This Water Serpent’s love for my sister was in every word and look, and I no longer questioned why he’d helped. I didn’t need to. His loyalty to my sister was enough.
Without an ounce of hesitation, I stared into worried amber eyes and smirked, never so sure of anything in my life. “Artemis won’t win.”
Luna took my hand. Tears fled her eyes in streams as claps of thunder and the heavy assault of wind came over and over again, growing more vicious with every breath. “I…I don’t know—how do I even start…”
I squeezed her hand, smiling. I placed my other hand over my heart. The storm of both sky and sea would likely drown out my voice, but I needed her to hear me. “I love you, Luna. I never forgot you, not for a single second. You were always my protector, even when you were gone. You were the reason I could fight, the reason I stayed alive, and now it’s my turn to protect you.”
Onyx’s dragon cried out in anger, summoning stronger winds and lethal electricity. My hair soared around me in a vortex. The power inside me was already responding to my dragon’s call. He needed me.
Because together we were stronger.
“Take care of my sister,” I said to Pyro’s visible shock.
“Sister?” he murmured in confusion.
“Luna…” I leaned forward and pressed a kiss to her cheek before taking several steps back. “We’ll have all the time in the world after this, but right now, my dragon needs me.”
Her eyes flashed. “So it’s true. That mark, it’s a mate claim? The Sky Demons King is your…”
I touched the spot on my neck, my smile growing.
Pyro stiffened and inspected the mark before he nodded. “Luna will always be my first priority. I’ll keep her safe no matter the cost.”
I nodded in return, then twisted. Calling out to the dragon in my head, I ran full speed at the cliff and flung myself off. Onyx’s dragon was there to catch me before I went far, and we soared into the sky to fight together the way we were always meant to.
Chapter 18
The beauty on my back revitalized my dragon’s motivation to risk war between the factions the second he sensed her. She gave him all the fight he needed. Well, and the bastard wanted to show off for her any chance he got. Practically preened when she laughed quietly under her breath and caressed our scales with incredible tenderness.
Since claiming her, my beast and I had realigned. We thought the same, no longer at odds. We’d do whatever it took to protectour little Moon Beast. We’d give her everything she could ever need or want, and that started with reuniting her with her sister.
Seventeen bloody years they’d been working with one ofmysectors in the shadows.Mydragons.Myownfucking brother. Not a single one of them deserved a swift death, but the quicker the blow to these usurpers, the sooner I could get my little beast back home. The sooner she could make up for the time she lost with her sister. The sooner I could make good on the promises I’d made her.
Betrayal was a thick coat on my throat as I spun and dodged columns of water, but having my mate close soothed the burn.
I’d deal with my brother and Vektor when I returned. Blade might be an idiot, but he knew better than to take on Void alone. He’d enlist the help of our guards. Of Iris, our second most powerful dragon. Of the dragons faithful to the future I promised Maze. He’d summon an army to capture the traitorous bastard and his useless tagalong. And upon my return, they’d answer for their crimes. For the first time in what felt like decades, I put my trust in others to do what I refused to do all these years—lock up Void.
Saving my mate and her sister was my first priority, so the Serpent King needed to die today. What was it that humans liked to say?
My thoughts must’ve filtered into hers, because Maze quickly answered, “Cut the head off the snake and the body will follow.” Her amusement twisted the words anew. “Or perhaps in this case, the serpent’s head, my Liege?”
A beastly laugh escaped me as I evaded the other dragon bent on swiping at my side with his claws. His slithery form soared off like a coward in the sky, summoning a wall of water as a barrier when I pivoted to retaliate.
He might be fast, but he couldn’t win against me. Artemis knew he wasn’t a match for me in either power or strength.It was why he’d brought all of his brothers togreetme. He expected it to be a perfectly executed ambush. He expected his strongest brother, stronger than even him, to fight by his side without question. Blinded by arrogance, he never anticipated his own brother’s betrayal.
He and I unfortunately had that in common.
Small hands caressed the scales on my neck, her closeness a soothing balm on my simmering rage. My head cleared with Maze near. Bloodlust didn’t cloud my judgment like it usually did, and to fight the treacherous Serpent King, I’d need to be clever and level-headed. Already, I noticed a significant difference in how I moved and reacted.
While I might not fully understand the mate bond I shared with Maze, I knew without a doubt that the power coursing through me was stronger, deadlier. It wouldn’t take much to kill the leader of the Water Serpents, but Artemis was a slippery devil and far too clever for his own good. He wouldn’t let me get close enough without first catching him off guard. I’d need Maze’s help, and by the way she touched and braced against me, she was ready to do whatever I asked.
My little beast wasn’t afraid of anyone.
If I took out their king, the rest of the Water Serpents would be unlikely to fight back, especially if Pyro took his place and renegotiated terms on their behalf. I’d seen enough to know their smaller faction practically worshipped the brother of Artemis, and he’d be a better leader to them.
As a human sympathizer, our interests aligned, and I could trust he’d do just about anything for Maze’s sister. His affection for her was evident in his gaze and desire to guard her side. It was the very reason I took a chance on him, and Pyro hadn’t hesitated to protect her. Even if it meant destroying his kin. That was enough to cement my faith in our future partnership. All that stood in our way was his brother.
Ironic that today marked a move to usurp my throne, and the way it was countered was to usurp theirs. I did quite enjoy the poetic justice to it all.
