Amelie should’ve been back by now. I stormed around the cabin, ignoring Cara and Darren’s worried pleas for me to sit down and tell them what was wrong. But I couldn’t. I glared out the front windows into the night. My gut twisted, and I dug my fingers into the wooden frame. Something was wrong.
“I have to go.” I rushed to the door and threw it open.
“What? Tank, it’s the middle of the night.” Cara protested as she followed me out the front door and into the woods. Darren hurried behind her. “Tank! Wait a second. Where are you going? We shouldn’t be out here.”
“I have to find her.”
“Find who?”
I shook my head, not saying anything. I dodged trees as I raced to the barrier. Amelie said she was going to the same place we entered. Darren and Cara kept up their barrage of begging me to go back with them. That wasn’t happening. Either Amelie was still out here by the barrier or Zion got his hands on her. If it was the latter, I was going to tear that dragon apart.
“What is that?” Cara gasped as she and Darren finally caught up with me.
“That would be a crack in the barrier keeping us here. Trapped.”
Hands on my hips, a growl rumbling deep in my throat, I glared at the opening. Amelie had gotten through, but she wasn’t here. I looked at the ground, searching for tracks, but there was only one set. Where was she?
I sucked in a deep breath and the metallic scent she described earlier overwhelmed my senses. It was overlaid with the smells of herbs and flowers I’d come to associate with Amelie.
Following the scent, I found myself at a tree. Then I spotted the bundle of sticks sitting in the crook of branches. Definitely out of place. And it wasn’t far from the barrier. I picked it up, holding it up to the moonlight filtering through the branches.
“What is that?” Cara asked as she approached.
She gave her head a shake as if trying to clear her mind.
Darren did the same.
Curious, I held the charm closer to them, and they hunched over, holding their heads. Their bodies glowed an eerie silver color.
I was worried that I was hurting them, and yanked the charm back.
They both straightened and looked at me.
Cara blinked a couple of times then her eyes widened. “Tank? What, what’s going on? How are you here?” She rubbed her forehead then glanced at Darren. “Why are we in the woods?”
“What do you remember?”
“I remember coming here with Zion.” She blanched. “No. Not Zion. Greg. That lying bastard.”
Darren growled. “He tricked us.”
“And you came here to find us?” Cara threw herself into my arms. “How?”
“I knew you were alive. That I had to find you. Amelie helped me, and now I can’t find her. I think Zion took her. She’s the one who broke through the barrier.”
“I don’t want to think about what he’ll do to her.”
I didn’t want to think about it either. But standing around here wasn’t going to do us any good. If she got through the barrier, she would’ve sent a message to Selma. The old witch would act, call for the Hunters, but I wasn’t going to wait around for them to arrive.
Zion had Amelie. That was my only focus. I headed toward his cabin. That’s where I’d start my hunt.
“Tank.” Cara grabbed hold of my arm. “Where are you going?”
“I’m not letting Amelie stay with that pathetic excuse for a dragon. Claiming he’s our leader.” I gripped the charm so hard the sticks began to crack.
“What’s your plan?”
“Go to his cabin and tear him apart.”
“Wait, we need a plan.” She tugged on me so hard I had no choice, but to stop. “You can’t attack him. He’s well-guarded.”
“The artifact he’s using to do all this is in his cabin,” I explained. “It’s draining everyone’s soul. We have to end this. Now.”
“And we will, but we need others. We need help.”
“Amelie called for help, but I’m not sure they’ll get here in time.” I glanced at the charm in my hand. “The caves.”
“Caves?”
“Zion’s been taking those who’ve broken free of the curse and locking them away. Come on.”
They stayed right behind me as we sprinted through the trees, taking the path to the caves. There were no guards nearby, which I took as a bad sign. If they weren’t here, they were probably at the house. Amelie had been taken. I knew it. I should’ve gone with her. When we reached the gate covering the cave entrance, Darren and I kicked against the lock to try and break it open, but couldn’t.
“Hold this,” I told Cara, handing over the charm. “And stand back.”
“What are you doing? Tank, we can’t breathe fire.”
“Watch me.”
These dragons had been trapped, unaware that after all this time, the dark magic that hovered over our people had been lifted. Heat boiled in my gut as I sucked in a deep breath.
I aimed for the lock and fire shot from my mouth, lighting up the darkness. The lock turned white hot and melted, hitting the ground in a glob of liquefied metal. As I swallowed back the last of the flames, Cara and Darren looked at me in awe.
“What? How is that possible?” Cara exclaimed.
I kicked open the gate and rushed inside to free the prisoners. “I’ll explain everything later. Stand back,” I told Danny and the other dragons.
I made quick work of the locks, and the dragons poured out of the cells, clapping me on the shoulder and shaking my hand.
Cara and Darren greeted them outside the cave, asking them what Zion had done to them.
There was no time to stand around and chat. Amelie needed me. I’d half hoped he would’ve thrown her up here with the rest of his prisoners, but she wasn’t here. The only other possibility was the cabin.
“Let’s move.”
“What are we doing?” Danny asked.
“We are taking back our clan,” I informed him. “And saving Amelie.”
“You think we can take them all on?”
“Zion is nothing more than a coward, hiding behind magic he doesn’t even understand. We’re going to take them on, and we’re going to win. The war hasn’t ended yet for those of you here, but it will tonight.”
“You’re just going to what? Ambush them?”
I rolled my shoulders, looking in the direction of Zion’s cabin, the one place he believed he was untouchable. “Something like that. Anyone who doesn’t wish to be involved, head to the southern edge of the barrier. You’ll find a crack in it. That’s your way out. The Hunters are on their way to help us. Wait for them.”
“Hunters? They won’t help us. They’ll kill us,” one of the dragons protested.
“No, they won’t. Much has changed since the war ended. You can trust them.”
“And if we want to stay and fight?” Danny asked with a glint in his eyes. “If we want to make that lying dragon pay?”
“Then you come with me. Time to prove Zion is not our clan leader.”
Five dragons stood outside the cabin, their faces lit by the torches lining the path to the front door.
Danny, Cara, and Darren stood to my right. The rest of those who stayed to fight had moved around to the rear of the cabin to guarantee if Zion made a run for it, he didn’t get far.
As far as I could tell, the only power he had was that of erasing everyone’s memories. But if he was away from the main artifact, I hoped he wouldn’t be able to do it. He drew power from that dark object. We had to destroy it.
And I had to find Amelie.
The temptation to charge forward and set the place on fire was high, but Amelie was far from fireproof. She might be hurt, unconscious, or worse.
I ground my teeth, chasing away that dark thought. She was alive. That’s what every instinct in me proclaimed. She was alive. It wasn’t too late to save her.
“How do you want this to play out?” Cara asked, moving around the tree to get a better view of the front porch.
“You three stay out of sight. I don’t want him knowing you are here until the fighting starts. And it will. I guarantee that.”
“Tank, be careful. I just found you. I’d really like not to lose my brother.”
I hugged her close and kissed the top of her head. Darren held my gaze over her shoulder as I silently told him he better keep her safe if this plan went south.
“I’ll be fine. See you soon.”
She gave me one more solid squeeze, then I pulled away.
I walked out of the trees and right up to the cabin. The guards moved as one, stepping away from their posts to stop me from approaching. “I need to speak with Zion,” I announced loudly. “Please, it’s important.”
“No, you’re going to turn around and walk away,” one instructed. “Now.”
“I have to see him. You don’t understand.”
They eyed me suspiciously, as though I was going to throw myself at them. They couldn’t know the curse had been lifted from me unless they got Amelie to talk. I always told her she was a damned poor liar. Unless they hurt her to get to the truth. Anger rose within me as I took another step closer.
Every guard closed in, ready to fight to keep me away.
Good. I was in the mood to punch something.
“Either let me in or get ready,” I warned.
“You are not permitted inside. Turn around.”
The tingling sensation started behind my eyes again. They were trying to use that curse on me. I wasn’t about to lose my memories, not now when we were so ready to save everyone and get them the hell out of here.
I took another step.
One of the dragons grabbed hold of my arm.
I wrapped my hand around his neck.
His eyes widened in panic, and he withdrew his other hand from his pocket where the charm probably was.
“I said I wanted to see Zion.”
He grappled to get free.
I tossed him over the heads of the other guards and into the wall of the cabin. He slid to the floor of the porch as the rest surrounded me.
They were nothing like the Black Diamonds or the Blood Moon Priests I’d fought.
One after another, I decked and kicked, sending them flying into the cabin.
The last one was a big dragon. Much larger than the others. His fist slammed into my side.
I grunted as I took the hit and took hold of him by his shirt front. “Tell Zion, I’m ready for him, would you?” I hefted the man over my head and threw him into the front door.
He crashed through, and I heard a panicked yell from inside.
“Zion. Come out here and face me, you coward.”
There was movement inside and outside.
Many of the dragons Zion claimed to have saved gathered around the cabin, whispering and muttering.
Cara, Darren, and the others on our side remained out of sight.
Zion stepped far enough out the door to see all his guards on the ground.
Eyes wide in panic, he bolted back inside the house.
I took off after him.
More shouts erupted from the gathered crowd, but I had no time to deal with them. At least, not yet. I had to get to Zion. I needed to stop him from hurting Amelie and from killing the rest of the Shadowguards.
I slipped as I took a corner too fast and ended up in front of an open doorway.
A horrific sight was just beyond.
Perched on a pedestal, the artifact driving his power pulsed with life.
Next to the pedestal, Zion held a dagger to Amelie’s neck.
She sagged in his arms, barely able to keep her eyes open. The artifact was draining her of life.
“Let her go,” I demanded, taking a step closer.
Zion pushed on the blade against her neck. “Why should I? You are trying to take everything from me. I saved these people. I did it.”
“By lying to them,” I argued, not looking at him. My gaze trained on Amelie. “By tricking them. You should have fought with the rest of us. You should have fought Radnak and the Blood Moon Priests. Look at yourself. You’ve turned into one.”
“I will never be like those monsters.”
“You already are. That plant behind you is stealing souls. It’s killing them all.” I shook my head, disgusted. “It’s killing you.”
“No, I’ve won. I’ve saved them all. Now they will give me the respect I deserve.”
“Deserve? It’s not about what you deserve.” I slid my foot forward slightly, and he didn’t react. “It’s about what’s right for our clan. Slade is who’s right. With Everest by his side. Not this. Not lies and more deceitful magic.”
Amelie’s legs gave out.
Zion hoisted her up harshly, dagger still at her throat. “Back off.”
“You will not hurt her. You will not hurt any of them. Not anymore.”
“Yeah? And you’re going to stop me? How? I have the magic.”
“You do, but you’re not a true dragon.”
Amelie’s eyes met mine. I sucked in a deep breath. She nodded.
Fire rose from deep within my body.
She yelled and shoved Zion.
He lost his grip on her.
She hit the floor as he stumbled to the left.
The second she was clear, I let loose.
My fire surrounded the plant, and it shrieked as if truly alive. The flames devoured it.
Zion yelled, attempting to get to me.
Amelie threw herself at him, and they hit the floor, rolling around. That dagger flashed and just when he was going to bring it down on her back, I shifted my fire toward him.
He yelped.
Amelie reached for my hand as the plant’s screaming turned shrill. It pulsed swiftly, like a dying heart, then exploded in a ball of red.
I curled my body around Amelie to protect her, but the blast threw us out of the house.
Ears ringing, I kept my head down and secured Amelie in my arms as debris from the cabin crashed around us.
“Tank,” she whispered, her hands pressed against my chest.
“I’m alright. You?” I leaned back to see her.
Her eyes swirled as her power and strength returned.
“Yeah, think I’m good—Tank,” she yelled, as she was jerked from my arms and tossed aside.
“You bastard,” Zion snarled, holding that damned charm in his hand. It oozed red, dying. Clearly, there was enough power left in it for Zion to pose a threat. “We’re not finished. Attack! Take them. Take them all down!”
Cara shouted for the others to fight back.
Zion’s knee slammed into my chin.
I was thrown backward, but got up in time to stop the next hit.
All around us, the guards battled those from whom the curse had been lifted.
Not realizing what was happening, others fought alongside the guards, against us. Their minds remained clouded by the curse. If we didn’t find a way to break through to them soon, we’d be overwhelmed. Someone was going to get hurt and seeing dead Shadowguards was the last thing I wanted out.
How could we get through to them?
Above us, the night sky was clear. The dome was gone, destroyed when the artifact burned.
If Selma did get the message, backup would hopefully be here before this fight got out of hand.
I caught Zion’s fist midair, ready to clock me, and bent his arm, forcing him to his knees. I overpowered him, punching him repeatedly.
He grabbed hold of that charm again, and something inside me snapped.
As the tingling struck me harder this time, threatening to steal away my memories, my sense of self, I shifted into my dragon. My roar shattered the night.
The fighting around us paused momentarily as my wings spread wide.
Clutching Zion in my claws, I took off into the sky.
Zion yelled as he struggled.
From below, Amelie shouted my name, but I wasn’t landing. Not yet. They believed him to be their clan leader and damaged by Radnak or not, any clan leader would have no choice, but to shift if dropped a high enough. Instinct would take over, and he would be forced into his dragon form. The only thing an injury might do was stop him from remaining in his dragon form for more than a few moments.
“Get me down from here!”
I growled and rolled.
He yelled and screamed as we circled over the fighting below.
I paused when more dragons flew in from the east, roaring and calling out to me. Hollow Wells and other Shadowguards.
The Hunters had arrived after all.
One of the dragons bore two familiar warlocks on his back, Peter and Victor.
“You want down?” I growled, holding Zion at my mercy. “Fine. Save yourself.”
I let him go.
He fell, screaming and tumbling, head over heels.
I flapped my wings, watching and waiting, knowing he wouldn’t shift.
Grunting in satisfaction, I dove after him and right as he was ready to slam into the ground, I caught him and shifted.
We landed.
He was shaking and cursing, and empty-handed. The charm was long gone, having slipped from his grasp.
Every single dragon he’d tricked looking at him with new eyes.
One by one, the curse lifted from the Shadowguards as the Hunters landed around us.
Amelie was talking to Peter and Victor. Everyone else was watching Zion and me.
“You,” he snarled, gasping for air as he pointed an accusing finger at me. “How dare you? You tried to kill me in front of all these witnesses. I will have you arrested for this.”
“I think you should be more worried about your own hide.” I crossed my arms and nodded at those around us. “I don’t think your village is very happy with you.”
“Hollow Wells?” He stumbled backward as if he still had a chance of escaping. “You brought them here? Hunters? They’ll kill us all. Are you mad? You’ve destroyed us.”
There were shouts for him to be arrested.
None of the Shadowguards seemed worried at all about the Hunters, seeing as half of them were their own kin.
Instead, they formed a circle around Zion and the guards who helped him keep his lie alive, demanding answers.
His mouth opened and closed, but no words came out. He had nothing to defend himself. He nearly killed all for what? The desire to be seen as a brave warrior?
The moment he took a step to run, I lunged forward and cut him off.
My hand closed around his throat, cutting off his air as I lifted him off his feet.
“You are going nowhere.”