Chapter 38

Grounds, Rogue Rider Mansion, Beverly Hills, California, United States

Jaws snapped, threatening. Claws whipped through the crisp morning air, intimidating. Tails smacked the earth, alarming.

In the manicured sprawl of the Rogue Riders' estate, under an indifferent sky, Dwayne Stone commanded his dragon, Night. The sleek and formidable creature had been forced into a cruel contest against a Kodiak bear. Night, covered in gray, shiny scales, faced the bear, a creature of raw strength and primal ferocity.

Neither animal was a willing participant in this spectacle. Gen stood by, next to her own dragon, both forced to witness the heart-wrenching scene. This training session felt like a sick show of anger and sorrow.

The lush grounds and elegant topiaries around them mocked the brutality unfolding. In the distance, the neat mansion was an ironic backdrop to the savage display of brutality in front of Gen. Disgust curdled in her stomach and so badly did she want to intervene. Beside her Emperor felt her heartache for the bear and dragon forced to fight one another. And she knew he shared her sentiment.

The brown bear covered in fur and with a body that shook with winter reserves couldn't have looked more different alongside the gray dragon. Night was twice the bear's length, but their weight was comparable. The other thing that they shared were deep looks of trepidation, both creatures knowing that a real fight between them would leave both fatally injured. It was simply an unnatural arrangement and everyone watching silently knew it.

"This isn't right!" Gen protested, throwing her arms wide.

"It's training," Dwayne said through clenched teeth, standing a short distance away and proudly watching as the bear and the dragon circled each other—neither wanting to make the next move.

"It's sick!" Gen dared to say while the other Rogue Riders averted their gazes, their dragons stationed behind them. She motioned to the bystanders. "You all know that a bear shouldn't be forced to fight a dragon. He's an innocent creature and outmatched since Night has fire."

"But Night is slow, and the Kodiak bear is fast," Dwayne said, looking over his shoulder at her. "My dragon needs to learn to pick up the pace. Either he does, or the bear will teach him a lesson the hard way."

Gen shook with rage and revulsion. Make this stop,she said in her head to Emperor.

He glared down at her. I can't use my mind control on Night. It will have repercussions that we do not want.

Then stop the bear,Gen urged.

The animal needs to be able to defend himself if attacked,Emperor stated. To intervene would be to take away his honor and pride. I can't do that.

What's the point in having mind control if you don't use it to help others? she questioned.

The point is to know when to use such an absolute power and when it will only make things worse,he replied.

Infuriated, Gen stomped forward, throwing her arms wide in front of Dwayne. "Stop this! It's not who we are. This is not how we train. We may be demon riders, but we don't have to act like monsters!"

His eyes narrowed into little slits as he stared down at her. "Get out of here."

"No!" Gen yelled, whipping around to face the dragon and bear. "Don't fight! That's the exercise. Exert your own free choice. You don't have to do this."

"Gen…" Dwayne growled low behind her.

She ignored him, watching Night and the Kodiak bear continue to circle, staring deep into each other's eyes. They were watching every move—their every muscle tensed. Gen sucked in a breath when the dragon halted, making the bear freeze too.

The air crackled with tension as Night swung his claws through the air, but hesitated, right before it collided with the bear's massive head. With a low growl, the bear paused, confusion in its eyes, allowing Night a moment of clarity. In that breath, the dragon's natural instinct to dominate waned, replaced by a shared sense of survival and an unspoken bond between beasts.

The spectators, expecting a display of dominance, found themselves watching a poignant moment of defiance. As the bear ambled away, unharmed, Night simply watched, no gloating in his gaze.

A scream ripped out of Dwayne's mouth as he marched forward, swinging around in front of Gen. "You are out of line!"

"I am a human meant to protect and I won't stand idly by and watch cruelty," Gen said, standing tall, her shoulders back.

Anger buzzed in Dwayne's small eyes. He opened his mouth. Seemed to rethink his words. Shut his lips and then shook his head. "You might be a Beaufont but that doesn't mean that you're invincible. I will find a way to break you down."

She grimaced. "That sounds like a threat."

"The House of Fourteen and Hiker Wallace might be in your corner, but you work for me," he said. "And for now, it doesn't look like you're ever going to be working a case for the Rogue Riders. So, like I've said before, you might as well quit."

"I've already completed my first training assignment," she said smugly.

"What?" he hissed, that vein on his forehead throbbing. "What are you talking about?"

"I finished the first task you gave me," Gen replied, feeling giddy.

"You solved a murder?" he asked, as the other riders stirred in the background and Night sulked off.

Gen shook her head. "No, I detected the murderer behind four murders."

"How?" he asked, his vein pulsing on his head.

"Well, I worked with Sherlock Holmes," she explained. "He, and his assistant, taught me strategies for detecting and then I studied a case with them and we found a murderer. That's what you assigned me to do, right?"

"You were working with Sherlock Holmes?" he asked, hostility brimming in his gaze.

"And King Rudolfus Sweetwater," Gen sang, now smiling cheerfully, knowing that would make Dwayne even angrier. "He's the king over the?—"

"I know who he is," the leader of the Rogue Riders cut in, curtly.

"Right, well, that's what you assigned me to do," she continued casually. "I can send you the details on the case if you want."

"No, I don't care," Dwayne said, spinning around. "Complete the other two tasks. Then we'll see about you having a case." He glared over his shoulder. "But something tells me that you're not going to make it long enough to fulfill your requirements…"