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“May we play with her?” Aurora pleaded.
My gaze shot to Isa.
That is completely up to you, she answered. I know my hatchling can be... She paused, turning her gaze to the heavens before letting out a sigh. Exuberant.
I nervously eyed Finn, worried the hatchling would play too rough. “Isa says it’s okay.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll supervise,” Finn reassured me with a wink.
The girls cheered, and Triss sat up, her tongue lolling from her mouth, her tail slapping the ground.
Play too rough, hatchling, and you go underground, Isa warned. And remember, no flying.
Triss whimpered her understanding and laid on her belly while the girls climbed on her. True to his word, Finn stood beside the hatchling, ready to catch the girls if they fell off.
Ash gently set me on my feet, allowing me to lean against him for support.
Isa eyed me through narrowed slits. Good evening, Goddess. How do you feel?
“Like I’ve been trampled by a herd of dragons,” I answered while stretching my sore bones.
She turned up her snout with a low chuckle. Dragons travel in flocks, not herds.
I refrained from rolling my eyes when my sister stepped next to me, nudging my arm. “My sister had a rough night,” she said.
Isa arched a scaled brow. Memories come back?
I swallowed back a lump of unease, memories of Thorin’s hands on me. “Yes.”
I was grateful for Ash, who wrapped a strong arm around my shoulders.
The unpleasant ones are usually the ones you remember first, the dragon said.
Bitter laughter bubbled up in my throat. “Yeah, unpleasant is an understatement.”
You’re a strong witch. She gave me a challenging look, and I knew she was watching me for weakness. You’ll get through it.
In other words, war was looming, and we didn’t have time for me to dwell on my trauma. Fireflies swirled around me, leaving behind what looked like trails of fairy dust. Somehow, their presence brought me comfort in addition to Ash’s strength pouring into me.
I breathed out a slow breath, pushing thoughts of Thorin from my mind. “The demons are building a fleet of warships to invade the Fae lands, and the human towns are disappearing.”
Shiri and her mates gasped. Ash swore while Finn gave us a dark look.
The dragon snarled, steam pouring from her snout. They’re either using them as soldiers or eating them.
Shiri repeated aloud to our mates what Isa had said.
I nodded. “Thorin and I came across many human villages that were ghost towns.”
Humans have no magical weapons to fight demons. Isa stiffened, her long neck extending to full height. I suspect there are no more human lands. They are the demon lands now. This is all the humans’ fault.
“Why is this the humans’ fault?” Shiri asked her.
Isa settled into a low crouch, her wings pinned behind her while she crossed her paws. Thousands of years ago after the first demon wars, humans insisted on a separation between the humans and the Fae. Most humans relocated to the south of the Periculian Mountains. A few humans remained in the Fae lands, deciding they’d rather be slaves and servants than demon snacks. All trade routes were cut off. The humans believed the Fae to be the cause of the demon attacks.
Again, Shiri repeated our conversation.
“Were we?” I asked.
