“It’s over,” she warned the deputy major, knowing he would understand.
“No,” he calmly said. “Ye are an impostor. It has barely begun.” He lobbed a swirling ball of fire her way.
The dragon diamond in her scepter caught the blast and shot it back at him.
The warriors in the glen marched forward, their fiery sabers drawn and focused on her.
“Jeros! Run!” she screamed as she held the trident higher, praying the precious jewel could protect her from the onslaught.
Jeros didn’t listen. He lunged at Chotenth, swinging his mighty sword. Metal against metal rang out as his weapon clanged against the deputy major’s bronze armor. Blasts of fire shot out as the Fae men battled.
Her face streaked with hot, angry tears, she faced the advancing army. “I command you to halt. Chotenth is not your overlord.”
They didn’t listen, simply drew closer, slowly advancing with their flames glowing ever brighter.
Then a deafening roar shook the earth, making her stumble to one side. White hot flames shot down from the heavens, obliterating the Fae of the Fires’ forces. Not a single warrior remained in what seemed like the blink of an eye. Smoldering rows of ash now filled the glen.
Lexi sobbed her relief, then swung about and charged forward to stop Chotenth from harming Jeros. She pointed the trident at the battling men and shook it. “There has to be a way to fire this thing.”
The ground shook over and over as one by one, the dragons descended and settled all around her. Corvit landed closest. “I can end this, mighty one. I recommend ye allow me to do so. Chotenth will not change. None of the Fae of the Fires will.”
As much as she hated to admit it, Lexi knew the dragon spoke the truth. “End it.”
Jeros parried Chotenth’s blazing blade and kicked the deputy major, making him stumble backwards. Corvit was there to catch the warrior up in his jaws and swallow him whole, not even pausing to crunch on Chotenth’s bones. After thumping his scaly chest as though the fiery Fae was trying to fight his way back out, Corvit rumbled with a loud belch, then smacked his leathery lips.
“Beg pardon, she of the prophecy,” he said.
Lexi covered her mouth and tried not to gag. She was not made for this. “Thank you, Corvit. You saved my life again.”
The dragon lowered his head in a graceful nod. “Ye saved Ursat and her young with no thought to yer own safety. All dragon kind are indebted to ye.” He nodded again at Jeros. “Might I recommend to Yer Majesty that me and mine be allowed to travel to the Fae of the Fires’ homeland and finish this?”
Jeros pulled Lexi close, tipped her face up to his, and locked eyes with her. “They must be destroyed. They are incapable of casting aside their cruel ways. This is not the first time I have heard of the torture their captives have been forced to endure.”
While she understood, she hated it. No race should have to be wiped out because they were deemed too demonic to coexist with others. But she nodded, knowing that if they didn’t do this now, that years from now, they would regret it. “Do it.”
Jeros tucked her to his side and bowed at Corvit. “Avenge yer kind, my friend. Do what should have been done long ago.”
The dragon lowered his head until he was eye level with Lexi.“This is the right thing to do, she of the prophecy. Dinna fash yerself over their loss,”he thought to her in their private way of communicating.
She appreciated his reassurance. “Thank you—and with them gone, hopefully, you and yours can get some sleep.”
As he lifted off and hovered over them, he seemed to smile. “We are thankful to ye, she of the prophecy. Pass the dragon diamond down to yer children. It will keep them safe.”
“Bless you, Corvit. Bless you and every dragon in existence.” She waved as the horde turned south and disappeared into the clouds.
ChapterEighteen
“More beasts are at our borders, requesting entry,” Darkcord said. The frustration in his voice said much more than his words. “We canna keep welcoming them in. Our resources are strained. Can ye no’ make her understand?”
“Have ye ever tried to change a woman’s mind once she has it made?” Jeros didn’t like it any more than his commander did. With Lexi taking care of every creature in the Seventh Realm, it took up all her time and left none for him. “She’ll not turn any away. All we can hope to do is convince her toconvince themto return to where they belong after she’s healed them.”
Darkcord glared at him, scowling as if this was somehow his fault. Which, in some ways, it was, but not really. Fate had made Lexi what she was. It was none of his doing.
“Where is she now? The stables?” Jeros knew Lexi preferred seeing the creatures in the comfort of the stables, where she had set up a place for healing them.
The commander shook his head. “Her and the tiger are down at the loch. Seeing to a lame kelpie and adobhar-chúwith a sore tail.”
“Fortify the borders and maintain control, but continue to allow the creatures entry. It has been eerily peaceful for weeks now, other than the arrival of the beasts to see our lady. I prefer it stays that way.” Jeros turned toward the loch. “I shall speak with her, but I hold no hope whatsoever about changing her mind. Ye know as well as I how the lady cares for the creatures’ welfare.”
