I felt a wave of power pulse and fill the room. I had felt this power before when Krispin had released his dragon. The triplets quickly rose to their feet at the command.
Krispin's eyes glowed gold, and golden scales emerged around his head, making a crown. Gasps were heard around the table. Krispin's hand also glowed as he lifted it in front of the brothers.
“Let it be known to all dragons!” Krispin bellowed. “That I, Krispin Adair, of the Golden caste, King and Sovereign of High Garden, Guardian of the Sacred Fire, appoint Angus ofthe Blue caste, Addison of the Purple caste, and Aaran of the Red caste, Royal Guardian Protectors of High Garden," Krispin proclaimed.
Bright gold light shot forth from Krispin's hand, hitting all three brothers in the chest. Angus' eyes turned bright blue, Addison's became purple, and Aaran's shifted to red. Their dragons were accepting their positions, the scales surfacing from under their skin. Angus was the first to his knees.
"I swear to you my fealty, my liege lord and king. I accept this honor and will protect you and your family with my dying breath," Angus said formally.
Addison and Aaran followed their older brother’s lead, dropped to their knees, and also pledged their fealty. Krispin touched each of their shoulders in acknowledgment of their pledge. He then turned to Alister, who wore a mask of awe and surprise. Alister quickly followed suit and dropped to his knees.
"My king, you have honored my house in ways that I could not imagine. You honored my sons and even saved my youngest from dying. I owe you my life," he stated.
Krispin touched Alister's shoulder. "Roarke defended what was mine. He saved the lives of not only my Cardia but my son and heir. That day, he became my brother, even before I healed him. The giving of my blood and scales was a small price to pay," he said earnestly.
Krispin then turned to Roarke and tilted his head. The power and strength in the room swirled around, touching everyone.Each man stood, lifted their head in pride, and roared. The sound was deafening, shaking the windows and the foundation. Finnley and his friends were the ones who needed to fear. The Dragon King was back to take his rightful place and set his kingdom in order.
The Council
Roarke
It took two hours to reach the council grounds. They were situated north of Glenfinnan, at the old castle ruins of Gadleigh. The castle sat on a small island in Loch Mora. The old stone causeway still stood, allowing us to drive to the island. It would have been faster had we shifted and flown, but Krispin's Gold dragon would have been seen.
As we crossed the loch, I saw a black figure circling the castle ruins in the night sky, and up ahead, a large black dragon who oversaw the entrance. It made sense; the Black caste dragons were considered guardians.
Many dragons, in human and shifted forms, stood among the castle ruins. Five, large stone seats were positioned on a dais above the meeting grounds. Behind the seats rose a large stone throne with a goldstone centered on the back. Some of the council had already taken their seats. I continued to survey thearea and noted Braxton, my father's second, standing with Lord Finnley.
I growled at the outright betrayal of the dragon. Lord Finnley spotted me and smirked with that smug grin. I felt Devin stiffen; he saw the action as well. His rage ran through our bond, and I clasped his hand, continuing to the other end of the ruins.
The sound of the water hitting the shore rang out and the wind howled off the stone castle ruins. The area and the castle, though crumbling, were a beautiful sight. It would have been stunning in its original state. I wondered for a moment if this was like High Garden.
High Garden was the ancient capital city of Dragonkind, where the great Dragon King had ruled during an age when all knew about dragons, shifters, and magic. Though I had never seen it in person, every dragon knew about it.
Stories told it was a beautiful island that floated not in the sea but in the sky. The magic of Sacred Flame had kept it aloft: a large blue tongue of fire that stood high above the city on a pedestal in the center square. Krispin was now its guardian and able to wield both the fire and the magic. It was with that power that he had killed his brother and the evil mage. He had also used it to save my life.
I noted my father; he was dressed in his traditional red plaid kilt, representing the Red caste. He took his place on the dais. All but the Black Dragon at the entrance shifted to their human forms. The other representatives also took their places.
I spotted Lord Donavan of the Purple caste, a stout man with shaggy brown hair and a large, bushy beard. The Purple caste were the healers of dragons. Which was why most of the caste were doctors, like Addison.
Lord Tilly was the head of the White caste. He sat in the center seat; he was slight and skinny and had short bleached-white hair. He wore tight skinny jeans and a flowing white shirt. He was what most would call a twink. No one would have known he was well over three thousand years old. The White caste held lightning affinity and were the dragon enforcers.
The Blue caste leader, Lord Hanson, was slim and tall, with porcelain white skin. He sported an angular nose, short, light brown hair, and royal-blue eyes. Instead of a kilt, he was in a tailored suit with a blue plaid sash. The Blue caste had water affinity and were part of the warrior caste, like the Reds.
Last to take his seat was Lord Dranin of the Black caste. He was a large, black-skinned man. He was very muscular, built like a brick shithouse. He had a strong, handsome face, short black hair, and coal-black eyes. He was stunning in a tailored black suit that hugged his body like a second skin. A black and gray plaid slash symbolized his caste.
The Black caste held a shadow affinity that allowed them to blend into the darkness. They were guardians, though traditionally they were used as assassins. They’d only taken over the position of guardians after the Green caste had been banned from the council.
Lord Tilly stood from his seat, and with a loud, deep voice that belied his small frame, he called the council to order.
"Dragons!" he called, settling all in the crowd.
"Lord Finnley of the Bracara circle, step forward."
Lord Finnley split from his posse, stepped up and bowed before the council. He had no shirt on, wore a green and black plaid kilt and black combat boots. His black hair brushed across his broad shoulders as he bowed at the waist.
"My lords," Finnley said.
"Lord MacNair, of the Glenfinnan circle, step before the council," Lord Tilly commanded.
