Chapter 25

After a quick teleportation spell, Killian stood in the new village of Renata with the Arch Lich and his two dedicated sentinels, the Grand Warlock, the Grand Summoner, Kaedan's familiar, and the handsome dragon who was winning his heart. Killian smiled at the well-built cottages housing a mixture of races, including druids. Several weeks ago, the building of Renata had been started subsequent to several other small towns being razed by nefarious dragons preying upon magickind.

"As usual, I stand here both grateful there are smiles on the faces of our people and horrified that those same individuals have left behind everything they knew and lost loved ones," Kariston stated with a frown.

"They are hosting a gathering tonight to ensure everyone has met and knows they can count on one another," Renny said, concern in his navy eyes. "I love the resilience of our people, but like you, I hate how they have suffered."

"It is good to see their cooperation," Kaedan remarked. "We must do all we can to provide what they need and aid them in having a wonderful gathering."

"Grand Warlock," a woman called out, rushing toward their group so quickly she stumbled. Her long gown was such a vibrant orange that it could've only been created magically, and the gray eyes that marked her a necromancer were panicked as she tried to get her footing. "Oh, dear!"

"Careful," Chander said, grabbing her arm to keep her from tumbling face-first into the dirt. "No need to run, are you well?"

"Oh my," she exclaimed, trying to right the bonnet tied loosely over her black hair. "Arch Lich, my thanks, and my apologies. I am making such a cake of myself."

"Did you hurt yourself?" Chander asked.

Her grin was vivid, and Killian liked the humor dancing in her gaze. "I am quite well, Arch Lich. Except for my pride. Here I am, a newly elected mayor, and I'm embarrassing the entire town on our first visit from so much royalty. My apologies, I am Kantarellen. Thank you so much for coming to Renata."

"Our pleasure, Kantarellen," Kaedan responded. "You are delightful, and so is your town. Please do not apologize. We are here to offer you our services since we understand you are not attending the dance tonight."

"Renny assured us it was fine for us to host a small celebration of our own this eve since we are still learning the names of our townsfolk, Grand Warlock," Kantarellen replied. Then her mouth dropped open. "I do not know what the matter is with me. Renny, I should be calling you Grand Warlock Familiar."

"Do not be silly," Renny said, patting her arm. "I am the one who told you to call me Renny. We're pleased you are celebrating tonight."

"It is just for this month; we could not stand to miss two dances in a row," Kantarellen answered. She grimaced. "Is it a poor idea to have it the same night as the dance? Perhaps it is not too late to postpone?"

"The needs of your village take precedence above everything else," Chander told her.

Kantarellen smiled. After fussing with her bonnet again, she straightened her shoulders and glanced across at every member of their little group. Her gaze widened as she took in the tall dragon shifter at Killian's side, but she didn't step away until she spotted the two sentinels a short distance behind Chander. Since she was a necromancer, her head had likely been filled with the evil story of the sentinel who killed his own necro and other horrid tales, so Killian was unsurprised by the fear on her face.

"I…uh, I have a list of things we thought to ask to have grown," Kantarellen said, her eyes skittering to the sentinels before falling to the ground. "Renny told us we should do so. I hope it is not an imposition, Killian the Dwyer. Please accept our congratulations on your matebond." She smiled at Dravyn, who blushed in the way Killian loved. "I saw you from afar, Your Grace, and thanked Fate for pairing Killian the Dwyer with such a handsome man."

"Thank you," Dravyn mumbled to the dirt.

"It is my pleasure to grow whatever you need," Killian assured her. "Thank you for your glad tidings; I am grateful to Fate for her kindness."

"Could I show everyone some of the village?" Kantarellen offered, her grin growing. "Today we finished Filbert's cottage. He is a fine druid and has found work teleporting elves and shifters for Aloisa the Dwyer and Grand Sage Saura."

"We would be delighted to see whatever you wish to show us," Kaedan said.

Kantarellen strode off, and the men in their group fell into line behind her.

"She has entered the hut up ahead," Chander said. "My sentinels and I will wait outside. I do not wish to frighten her further."

"No one can learn that the sentinels mean no harm if you do not expect people to adapt to their presence," Killian warned as he took Dravyn's hand.

"They are rebuilding due to substantial loss. Now is not the time for me to take a stand about sentinels," Chander replied.

"We are with Chand," Benton added. "Death and destruction brought them and us here today. The ever-present chasm that exists between necromancers and sentinels will wait until a happier moment to be addressed."

"The problem is, those happier moments are few and far between thanks to our persistent marauders," Killian grumbled.

A short staring match with a stubborn Arch Lich had Killian rolling his eyes and leading Dravyn away from the trio of hardheaded men.

"Let us go catch up to the others," Killian said to Dravyn, who nodded.

It was a short walk to the cottage Kantarellen had led the warlocks and familiar into, and Killian winced as Dravyn had to stoop to get through the door. The tall shifter could barely straighten to his full height in the cottage belonging to the druid, Filbert. Introductions were swiftly made to a smiling Filbert. Like his clothing, the fabrics in his home were a pretty blue.

Killian was busy admiring the hominess and quality craftmanship of Filbert's cottage when he heard screams. Both Filbert and Kantarellen froze in place, but Kaedan lifted a hand, and a soft glow surrounded the villagers. Killian threw a magical barrier atop Kaedan's as the shouts of terror increased outside, and Kariston was barely a heartbeat behind him, adding a third layer to the protection they could offer Filbert and Kantarellen.

"Go," Kariston ordered his brother. "Renny and I can see to Kantarellen and Filbert. Kaedan, you must aid the other villagers with shields. Everyone else—"

Kariston's words were cut off as thick pungent smoke filled the cottage through their magick, and the Grand Summoner coughed heavily. Killian lifted his arm to cover his mouth with his sleeve as his eyes watered. Kaedan threw an arm up with a snarl and shoved the smoke out of the cottage. The spells they'd chosen were altered simultaneously to protect against not just the fire they had expected, but anything else the dragon had in mind.

"That's a dragon," Dravyn exclaimed.

To Killian's horror, Dravyn dropped the hold he had on Killian's hand and burst out the door of the cottage so swiftly he tore it halfway off its hinges. A mighty roar sounded above the panicked shrieks outside.

"Damn," Kaedan growled as he raced out of the cottage.

Killian pulled himself out of his momentary stupor and followed the Grand Warlock outside. His heart nearly stopped as he took in the mighty green dragon facing off with a drab brown one. While Dravyn was clearly larger, Killian feared the damage his mate would endure in a fight with the evil creature trying to destroy Renata and its occupants.

Lifting his arms, Kaedan threw a golden ball of fire at the unwelcome dragon. It hit the beast's side but did nothing to deter the dragon from blasting flames at Dravyn. The two colossal beasts charged each other. More acrid smoke filled the air. Thankfully, it did not choke Killian. The druid stood there helpless with fear.

Kaedan fired a second bolt and whipped his head to Killian. "I know you are terrified for your mate, but I need your help. Blast Masse's rock with magick to protect yourself, then get these people inside. Chand can't do it. They have already seen he has his sentinels with him. They are panicked of both dragons and sentinels."

Shaking himself out of his stupor, Killian tore his eyes away from the beasts wrestling above the village. He yanked the copper case from his pocket. One flick on the clasp and the rock fell into his palm. Killian tossed it above him and let his magick fly. The stone shattered. Killian gasped as a tight shield wrapped itself around him.

"Use your rock," Killian shouted at Kaedan above the dragon roars and screams.

"Go," Kaedan ordered, ripping his own copper container from his cloak.

Killian raced to the cottage opposite Filbert's. Pulling the door open, he motioned toward it with his hands.

"Get inside," Killian coaxed a trio of children trembling and clutching each other. His heart pounding with fear, Killian forced himself to ignore the fight above his head. The air was growing heavier with smoke and, with it, the surrounding chaos.

On the other side of the town, Killian could barely see Chander and his sentinels. They were doing what they could to help the folks of Renata. The Grand Warlock had his feet planted and was cutting through the smoldering sky with gold beams of light.

Thankful Renata was not a large encampment, Killian shut off his mind. He could deal with the danger Dravyn was putting himself in later. It was imperative he remain in control and do his duty as Killian the Dwyer. Unwilling to be slowed by his heavy cloak, Killian tore it off. It fluttered to the ground behind him as he raced barefoot to the next group of terrified people.

It did not matter which cottage belonged to whom. Killian wanted everyone indoors. The screams died down. With no thought to the magick he was using, Killian covered cottage after cottage with a protective spell while Kaedan tried to aid Dravyn in subduing the beast above their heads. The trees swayed in his direction, and he pleaded with his leafy friends to safeguard the horrified people.

If he'd had the time, he would have commanded a tree to grow large enough to shield his mate too. Out of breath thanks to his exertions, Killian dared not stop to think. But once he ran out of villagers, his eyes betrayed him and lifted to the sky. The dragons were swiping each other with tails, wings, and claws as they battled.

They were too far off for Killian to know what injuries they had both suffered, but his heart ached for Dravyn anyway. With panic in his soul, Killian ran to Kaedan's side.

"My magick is doing nothing to slow this damn beast," Kaedan complained with a snarl as Chander and his sentinels skidded to a halt on the Grand Warlock's other side.

"That is all the villagers," Killian said.

"Can you beg your mate to land?" Kaedan asked. "Perhaps we can scare the dragon off?"

"How could I even get him to hear me?" Killian demanded as a dragon above them roared so loudly the ground trembled.

"If they fly lower, we could jump up there and kill the dragon," Baxter said, his cloak vanishing. He grabbed his daggers from where they floated at his sides.

Benton mirrored his mate's actions. "Or we meld into the shadows and teleport to the beast's back to slit its throat."

Dravyn and the ugly brown beast collided in midair and rolled together as they fought furiously.

"That may not be possible," Killian muttered. He swallowed thickly and wondered how to get everyone out of their current predicament. With no casualties except for the uninvited beast who'd shown up to harm the residents of Renata.

"Enough of this," Chander snapped, ripping his cloak off and hurling it to the ground. Snatching his daggers from their holster, he shook his wings out. Nothing Chander wore inhibited him from displaying the gorgeous appendages—he had slits cut in every tunic.

"Chand, what are you doing?" Baxter demanded.

Ignoring the sentinel, Chander flapped his wings and, with a gigantic leap upward, barreled through the sky like a thick black arrow.

"I will kill him," Kaedan roared, switching from aiming magical streaks at the marauding dragon to swirls of healing in Chander's direction.

They watched in horror as Chander flew high. As quick as a whip, he dove toward the dragon. Dravyn reared back to blow fire into the dragon's face. Chander took advantage of the distance and twirled through the air. His black daggers moved so fast Killian lost sight of them.

But his aim was deadly. The dragon slammed into the dirt and morphed into his human form as death claimed him just past the village. Dust kicked into the air, and Killian coughed.

"Kaedan," Chander yelled as he followed the dragon to the ground at a much more sedate pace. "I am unhurt. Stop trying to heal me, it stings."

"You may not be hurt yet, but you will be heavily wounded in a moment," Kaedan shouted. "Have you lost your wits? You could have died."

"No, it was Killian's mate I worried about. I can care for myself."

Uninterested in a fiery argument between the two strong-willed men, Killian ran to Dravyn as he landed softly some feet away. Relieved, Killian leaned his forehead against the smooth scales beneath one of Dravyn's large green eyes.

"You scared me," Killian whispered.

"I will deal with you later, Chand," Kaedan yelled behind him as he rushed to Killian and Dravyn. "Is your mate hurt?"

Killian's magick was already searching every inch of Dravyn's big beast and finding nothing but minor scrapes, which he quickly mended. Knowing Dravyn was fine did nothing to stop the mighty pounding of Killian's poor heart.

"He is fine," Killian said, forcing himself upright and stroking Dravyn's dragony cheek. "Mostly unharmed."

"Thank you for defending this village," Kaedan commented. "But do not risk your life again. Killian needs his mate. We will give you two a moment while I reassure everyone they are safe. Then I must murder the Arch Lich."

Chander scoffed. "I love you, Kaedan, but you lack the power to kill me."

"I shall just make you suffer instead," Kaedan snapped.

"Plus, he will have our help," Baxter argued.

"Dray, come with me and you can shift back to human form," Killian coaxed. "I can use magick to cover you since your clothes were destroyed."

Killian needed to hug Dravyn, thank him for his courage, and demand the man promise never to terrify him in the future.