Chapter 35

Chapter Thirty-Five

Kora hurried out of the room after Miena . She took half a dozen steps before she realized Daelya hadn't followed. Kora stopped and looked back. " What are you doing? Let's go."

" I don't want to."

Kora motioned to what was left of the door with her hand. " There's nothing to close you in now. Anyone can find you. Why not stand against the one responsible for the loss of your family and your capture?"

" I'm not a fighter like you," Daelya argued.

" You don't have to be."

Daelya's lips compressed into a tight line. " I can sense other's magic. I can even see them using it. But I have nothing to defend myself with."

" You have your wits. I'd say that's plenty."

She shook her head. " I can't."

" I understand," Kora said. " Stay here. I'll be back when it's done."

She rushed from the room to catch up with Miena , but Kora couldn't find her. Shouting Miena's name didn't summon her either. Frustration bubbled within Kora , but she kept it together and headed down the stairs to where she had last encountered Villette .

When she reached the hallway, Kora slid to a stop. The door leading to Villette's room stood wide open. She slowly walked toward it and looked inside. She was sure her enemy was long gone. Kora was inwardly condemning herself for trusting Miena when her thoughts scattered at the sight of Villette on her knees with Miena standing behind her. Villette's eyes were wide with shock—the same emotion that had stopped Kora in her tracks.

Then Kora saw that Miena had her nails sunk into the back of Villette's neck. The burns had healed, but they were still visible. That meant they didn't have much time before Villette's power returned fully.

" What have you done?" Villette asked Kora .

The words were laced with panic. Kora's gaze jerked to Miena . She had made a choice. Had it been the wrong one?

" You never knew when to admit defeat, little sister," Miena said. " I told you I'd get free. I warned you what would happen when I did."

Villette's face was a mask of fury, but it was the hint of terror that stopped Kora in her tracks. She wouldn't feel sorry for Villette . Not after everything Villette had done to so very many. There were consequences for her actions, and it was time she paid.

" What are you waiting for?" Kora asked Miena .

Miena smoothed her free hand down her gown. As she did, the color changed from green to pink. " I've been in that color for entirely too long. No one should have to wear the same thing every day."

" Kill her," Kora urged.

A horrified look filled Miena's face. " She's my sister."

" You said you were trying to stop her before. You promised to kill her for all she's done."

Villette snorted. " What I've done?"

Miena's nails sank deeper into Villette's neck, causing her to cry out in pain as blood dribbled over her neck and onto her clothes. But Miena's eyes were locked on Kora . " You are very demanding."

" We had a deal," Kora stated.

Villette peeled her lips back in a sneer. " Stupid hellhound."

" Where are they?" Miena demanded of her sister.

Villette stared into Kora's eyes as she answered, " I don't know."

" I'll rip your spine out right now if you don't te?—"

Kora stepped back when Miena's voice halted mid-word, and a smile split her face.

" I should have known," Miena said with a laugh. " You are a creature of habit, after all." Miena's gaze then speared Kora . " You aren't going anywhere."

In the next instant, Kora found herself in a large cavern. Torches sat high on the walls as a red-gold light cascaded over the room. She saw Merrill first. He was chained to a wall. She started toward him when something caught her eye. Her heart lurched at the sight of Derek lying on the table, injured. Their eyes met, and she rushed to him. Suddenly , she was flying backward. She slammed into a wall and crashed to the floor.

Pain exploded in her head. Bones broke and punctured muscle and cartilage. Somehow , she got an arm under her and lifted herself up. Raising her head was a challenge, but she had to see Derek .

" I'm going to fucking kill you!" he bellowed. His face was a mask of pain as he sat up.

Miena snapped her fingers, and he was lying flat again. Her laughter brought a chill into the already cool cavern. She withdrew her nails from Villette's neck and held out her arms as she turned in a circle. " I've waited for this for so long. My , but the taste of freedom certainly is sweet."

Nothing was going as Kora thought it would. She knew trusting Miena had been risky, but she had no other choice. Really , she had just been too scared to go after her enemy on her own. Making a deal with Miena had been a devil's bargain, and they would all pay the price for her mistake.

Miena walked to Merrill and stroked his face. " Tell me, handsome, do the dragons remember when they served us?"

" We serve no one but ourselves," he replied frostily.

Miena laughed and glanced at Villette . " He doesn't know, does he?"

" Villette cheerfully shared the history lesson," Merrill retorted. " No ' that it matters. We're free. Your brother saw to that."

Miena rolled her eyes. " Redis always did get in the way of my fun. Can you believe he felt sorry for you dragons? He had this notion that every being should be free. Such a radical thinker." Her voice deepened as anger sparked in her gaze. " He was smart, though. If I had caught on to what he planned, I would have squished him beneath my heel as he deserved."

" Is that what this is?" Kora asked as she sat up after her body had mended. " You plan to enslave the dragons again?"

Miena looked at her and smiled. " That was the original idea, but someone interfered," she said, shooting a withering glance at Villette , who hadn't moved from her knees. " I had a lot of time to think while locked away. I came up with a better plan."

Kora gingerly climbed to her feet. She looked at Derek , who was glaring at Miena . His gaze suddenly slid to her. She wanted to rush to him, wrap her arms around him, and feel his body against hers. The sight of his open wounds concerned her more than the fact that he couldn't get up.

" Anyone care to ask what it is?" Miena laughed as she slowly spun to look at each of them. " Come now. Surely one of you is curious."

Villette had a hand on the back of her neck where it still bled. " I'm not playing your games anymore."

" You most certainly will. All of you will," Miena ordered. She stared at Kora before a smug smile curved her lips. Then , she turned to Derek .

Kora dug her fingers into the rocks behind her to keep from shouting at Miena . If she discovered the depth of Kora's feelings for him, she would use it against her. Though Kora feared Miena already knew.

" Do you remember this place?" she asked Derek .

A muscle jumped in his jaw. " Should I ?"

" Oh , absolutely. You spent a lot of time here."

A growl rumbled from Merrill as he yanked on his bindings.

Miena glanced at him over her shoulder and lifted a finger. " You've had your turn. It's Derek's now."

None of this should be happening. Kora couldn't figure out where everything had gone to shite. She had to salvage whatever she could while she had the opportunity because it might not come again. The gold cuff gleamed on Merrill's wrist. It didn't matter if Miena crafted it or Villette . It needed to come off. She inched toward him with painstaking slowness. If she got it off, maybe then he could break out of his chains.

Kora glared at Villette . Why wasn't she doing something? She might still be wounded and weak, but she could stand against Miena . But she wouldn't. Kora could see it in how Villette wouldn't look at her sister.

Miena slammed her hand on the table where Derek lay. Dust and small pebbles rained around them. " I grow weary of all of you."

" What's the plan?" Kora asked. If Miena wanted to play, then she would play. It might give them some time for…something.

Miena stood beside Derek and gazed down at his wounds. " Those look bad." She swiveled her head to Kora . " I knew you would be the one to break. I've seen the way you look at Derek . Do you have feelings for a dragon ?" She grinned, laughing softly. " What would your parents say? Oh , that's right. They're dead. At Derek's hand." She gasped in mock horror. " Did I just let the big secret out?"

Kora had wondered if he was part of the hunt. But thinking it and hearing it were two different things. She'd thought she was past the pain of losing not just her parents but also her home. Her safety, her friends. Her happiness.

" Yikes , Derek ," Miena said. " Whatever feelings Kora might have developed are vanishing rapidly."

Kora jerked at the half bellow, half growl that emanated from Derek . He thrashed on the table, causing his wounds to bleed again. She should hate him for what he did, but the only thing she felt was the need to get to his side and help him.

Miena lightly set her hand on his chest. He stilled immediately, his face contorted in pain.

" The plan, bitch," Merrill said through clenched teeth.

Miena shot him a side-eye and lifted her hand from Derek . " My conniving, backstabbing little sister took credit for all my hard work. Stepping in and twisting things to suit her. I admit, she made some decent progress, but she ultimately failed to get the job done. Just as she did on Earth ."

Kora kept inching closer to Merrill . Miena drew in a deep breath and released it before moving to stand at the end of the table.

Miena rested her cheek against the side of Derek's head. " He is my creation. Villette and I each crafted three. Derek and Bryok came out perfect. Just as I formed them."

Tears gathered in Kora's eyes. Derek's hands were in fists, his body shaking from either pain or anger. Maybe both. She lifted her gaze to his face and met his olive eyes. The shame and pain she saw there nearly undid her.

" Villette's was a disaster," Miena said with a chuckle. " He had to be killed instantly. Of course, Villette destroyed my third egg out of spite. Leaving hers. Tell me, sister. Have either hatched?"

Hate burned in Villette's eyes. " You know they haven't."

" You were found lacking. Again ." Miena moved her face to the other side of Derek's head, her lips twisting. " I wasn't exactly truthful earlier. Not just Villette has been tampering with your memories. I had fun messing around in that head of yours, too."

Kora had closed half the distance to Merrill . It wasn't nearly enough. She could continue to him or try to take out Miena . Villette would rise against her. Could she face two Star People at once? Not alone. She hated to admit that fact. She took a step and froze when Miena's gaze slid to her.

" Does she know, Derek ?" Miena asked, loud enough for everyone to hear.

Kora found her gaze locked on him. A secret hung there, waiting to be revealed. Did she want to know? Whatever it was, it would only hurt her.

" Does Kora know you love her?" Miena asked, a smug smile curving her lips.

Kora looked from Miena to Derek . She saw the truth in his eyes. She was right. It was meant to hurt. Kora bit her tongue to keep her face from crumpling. She wouldn't give in to the tears distorting his handsome face.

" She didn't." Miena tsked. " You should've told her when you had the chance. Because you won't have another."

Villette rose to her knees when Miena walked to the amethyst dragon. " What are you doing?"

" You've had enough fun with your toys. They're mine now."

The words barely registered in Kora's head before Miena touched the dragon. The amethyst's citrine eyes opened. Miena stroked the dragon's scales and said something in a whisper. The dragon's gaze locked on Kora . Heart -stopping terror seized her. All thoughts of battling Villette and Miena fled. There was only one reason Miena had woken the dragon.

" Gordon is mine," Villette stated as she got to her feet, a feral look tightening her face.

Miena paid her sister no heed as she returned to Derek's side. She ran a hand over his chest. Kora watched his wounds heal. She was grateful that his pain was gone, but Miena did nothing without intention. Kora glanced at Merrill .

She was close enough to get to him and remove the cuff. Together , she, Derek , and Merrill could attack Miena . There was still a chance this all could end. She had to do something. It was her fault that Miena had been released. That meant it was up to her to fix things. Kora sidled closer. She just needed a little more time.

A deep, rumbling growl came from the dragon. Kora whipped her head to him and watched smoke billow from his nose. She froze, muscles stiffening in dread. Every fear that had haunted her returned tenfold.

Merrill fought wildly against his bindings. Kora was close enough that she could stretch out and touch him, but she didn't dare move. Even if she wanted to, her body wouldn't listen.

Miena snapped her fingers, and Merrill went silent. " I told you, all your toys are mine, sister," Miena said.

Out of the corner of her eye, Kora saw Miena smooth Derek's hair away from his face. " I'm going to wipe your memories one last time, Derek . I'm going to go in deep, scouring that brain to make sure there is nothing left for you to remember yourself or…anyone else."

Kora swallowed, knowing Miena was talking about her. She wanted to look at Derek , but she didn't dare take her eyes off Gordon .

" Then I'm going to send you to Earth ," Miena continued. " Once you wipe out the Kings , you'll annihilate everyone else. I don't want anything left alive. My brother might not be alive to see it destroyed, but I can do the next best thing and make it uninhabitable. While Derek is having fun, I'll be making some adjustments here. Merrill will return to his friends. It won't take him long to bring Con to me. Once the mighty King of Dragon Kings is enslaved, the others will quickly fall."

Kora wanted to scream in outrage. At herself, at Miena , at Villette , at all of it. Villette had been a scourge upon Zora , but it was nothing compared to Miena . How could Kora have been so stupid as to believe Miena ? She should've seen what Miena intended instead of worrying about facing Villette on her own.

" Do something," Kora urged Villette through clenched teeth.

Miena laughed. " She knows better."

Villette took a step forward. The exchange, when it came, happened swiftly. One moment, Villette was standing, readying her magic. The next, she was unconscious on the ground.

" She never learns," Miena said.

Gordon rose, towering over Kora . She shook uncontrollably. This was it. This was how she died. Her life flashed before her eyes. The screams of her brother, uncle, and cousin rose in her head. The ghosts of her ancestors cried out.

The dragon sucked in a breath. Kora watched in horror as his chest expanded. Her gut clenched at the sight of flames swirling between his scales. There was no escape. She was the only one in the cavern who could be killed by dragon fire. She didn't want the last thing she saw to be Gordon . She turned her head and locked eyes with Derek . He screamed her name and fought to get up, but Miena held him down with one hand, excitement on her face.

There was a beat of stillness, a silence like the universe holding its breath. And with that, her panic dissipated. A weird tranquility fell over her. Her mind cleared, and it allowed Kora to see a solution. She had come to Stonemore to kill Villette . Or at least that's what she'd thought. Maybe she had been brought here to help the dragons.

She might not be able to kill her targets, but she was a hellhound, a fighter. And that's exactly what she would do. Kora dove to the side and ripped the bracelet off Merrill a heartbeat before fire erupted from Gordon . She smiled when Merrill wrenched from the chains and reached for her. She felt the heat of fire as it licked her skin. Merrill's arms roughly grabbed her, spinning her away.

The blast continued for what felt like an eternity. Kora's ears rang with the sound. The heat was sweltering. Merrill's arms finally dropped. Kora pitched forward and grabbed the wall for support. When she spun around, Miena and Gordon were gone.

And so was Derek .

THE END

Thank you for reading THE BASTARD KING .

I hope you enjoyed the book as much as I loved writing it.

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