14. Bexley Blackforge

Chapter 14

Bexley Blackforge

A part of me had always recognized that I was not only sheltered but rather naive when it came to how the world worked. I'd been fortunate enough to live in a protective bubble after escaping from Linan that first time, but it had only been an extension of how I'd been raised initially. I didn't fault my parents or the Bronzehearts for that, or even society for encouraging it—it was only natural to want to protect your children. And because we were storm dragons, we as ‘children' were considered even more important to society. It didn't surprise me that our safety and happiness had been held in such high regard—that I had been placed on a pedestal.

However, while I was thankful for those who'd protected me…right now I seriously wished I'd had a bit more ‘tough' love. Or been placed in more stressful situations. Or even had more training. Because at this moment, more than anything, I was envious .

I was jealous of the skillset Breaker exhibited and the way he moved about, confidently handling weaponry before passing it off to others, ensuring that everyone had a piece of artillery they felt comfortable wielding.

Jealous at the ease with which Jagger handled our parents as they discussed military strategy and how to protect those who'd come seeking shelter from the impending battle.

Jealous at the way Gage commanded people, his orders never called into question, inspiring unwavering support from anyone he spoke to.

I was just so incredibly envious of their experience and training.

Instead of helping in a productive way, I felt forced to stand to the side, watching as everyone moved around me, the estate coming alive in anticipation. The dawn light had traveled across the courtyard in the hours since I'd woken up, seeping through the windows of the great hall and waking everyone.

It was clear who planned to fight and who didn't, because those ready for battle immediately reported to the courtyard. My gaze tracked over the hundreds of individuals gathered, having lost my mates in the crowd as they helped organize the troops. Aquatic shifters. Avian shifters. Feline shifters. Rogue wolf shifters. Even some prey shifters who were wielding weapons themselves, going against their base instincts to aid in defeating Clanguard. It was a bit overwhelming, the scale of it all, and even standing at a distance on the stairs I didn't feel like I had enough air to breathe.

Or maybe it was because I felt utterly useless with no way to help and nothing to do.

I'd been able to spend some time aiding inside, ensuring that families seeking refuge here received breakfast and that they had everything they needed before we locked down the building. After that, I'd gone back to feeling useless.

I'd tried to help the moms, who were currently bent over a map of the pack lands, coordinating the plan on how to release the women trapped in Clanguard's prison. But my voice seemed to disappear when I tried to offer advice, leaving the military generals staring at me in confusion. Clearly thinking that I didn't belong.

And maybe they were right. Maybe I didn't belong here—and I sure didn't belong on the battlefield. So why did a part of me so desperately want to go?

"Overwhelmed?" Aurora asked as she joined me on the front steps of the estate, her hands in her pockets as she examined the gathered forces. I had no idea what would come next for the rogue lands after the war—assuming we won—but despite their initial objections, she and Dyer had been helping in any way they could.

"Sort of. I don't really know what I'm supposed to be doing," I answered honestly, figuring she wouldn't have asked if she didn't really want to know. "This entire time I've had a purpose, whether it was finding Rebecca or helping release my parents, but now…well, now war is at our doorstep, and I have absolutely no idea how to help.

"I know what my mates would say—they'd claim that my part's done and that I just need to stay safe, but that doesn't sit right with me."

Aurora considered my statement for a long moment. "Right. Well, here's something for you to do: we have a castle full of people that want nothing to do with this war but need protecting from it. Help with that. While we appreciate the effort you've put into keeping the fighting away from here, I think we all know there's a high chance that Linan will find a way to break through the front line and end up here. That's when you'll need to fight."

Her words resonated with me—it was, after all, what I told my mom I'd do just last night. So why didn't it feel like enough? I still felt guilty for not being on the front line, but Aurora was right. This is where I needed to be, and I'd need to be strong if Linan somehow found his way here. If he was looking for me, which he seemed to be, it was very possible it would come to that —an outcome my mates were completely refusing to consider, determined to ensure it never occurred.

A familiar laugh filled the air, and I turned to see Rachel coming downstairs with Olivia at her side. I'd seen Fletcher and Thomas alongside my mates, but this was the first time I'd seen my friend since I passed out. As she walked towards us, her face lit up with relief.

"Bexley!" Rachel pulled me into a hug. "I'm so glad to see you're up. Are you feeling better?"

"Much better," I admitted before crouching down to look at Olivia. Her milky gaze stared right at me from beneath the hood of her pink cloak, shielding her from light. "And how are you feeling?"

"Okay," she murmured. "I miss my mommy though."

"I promise we'll bring her safely to you," I assured her.

I didn't get a chance to say anything else, though, before a roar bellowed through the air, causing everyone's eyes to go skyward. Oh . My eyes widened at the whoosh of wind passing over wings, dark figures dotting the sky. There had to be at least fifty of them.

Somehow I'd forgotten that other dragons existed. I hadn't been exposed to them much while growing up with the Bronzehearts, but they lived within clan lands. Apparently, according to my parents, a large percentage of our population had been killed off during the attack on the Flash clan. Despite being able to live in any of the dragon clan lands, many dragon shifters had preferred the Flash lands because of the higher elevation. It also explained why I hadn't seen many dragons around—even within the Bronzeheart estate.

These were the ones left.

I watched in awe as they soared above the estate. Their magic was exhilarating, rushing against my skin, and I had to resist the sudden urge to shift. To join them.

It was impossible to ignore.

"They're patrolling the skies, keeping an eye out for when Linan begins to march north," Rachel explained. "They were further south, but if they're back it means our forces need to leave soon."

I jogged inside and up the stairs, knowing exactly where I wanted to go. On the third floor, I went to a balcony that overlooked the courtyard and watched the figures in the sky swoop gracefully through the air, the cloudy skies causing them to stand out in dazzling effect.

They were magnificent.

"Bexley!" one of my mates growled, their voice loud above the crowds gathered, but I was already over the railing and jumping off the balcony, shifting mid-air. Thunder cracked and lightning struck as my skin hardened to scales and the dragon within me was released.

Welcoming roars greeted me as I flew towards the other dragons, a wave of excitement and cheers sounding from below. A light drizzle coated my scales, and dragons moved out of my way as I shot up and circled around, letting my eyes greedily soak up the details of the other dragons up close and personal.

Magenta. Purple. Navy. Crimson. White. There were so many of them and in so many colors, each of them varying in wingspan, size, and power. Some had horns, and others didn't. Some had large wings meant for gliding, and others had smaller wings for speed. It was fascinating!

As I flew around a group of three smaller dragons, each of them offering me rumbles in greeting, I felt a sense of pure joy. These were my kin, my own species. Of course the Bronzehearts had always made me feel part of something, but this…there was something more base to this. Connecting to these other dragons, these other creatures who were just like me, was special. It also gave me hope that between them and the forces on the ground, the war would be over quickly. There was no way Linan could match us.

My attention turned south at the thought of him, and that was when I saw it—the reason the dragons had flown back in the first place.

Lights speckled the land, moving in a large group. Now that I was paying attention, I could feel the power shifting through the air as Linan's massive army moved into position, coming for us on the offense. I had no idea how his pack had grown so large—maybe it had always been this size—but it was a formidable force.

My thoughts moved back to when Trek had mentioned being able to end all of this instantly. Was that an option anymore? Far more lives would be lost through this battle than any power surge storm dragons could cause, but if we could target Linan…

No. If that was a possibility, they would've already enacted it.

Death was unavoidable. It was a raw and painful reality that brought me down to earth—literally—shifting as I dropped down outside of the courtyard. Breaker was waiting for me as I walked through the gate, concern written plain on his face. When he brought me into his arms, I tilted my head back to look into his eyes.

"We're leaving soon. We want to meet him before he reaches the edge of the territory."

"Why do you need to go?" I whispered, suddenly worried for my mates. With the exception of my own, all of the other dads were going, as well as Breaker's mom, but that didn't make me feel better. That just meant that more people I cared about were in potential danger. More people that I could lose when I'd just gotten everything back.

"Hey," Breaker said, smoothing his fingers over my cheek. "I promise we will do our best to focus our attacks on those who want this war, not the others who've been caught up in it—not the ones being forced to fight."

"I know it's unavoidable," I admitted. "I would rather you three come home safe, even if it means killing others. I feel horrible saying that."

"Don't feel horrible about that," Breaker said forcefully. "I would burn this world for you, Bex. In a heartbeat."

I was glad to hear it, but I hoped it wouldn't come to that.

Half an hour later I was standing between my mates as they laid out the plan. My back was pressed against Gage's chest as his hand smoothed over my hip in a repetitive and comforting pattern. Jagger watched my expression closely, picking up on my tension as Breaker spoke. I could tell they were trying to make me feel better by including me in the discussion as much as possible, but I wasn't sure if it was making me feel better or worse. If it was alleviating my concern or just putting visuals of the imagined scenarios in my head.

"We're going to stop them before they reach the rogue land border. We want the majority of their forces to stay in dragon clan territories," Breaker explained. "Dragons and avians will attack aerially, and the rest will stay on the ground. We have weaponry, but half of the forces will fight in shifted form so that we can rely on both forms of attack."

"We're hoping nothing hits here; however, we will have a medical team set up at the entrance of the estate, so there will be no need for us to unlock the gates once the fighting starts," Jagger added.

"Breaker!" His dad called. Breaker gave him a sharp nod, and I knew it was time for them to go. I surged forward and wrapped my arms around him, hugging him tight as he smoothed a hand through my hair. As I tilted my head back, he pressed a kiss to my lips and whispered that he loved me before I finally released him. Jagger smoothed a hand up my back as I watched Breaker walk away.

"It will be completely fine," Jagger promised. "Don't you worry, little treasure."

"I'm going to worry," I told him, looking into his familiar gaze. "You're my mates, the loves of my life. I can't not worry."

Jagger cast me a small smirk and dipped his head, brushing his lips over mine. "Well I can't argue when you say that."

"Just be safe. I love you."

"I love you too," he said, following Breaker to the front line of the forces preparing to leave.

Gage turned me in his arms, and I stared up into his handsome face, my hands tightening on him, wondering if there was a way to convince them to stay. "Do not take any risks, cupcake. No matter what you feel through our bond, we will absolutely be okay."

"You can't ask that of me." I shook my head, feeling distressed already. I shouldn't take any risks?! What about them?

"None of us will be able to focus if we think you're in danger. Promise me."

"I promise," I whispered, unable to help myself. "Please be careful, Gage. Please? He killed dragons before; he can do it again."

Gage's kiss was hard and demanded all of my attention. It made my mind go completely blank as I melted into him with a happy sigh. When he finally pulled away, his voice was so incredibly serious. "I love you, Bex. We're ending this today."

"I love you, Gage."

As he walked away, I waved to the others who were going, my arms wrapping around myself as I tried to maintain a brave face. I didn't want them to doubt for a minute that I believed in them.

When the war horns sounded from afar, everyone began to move at once. I felt lost in a wave of people being jostled, and as I stood there, frozen—desperately wanting to call my mates back—the courtyard cleared out.

"Come inside, honey," Celine said. They were waiting on me to close the doors. With one last, long look at the departing forces, I stepped inside. The doors slammed shut, and without a word I trailed up the stairs. Someone called my name, but I kept moving. I knew exactly where I wanted to be for all of this.

When I reached the topmost floor, I stepped onto the balcony and surveyed the land. I could mark where our troops were based on the dragons in the sky, as well as the flags from all the different clans and packs who marched to war. When they broke through trees, I could see our forces moving like a wave across the land. Closing my eyes, I sent a prayer up to the fates that everything would be okay. That my mates would return to me.

Linan Clanguard's attack was going to end far differently than it had last time.