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“Their creation was forbidden. An ancient ritual crafted from the darkest form of magic and chaos to help end the war of wars. One ruled all. He was the first to shift, to walk on two legs. His blood could make harrowing beasts, and he and his kin were feared among realms. Some of his creations ruled beneath the ground, their forms so large they could block out the very sun. Some had no legs, others far too many. Kaden’s classification is very powerful. Before The First War began, they only created two because that was all they needed from his line. They ruled the skies above, giant winged beasts known as dragons by the mortals, although the name came from a word long lost. They were made to fight Primordials, Titans, and Gods and succeeded dangerously well. If a dragon took the field, warriors were not needed. One creature alone was destruction and ruin. Wings were heard from above, and cities were left in embers. You must realize how powerful they are, how strong, and how much I fear what she is going through.”
“You think she will destroy this world?”
Reggie’s lips formed into a thin line. “She has the potential.”
I nodded, dread eroding my gut. Reggie had seen it all as a fate, and I could tell he was worried. It terrified me to the point of making me sick. I leaned over the altar, grabbing the small stone I had crafted for her. I flipped it in my hand and looked it over again. “She wants this, and I know you know what for.”
“A final decision.”
“Are you going to tell him?” His brow lifted as he regarded me. “I know where you go when you phase from here.”
“You are a very powerful queen. It seems Kryella’s blood runs through you more than you know.” Roccurem tilted his head toward me, his six opaque eyes alight.
“Kryella? The Goddess of Magic? I don’t think so.”
“You also have a long road ahead, witch queen. They will need you for what’s coming. I do apologize for what you will endure. Hold on to the light you find. You will need it.”
Dianna was right. It was as if he looked so far ahead and only gave us the bare minimum. Half the time, his words made no sense, but my gut churned, thinking about what he could see that would make him worry for me. I glanced at him, wiping my hands along my side. “What exactly is coming?”
“Something far worse than Kaden, far, far worse.”
* * *
My heels echoed against the ruined steps as I entered the temple’s lower level. Torches hung every few feet, the flames beating against the rustic temple walls. I wondered if this place was an old home to her, one she never told me about, or just something far enough away in the desert that no one could find it. Not even him. The stairway opened into a large, dark, empty expanse. I flicked my fingers open, and green flames danced against my palm. The darkness pressed in on me, and I stumbled. Bones scraped and rolled beneath my feet. I glanced down and wished I hadn’t. Skeletal remains were scattered, crowding the floor. Skulls, femurs, and rib bones serrated by teeth far larger than mine.
The back of my neck prickled, screaming at danger. Hot, scalding breath moved the hair atop my head. I raised my magic higher and turned, my heart leaping into my throat. The beast’s mouth gaped, revealing an orange glow of pure flame at the back of her throat.
“I finished it.”
Her massive jaws slammed shut mere inches from me, and I willed myself not to close my eyes.
She was massive, and all serrated plated scales jutting backward. The single claw on her thick heavy wings dug into the floor, supporting a massive lean body. Her hind legs were powerful, and a thick serrated tail wrapped around a half-crumpled column.
Dianna didn’t speak and didn’t move. She just continued to stare at me with those crimson gleaming eyes. The spikes and scales along the elongated reptilian form of the Ig’Morruthen shimmered with specks of blood. She exhaled, her snout inches from me, her breath bathing me in heat. A noise of agreement vibrated from her throat. It was a scare tactic, and I knew she could hear the erratic beat of my racing heart. She was so massive she could swallow me whole with one bite. My throat bobbed, and a bead of sweat ran down my spine. Her head swung to the side, her sinuous body following, the ground shaking with every step.
A part of me ached for her. She had fallen so far in only a few short months. I had seen the videos and the pictures Kaden had his spies take. She’d smiled at Samkiel at that festival with cotton candy and bright lights behind them and seemed so happy for once. When she was with Samkiel, I didn’t need my magic to see that she glowed. He woke something in her, powerful, primal, and necessary. And now it was gone.
She was now everything Kaden had wanted her to be: a perfect weapon, pure destruction, and merciless rage. This was the Dianna he wished for when Samkiel first came back. Honestly, I was lucky to have my head still.
I watched as scales, wings, and tail disappeared into the darkness.
“I-I need a week to recharge if we want to keep to the plan. I’ve been using too much to cloak this place, to make the stone and the ring. Just a week. Please.”
I expected a growl in response, flames to erupt from the far corridor, or even the room to shake and shudder. The only response I got was silence, and truthfully, that scared me more than anything.
Twenty-Five
Samkiel. One Week Later.
“I’m telling you exactly what I saw. They were out there one minute and gone the next. It sounded like a convoy rolled over my house and then just silence.”
I sighed, rubbing the bridge of my nose as the small man placed his hands on his hips.
Vincent shuffled on his feet as Imogen returned a framed picture to its place.
“I understand your concern, but telling the local news only made matters worse. Do you understand?”
The graying man held up his hands. “All I know is red-eyed monsters walk this world, and I’m not taking any chances, okay?”
