Grayson had no idea what was going on. Ethan had a blue glow around him, and Beema had turned into a dragon—a dragon! The whole situation seemed surreal. A quick glance around and he could tell that the Fae were just as shocked by the sudden appearance of a dragon. Even Queen Arabella looked pale.
“Uh, Gray…” Adam whispered.
Shaking his head, he answered Adam’s unspoken question, his voice equally quiet. “I had no idea Beema could turn into a dragon.”
Focusing back on the scene in front of him, he listened to what was going on. When Ethan confirmed that the Shades of Power had been united, dread filled Grayson. If the power was meant to be enough for good to triumph over evil, what would evil do with it in their grasp?
And then Ethan said something even more shocking. “But you’re not the ones who united them.”
Grayson heard gasps all around him, and was immensely relieved that Ravyn and Ebony weren’t going to get their hands on that much power. He just hoped that whoever did end up with it wouldn’t abuse it.
“Of course we’re the ones who united them!” Ravyn screamed. Despite her claim, Grayson could see the uncertainty in her body language.
Ebony didn’t bother saying anything for a few seconds. Then suddenly she ordered, “Attack the dragon!”
Grayson growled, but before he could do anything, Beema opened his mouth and breathed fire at the coven members who had started running toward him. By the time he closed his mouth, the area in front of him was empty. It took Grayson a few seconds to realize that he couldn’t even smell the scent of burning flesh.
“Where did they go?” one of the guards on Grayson’s left spoke up.
He wasn’t sure who the Fae was speaking to, yet it was Ethan who answered.
“You think you can defeat a blue flame dragon? How stupid are you?”
Once again, Grayson felt at a loss about what was happening.
“A dragon usually uses fire against his or her foes, and that fire is orange and it burns. A blue flame dragon uses a blue fire, which doesn’t just burn, it incinerates them. Without the usual smell of burning,” Queen Arabella whispered barely loud enough for Grayson’s shifter hearing to pick up.
“Holy shit,” Russell exclaimed, and Grayson couldn’t help but silently agree.
“How the fuck did you get a blue flame dragon?” Ravyn screeched. Her face kept going pale, then red with fury.
Grayson found it amusing.
“I’ve always had him. He chose me instead of you, don’t you remember?”
When her face paled again and she started to sway, Grayson mentally reached out to Ethan.
What are you doing, mate?
I’m trying to get her to the point where she’s so angry she blurts out secrets she normally wouldn’t. Either that or she’ll attack.
And why do you want one of those two things to happen?
Because if she blurts out secrets, then not only will we know them, Ebony might attack me in order to stop Ravyn from saying anything. Or Ravyn will attack me herself.
My wolf and I don’t like the idea of her attacking you or you goading her into doing so.
I know, love, but this battle needs to end. I will not allow them to take any more innocent lives.
Just be careful, Grayson begged.
Gray, there is nothing they can do to hurt me. Haven’t you realized it yet?
Realized what?
Before Ethan could respond, Ravyn screamed and threw an endless stream of black magic at Ethan. Grayson growled, and just as he was about to give into his instincts to rush forward to stand in front of Ethan, Adam said something that froze him in place.
“Holy shit, Grayson, you’re glowing blue!”
****
Ethan’s sister finally snapped and summoned her magic, sending a stream of it at him. He heard Adam tell his mate that he was glowing blue and chuckled just as Ravyn’s magic hit the invisible shield he’d thrown up a few feet in front of him.
Ethan, why am I glowing? I thought your mark turned my skin blue, not made me glow blue?
It does, but it’s not my mark that’s responsible for you glowing.
Then what is? Grayson demanded.
Before Ethan could say anything, Beema answered. The Shades of Power, of course. Although they seem to have blended with Ethan’s magic and just made the blue brighter.
Ethan could feel the shock that coursed through Grayson’s mind and body, yet he didn’t have time to comfort his mate because he could see his sister and Ebony calling their magic, along with their remaining coven members.
Time to show them what the Shades of Power can really do, my witch, Beema whispered.
Ethan turned to face his familiar with his mouth open, ready to respond, but Grayson stood between him and Beema.
I’m still confused, I just know my place is beside you, no matter what.
Ethan smiled at the determination on Grayson’s face as his eyes shifted from gray to a combination of gray and amber, both he and his wolf looking out.
I love you was all Ethan could say. With one last glance at his mate, Ethan focused on Beema. His familiar was standing tall and proud on the other side of Grayson with his wings spread out to their full impressive width. Smiling, Ethan turned back to the battle in front of him and called every drop of power available to him.
He might have hidden it away from everyone, including himself, but his magic had grown just as he had. As Ethan’s magic settled within him for the first time, the force and volume of it raised him off the ground. There was shock among the coven members, pure rage on Ebony’s face, and absolute hatred in his sister’s expression.
Ethan dreaded what he was about to do, yet he knew that there was no other way. Reaching out to Beema and Grayson through their link, he surrounded himself with their love. As a stream of black magic, bigger than Ravyn’s previous attempt, came hurtling at him, Ethan quickly moved. His hands, which had been hanging at his sides, came up in front of him until they were side by side, palms facing outward.
Ethan took a deep breath, then released it and let his magic out through his palms. The beam of magic was a combination of blue and white. Ethan knew the blue was his magic, so he assumed the white was the result of the Shades of Power. The beam easily pierced the black magic coming at him, destroying it in the process, before hitting the witches. There was no screaming, no stench of burning, but when the power cleared and Ethan could see where the witches had stood, there were also no bodies in sight on the slightly charred ground. Ethan narrowed his eyes at a circular area where the ground was still intact.
Looks like someone, or a few someones, may have escaped, he projected to Grayson and Beema.
Whoever was stupid enough to open a portal is still undoubtedly dead. All they did was destroy their destination as well, Beema replied.
Ethan lowered himself to the ground and turned to his mate and familiar just in time for Grayson to pull him into his arms and kiss him deeply.
I love you, mate.
I love you, too, Gray.
Don’t ever scare me like that again, mate.
Ethan broke the kiss and laughed. I’ll try not to.
“So what happens now?” Grayson asked.
“Now we gather Adam and Russell and make our way home. That is, if you still want to come home with me,” Ethan said. He bit his lip.
“Don’t be an idiot. You’re my mate. Even if you could somehow turn into a purple giant, you would still be my mate. Although you might have to explain Beema and how he’s a dragon.”
Relief flooded Ethan, and he nodded. “I’ll explain it you, Adam, and Russell, but no one else. The others don’t need to know.”
“Agreed.”
“Oh, Ethan, I’m so glad you’re okay,” Queen Arabella said.
Ethan turned to watch her coming toward him with her arms open wide.
Before he could react, Beema intervened. Moving until his body was wrapped around Ethan and Grayson, Beema angled his head so it was facing his aunt. She froze with her arms wide at her side, only a few feet away from the face of a growling dragon.
“Thank you, Queen Arabella, however I think you should see to your wounded. I’m planning on taking my mate to our room,” Ethan said formally. Then he spoke quietly, only loud enough for his aunt, Beema, and the shifters to hear. “I haven’t forgiven you for using me, or your lies. You knew about the Shades of Power the entire time and you never said anything. I don’t know if it was because you didn’t believe in them, if you wanted them for yourself, or what. Frankly, I don’t want to know. The fact remains that you abused my powers. You were meant to love me and you used me.”
“I did love you, Ethan, I do love you,” she whispered, her eyes filling with tears as she lowered her arms to her side.
“Maybe so, but right now, I can’t trust you, nor do I want to be around you.”
As she nodded, she stepped back from the angry dragon in front of her then turned around and headed to check on her Fae.
“Adam, Russell, please come closer,” Ethan whispered, waiting until the men obeyed before saying anything else. “Right. I want to get out of here as fast as possible. Is there anything in your rooms that you need to take with you?”
Each man shook his head before Grayson responded.
“We didn’t bring anything with us really. Just some clothes, which were all destroyed and the queen outfitted us with the fancy stuff.”
“Plus since we don’t have a home, we have nothing of value to carry around with us,” Russell said quietly.
Ethan’s heart ached for the three men, even though he knew that things would change soon. “Okay then, let’s get out of here. Everyone, huddle up and hold hands. Beema, cover us.”
Soon the four men were huddled together and Beema curled around them, wrapping them in his wings until they were hidden from view. Once that was done, Ethan transported them to his home. As soon as the snow was under his feet, Beema uncurled himself and showed them their surroundings.
“Welcome home,” Ethan stated.
“You live here?” Adam yelled out, and Ethan turned to see the stunned look on the three men’s faces.
Laughing, he started walking toward the castle. “I do now, and so do you.”