Chapter 1

Chapter One

Northern Territory

Crisp , cool autumn air brushed against Kora's cheeks like a soft caress as she walked among the trees, admiring the orange, yellow, and red of the season. It was her favorite time of year. The crunch of the leaves on the ground, the nip in the late-morning air. For a brief second, she could get lost in the moment and forget the past.

As well as her uncertain future.

Her good mood quickly evaporated. It always did when she thought about what was to come. Why she returned to a land she had hoped to never see again. She had run from the past and the promises she'd made for too long. Fear forced her into hiding. She roamed the realm in a futile search for more of her kind. She had been so sure there were others out there hiding as she had been. It had kept her going after her family was stolen from her. But she had been wrong. No longer could she deny that she was the last.

And with that realization came a cold, hard truth.

Everything rested on her shoulders—and hers alone. There was no one else to step up and make the hard choices. No one else would—or could —wipe out the evil spreading across the land. It was why Kora had returned to the Tunris Mountains .

Walking through the forests brought back all the painful memories. She had neglected her duties and forgotten who she really was. It had taken her years to get where she was now, but she intended to do what her family had attempted before.

A nagging worry kept popping up, though. The one that asked what made her think she would be successful when her family hadn't been. Her response was always the same: There is no one else.

She might die in her attempt, but that was better than knowing she was the last. It didn't matter how far they had traveled in the universe. They were always found. Villages obliterated. People exterminated.

Somehow , she was the lone one standing.

Denial had given her nothing but tears and panic. She had never stood out among her people. She had always been perfectly adequate. But it would take much more than that to survive.

Her steps halted when she found herself near a shallow stream. The shore had rocks scattered along the edges. She looked across the water to the slope of the mountain rising to the sky, and her heart clutched. She took a step back in shock. She hadn't meant to come here. Unable to stop herself, she searched the mountainside until she found the entrance to a tiny cave, barely big enough for a child.

" Run !"

She jerked at her uncle's voice ringing in her head as the memory swelled and yanked her back in time.

" KORA !"

Her brother, Kayden , screamed her name. Kora heard the whoosh of wings, a heartbeat before the roar that deafened her. She hastily scanned the forest for her brother and found him near her uncle and cousin as the three stood ready to battle the dragon diving for them.

Kayden turned and looked at her, his dark eyes meeting hers. He gave her a nod, urging her to run and hide. She wanted to stand with them. They were all that remained of her family. How could she leave them?

" Go ," her brother mouthed.

Then he turned and faced their greatest enemy. Kora spun and raced through the trees as fast as her shaking legs would carry her. She plunged into the water, tripping over larger rocks as the roars grew ever closer. She didn't notice the frigid temperature of the river as she crossed to the other side and stepped into the snow. Her heart slammed against her ribs, and her stomach churned with dread, but she didn't stop. They had located the cave months ago, just in case.

But just in case had become a certainty.

Kora heard her brother shout and chanced a look back. The dragon hovered above the trio, the trees bending and swaying each time it beat its navy wings. She scrambled up the rocky slope as screams rent the air. Her hands clawed at the hard, frozen ground, fisting snow and anything else she could grab to pull herself up. Each time she wanted to look back, she forced her eyes to stay where they were. The shouts and roars told her all she needed to know.

She slipped on a rock and lost her hold, only to slide down. There was a loud crack, and trees began slamming into the mountain a heartbeat later. One landed above her and started rolling toward her. Kora quickly scrambled to the side before climbing the slope once more. The muscles in her legs ached, and she had a stitch in her side, but she didn't stop.

Then , finally, she reached the narrow cave entrance. It wasn't big enough for her. She had told Kayden that when they found it, but he'd insisted. She twisted herself at odd angles to get inside and pressed against the stone wall with her hands over her ears. Unfortunately , nothing could drown out the screams of the dying.

The same sounds she had heard when her parents and their village were attacked.

The same wails she would one day release when they came for her.

Kora wrenched herself from the memory. She sucked in a mouthful of air as her eyes snapped open, and the memory faded. But the sounds reverberated in her head. She slowly turned to look where Kayden , her cousin, Zak , and her uncle, Rylan , had faced the dragon, giving her a chance to get away. They had sacrificed themselves for her. It was a difficult weight to carry. One she did bitterly.

She shouldn't have run. She should've stood with them. If anyone got away, it should have been one of them. They were fighters. They knew what to do. Instead , she had been left on her own to figure it all out. And she had done a terrible job.

The scent of evil suddenly assaulted her. Kora winced, repulsed. Since returning, she had been dodging Stonemore's soldiers. They were everywhere. They made so much noise it was easy to dodge them, but not everyone was so successful. She had witnessed clashes between the soldiers and others they came across. They enjoyed the fear in their foes' eyes. They took delight in harming the innocent. It was why the stench of evil followed them like a thick fog.

Kora turned to leave when she heard a child's scream. She shouldn't get involved. It wasn't her business. She had another task, one that was more important. Yet she lifted her head and listened. The shout came again. She turned to the river and crossed it.

Kora moved near the mountain, keeping as close to the trees as possible. It didn't take her long to come upon the soldiers surrounding a young boy. They were tormenting the boy. Their laughter infuriated her.

Maybe it was returning to a place of such painful memories. Maybe it was because she had finally accepted what she was meant to do. Maybe it was because she was tired of turning away and hiding.

Whatever the reason, Kora walked to the group. They were so intent on their young victim that no one took notice of her. Her anger grew with every step. The soldiers were like the dragon, and the boy her family. It was time to stop running.

It was time to take a stand.

Kora shoved aside the soldiers and walked into the middle of their circle. The group quieted instantly. They'd discarded their helms, but there was no mistaking the breastplate mimicking dragon scales. They were from Stonemore .

She glared at each of them as she turned in a slow circle, halting before the woman who had a hold of the boy. " Release him."

Surprise flickered in the soldier's eyes, but her grip held.

Kora raised a brow. " It takes eleven soldiers to detain a lad? How about you face someone your own size?"

The tall female shoved the boy away. " Are you offering?"

" I am." Kora nudged the boy. " Once he is safely away."

The boy attempted to leave but couldn't find an opening. Kora glared at a pair of soldiers. They stepped aside. She walked the boy to the opening and watched him hurry away. He looked back once. She nodded, much as her brother had done with her, and the lad started running. The hole closed once more, locking her within the circle.

" I've seen some stupid things in my time," the female said.

The others smiled and nodded excitedly, their eyes brightening at the thought of a fight. If only Kora could show them who she really was. But now wasn't the time to reveal that truth. She would take this beating if it meant the lad was safe.

" What the fuck is this?" a male voice boomed around them.

The group lowered their gazes to the ground and bowed their heads. Kora turned at a sound behind her and watched a man stride through the circle to stop before her. She stared at the square areas of his eyes before glancing at the wing-like ornaments attached to the forehead area of the helm.

Large hands reached up and yanked it off before he tucked it against his side. A blue gaze was leveled on her before it slid to the others. His eyes narrowed as he looked at each of the soldiers. Kora took the time to admire his broad shoulders and handsome face. His blond hair was firmly tied in a queue at his neck. Nothing about this man was out of place.

His attention stopped on the female Kora had spoken to. " One day. You had the chance to prove yourself when I left you in charge, Liisa . Not only are you off course, but you've disgraced yourself and this regiment. We do not detain children. The fact that you did says a lot about your character."

When others chuckled, the commander's gaze snapped to them. " Don't think I didn't see what each of you did. It took an outsider to break it up," he stated, pointing a finger at Kora .

The soldiers were silent, defeated. Though Kora noted that Liisa's gaze was locked on her, the look in her eyes promising retribution.

" Get in line!" the commander barked.

The soldiers instantly moved, and Kora turned to walk away.

" Wait ," he called.

Kora studied him before glancing at the soldiers.

" It took guts doing what you did," he said. " Not many would have dared."

" It was something you should have done."

" I was on my way."

" Not fast enough," she countered.

A muscle moved in his jaw. " It isn't safe to travel alone."

" Because of you and your regiment?"

His gaze briefly lowered to the ground. " We're here to protect."

" I witnessed that protection. I think I'm safer on my own."

" Let me repay your kindness to the lad and escort you to your destination."

Kora could just imagine having them bring her to Stonemore's gates. That wouldn't go over well. " There's no need."

" I'm Makhi ."

She studied him, noting his interest. He was a fine-looking man, even if she questioned his choice of loyalties. If she were someone else or had another life, then she might consider giving him her name. But she wasn't someone else and she didn't have another life. She had this one, as fucked up as it was.

" Good luck." Kora turned and walked away.

She never gave her name away. It was better to stay anonymous. And Makhi was a Stonemore soldier. She would likely face him in battle soon. Kora ducked behind a tree and watched Makhi march the squad away. The sight of their retreating backs didn't give her any relief. They would return. Especially Liisa . Kora leaned against the tree and considered her next move.

There was no going back for her. She was there to face her past, regardless of the outcome. If her community and family couldn't win, she didn't stand much of a chance either. But she was done running and hiding. She would eventually be found anyway. At least this way, it was on her terms.

Her gaze lifted to the skies. She hadn't seen any dragons. That didn't mean they weren't out there. They were there. They were always there.

She got comfortable and tracked the sun across the sky. Her stomach rumbled with hunger. She should be hunting. It was what she had set out to do that morning before the past overwhelmed her, and she decided to interfere with the soldiers. She drank the last of her water in an effort to curb her hunger.

It was midafternoon when she heard the clanking of armor. Kora sighed as she got to her feet. The soldiers were nothing if not predictable. If they wanted a hunt, she would give them one. And she would take them far from their comrades and show them who they were dealing with.

Kora peeked out from behind the tree and spotted Liisa . She had four others with her. Three males and another woman. Given how they kept looking over their shoulders, they must be concerned about the rest of the unit coming for them.

If Kayden were there, her brother would say she was being reckless. She was, but something about seeing a child abused for the fun of it rankled. She couldn't let it go. Just as Liisa couldn't let go of the slight Kora had delivered. Those soldiers loved the pain and power that came with their position, and Liisa intended to put Kora in her place.

She removed her coat and dropped it. There had been too much fury in Liisa's eyes when she departed. She intended to hurt someone. It was why Kora remained. She'd caused the ire, and she would be the one Liisa took her anger out on. Kora briefly closed her eyes before stepping from behind the tree. " Looking for me?"

Five heads whipped in her direction. Liisa pulled her lips back in a snarl and unsheathed her sword. Kora grinned. So damn predictable. She spun and started running, taking them away from the roads and up the mountain before going back down. Arrows whizzed by as she ran across the stream and into the forest.

She scanned ahead, noting fallen trees, rocks, and gullies. Animals darted away at their loud approach. They were deep in the woods, far from others, so it came as a shock when Kora saw someone. She lengthened her strides to put some distance between her and her pursuers and maneuvered into sections to obscure her as she headed toward the person.

The moment his light olive gaze met hers, she stumbled. Winded , she came to a stop beside him. Glancing behind her, she made sure the soldiers were still heading where she wanted them.

" Stay down so they don't see you. I'll lead them away," she told him.