Chapter 36

CHAPTER 36

T he Drak was striking in the morning, the light bending and bouncing between the branches. There were so many different hues of purple, my eyes loved to get lost in them.

Emric and our Wylan team were with me. When I had discussed with John and Emric first thing this morning what I had been planning on doing, Emric had been adamant I take the entire team with me.

While it felt overkill, like I had an entire damn audience to heal just Jagen, I still appreciated them wanting to have my back. When they returned back to Wylan, I would have significantly less allies in Dra Skor. So I would enjoy it while I could.

John was in the library, of course, but the rest of us and Malachi's team had headed to The Drak. Malachi looked far less tormented this morning, but also not himself yet.

"Thank you for doing this," Jagen said to me. "The relief it will bring me, to be able to shift and defend Charlotte—" he cut off, overcome with emotion. "Thank you for this."

I looked him in the eyes. "Thank you for not holding what happened in that cell against me. "

He gave his head one long shake. "If Charlotte wouldn't have said what she did, we could have been killed that night. And not by you. You might have scared the hell out of me, but in a chaotic sort of way, you also saved us." He gave me a shrug. "That bridge is so wide and high over the water, that it is irrelevant."

"Still," I bit out. "I do not want to make a habit of torturing people. I strive to be different from my father."

"You were willing to do whatever necessary to protect Esta and Dra Skor. Dra Skor deserves a king like that."

I hadn't realized how much I needed to hear those words until they were out there, into the air. "Thank you." I paused and looked to Malachi. "As you know, we have told no one this is happening. Yes, there are a lot of us here now, mostly because my team insisted on coming along. But two men on Malachi's team and Malachi in his shifted form will get you back to the castle. Your carriage will not get ambushed as there is no carriage this time. And Esta has insured that you'll have round the clock guards while you sleep it off."

Jagen gave me a nod. "Thank you."

I made quick work of explaining to Jagen all that had to happen to heal him. How he would be able to shift, but only briefly, then would have to shift back before the exhaustion took over entirely.

As we walked into the water of The Drak, Jagen hesitated. "I am counting on all of you to keep Charlotte safe while I am recovering."

I noted he did not and had not said a thing about the baby. "I will personally check in with her when I get back to Halikaara," I told him. "This is the worst part. A few days to rest it off. Then you will be back to your full power."

He rolled his neck. "My sister could use another dragon at her disposal anyway."

I knew Esta was not going to take Jagen away from Charlotte so long as Morana was out there after the throne, but eventually, that would be helpful. It was likely time to also heal Esta's parents. Though Reyald Mallick was far from my favorite Mallick, if given a chance, I knew he would protect Esta and the throne. In the very least, protect his legacy.

"Are you ready?" I asked.

As his eyes hit mine, I saw his fear that in the next three days something could happen to his non-Enchanted fiancé and his unborn child. He was risking the next few days to ensure the months to come. But his doubts were gnawing at him. A lot could happen in three days.

"Would it help you feel better if I move Charlotte to my wing of the castle? A few of my men can help guard her. Both shifters and palm wielders to protect her?" I cocked my head. "If I wanted you dead, you'd already be dead."

His shoulder blades pulled back slightly, as if he remembered what it was like to be pinned in place by my magic even as he snorted a laugh. "That would actually help, yes."

"Consider it done," I told him. "You are not Dra Skor's enemy, Jagen. And we won't let the true enemy do a thing to Charlotte while you heal."

Jagen reached out to shake my hand. "You are a good man."

I took it and shook his hand back. "As are you."

And then with a nod to Malachi, I unleashed my magic onto Jagen. This time seeking out any pockets of poison and blackness.

A minute in, Jagen announced, "As it turns out, this is way less scary without all the pressure, when I am still able to move my limbs."

"It will only hurt slightly when I tug on my magic," I bit out as I sent more and more magic to wrap around him. "Or so I've been told."

It took me close to five minutes; I was adamant I heal Jagen. Adamant he be able to protect his family. "Ready?"

"Ready," he confirmed .

Emric was beside me, ready to blast the poison once it left Jagen. Malachi was there also, ready to shove me backward to help me yank the poison out of him. Simple practices we had learned helped things go more smoothly this many healings in.

"Now!"

Malachi began pushing with his huge horse head on my chest as I yanked hard. As soon as the inky mass was in the water, Emric's red magic blasted it apart.

"Shift," I commanded breathlessly. Having to seek out the poison in the human shifters was not harder, but it took far more concentration.

Jagen's scales seemed to ripple along his skin like I had seen Esta's do before when she was angry and doing her best not to shift, and then in the next moment, a large dragon stood before us, taking up so much space that Emric had to jump out of the way.

My initial thought was that he had to be giving Zaire a run for his money in the biggest drake contest. My second thought was that another Mallick heir was healed. And thirdly, there was no other way to put it, Jagen was far uglier than his sister. He seemed to have spikes protruding from his head. But that slight green iridescent hue to his scales reminded me of Serkan.

A dragon I would never forget.

May I fly? Jagen sent me.

"Only briefly." I understood this part. Amory wanting to run. The winged shifters wanting to fly. With my own wings always begging to be used, I understood this part full well. Once finally back in their forms, they wanted to stretch and use them.

With huge wing beats, he was above us, and as he tucked in his wings to come back down, he split the air with a roar. A roar which promised no one could dare come for him or his family again.

I looked to Emric with a grin. "Really somewhat disappointed I cannot do that. "

"I'm more disappointed you can't breathe fire," Emric deadpanned.

Jagen landed and shifted, Malachi there to catch him as his body began to go limp.

He looked to me. "Thank you." Those were the last words which left his lips before sleep took him under.

I rode with Zaccai back to Halikaara, a backup plan should the man carrying Jagen's human form lose his hold on him.

It wasn't that I did not trust Malachi's men. It was that Jagen was a large man unconscious on a horse. We had all agreed this was safer than a carriage, but seeing how rattled Jagen had been moved me to ensure that nothing would go wrong.

I communicated to Esta the entire trip back about moving Charlotte as I had promised Jagen.

We arrived without issue. I waited until I saw with my own two eyes that Jagen was sleeping in bed with multiple guards protecting him before I moved to find some lunch.

"Are you ready to return to Emric?" Zaccai asked me from his human form.

"They'll likely already be done by the time we get there," I told him.

"I—I still think we should go."

I stilled and turned on him. Too many of Esta's advisors had proven themselves unworthy since I arrived in Dra Skor. Zaccai was newly appointed general as Morana's replacement, but was he another one of them? "Is there something I should know, Zaccai?"

His eyes went wide and he didn't hesitate to put his hands in the air. "Nothing in regard to your men!"

"Then why are you suggesting we go with my men so vehemently? "

He let out a sigh. "Because I have been given an order that we should keep you out of the castle today."

"By whom?"

"Your mate."

Esta, I snapped down the bond.

Yes, Moon?

I almost murdered Zaccai. Is there something going on today?

I could feel her disappointment and a bit of her mischief. Yes. I am planning a surprise for you. Now be gone.

You would dismiss your mate?

I would. It's a surprise you will like. Now go.

I shook my head as my eyes went back to Zaccai. "I am sorry."

Zaccai chuckled. "Given everything which has happened these past few months, I cannot say I would have blamed you, Prince. I don't know what my queen is up to, but it is not the best timing for a surprise."

"Not at all."

We both ate a sandwich quickly before readying to head to The Pit.

I loathe surprises, I warned Esta as we left.

You'll like this one, was her only response.

We returned to The Pit for the last few healings, one of which was a thirteen-year-old kid who had only shifted once before the poison hit. It was a moving moment which refreshed all of our resolves.

"I heard there is a tavern in Arava with the best food and drink." Emric rubbed his hands together. "Shall we?"

I squinted, my eyes going to Zaccai before going back to Emric.

"Odd that just this morning you were worried for my safety in The Drak and now we are gallivanting off to a tavern. "

"Morana is of the dragon line, and we are going together ," Emric said defensively. Entirely too defensive.

"Em," I warned.

"Keir," he responded similarly.

"Does this have to do with whatever Esta is up to?"

"What?" Emric put his hands in the air. "Who told you?!"

Zaccai laughed. "Me. I feared for my life otherwise. He took my suggestion to return here as my knowledge of some sort of attack on you all."

"I don't know what exactly she's doing, only that there is something in play," I explained.

Emric shrugged. "Then you know as much as we do."

"None of you know what she is actually doing?"

Zaccai shook his head.

Emric added, "You don't really think I would be the one she would plan a secret anything with, now would you?"

I managed to keep the smile from my lips as I said, "Not unless sea shanties are involved."

Emric shot me a guilty grin. "Now. Let's go get some drinks." He patted me on the shoulders. "Enjoy the night. All I know is that you aren't to return to the castle until nightfall. Let her surprise you, you lucky bloke."

"I hate surprises," I said, for not the first time today.

Emric clapped his hands together. "That may be, but I do like whiskey and the queen is buying."

Our team had been working tirelessly since arriving in Dra Skor. Though every bit of me wanted to head back to the castle and figure out whatever this surprise was, I could look beyond myself long enough to consider that they did need this. A night to let loose.

Had I not just been thinking about how I hadn't been to all the cities? Though I had been over this area and had visited Nana on the outskirts, I might as well take this opportunity to explore more of Arava.

Three times. Three times I had to catch one of our men as they fell from the shifters. The food had lived up to its reputation. Also the whiskey. Though I had been too nervous for whatever Esta was up to to drink more than one, the rest of the team had not made similar and wise life decisions.

Malachi had walked in the tavern halfway through our meal and pulled up a chair. All he'd said was, "I was exiled and ordered to join you."

I'd drilled him for information, but like me, he had none. Amory and Esta had simply told him to get out and sent him to me.

"Let them have their fun," he'd told me. "Both Esta and I did not really enjoy ourselves while you were gone. It was harder on her than she let on."

He didn't need to tell me that, I had felt her constant worry. Yet she still kept me busy all day, away from her. So here I was. Riding Malachi home and catching my men before they plummeted to their deaths. One of which I was sure was about to fall, his arms out wide as he sang along with Emric.

With how off-key he was singing, I couldn't say I would blame the shifter if he intentionally chucked him.

By the time we arrive, Malachi sent me, I think we might hit double digits.

"I think you are correct," I ground out.

There was a rumbling in the distance, a barely there flash of light. A storm. Great. As if the drunken riders weren't enough, now we were going to get rained on.

On your way back? Esta asked down our bond .

She damn well knew I was. Yes. I have had to catch three riders who had too much whiskey thus far, and it looks like we will fly into the storm.

I felt amusement instead of remorse as I sent my magic out to catch the rider who hadn't been holding on. Four.

Well, those are both complications I did not plan for.

You have a Corshan Enchanted at your disposal, you could have asked, I bit out. You: complains about my trip and barely sleeps while I am gone. Also you: tells me to get gone.

I felt her laughter. It will be worth it, Keir, she promised.

By the time my balcony came into view, I was sopping wet. There was no use in drying myself yet, not until we landed. While I could have made some sort of covering over myself with my magic to avoid the rain, I had been more worried about catching my men than I had been about how dry I stayed.

Malachi and I made sure all the rest of the men dismounted without breaking their necks, and then he flew right over to my balcony.

Don't be too pissed at her, Malachi said as I hopped off. It was fun before the trip home.

I swung open the door to my own room with my magic. I stood in the doorway dripping wet as thunder rumbled behind me. "Are you done avoiding me now?"

"Yes, my moon. That's entirely the point."

"I—" I faltered. There she sat. With John. In my room. I vaguely noted there was a piano now in my room and remembered her saying I could have one, but I was too stuck on the fact that Esta was stunning me. In a white gown. "What is this?"

John was trying and failing to cover a smile with his glass of water.

"We are to be wed," Esta explained simply. "Tonight."