an instant, and my talons dropped to the ground.

"That's all I've got," he said, but his voice shook.

Was I the only one who didn't quite believe him? Breana poked me with her nose. I got the distinct impression she didn't believe him either. What had caused that tremendous surge? Had the sword's energy fed something within him, or was it the other way around?

"For a first effort, that was remarkable," Cara stated briskly. "Okay, Bree. Back to human with you. I want you to do a few more shifts. And Riggs—your efforts with the stones were admirable. Try to refine your focus so we are not knocked off our feet, though." She flexed her fingers like claws, making sure Tez didn't see. "Those were a nice touch."

My heart raced. She'd seen the talons. A clear sign that the Dragon in me wasn't as dead as we assumed.

The Watcher didn't make a big deal of it, though. Instead, she turned to Tez. "Let's try calling just a few birds this time."

We all stared at her until she clapped her hands. "Come on now. I'm not only crazy, I'm determined."

I sighed, and stared down at the stones…