Chapter 50

50

CASSANDRA

" S pend the day looking around and finding your place here, but we expect you at training when you are called," Master Light says as I step out of the room, and he walks with me.

"Training?" I ask, curious.

"Of your powers. Master Gold will be training you, as he is best at pushing one's skills to the furthest they can be stretched. The crown will boost your powers, but they are no use if you have no control. You are more likely to sink an island into the sea, than save anyone," he explains, and I nod, knowing he has a point. I've never had any control over my powers. They just attack when they are needed. "On every fifth evening, you will attend the master's meetings . . . Master Cassandra. "

"I'm a master now?" I ask, not sure if I even I want to be one. I'm not sure how long I can spend here, because I have to leave to get the crown. I can't risk the king going to get the crown before me, and destroying it.

"You are a master, a princess, and our leader," he says, shocking me.

"Titles mean nothing if you do not earn them, and I have not," I tell him.

"But you will, and that is all that matters here, Cassandra. The sea god chose you to lead us to the light, to peace, and to a new world." I don't have a response for him, letting his words fill my mind as if the sea god just said them himself. I go to walk away, as I need to think, but his words stop me. "Spend this time with your pirates, because the war will have a price, and perfect, happy memories are priceless."

"How do you know there will be a price?" I ask him.

"There is always a price to stop darkness and gain peace. If it was easy, it would have been done already. We wouldn't have waited for you," he says and turns around, walking away from me. There won't be any price, not for my pirates. I refuse to let that happen. I turn and walk over the bridge, enjoying the water splashing against me, and letting it soothe me in a way. Hunter and Ryland are leaning against the bridge entrance. Both of their heads snap up when they see me. The brothers stand tall as they watch me walk to them, their eyes blazing with desire and relief that I'm back. I can almost feel it in our bond, like a wave of emotion coming from them. I wonder if they can feel what I feel? Is the bond one-sided?

"Where is Zack?" I ask when I get to them, and Hunter puts an arm around my shoulder, pulling me to his side.

"Someone has come to the mountains on ships with the people of Sixa, and they claim to know Zack. They asked to see you, demanded actually. Zack went ahead with Jacob to see if they are safe," he explains. I know Zack would never let anyone near me that he didn't trust.

"From his home?" I ask, wondering who it could be. He never told me much of his home, but I remember him saying there was a friend called Shan. A friend he grew up with. Maybe that's who it is. But why would they need to see me?

"Yes, all the people of Sixa have apparently left their homes, and come to join the war," Hunter continues, walking over to the side of the cave, and I follow him over. Looking down the mountain, I see a huge group of people in big fur coats, with massive white tigers next to them. There must be over a thousand people standing there, but I can't see much more about them.

"They have disobeyed the king and sided with the mountains. With you," Ryland says as he steps next to me.

"Wow . . . why?" I ask, but Ryland isn't the one that answers me. A female does in a demanding voice, and I turn to face her.

"Because, changed one, we believe you can finish him. You can win a war, but you will need my help," the woman states, standing about ten feet away from me. She is stunning, with long black hair and a long white fur cloak covering her body. Zack walks at her side, with Jacob on the other, and four massive guys follow behind her. They look like a wall of muscle, and the protective way they stand guard over the woman lets me know she is someone important to them.

"Who are you?" I ask, and Zack walks over, holding my hand.

"This is Wynn, and these are her husbands. They saved me once, and I consider them friends," he explains to me and turns to Wynn. "This is my fiancé, Cassandra." Her whole face lights up in a big smile, and it makes me smile, too. She is clearly happy that Zack is settled.

"Congratulations, Zack, you lucky bastard," the big guy says, walking over and patting Zack's shoulder as Zack lightly laughs. The man turns to me, holding out a hand.

"My name is Shan. I hope you love my friend, or I'm going to find out if chucking a changed one into the sea will actually kill them," he says in a friendly manner, and I laugh, ignore his protective threat, and shake his huge hand.

"I can tell you it wouldn't work," I chuckle letting go of his hand. Ryland moves behind me, wrapping his hands around my waist possessively, and resting his chin on my head.

"And I can tell you that you wouldn't make it within two inches of our Cassandra. She would kill you before we could even get to you," Ryland says, and both of them stare each other down until Wynn slides in between Shan and me.

"Boys, stop with the manly bullshit. We have other, more important things to discuss," Wynn snaps, and grins up at Shan when he wraps his arm around her waist. They look at each other like there is no one else in the world, and it makes me smile. This is what life is about, these simple moments of love. These moments of something pure.

"We need to show her," one of the other men says, carrying an old-looking box over to us. The other two men talk quietly with each other, before coming over. We all hear a loud roar, followed by a few bangs. I look over at Hunter, who is looking over the cliff.

"Seems your people have started a fight. You might want to look into that," he darkly chuckles, and there's another loud roar from the crowd below.

"Someone needs to check on the people, so we will go be with them," one of Wynn's men says with a slightly worried look that he shares with his friend. Wynn kisses them both before they leave.

"I'm Fen, nice to meet you all," the man that stayed behind says, and hands Wynn the box as she comes back to us. She walks over to me, holding the box out in front of her.

"Open it," she says, and I look over at Zack, who nods. He clearly trusts her. I smile at him, before lifting the box open and seeing the old map inside. I lift it out, and stretch it wide. It's a map of Calais, and it's extremely detailed and very old.

"I can't read a map like this, so what are we looking at?" I ask, and Ryland steps over to me.

"Why don't you let the pirates have a look at the map? It's kinda what we are good at," he says, but it's playful and makes me laugh.

"No, you can look and then explain to me," I exclaim, and he chuckles kissing my lips softly.

"And you say I'm stubborn."

"You are," I laugh. I look around, spotting the rocks on the floor, and walking over to them. I kneel down, placing the rocks on the corners of the map gently.

"It's a map, and it leads to the only place I don't want to ever return," Hunter says, leaning over, and Ryland examines the map on my other side. He takes my hand pointing to the three circles that are engraved in the Lost Sea, just below Thron.

"That is where the mermaids live. Their castles are below the sea," Ryland states. There's silence between all of us as I stand up and look at Wynn .

"What is located there?" I ask, but I know the answer. This looks like a map to the crown, to the only place it could be, but how did a girl from Sixa get it?

"The lost crown, the one the king hid. This was also in the box," she pulls out a long purple stone, shaped almost like a stick. There's a power to it, I can feel it from here.

"And what is that, exactly?" I ask.

"I don't know, but the mermaids will want something in exchange for the crown . . . I believe they will trade for this," she says, walking over. Wynn hands it to me, but holds her hand over mine on the stick. Her eyes lock with mine, and I see enough emotion to not want to move.

"My mother died, and her last request of me was to get this box to you. We all believe in you, and when we go to war, I will fight at your side. Keep this safe, please," she says in an emotion-filled voice. I know from the look in her eyes she means every single word, and I give her a sharp nod. I will keep this safe for her and for everyone else. Let's pray the mermaids want the stick badly enough to give up the crown. She doesn't say anything more, just walks away with her husbands following her. I look down at the stick in my hand. It doesn't look like much, but it could be everything to the mermaids.

"The deal I made said we had to find the crown where life lives in the sea. I guess we know where we need to go, and now we have something to actually give them," I muse .

"But, can we go? The mountain needs us, and the army isn't ready yet," Ryland asks.

"I need to speak to the masters, and devise a plan. If we can plan it right, so we would be on our way back from the mermaids as they took their army across the seas . . . it could work," I say, thinking over the plan I will have to give them. The army will need to go around the Storm Sea, so we will have a few weeks I think.

"Master Cassandra, your dragon is causing a big fuss outside. We need you to come and calm her." Master Pirate says, coming over the bridge and catching a glimpse of the map on the floor before Hunter picks it up. I hand the stick to Ryland behind my back, trusting him to hide it. It's not that I don't trust Master Pirate. I've just learnt not to trust strangers, and I'm not stupid enough to tell him everything.

"Let's go then, I don't know the way to my dragon. Would you show me, Master Pirate?" I ask, hopefully distracting him. He looks between us all, his eyes focusing on the old box on the floor, before he smiles at me.

"I didn't expect to find you out here. Having a little chat? Is there anything you need to tell the other masters about?" Master Pirate asks, and Hunter walks closer to me, standing at my side.

"Nothing, we have just missed each other and were planning a night in our rooms together," I say, making Master Pirate chuckle .

"You are not very good at distractions, but I will let it go for now, Master Cassandra," he says.

"I want to see this dragon I bought you so long ago," Hunter interrupts, and wraps a possessive arm around my waist, leading me away. Master Pirate follows, but Zack and Ryland stay behind. Zack holds the map in his hand, and winks at me when he catches my eye.

"Does your dragon have a name?" Master Pirate asks me as he steps up to my side, and Hunter pulls me even closer to him.

"Vivo," I say.

"A good, strong name," Master Pirate comments as we walk around a corner and past a massive group of people in cloaks. They all stop to stare, and then they bow their heads low.

"Before you ask, people will treat you this way from now on," Master Pirate informs me.

"They bow to someone they do not know, someone who has done nothing for them," I say, and Hunter squeezes me tightly to him.

"Yet," he whispers, and I look up at him as we walk. There is so much respect in his eyes, so much of something I don't know how to adequately return. His love is so much, so full of passion and desire that swirl in the darkness of him. It's everything in one emotionally charged look, and it's so hard to show him how I feel in return. A loud roar makes me sharply turn away to the three archways we are approaching, and towards Vivo, who is roaring at the people in front of her. They are trying to calm her down on the ledge outside. It looks like a landing bay, not too much different from where I initially landed, but it's not the same one. Vivo looks more and more distressed as the people hold their hands out, shouting for her to calm. Ice is all under her feet, melting slowly, yet more ice spreads over it every time she roars.

"Vivo," I shout, and her eyes turn towards me, locking onto me as I walk over. Master Pirate stays at the door, but Hunter stays at my side. When we get to her, I reach out and place my hand on her nose.

"I'm safe, but thank you for checking up on me," I say, and she huffs in response. "This is Hunter," I introduce him, and he slowly holds a hand out to her. She doesn't move, letting him place his hand next to mine.

"You like him, too? He is a little grumpy at times, but I think he just uses that to hide his sweet, loveable side," I say, and Hunter laughs.

"That's the first time anyone has called me sweet before, little bird," he responds, and I grin at him.

"Vivo, how about we show Hunter how this little bird can fly?" I ask her, and she roars her approval, while, for the first time ever, Hunter appears nervous.

"Woah now, I don't think flying is the best idea," Hunter says, stepping back, and I laugh .

"I'm shocked, is the big, bad Hunter scared of flying?" I ask, and he narrows his eyes at me.

"I'm not scared of flying," he snaps, but he doesn't frighten me like he would most people.

"Sure," I tease, grinning as I walk to the side of Vivo and start climbing. When I get to her spikes, I slide myself in between and stroke a hand down her back as I look down at Hunter.

"Come on. Don't let fear dictate what you do, and don't let it control you," I say gently. I'm surprised he is acting like this, I didn't expect it.

"It's not that, it's not even the flying. My father's dragon . . ." Hunter starts to say, but pauses, shaking his head. I give him a sympathetic look, and try to let my love shine through it. "The king used to make me ride her. She would drop me, then catch me with her claws. It was a game to them," he explains to me.

"Vivo would never do that, and we don't play games like him. I understand if you don't want to come, Hunter. You have nothing to prove to me . . . I don't think I could be near a fire again after what happened," I say quietly, but I know he can hear me.

"Look at us both, fearful of things that happened in our pasts . . . we are better than this. We are stronger than him," Hunter says, his voice strong as he walks over and climbs up Vivo, sliding in-between the spikes behind me and wrapping his arms around my waist .

"I love you," Hunter whispers in my ear, his voice ever so light. I turn to face him, keeping my hands on the spike in front of me.

"And I love you, my moody pirate," I say, and he kisses me, a harsh and demanding kiss that leaves me wanting more when he pulls away.

"I can't wait to get you alone, then it won't just be stolen kisses," he whispers against my lips. I gently run my lips across his and turn around, a massive smile on my face as I continue to stroke Vivo's neck.

"Let's go," I say, and she turns around, walking to the edge of the cliff and peering down. I feel Hunter's hands tighten on my waist, and she steps off the edge, diving down as I hold onto the spike in front of me for dear life. She suddenly opens her wings, and the wind shoots us up in the air as she glides around the mountain. When she evens herself out, I look around and notice her flying us in-between the mountains.

"Look," Hunter says behind me, letting go with one hand to quickly point to my left. I look over to see dozens of dragons flying around and baby dragons in nests on the other mountains. The dragons dive into the mountains from the top, so it must be their home in there.

"This is your home, isn't it?" I ask Vivo, who roars. I look back at the dragons, the red, yellow, and a few brown ones I can see. None of them look like Vivo, none of them are water or ice dragons .

"Not exactly your home then . . .," I say, and she whines a little.

"Water and ice dragons are usually born in the water, which is where those dragons typically live," he says.

"Then we will find her home somehow," I respond.

"Her home is with you; can't you see that? You are her rider, and where you go, so will she," he chuckles near my ear as I shiver. "It's a good thing you belong to pirates and the sea, isn't it?"