Chapter 9

CHAPTER NINE

“ T here you are…” Amaros says. He walks toward me and the portal snaps shut behind him. “You have been difficult to find, my mate.”

I back away. Grazen grabs my arm and positions himself in front of me. The two other dragons growl at Amaros in warning, and Drakon holds his hand up as if to signal them not to act.

“I do not wish to cause any harm,” Amaros says. “I have simply come for something of mine.”

I ball my fists and step out from behind Grazen. “You do not own me, Amaros.”

Drakon bares his teeth at Amaros. “How dare you step foot in my Kingdom uninvited.”

Amaros raises his hand and blasts Drakon with a powerful stream of blue magic, shooting him into the lava river. Grazen hauls me behind him.

Amaros points at Grazen and strides toward us. “Get the fuck away from my female.”

The two dragons bare their teeth and then release powerful blasts of fire at Amaros. He dodges the blasts and shoots his powers back at them. The dragons screech and take to the skies.

Why do his powers have to bloody work?

I peek around the side of Grazen, my entire body trembling. How in the gods did he find me? I know he’s in my mind, but that perk faded for the most part when I left Silanthia.

Amaros laughs. “It never faded. I was simply biding my time while I located your whereabouts. But I must say, I certainly didn’t expect you to end up here.”

A roar booms through the air, and Drakon’s dragon flies out of the lava river, flapping its immense wings and sending drops of molten lava spitting in every direction.

Amaros smirks and raises his hands in surrender. “I did not come for a fight, my brother. I am no threat to you or your Kingdom. I have only come for my mate.”

Drakon’s dragon lands, shaking the ground beneath us, followed by the two other dragons behind him. Then Drakon shifts back into his male form. His entire body tenses, his chest heaving with each rapid breath as he locks his gaze on Amaros.

“I apologise for using my powers on you, brother,” Amaros says.

Drakon growls. “You are not my brother.”

Amaros spreads his arms out wide. “Oh, come on now. Don’t be that way. I apologised, didn’t I?”

Drakon snorts. “Just like old times, huh?”

Amaros strides toward the male, and they embrace, clapping one another on the back. What is it with these two? Do they despise one another or not?

“Something like that,” Amaros answers.

The two dragons snort, blowing smoke from their snouts, and Drakon raises a reassuring hand to signal that everything is all right.

“Well…now that you’re here, care to join us as my guest this evening for a ceremony around the fires?” Drakon asks.

I glance up at Grazen, and he shakes his head at me, just as perplexed as I am.

A wide smile curls Amaros’s lips. “My mate and I would be delighted to attend.”

I charge forward. “I am not your ma?—”

Grazen curls an arm around me and hauls me back. “I think what she means to say is that we would love to attend the ceremony.”

Drakon claps his hands together. “It’s settled, then. Now please, my dragons will escort you back to my castle to get ready. The ceremony takes place in two hours.”

Amaros moves toward Grazen and me, his focus locked on me, and I gulp.

If you don’t want harm to come to your friend, come to me. Now, Amaros says in my mind.

My bottom lip quivers, and I bite it as I step around Grazen and walk toward Amaros. Grazen attempts to stop me, but I shake him off.

“It’s okay,” I tell him.

Amaros pulls me into his chest, his arms tight around my back, and my stomach knots.

“Good girl,” he whispers against my ear.

I pull away and allow my wings to spring free, ready to take off, when Amaros grabs my arm.

“You will remain at my side. I’m not letting you out of my sight again, my mate.”

He releases his wings, and we fly behind the dragons as they lead us back to the castle, Grazen none the wiser to Amaros’s silent threats. He’s probably wondering why in the gods I embraced him and seem okay to fly with him to the castle. The truth is, I’m far from okay with it.

But I have no choice.

I will not risk my friend’s life. Period. If Amaros hurt Grazen because of me, I could never forgive myself. I should’ve known he would use my friend as a pawn, holding him over my head. He’s done it before with Astelle. Of course he would do it again.

When we reach the castle, we’re led to the room where Grazen and I stayed the previous night, and we’re told there are outfits already there for us to wear. Amaros doesn’t need to change, given the black suit he already wears. But of course he chooses to anyway. A gorgeous red and black gown is laid out across the bed for me, and I glide my fingers over the delicate fabric, so soft to the touch.

Grazen takes his suit into the walk-in wardrobe to change, leaving Amaros and me alone.

He stares at me, like a Zelon does its prey, and I don’t like it. “Feel free to change out here. I won’t mind.”

He licks his lips, his lustful gaze tracing my body from head to toe as he unbuttons his shirt.

I snatch up the dress without a word and disappear into the bathroom. Like hell I’m changing in front of that male.

It’s nothing I haven’t seen before, he taunts in my mind.

I roll my eyes, ignoring him, and slip out of my leathers. The warm spray of the shower helps loosen my tense muscles, and I manage to relax a little. Once I’m done, I step into the gown, gliding the soft fabric up my body. It’s a strapless gown that hugs my chest, showing off my curves in all the ways I wish it wouldn’t. The fabric pools out from mid-thigh, hanging in thick ruffles that brush the floor.

A full-length mirror stands in the corner of the bathroom, and I take my time while applying some makeup before stepping out of the room.

Both males stare at me in an unnerving way, and I do my best to ignore the both of them. Unfortunately, one male’s thoughts can’t be ignored as they seep into my mind like an uninvited guest.

Delicious…

A pair of black stilettos sits near the edge of the bed I didn’t see before. I snatch them up, perch on one of the armchairs in the living room, and slip my feet into them. They’re going to be difficult to walk in, but they’re the only option, so they’ll have to do. I fasten the clasps around my ankles and stand.

Amaros saunters toward me and slips his hands around my waist, kissing me on both cheeks. I do my best to keep my thoughts under control, but I can’t help the disgust that spills over.

Grazen clears his throat. “You look, ahh, really nice.”

He rubs the back of his neck, and Amaros glares at him.

“Eyes off my female, watcher. Now tell me, how the fuck did you two end up here?” Amaros demands.

I back away from him, risking a quick glance at Grazen. “It was an accident. I didn’t mean to do it.”

Amaros rubs his chin. “An accident?”

I bite my bottom lip, and Grazen inches closer to me.

“I don’t know. I opened a portal, and it led us here.”

Amaros strides across the room to a tray sitting in the corner atop a glass table and pours himself a drink. He throws it back, and then he pours another.

“She’s telling the truth,” Grazen says, cutting through the tension.

Amaros snorts, throws the drink back, and pours a third.

Gods above, please don’t get drunk.

“The truth? She had a magical wire bound around her damn wrists to prevent this very thing from being possible.” Amaros throws his glass at the wall, and it shatters.

I jump at the sudden outburst and wrap my arms around myself. “I’m sorry.”

He points a finger at Grazen. “You. You did something.”

I dart my gaze between the two males. “It wasn’t his fault. He just happened to be there when I opened a portal. He tried to stop me.”

Amaros storms across the room and stops inches before me. “Wait outside.”

I blink and take a step toward the door, but he forcefully grabs my wrist.

“Not you, him .”

Grazen narrows his eyes, opening his mouth like he’s about to protest, but then he closes it and leaves the room.

Amaros glares at me and then smacks me hard across the face. I fall to the ground and my cheek burns. There’s no end to the lengths he will go to harm me. His betrayal cuts deeper than the wounds in which he inflicts upon me.

“You defy my rules, time and time again.”

I crawl backward away from him until I reach the side of the couch. My hands tremble as I await his next move. My powers are useless. My only defence is my ability to fight, but he’s stronger than I.

My daggers. Where are my daggers?

“What am I going to do with you?” He crosses the space between us and grabs my throat, hauling me to my feet.

Grazen bursts into the room, his focus zeroing in on Amaros’s hand around my neck. “Get your hands off her!”

“Do not interfere in business that does not concern you. Now get back to Galespo. As your King, I command it.”

Tears well in my eyes and my lungs burn. “No, please don’t make him go.”

Grazen raises his hands and takes a few steps closer. “Amaros, please. I mean no disrespect. She is your mate, is she not? You do not want to attend the ceremony with her looking that way. Questions will be asked.”

Amaros releases me, and I stumble back then slump down on the couch.

“That is not of concern to you, watcher.” He opens a portal to Galespo and gestures to it with a wave of his hand. “Now leave. I will not ask again.”

Grazen shoots me an apologetic look as I silently plead with him not to go. But it’s no use. We both know he has no choice.

He crosses the room and steps through the portal, and with one last glance toward me, it snaps shut behind him, leaving Amaros and me alone. A sob escapes my lips, and I cover my mouth with the back of my hand.

Amaros grabs my upper arms and pulls me up, and then he brushes his fingers across my cheek. “Enough of that. Go and clean yourself up. We have a ceremony to attend.”

I stare at my tear-stained reflection in the bathroom mirror, unsure who I’m looking at. This isn’t me.

How did I end up here?

I decide it’s best to start over, so I wash my face and reapply my makeup in full. I take my time without a care that Amaros is waiting for me. I’m sure he would prefer I looked presentable anyway.

Once I’m done, I take a deep breath and step out into the room.

There’s a knock at the door, and he opens it. Several dragon shifters are waiting.

“We’re here to escort you to the ceremony,” one says.

Amaros holds his arm out, and I cross the room and reluctantly slip my arm around his. We follow the shifters down the corridors of the castle and outside into the main entrance area. They shift into their dragons, so we release our wings and fly out of the volcano. I’m unsure where this ceremony is being held, but after flying for a short time, we make our descent to a lava river near the base of some volcanos a short distance from Drakon’s castle.

I miss Grazen already, but I’m careful with my thoughts, knowing Amaros has access to them. I focus on the ceremony instead.

Whoever decorated this area has done a wonderful job. Wooden lanterns dot the edges of the ceremony space, and several arbours made from branches twisted together with red and gold roses intertwined amongst them stand around the edges as well. Red and gold rose petals lay scattered about the ground beneath our feet, giving it a magical feel.

Or it would be magical if I weren’t here with this male.

I frown, scanning the elaborate ceremony laid out before me. If I didn’t know any better, I would think it was a mating ceremony.

Amaros leads us over to a keeper who walks around with a golden tray of bubbles. He takes two glasses and hands one to me. I drink its entire contents, and he manages to call the keeper back for another before she disappears into the crowd.

There must be several hundred shifters here. What in the gods is this ceremony for?

“Ahh, you made it,” Drakon says as he saunters over to us, holding a glass of bubbles.

He wears long, burgundy robes that graze the ground, parted to show off his bare, toned chest as he walks. Two females follow close behind him. Maybe his wives?

Amaros clinks his glass against Drakon’s. “This is quite the celebration, my brother. What is the occasion?”

“Atlas!” Drakon calls out, and Atlas and Rhea head our way. “My son, Atlas, is being sworn in as the commander of the Dragon Guard.”

Atlas stands next to his father, with Rhea hovering at his side. She narrows her eyes, not bothering to greet me, while Atlas simply stares at me. Amaros notices, and he pulls me closer against his side.

“Your son,” Amaros says. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Atlas. I’m Amaros.”

Atlas shakes his hand, only taking his eyes off me for a brief moment, before glaring at me once more. “Another outsider. Wonderful.”

Amaros brings his glass to his lips and takes another sip. “Your father and I go way back. I’m hardly an outsider.”

I clear my throat and avert my gaze to my glass of bubbles, finishing the contents of this one, too.

Slow down, my mate. We have a long evening ahead of us. His annoyed voice fills my mind, and he grips my side in a possessive manner.

“Thirsty, I see. Enjoy the ceremony, my guests.” Drakon links arms with his two females and disappears into the crowd.

The keeper comes around again, and I snatch up another glass of bubbles and place my empty one on her tray.

Amaros stares at me. Slow down, he silently warns me.

Atlas takes a slow sip of his bubbles, maintaining his focus on Amaros and me. “And you two know one another?”

“Zarla is my mate.”

I choke on my bubbles, coughing as I tap on my chest, and Rhea smirks.

“How interesting. The watcher was quite possessive of her.”

Very interesting, indeed. Amaros’s voice enters my mind, laced with fury. He tightens his grip on my side, and I wince as his fingers dig into my skin.

“He was doing his job to guard her, that’s all. Now please, excuse us.” Amaros forces me away through the crowd to a quieter section with tall tables, somewhat shielded by several half walls of red and gold roses.

I finish my bubbles and place the glass on the table, the effects of the few I have now consumed kicking in, and he tugs me closer to him.

“If I find out that male touched you, I’ll kill him,” he whispers in my ear, his breath hot against my skin. He leans down and bites my neck, and I flinch before he plants a kiss to the tender area. “You are my mate. Do not forget that.”

I don’t bother arguing with the delusional male. It won’t do me any good.

A flicker in the corner of my eye steals my focus as several enormous bonfires are lit around the outskirts of the ceremony. The crowd celebrates, and music fills the air with the booming of drums that vibrate my bones. It’s incredible.

I wander closer, and Amaros stays at my side as we wind our way through males and females toward the front of the ceremony. A platform made from stones sits front and centre, and Drakon stands atop it.

He raises his hands high, and the crowd silences. There’s a power to this male that has to be respected. It reminds me of Alaron. These males don’t even have to try. They just emanate power effortlessly.

Like gods.

“Welcome, my brothers and sisters, to this great celebration. This evening, my son, Atlas, is to be sworn in as the commander of the Dragon Guard. Although it is his rite of birth, he has earned it. There is no other to lead the way my son can. Atlas, please join me.”

I scan the many faces, and Atlas soon slips through the crowd and joins his father on the stone platform. He stands tall, his broad shoulders wider than Drakon’s. He radiates strength and commands respect in the way he holds himself. I have to give it to the male, from the little I know of him, and despite his arrogance, that he does seem the best fit for the role.

Drakon slaps his son on the back, and they smile at one another. “Son, I have waited years for this moment, and here we are.”

Atlas nods and clasps his hands together in front of himself. Drakon steps to the side of the platform, where two males wait. One hands Drakon a pair of thick gloves, while the other is wearing a similar pair while holding the golden dragon skull helmet.

Drakon slips the gloves on before the male hands him the helmet. I stare at the familiar object, remembering the power it holds. Drakon takes it and carefully places it on Atlas’s head.

Pain shoots through my skull. I wince, gripping my head. Amaros stares at me, but his words are lost as my mind is transported to another time.

Atlas stands atop that same hill with Kyle’s deceased body at his feet. He stares out over the destruction he has caused on Earth and smiles with satisfaction. His gaze then shifts as if he’s looking right at me.

“My Queen…” he whispers.