Artemis’s once relaxed expression darkened. “Is that an accusation, Onyx?”
“An observation,” the dragon beside me rebuked. His eyes slid over to Luna. “One of many, in fact.”
Artemis scowled in confusion.
He couldn’t have possibly foreseen a meeting of long-lost sisters. He’d probably brought her along before, so her presence wouldn’t be noted among differences. I got the impression she was this pale demon’s favorite.
Coincidental felt too simple a word. This was fate, one that sealed the other king’s demise as resolutely as it did his betrayal. I’d been in the company of treachery for so long that I recognized it before my head had a chance to piece everything together.
My eyes naturally went to Luna. She was still worried about me. It was clear in the way she stared. Her jaw ticked several times in frustration, her hands drawn into fists before she crossed her arms.
She’d always been my protector, and no doubt she’d lay down her life to save mine. She already had. Which was what I was worried about.
So I did what we did as kids. I kept eye contact and laid a hand over my heart. It was our sign for everything was okay. Our little way of reassuring each other back in Desert Roseland when words were too risky. It was all I could do, hoping she’d understand. Hoping she’d know I wasn’t in any danger, not with Onyx by my side.
Her lips twitched before she did the same, the gesture second nature even after all these years. We always answered eachother. A resounding promise was in every thump under our palms. Across several feet of space, we didn’t break eye contact for nearly a minute before our arms dropped. The only dragons who seemed to notice were Onyx and the one guarding my sister’s side.
My sister smiled in that gentle way of hers. The way that stayed rooted in my memories of her. She wasn’t afraid anymore. After all these years, Luna still knew me better than anyone.
It was a relief to see her calm. She was a breathtaking sight with her hair blowing in the wind and her slender frame outlined by a brilliant sunlit backdrop. The memories of her found color in those brief moments. They were no longer fuzzy and faded. My sister was alive, and I could finally do what she’d always done for me.
It was my turn to protect her.
Luna’s shoulders rolled back and her chin lifted, refusing to appear anything but strong and unshakeable despite the threat of violence looming. Just like when we were kids.
If I hadn’t seen the countless bruises marring her skin, I’d think she didn’t have any. My sister carried herself like she did when we faced down the gangs roaming the Desert Roseland streets. They couldn’t break her and neither could these dragons, not after all these years.
My sister kept her pieces firmly in place.
Onyx’s hand touched my lower back, lending me his strength and reasserting his promise. I turned my head to look at him, and the apathy he reserved for everyone else faded away.
“If the Stormriders are starting a war—” Artemis cut through our moment, his voice dripping with irritation.
“It was a ruse,” Onyx interjected sharply.
Artemis seemed genuinely surprised to hear it. “A ruse? But I was told you’ve fought some of their people.”
Onyx and I shared a look. One side of his mouth ticked up in victory. “And how would you have come across that information? A spy? But that would go against our agreed upon terms. Surely you’re aware what something like that would imply…”
Angry, the other leader took a step forward, the shift in the air tangible. “Does it matter? We’re allies. Friends, I dare say. We’ve always protected each other’s interests, Onyx.”
“I wonder about that,” my dragon murmured, his voice dropping several octaves. Knowing the dragon’s cleverness and battle prowess, he was likely several steps ahead of whatever was happening here.
As if he hadn’t heard him, Artemis went on, “I should’ve been made aware the minute you were attacked in the Borderlands and discovered who was responsible. Instead, I’m forced to hear it through my sources. If anyone should be explaining themselves, it’s you.”
“Your sources…” Onyx repeated, smirking. That look alone put the other dragons on edge. “Those sources wouldn’t happen to reside in Desert Roseland, hmm? Or perhaps it was Vektor and Void who found time to reach out? You’ve been rather busy, Artemis.”
Onyx’s eyes lifted to the other leader, glowing a violent blue. Scales appeared on his neck and arms, hardening and reflecting the sunlight, now a similar color to his eyes. I’d never seen them that color before. It was so captivatingly blue.
“Organizing treason within my own bloody faction.”
“How dare you—”
“But you’ve underestimated my reach, as per usual.” His furious gaze narrowed. “And Rook’s.”
The name I recognized from the phone call earlier made Artemis’s jaw clamp shut and his own scales harden along exposed skin. The other leader bristled with the accusation,taking hold of his weapon in an open warning, but Onyx carried on as if he hadn’t noticed.
“What a shame that I’d be informed prior to our meeting of the plans you cooked up with my own fucking brother. Though it was rather clever of him, seeing how I was obstructing his plans…in a lot of ways.” Onyx’s attention moved over to my sister by Artemis’s side. “The two of you are certainly likeminded when it comes to humans. I imagine he’d already discovered your betrayal of our agreed terms, specifically the ones dealing with our own human sectors, hmm? How is that rebellion of yours faring?”
