“The mind weaver is a tricky gift. It’s a test from the Gods. Will the Royal use it for good? Or for evil?” - Book of Azure
“WHAT IS IT THEN! WHY CAN’T I remember!”Tears burn at the edges of my eyes as I stare into the eyes of the dragon.
“The Gods wanted you to remember who and what you were before they reminded you. Now, it is time. The elder has allowed it.”
I take a few steps towards her, my boots digging into the sand. “How do you know the elder?”
In a split moment, a golden light blasts from the dragon. I cover my eyes, shielding them from the blinding light with my arm. The fire around us pops and crackles, flickering between the two colors. Red. Then blue.
The golden light, as if the sun has fallen from the sky, finally fades. I hesitantly lower my arm, noticing the dragon is gone. But as I scan around frantically, I notice the woman. The elder.
“Because I am her.” Her wrinkled lips tug into a smile, creases fold against her temples as her arms widen out like she is ready to embrace me in a hug.The elder from the cabin.Now I understand why Florian said it was treason to see her. But how is she still alive when all the other shifters and dragons are hunted?
“My child, look at you.”
My brows pull inward, stumbling back. “You…you—”
“A shifter. Yes. For centuries. Even before your mother cursed the Realms.” Her hands gently clasp together in front of her, raising them to her leather lips. “How you have grown so much since I have last seen you. The stones have found you. I knew they would.”
My head slowly shakes, eyes widening with what she has just said to me. “That doesn’t make any sense.”
“There was a time when the Deskyiaras were at peace with the shifters. Allowing us to walk the Realms peacefully, until you met Koen. The war broke out, the Realms angry against one another for choosing him over the throne. A shifter from the Darklands, over your place at the Kingdom. You were sworn to marry Florian, to bring the Realm of Nilak and Eekatia together at last.”
My heart plummets with his name.
“What the hell are you saying?”
“You were never meant to meet Koen. He was born to destroy the Royals, to take revenge on us for casting them out from our Azure. Realm Edrelas is forbidden, known as the Darklands, due to their wicked ways. But that didn’t stop Florian’s father. The Ice King betrayed the treaty between the Realms. The Darklands never obeyed the rules of the Gods.”
My palms sweat as my chest rises and falls. The world around feels as if it’s nothing but a blur, spinning faster until I might finally pass out.
“They disobeyed the God of Darkness after the warning of the first shifter was born in their Realm. The shifter bloodline was brought upon the Realms here to protect them against the darklings. However, the war changed it all. Our powers, our magic… have been turned into a weapon. The Royals have lied to the lands, spreading rumors for centuries on how dragons are the Gods' way of punishing us.”
My chest rises and falls as my breathing becomes unstable. “So, you are saying shifting isn’t a curse?”
“Not to all, no.” The elder takes a step towards me. “No one is cursed, child. The Realms have been lied to. Koen’s mother was the first-born shifter in the Darklands. With her being a darkling, we all thought it was impossible, but we believe they used dark magic to make this happen. They wanted a weapon stronger than the dragons that protect the four Realms. That is Koen.”
“Does he know this?” My lips tremble. “Or has he been clueless to this all along? He is already in pain having the darkling blood course through him, this might kill him!”
“He doesn’t know, no. You must tell him.”
My head shakes. “No. I can’t.”
“He trusts you. He would die for you.” The elder takes her last step, reaching out to touch my shoulder shielded with the suit. “But, there is a way to break the connection from the blue flame and him. A way to save him from Tileatha. If there is still a speck of light inside of his heart from his embers, he needs to hold onto it before the darkness consumes him for good. There is no way to change who he is, but there is a way for him to be free from her grip. He just needs to find the book in the archives, the one that is scorched by fire.”
“He’s been looking for it,” I whisper.
“He’s trying to find a way to break the link between his shifting and the flame. Good. Because if he doesn’t, Tileatha willuse it to kill you.” Her shriveled eyelids close. “The dark magic that is in his blood is the very thing that can kill a Deskyiara. He was born with this. If he remembers what magic he wields, and your sister has him under her control, he will kill you. And succeed.”
“I don’t understand what you are saying.” My eyes flicker between hers.
“Every royal is gifted with magic from our Gods. Even though he is considered a bastard to the Realms, he is still a royal by blood. His mother, Queen of the Darklands. His father, King of the Ice Realm. He has the only weapon to kill a Deskyiara.”
“The Darklands lava?” My head tilts. “That’s the only way a Deskyiara can die?”
Her head nods, staring right into my soul, waiting for me to realize.
“No,” I breathe out. “I am the only one cursed with the ability to burn… his hands have been on me before. Even before I was taken. He has never hurt me.”
