Chapter 2

2

EIRIAN

I fastened the cloak around my shoulders, acutely aware of the human woman's wide-eyed stare. The shift always left me feeling exposed, vulnerable in a way I despised. But it was necessary. These fragile lesser beings needed to be eased into the realities of our world. But her scent carried none of the hint of our magic like the other beings.

I glanced upwards, watching as my other brethren returned, one by one, each carrying someone in their claws. Tainted ones. The very thought made my lip curl in distaste. But orders were orders, no matter how much I disagreed with them.

I waited until they were all set down in the courtyard, my brethren flying off to leave me and a few others to deal with these new beings.

"Welcome to Dracaria," I announced, my voice carrying across the courtyard. The woman I'd rescued – along with fifteen others brought by my fellow shifters – turned to look at me fully, their eyes a mixture of fear, confusion, and awe. I was used to such looks even from Dracarians who did not harbor the same gift of transformation. "I'm sure you have many questions. All will be explained in due time. For now, know that you are safe here."

A lie, of course. None of us were truly safe, not with the shadow creatures growing bolder by the day. But these tainted ones didn't need to know that. Not yet.

The light-haired woman I'd carried here stepped forward, her chin lifted in a show of defiance that was almost... admirable. "Where are we? What's going on? And who the hell are you?"

I raised an eyebrow, mildly impressed by her audacity. I had assumed most tainted ones would be too stunned by their first dragon encounter to speak so boldly, and yet here she was. The only human too. How peculiar. "As I said, all will be explained. But since you ask so... politely, I am Eirian, son of Asolde and Alaric, of the House of Zaladrex. I am to be your guide and instructor during your time here in Dracaria."

"Dracaria?" she repeated, her brow furrowing as she glanced around. "That's... that's not a real place. It can't be. This has to be some kind of elaborate prank or... or a dream or something."

Annoyance flared in my chest, but I pressed it down. Why did she insist on denying what was right in front of her eyes? Then again, as I glanced around at the rest of the group, it was clear they held the same disbelief.

Wonderful. Just what I needed right now. People who could not even believe what lay right before their eyes.

"I assure you, this is very real. You are no longer in your world. You're standing in one of the courtyards of the Dragon Keep, once home to the dragons of old. You have been brought here because you carry within you a spark of Dracarian blood. Diluted and weak as it may be," I couldn't help adding, "it makes you valuable in the coming conflict despite being ‘Tainted Ones'."

"Dragon Keep…" She frowned at first, glancing around the area before the rest of what I said seemed to register, and her eyes narrowed. "Excuse me? 'Diluted and weak'? Listen here, Mr. High-and-Mighty, I don't know who you think you are, but?—"

"Your name," I cut her off, my voice sharp. I had no patience for her indignation, justified as it might be. "What is it?"

She blinked, momentarily thrown off by my abrupt demand. "I... Aria. My name is Aria."

Aria. The name suited her, I thought, even as I berated myself for noticing such a trivial detail. "Well, Aria," I said, infusing her name with as much condescension as I could muster, "if you're quite finished, I suggest we move this conversation inside. The courtyard is not the place for such discussions."

Not to mention I knew I could pawn these lesser beings off to Elowen. We were to handle them together, something my mother had believed would be beneficial given our… relationship.

As I turned to lead them into the fortress, I caught Aria muttering under her breath, "I'll show you diluted and weak."

Despite myself, I felt the corner of my mouth twitch in what might have been the beginning of a smile. I quickly schooled my features back into their usual impassive mask. It wouldn't do to show any sign of amusement or approval. These tainted ones needed to understand their place here, and that place was certainly not as my equals.

And yet, as we walked towards the grand doors of the fortress, I found my gaze being drawn back to Aria. There was something about her... a fire, a determination that set her apart from the others. It was almost... intriguing. Not to mention how she'd muttered to herself during our flight and even tried to communicate with me despite trembling like she was going to fall into a million pieces.

I shook my head, banishing the thought. She was just another tainted one, here to serve a purpose in our war. Nothing more. I had a duty to fulfill, expectations to meet. I couldn't afford to be distracted by one mouthy human, no matter how intriguing she might be.

But as I pushed open the doors to reveal the grand entrance hall beyond, I couldn't shake the feeling that things were about to get a lot more complicated.