A HEART SO DARK

LIGHT AND FIRE SERIES- BOOK 4

GINGER LI

A Heart So Dark

Book 4 in the Light and Fire Series

(c) 2020 by Ginger Li

Version 1.1

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without written permission from the author. Brief quotations may be used in articles or reviews. For permission requests, write to the author at ginger.li.writes@gmail.com.

Ebook ISBN 978-1-7334522-4-3

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any similarities or resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or places is entirely coincidental.

Cover design by Story Wrappers

Editing by Liz the Error Eliminator

THANK YOU!

Dear reader, thank you for reading the final novel in my Light and Fire Series. It’s been an adventure and I am so incredibly grateful for your support. Hopefully, you’ll love this final chapter in Lia and Kieren’s journey as much as I do.

As a way to shine some light into the world, a portion of all profits will go to non-profit organizations dedicated to fighting human trafficking.

Also, a huge thank you to my super talented cover designer and editor. You made my book shine!

Finally, lots of hugs and kisses to E, F, and M. You three brighten up my life with laughter, creativity, and love. Thank you for being my number one fans. ILY!

A HEART SO DARK

A new shifter will arise, and her powers are beyond imagination.

Determined to track down the World Eater, Lia and Kieren enter Verdura with more questions than answers. But a deep betrayal forces Kieren into hiding and Lia into the arms of a man she now despises.

The magic of Verdura is dying, and a power-hungry king rules the land with an iron fist. To survive, Kieren must discover the truth behind his dragon-shifter past and Lia must unlock the secrets of her deadly new powers.

Unicorn shifters are real and Lia alone holds the key to defeating their enemy. But embracing her true nature may rip her very soul apart.

CONTENTS

1.  Kieren

2.  Lia

3.  Lia

4.  Lia

5.  Lia

6.  Kieren

7.  Kieren

8.  Kieren

9.  Lia

10.  Lia

11.  Lia

12.  Lia

13.  Kieren

14.  Lia

15.  Lia

16.  Lia

17.  Lia

18.  Lia

19.  Kieren

20.  Kieren

21.  Lia

22.  Lia

23.  Kieren

24.  Lia

25.  Kieren

26.  Lia

27.  Kieren

28.  Lia

29.  Kieren

30.  Lia

31.  Kieren

32.  Lia

33.  Kieren

34.  Lia

35.  Kieren

36.  Lia

37.  Kieren

38.  Kieren

39.  Lia

40.  Kieren

41.  Kieren

42.  Kieren

43.  Lia

44.  Kieren

45.  Lia

46.  Kieren

47.  Lia

48.  Kieren

49.  Lia

50.  Kieren

Epilogue: Lia 7 months later

Also by Ginger Li

Dear Reader

About the Author

1 KIEREN

Lia? Lia?

Only a cold, empty silence met Kieren’s thoughts.

He kept his eyes on the four departing figures. What had just happened? Crouched behind the bushes, Kieren couldn’t hear what they were saying, and Lia’s thoughts were too soft and hazy. But he could certainly feel her fear. She was suffocating in it as Azriel led her away.

What are you doing? Get her back! The dragon within him roared. She shouldn’t meet Fearson alone.

But Lia wasn’t alone; she had Azriel. The knot in Kieren’s stomach tightened. Because of the Verdurans’ deep hatred of dragon shifters, Azriel and Lia were supposed to find Fearson and discover the World Eater’s whereabouts while Kieren and Griffith stayed with Azriel’s friend and waited for them to send word. Kieren had agreed to this plan before seeing Azriel kiss Lia.

The image of that still burned in his mind. What in the moons had Azriel been thinking?

Kieren leapt to his feet, deciding to follow them. Forget the plan. He was going to get Lia back.

Griffith reached out and grabbed Kieren’s arm. “Hold on a moment.”

“Let go.” His words came out gruffer than he’d intended.

“No.”

What are you waiting for? Azriel has betrayed you.

It took all of Kieren’s self-control to restrain the beast within. He tugged his arm from Griffith’s hold. “Did you see what he did? Azriel kissed her. And she was afraid.”

His friend’s violet eyes locked with his. “I know what you saw, but just take a moment and forget whether or not you trust Azriel. Do you trust Lia? Because it seems to me that we have two options. We can either go after her because we don’t believe in her. Or we can find the other dragon shifters. Forget about staying with Azriel’s friend. The prophecy says that Lia needs the help of a dragon, but it never mentioned which dragon. Remember? ‘A dragon will wake and calm a heart full of unrest. Darkness befriends Light, to bring out her best.’”

Griffith’s logic sliced through Kieren’s angry haze. His friend was right. But Kieren’s dragon refused to be so easily calmed. I don’t like leaving her alone with them.

Kieren didn’t either.

Lia? He reached out with a tentative thought.

No response.

“I’ll ask you again. Do you trust her?”

Kieren’s shoulders sagged, and he let out a defeated sigh. “I do.”

“Good. So what are we going to do?”

Kieren thought back to Minerva’s map. “They went that way to get to the castle, which means they’re heading east. So it makes sense that we go this way”—he pointed in the opposite direction—“if we want to find the other dragon shifters.”

The beast within snorted. Kieren suspected that his dragon wasn’t too happy with the plan, but he wasn’t taking any chances. If Lia needed the dragon shifters’ help to defeat the World Eater, Kieren was going to locate them.

Their hike through the gray woods was eerily silent. Besides the soft shuffling of leaves beneath their feet, Kieren heard nothing. No cries of lonely birds. No rustle of windblown leaves.

“I don’t like it.” Griffith scowled, looking around. “What’s wrong with this place? I feel like we’re in a horror movie. Everything is so quiet.”

Griff was right. Taking in the wilted bushes, the endless gray sky, and the trees’ pale bark, Kieren kept his hand rested atop the hilt of his sword. “It’s almost as if the woods are sick.”

“I wonder why it’s like that?”

The question hung in the air between them as they continued making their way through the soundless forest. Just when Kieren thought that all they’d ever see was their subdued surroundings, the tiniest flash of color caught his eye. On the ground, just up ahead, lay a single red leaf. Rejuvenated by the welcome glimpse of color, Kieren increased his pace, spotting more brilliant colored leaves sprinkled amidst the dull browns.

Before long, their surroundings began to resemble a healthy Solairan forest. Trees clad in beautiful rainbow-colored bark stood proudly in the golden sunlight, their boughs heavy with thousands of delicate tear-shaped leaves. And with the gentle breeze that drifted across his skin, the air smelled cleaner, almost sweet.

The woods soon gave way to a clearing that housed several towering piles of grass-covered dirt. Kieren pulled out a flask of water and took a deep, long drink.

“What sort of creature would build such mounds?” Griffith asked.

Kieren’s gaze traveled upward, noting the tendrils of smoke emerging from one of the structures.“I don’t think an animal built these.”

“Shall we?” His friend motioned to what appeared to be a door.

They made their way through the thick, lush grass to the nearest mound. As his fingers brushed against the branches twisted together to create a handle, the door swung open to reveal a scrawny green-skinned man with wispy hair. The stranger bore a striking resemblance to Ariadne.

“You’re early,” the man grumbled. “But you might as well come on in. Let’s go. I haven’t got all day. You certainly keep me working hard enough.”

Griffith gave the man a polite smile. “Our apologies. I think you must have us confused with someone else.”

The man rolled his yellow eyes. “Aren’t you here for the stones?”

Kieren and Griffith shared a confused look before shaking their heads.

The man scratched his chin. “You mean you’re not from Elladia?”

“No, we’re not,” Kieren said.

The Verduran gave an exasperated sigh. “Then we have no time to talk to you. We’re busy, busy, busy with work to do.”

“Wait!” Kieren caught the door before it closed. “You’re a potion maker? Like Ariadne?”

Kieren tossed out the Verduran healer’s name on a whim. Perhaps it was their similar appearances, but something in his gut said that Ariadne and the stranger were connected.

The man popped his head out from behind the door; his brow furrowed. “What name did you just mention, young man?”

“Ariadne.”

The man’s eyes darted behind them. “Where is our niece? Did she bring you here”

Kieren’s gut was right. This green-skinned man was Ariadne’s uncle. “She’s not with us,” Kieren replied as honestly as he could, but he said nothing more. He didn’t trust the man enough to tell him exactly where she was.

The Verduran’s mouth tightened into a thin line. “Course she isn’t. The girl left years ago to live in that fancy city and become a potion maker for the queen. She never once made the time to come visit. Seems our magic wasn’t good enough for her. Last we heard, she got engaged to a boy. Some proper Lord’s son. Elric or Eldric, something like that.” He pointed a bony finger in Kieren’s direction. “My poor sister was beside herself when she didn’t hear from her daughter. The rotten girl didn’t even come back for her own mother’s funeral.”

Kieren found himself at a loss for words. The man unfairly blamed Ariadne. He had no idea that his niece had been kidnapped and sold as a slave to Kieren’s father only to be rescued years later.

Griffith cleared his throat. “Ariadne would have come back, but—”

“Something happened to her,” Kieren spoke over him. “She was taken prisoner.”

“Prisoner?” The man’s eyes darted behind them again, and he brought a finger to his lips. “Hush. We must not speak of such things out here. He has spies everywhere.” With a strength surprising for a man of his stature, the stranger pulled both Kieren and Griffith inside.

Inside the mound was dim and musty. Sunlight filtered through the occasional gaps in the sticks and mud, dappling the dirt floor. Although spacious, the Verduran’s home felt immeasurably smaller due to the quantity of items squeezed inside. Piles of books rested on the floor, many of them towering all the way to the ceiling. Stacks of giant pots and pans rested haphazardly on the ground amidst random pieces of what looked like broken furniture. Every available shelf and side table overflowed with glass jars. And everything appeared to be covered in a thin layer of dirt. A small fire crackled feebly on the other side of the dwelling, trying its best, but ultimately losing its battle against the cold, damp air.

“Sit down, please.” The man motioned to a couple of woven stools squeezed beside a table made from planks of rotting wood. Muttering under his breath, their host scurried over to a pot near the fire and scooped something into two cups. He hobbled back and presented them to Griffith and Kieren.

Kieren took a careful sniff of the brown liquid, the spicy aroma of cinnamon and something earthy filling his nostrils. He brought the mug to his mouth and took a sip, instantly regretting his decision. The sludge tasted like warm, spiced mud. Fighting the urge to spit it out, Kieren forced the slimy substance down.

Beside him, Griffith coughed. His eyes teared, and his copper skin shone with a fine sheen of sweat. “Wow. That will certainly put some hairs on your chest.”

The Verduran took another seat and shot Griffith a scornful look. “Shows what little you know. This isn’t a hair-growing potion. It’s dirt tea, and it’s been aged to perfection.” He took a swig and sighed with contentment.

Just how long had the tea been aging?

Griffith’s mouth curled up as if he could read Kieren’s thoughts. “You know, I’ve never had dirt tea before. What exactly is it made of? I must get the recipe.”

Their host leaned in, motioning them closer. “It’s a family secret, so I can’t tell you all the ingredients. But since you’re friends of Ariadne’s, I’ll give you a hint. One of the main ingredients is mud.”

“Really?” Griffith placed a hand to his chest. “I would never have guessed.”

This time Kieren coughed as he fought the urge to laugh.

The Verduran took another swig. “Name’s Bekker, by the way.”

“My name’s Kieren, and this is Griffith.”

“Good to meet you, lads.” Bekker wiped the mud from his mouth with the back of his hand. “You say you’re not from the king, so what brings you through the dying woods? You don’t appear to be addicted.”

“Addicted?” Griffith raised his eyebrows.

Bekker nodded. “You know. To the stones.”

Verdurans here were addicted to stones? Was Bekker talking about jewels, like the one on the pendant used by Minerva when she’d cursed him to become a dragon? “No. We’re not. We don’t even own stones,” Kieren said.

“Good. That’s very good. Because the stones are powerful, but they aren’t safe for prolonged use. Isn’t that right?” Bekker tilted his head as if listening to something. “Of course, we already knew that. But we still spell them, don’t we? The king says we must.”

Kieren caught Griffith’s glance. Who was Ariadne’s uncle speaking to?

Bekker returned his attention to Kieren. “But that’s not why we let you inside our house. Stones are old news. And we want new news, don’t we?” He nodded. “Tell me about my niece. Where is Ariadne? You said she was taken prisoner by the king?”

Kieren raised his mug to his lips and was about to take another sip when he realized what he was doing. He quickly put the clay mug back down.

Wait. Didn’t Minerva say that a queen ruled Verdura?

“I’m sorry, but I think I must have misheard you. Did you say king?”

Bekker stared at his feet. “The taller one seems surprised to hear that Fearson is king. But why is that? They must know that the queen is sick, and we need Fearson and his stones.”

The Verduran sat in silence for a moment before continuing, “You’re right. They do seem like good lads, and I don’t think they’d lie to us. Hopefully, Ariadne really is safe and not trapped in the mines. Besides, why would the king want you if he has her?”

Griffith’s eyebrows raised. “Who is he talking to?” he mouthed.

Kieren had no idea.

They watched as the man turned to address a bookshelf. “Yes, you were right. You are always right. I mustn’t call the miners prisoners. They’re doing Verdura a service. Yes. Yes. I should just ask them.” Bekker slapped a palm to his forehead and turned to face them once again. “When Ariadne left, I told her mother that the city would swallow her up. But now, with Queen Kelwyn sick, I’m worried King Fearson must have gotten hold of my niece. Please. You told me she’s being held prisoner. Was she sent to the mines?”

Kieren struggled to comprehend what Bekker was talking about. King Fearson? Was Bekker referring to Azriel’s brother? The man Lia and Azriel had been sent to look for?

“No.” Griffith spoke slowly. “Ariadne wasn’t sent to the mines.”

A look of relief swept across the older man’s face. “So the king didn’t get her?”

“She’s in hiding,” Griff added. “And she’s safe.”

The Verduran bobbed his head. “Good. Good. Good. It’s probably best we don’t know where she is anyway. Just in case.”

We? Once again, Kieren latched onto the Verduran’s odd choice of words. Who was Bekker talking about? They were the only other people in the room.

“You mentioned that we don’t appear addicted to the stones,” Griffith said, changing the subject. “Can you please tell us more about those?”

Bekker chuckled before taking another sip of his ‘tea.’ “The odd one wants to know about the stones.”

“Bekker?” Kieren tried regaining the man’s attention. “The stones?”

The Verduran looked up, his eyes now focused and alert. “I never wanted to use my potions for this. But with the queen sick and the master consort…” A look of fear clouded his eyes. “Not master consort. King. I meant king, of course. You understand my mistake.” As a frightened expression crossed the man’s face, he began rocking back and forth. “They won’t tell him. Of course they won’t. They look like nice boys. We don’t have to worry,” he whispered to himself.

“Of course,” Kieren crooned, trying to calm the man down. “The king. Griffith and I knew you were speaking of Fearson.”

Griffith nodded enthusiastically.

Gradually, their host stopped rocking, and his shoulders relaxed. “We’re grateful to him, of course. The king gives us work. We have a responsibility. Our people are starving for magic since Kelwyn grew ill. And at least I don’t make the bloodstones. No. No. No.”

“Bloodstones?” Griffith asked. “You mean the black stones that the queen’s guardians wear?”

Bekker scowled. “The guardians disbanded years ago, when Fearson took control. Everyone knows that.” He took a sip of his tea and began mumbling to himself again. “You’re right; I don’t think they’re from here. Are they spies? Maybe we should put a couple of drops of sleeping potion in their tea just to be safe. Then offer them to the king’s men.” Bekker let out a chuckle and looked up. “Would you care for some more tea?”

Kieren pushed his cup away. One look at Griffith, and he knew that they’d both come to the same conclusion. It was time for them to leave. He gave their host a cordial smile. “As much as we’d love that, my friend and I have to get going. Thank you for the tea and chat.” He slowly got to his feet.

Taking the hint, Griffith followed suit.

Kieren motioned with his hand, inviting Bekker to walk them to the door.

“Yes. Well. Perhaps it is better that you leave,” Bekker mumbled. “I have to finish spelling this new batch of stones, and he hates it when I’m late.”

Kieren hesitated at the doorway. Despite Bekker’s odd behavior, Kieren knew that if he didn’t seize the opportunity, they might not get another chance to find the answers they searched for.

“One last question before we go, if you don’t mind.” He gave Ariadne’s uncle what he hoped was a friendly smile.

Bekker tilted his head one way and then the other. “Sleeping potion? Or answer his question? Such a difficult decision.” He closed his eyes and rubbed his temples. “Fine. Since you told me about my niece, I’ll humor you. But then you must go before I do something I’ll regret.”

“Of course,” Kieren assured him. “Griff and I are on our way to the Wildling Islands. I assume we just keep heading west?”

Ariadne’s uncle barked out a loud laugh. “You two really are odd rocks. Looking for dragons, I take it?”

“And what if we are?” Kieren held his breath, waiting for the man’s answer.

Bright yellow eyes stared back at him. “Then I would say you’re bigger fools than my niece. Everyone knows there are no more dragon shifters. Their numbers were wiped out when we won the war against their Prime. But if you want to search for ghosts, then yes. You’re heading in the right direction.” The Verduran shoved them out the door.

“Wait!” Griffith called out. “Just out of curiosity. There aren’t any dangerous creatures or monsters between here and the Wildling Islands, are there?”

Bekker’s mouth twisted into a grim smile. “Nothing besides the king’s trackers.” And then he slammed the door.

2 LIA

They’d been riding for what seemed like hours now. Howler and Jin rode in front, sharing a massive black stallion with glowing red eyes while Azriel and Lia shared another. Even though Lia was in good shape from running cross country, their relentless pace was beginning to wear on her.

When she once again tightened her arms around Azriel in her struggle to hold on, he let out a loud sigh. “Why don’t we take a moment to rest?”

Lia was about to whisper her thanks, but she stopped herself. Azriel was no longer her friend. Not since revealing that he’d never intended to help her find the World Eater. He’d only returned to Verdura to use her as a prize to win back his brother’s favor. The truth in Azriel’s words still stung. But instead of crying, Lia reminded herself that she was going to stick to the plan: Find out the World Eater’s whereabouts from Fearson and then contact her friends.

Kieren? she reached out, but unsurprisingly, no one responded.

Lia dismounted and walked over to sit against one of the trees, away from the others, her boots crunching in the carpet of leaves. Now that they were farther from the portal, she noticed little instances of color returning to their surroundings. Although everything still looked as if it had been coated with a wash of gray, an occasional red or yellow leaf would catch her eye. She reached down and picked up one of those rare bits of color from the ground.

A pang of homesickness struck. How would Gabby or Holly feel about what was happening to her now? Lia’s eyes prickled, a sure sign that tears would soon follow, but she stubbornly held them back. She refused to let the enemy see her cry.

“They used to be multicolored,” a voice murmured nearby.

Lia looked up and was surprised to see Jin, his hand resting against the tree’s trunk. He stood in a patch of sunlight, giving his light brown-colored skin a tint of gold. As he stared down at her, his eyes briefly changed from a warm brown to a bright orange.

“What used to be multicolored?” she asked.

“The rainbow eucalyptus trees.”

“What are you two whispering about over there?” Azriel’s tone was languid, but his eyes looked suspicious and hard.

Lia lifted her head to glare at him. “Nothing of any interest to you.”

Something tugged at the back of her mind and she gritted her teeth, fighting off his attempt to control. Azriel had another thing coming if he expected her to go down without a fight.

Azriel’s eyes widened and he let out a gasp.

“My lord?” Howler rushed over. “What have you done to him?” He snarled at Lia, drawing his sword.

Lia jumped to her feet and unsheathed her blade in response.

“Put your weapon away, you dolt.” Azriel smirked at Lia. “Oh. You are a strong one. But I’ve always enjoyed a good challenge. Duller minds give way far too easily.” He glowered at Howler, who looked confused. Letting out an annoyed sigh, Azriel waved his hand. “I’m bored with you now. You are free.”

The satyr’s slitted eyes blinked. Horrified, he touched the tip of his horn. “What did you do to me? My horn!”

Azriel tutted. “I’d recommend you remain silent. Or you may very well find yourself under my influence again.”

Howler opened his mouth, sputtering a protest. But one look from Azriel and the satyr resheathed his sword.

“As I suspected. Duller mind.” Azriel turned to the other guard. “Jin? You’re one of the fairy folk, are you not? Although, oddly, you seem rather far from home. And you’re not quite as dusty as the others.”

Jin’s jaw clenched, but he held Azriel’s condescending gaze. “I am a halfling.”

“Really?” Azriel arched a brow. “How interesting. As the brighter one in this ragtag pair, tell me, if Queen Kelwyn is sick, and assuming she and my brother have not produced any offspring, then why have they not looked for other suitable heirs?”

“They have.” Howler gave Lia a wide, exaggerated smile, revealing two rows of sharpened teeth. “But whenever any girls are brought to the castle, within days, they turn up dead.”

“Quite the coincidence.” Azriel’s tone implied it was anything but. “That’s enough rest for now. We should keep heading toward the castle if we’re to make it there before nightfall.”

Lia reluctantly climbed back onto the stallion with Azriel. As they rode, a cool breeze caressed her cheek, and a low warbling filled the air. The gray tree trunks began to regain their color, revealing streaks of red, yellow, green, and plum. Every so often, creatures that resembled rabbits and squirrels scurried into bushes or up trees. Life slowly bloomed in the surrounding woods.

Azriel pointed ahead. “We’re approaching the outskirts of Elladia now.”

The woods soon gave way to farmland so wonderfully green it appeared almost neon. Peeking out here and there, gnomes with wrinkled skin and pointy hats worked the fields: picking produce or pulling carts laden with food.

The scene before her evoked memories of Talvi and the hidden Verduran village back in Solair. A sense of déjà vu mixed with sadness gnawed at her insides. She had finally made it back to the land of her grandmother’s people. However, it was a bittersweet experience without her mother there to share it.

Less interested than her in their surroundings, the horses continued plodding along the dirt path. Up ahead, Howler and Jin seemed to shimmer in the sunlight. Strange. Lia wondered if they’d stepped through some sort of magical barrier. But before she’d had time to think about the possibility, she and Azriel reached that point. And that’s when she felt it—a full blast of life-giving energy and magic.

It was like swimming in the coolest, most refreshing water. As her skin stretched and tingled, Lia stared at her hand, which was glowing again. Slowly waving it back and forth, she studied how the light changed from pink to blue and then to gold with each movement. Luminescent, her skin resembled one of those fiery opals she’d once seen in a museum.

“What are you doing?” Azriel thrust a cloak and gloves at her. “Are you an idiot? Put these on.”

As his harsh tone extinguished her joy, the details of their surrounding environment came into focus. Gone were the farmlands. Now sturdy, pristine white houses with red doors and thatched roofs stood all around them.

Lia quickly found her voice. “I will never wear your clothes.”

“You’d better. Unless you want to bring even more suspicion on yourself. And for Verdura’s sake, turn off your glow.”

Lia looked back down at her hands. She was still glowing, just as she had when she’d opened the portals into Solair and Verdura.

“Your face is even worse,” Azriel said.

Really? Unable to contain her annoyance, Lia smacked him with the gloves. Hard.

He grabbed her leg.

“Let go of me,” she hissed.

But his hold didn’t loosen. “Put on the cloak and gloves now. Or I swear, I will force you to do so.”

Up ahead, Howler and Jin stopped their horse. Before they could turn, Lia whipped the hood over her head and hid her glowing hands inside the gloves.

“Is everything alright?” Jin called back.

Lia cowered behind Azriel, her fear of being discovered outweighing her hatred of the Verduran.

“Everything is fine,” Azriel drawled. “I simply asked Lia if she wanted to stop for a drink of water, but she didn’t. It would seem she’s in a hurry to meet my brother.”

Scowling, Lia lowered her head, hoping that Jin wouldn’t come back to check on her. But the fairy and satyr said nothing. Instead, they turned their horse and continued forward.

After a few paces, Azriel glanced over his shoulder at Lia again. “You might think I’m a monster, but believe me, my brother is much, much worse. He can never see you like that. If he does, he will skin. You. Alive.”

Refusing to let him see her fear, Lia raised her chin in defiance. “I thought you didn’t care about me. So why are you warning me about your brother?”

Azriel leaned back, so close that she could feel his hot breath on her ear. “You’re of no value to anyone dead.” With a smirk, he turned to face the front, not saying anything more.

Shaken by his words, Lia couldn’t keep her hands from trembling. Stop glowing. I need to stop glowing, she told herself. After several minutes, she removed a glove, bracing herself for what she might see.

Thankfully, only her normal skin lay underneath.

3 LIA

Making their way toward the center of the city, they passed more and more of the thatched, white cottages. And towering above them now was a magnificent castle made of a beautiful light-green stone.

So this was Elladia, Verdura’s capital, where the queen and king dwelled. Lia looked around, expecting to spot a fence or wall, anything to keep the citizens safe from invaders. But she could see nothing. As they rode a little farther, another soft tingle caressed her skin, and she felt it again.

Magic. The city must be protected by magical barriers.

Lia cautiously removed a glove and watched a small patch of glowing light dance across her skin. For a moment, a small voice inside rebelled against listening to Azriel. Why not allow whatever was happening to continue? He’d already revealed his ulterior motives. He couldn’t be trusted.

But a larger, more rational part of her mind disagreed. She was entering an unfriendly environment. It would be better if Lia didn’t display some unknown ability that she didn’t understand or know how to control. Closing her eyes, she concentrated on extinguishing her glow.

The fluttering sensation disappeared, and when she snuck a look at her hand, everything had returned to normal. With a small sigh of relief, she put the glove back on.

The dirt path soon gave way to cobblestones, and larger, blindingly white buildings that resembled elongated teardrops lined the road. These homes varied in size, but an abundance of greenery surrounded each dwelling. Long twisted vines covered with trumpeting purple blooms, velvety, moss-covered rocks, and bushes with red heart-shaped flowers caught her attention.

In this part of the city, there were more Verdurans out and about, and Lia drank in the details of their appearances. Elladia’s inhabitants were as vibrant and beautiful as the plants. While there had been diversity in Solair’s hidden Verduran village, she’d clearly only seen a fraction of the people. Many Verdurans they passed had human-like features, but there were certainly enough horns and wings to go around. While some looked like they could have been Solairans, others had striking skin colors—beautiful shades of blue, green, and even red.

After taking a sharp right turn, they proceeded up the hill, the dwellings becoming larger. Lia assumed these were the homes of the wealthier Verdurans. Outside, several gnomes tended the gardens. Bent over, working the ground, none of them looked up as they passed.

Soon the road led them to an enormous flowering hedge. Towering over them, the tips of the castle soared overhead. In front of the hedge, a man and a woman wearing golden breastplates and golden masks covering their entire faces stood guard. A magnificent black jewel in the center of each mask stared at Lia like a giant third eye.

“Howler. Jin,” one of the guards barked in greeting. The masked guard turned to Azriel and Lia. She assumed the man was studying them, but it was impossible to tell what he was thinking behind his mask. “How goes the hunting?”

Howler peered back at Azriel with narrowed eyes, but he didn’t reply.

Jin answered for them both: “We found two trespassers in the Western Woods.”

“And you decided to share your horse with them?” the female guard remarked dryly.

Jin shrugged.

“What happened to your horn?” the first guard asked.

Howler’s face turned a darker shade of green. “Just let us in,” he grumbled.

The two guards turned to each other, quietly conferring before reaching an agreement. Raising their hands, they turned to face the hedge. And as they muttered something, the leaves and branches pulled back to allow them entrance.

Inside, a bustling scene greeted them. Beautiful trees with twisted trunks and branches dripping with fragrant purple flowers shaded portions of the courtyard. A mosaic of colorful stones covered the ground in a design that looked like a cross between a sun and a mandala. All around, Verdurans hurried about trading or taking a stroll in the warm sunshine. The sing-song voices of merchants selling items from their colorful carts and the gentle sound of chimes filled the air.

Here, the Verdurans wore more colorful, wispy clothing in a wide variety of jewel tones. Stones and crystals adorned the fingers, ears, and noses of many. Some of the women even had crystals woven through their hair. Heads turned in their direction as they rode by, the Verdurans watching them with unguarded wariness. Lia held her hood tightly against herself, not wishing to draw any more attention than necessary.

When they reached the other side of the courtyard, Howler and Jin dismounted and handed their horse to more gnomes. Thick metal collars encircled the gnomes’ necks, and their inky eyes peered from under heavy brows, seeming to take in everything. As two approached their stallion, Azriel easily dismounted. Lia followed suit, keeping her eyes cast downward and a tight grip on her sword.

“Come,” Jin commanded, motioning to the white stone staircase that led to what was probably the most beautiful building Lia had ever laid eyes on. From a distance, the castle appeared to be a solid light green. But now that they were up close, she could see thin veins of gold running through the stone, weaving a delicate lacy lattice through the walls.

A sharp tingle swept across her skin.

“It would appear my brother has tightened security.” Azriel stared up at the castle. “What spells has he added?”

Howler opened his mouth as if to answer, but Jin shook his head, staring him down. The satyr quickly shut his mouth.

“That’s fine,” Azriel murmured breezily. “I’ll just ask him when I see him.”

Their group walked up the steps and past rows of silent masked guards.

Lia shivered at the creepy sight. “Why don’t they take our weapons?”

Howler turned and grinned, his bravery returning now that he stood on familiar ground. “The king isn’t afraid of your swords.”

Of course. With Fearson’s ability to manipulate metal, it made sense that their weapons wouldn’t intimidate him.

Although windowless, thanks to the light generated by semi-translucent stones set into the walls, the hallway inside the building was as bright as outside. Lia would have stopped to marvel at the flickering stones a while longer, but the group kept moving forward.

Jin stopped outside a set of metal doors carved with an intricate image of a giant tree. The level of detail was astounding; Lia could have sworn she saw the leaves ripple in the breeze.

“Before you go in, you’ll need these.” The fairy pulled out two pairs of brass cuffs.

“How utterly draconian.” Azriel took a pair and slipped them around his wrists.

“Jewelry?” Lia removed her gloves. Copying Azriel, she placed the cuffs around her wrists and the surrounding blanket of magic that she’d sensed before immediately disappeared. All she was aware of now was the weight of the bracelets. Disconcerted by the unpleasant sensation, she attempted to remove one. But it wouldn’t come off.

“They’re spelled,” Howler said with a grin that looked more like a grimace. “They won’t come off until the king allows it.”

Lia nervously twisted the cuff around. “Why does he insist on us wearing jewelry?”

“Oh, princess.” Azriel rolled his eyes, and Lia’s face heated in embarrassment. “They’re not an adornment. They’re metal shackles, spelled to make sure we can’t access any powers. If either of us attempts something, my brother will be sure to correct us.”

Lia thought back to the metal collars around the gnomes’ necks. Her breathing quickened and she felt herself beginning to panic. Everything about the metal against her skin felt wrong; it reduced them to little more than servants or prisoners. Tugging ineffectually on one of the cuffs, she wanted only to rip them off.

“Not that you could use magic on him anyway.” Howler shrugged. “The king has bloodstones that he’s spelled to shield him from the effects of magic. He’s untouchable.” The satyr gave Lia an appraising look. “The other potential heirs lasted several days, but I don’t know if you’ll even make it through the night. You look terrified.”

Narrowing her eyes, Lia took a step forward. She might not have use of her magic, but she could still wield a blade.

“Let’s not forget why we’re here.” Azriel pressed his hand against the small of her back, guiding her toward the door. “It’s time to introduce ourselves to my brother. He’s the one you should try to impress.”

And with a not so gentle push, she entered the room.

4 LIA

Small. That was the word Lia would use to describe how she felt when she stepped into the enormous throne room. The floor looked like sleek white marble. Solid white stone pillars decorated with thousands of carved flowers, leaves, and birds loomed over them, supporting a domed skylight that bathed the room in pure, white light.

In the middle of the room stood a pair of identical thrones. One was empty, but on the other sat a handsome middle-aged man with waist-length white hair and olive skin. Two sweeps of gold paint highlighted his prominent cheekbones. Lia released a quiet breath. It was Fearson; she recognized him from the World Eater’s dream. A simple metal crown set with substantial black stones rested atop his head, and his sleeveless tunic emphasized his muscular arms, each adorned with gold paint and five metal cuffs.

The king didn’t look up or acknowledge them. Instead, his attention remained focused on the crumpled figure kneeling before him on the ground. Lia couldn’t see the stranger’s face, but she could see his black-veined arms.

“Please,” the man on the ground pleaded. “I just need a few more.”

“Why should I give you more?” Fearson’s voice was silky. “You have yet to pay for the other two.”

“I’ll get the money somehow,” the man begged. “I just need another gem. I can feel it now. I can feel my power returning.”

“That won’t be possible. I’m sorry.”

The man scrambled up. “But you don’t know how it feels. I need it.” He jerked a hand into the air, and a burst of blue fire shot from his palm.

Lia fully expected the flames to strike the king. But with a flick of his wrist, a metal shield appeared in front of Fearson’s face, protecting him from the attack.

The man fell to the ground, sobbing. “Apologies, my King. I couldn’t control myself. It won’t happen again, I promise.”

The shield crashed to the ground, the sound of clattering metal echoing through the room. “You’re right.” Fearson’s tone was deadly. “It won’t happen again.” And with another wave of the king’s hand, the man levitated in the air, his body held aloft by the pendant around his neck.

The man clutched at the necklace. “Please stop. You’re hurting me.”

Fearson’s eyes blazed blue. “Hurting you? But we haven’t even started.”

The chain twisted, tightening around the man’s neck. Lia fought to suppress a scream as the Verdruan thrashed about. Finally, he stopped jerking and fell to the floor. Two masked guards dragged the body away.

“Brother.” The king’s deep voice rumbled uncomfortably in Lia’s chest. “Is it really you?” Fearson stood and approached them with a smile, acting as if nothing horrible had just happened.

“Yes.” Azriel took a step forward. “It has been too long.”

The two briefly embraced. Fearson pulled away first. “But how did you cross the portal?”

“With the help of Adalia, my betrothed.”

“Adalia?” The king’s voice held a note of surprise…and something more. He stepped forward, reaching out as if to touch Lia’s face.

Out of instinct, she took a step back.

Azriel’s arm snaked around her and pulled her close. “If the girl looks familiar, it’s because she is Adalia’s granddaughter. But you have no claim over her. This one is mine.”

Azriel’s possessive tone seemed to snap the king out of whatever hold he was under. He immediately withdrew his hand.

Fearson studied her, the intensity of his gaze making Lia’s skin crawl. “I was there the day your grandmother died. She was a good woman and a good friend.”

Lia’s hands fisted at her sides. This man had betrayed and killed her grandmother. How dare he call her a friend?

“Jin?” Fearson turned to the fairy. “Is what my brother saying true? Did they really emerge through the portal?”

The fairy’s eyes changed to a bright orange. “We didn’t see them arrive in the woods, so I cannot say.”

“I see. And, Howler,” Fearson addressed the satyr, “what happened to your horn?”

Howler glared at Azriel but remained silent.

“Back to your old tricks, I see.” The king turned to Azriel, a look of approval on his face. “You two are dismissed. The ship to the mines leaves today. Make sure you’re on it.”

Jin didn’t say a word before leaving, but Howler sneered at Lia. “Remember what I said before. Not even one night.”

Appearing to ignore Howler’s comment, Azriel kept his gaze calmly fixed on his brother. But Lia could tell that the man she’d once called a friend was stressed because his grip tightened around her waist. “So, what does a Verduran have to do to become king around here?”

Fearson shook his head. “Careful, little brother. I could have you thrown in jail for your disrespectful tone.”

“I meant no offense. It’s just that I’ve been gone for so long, and I’m curious to know when did Verdura start crowning kings?”

Fearson shrugged. “Someone had to step into the role when Kelwyn grew ill. And you never answered my earlier question Just how exactly did you create a portal? The Solairans sealed everything when they banned magic. No one was to be allowed through.”

“You’re right. I was stuck in Solair for quite some time. Then again, you would know all about that, wouldn’t you?”

Fearson let out a low growl. “I have no idea what you’re implying.”

Azriel took a step forward. “Why don’t we stop pretending that anything more than blood bonds us? Lia and I are here to see Kelwyn.”

Fearson pressed a finger into Azriel’s chest. “You’ve never known your place. No one can demand to see the queen. I am in charge now.”

Azriel’s arm fell from Lia’s waist, and he winced as he grabbed his wrist. “Must we play these childish games? Stop it, Fearson.”

Glancing nervously between the brothers, Lia placed her hand on the hilt of her sword, unsure whether or not to intervene.

“It’s King Fearson now. And I haven’t even started playing.” The king’s gaze landed on Lia’s sword. “You really are from Solair, aren’t you? You have no idea who you’re up against. Blades won’t do you any good here, not when metal obeys my every whim.”

With a wave of his hand, three daggers flew toward her. Lia whipped out her sword and effortlessly knocked them away.

The king seemed pleased. “Very good. But that’s not the only weapon you possess, is it? With another wave of his hand, her golden blade, the one from Kieren, slipped from her boot.

“No!” she cried out.

It was too late. The blade flew into Fearson’s hands. His eyes widened. “Could this be? Tell me, granddaughter of Adalia, did you pass through the portal to stake your claim to our throne? Because you have royal blood running in your veins.”

“I have no interest in becoming queen. I’m here to find the World Eater.”

“Is that so?” The king looked genuinely surprised. “‘Eye of blue and eye of green. Child of worlds, sorrow oft’ seen. To defeat the World Eater and prevent the dark fate, the Light must gather mixed allies and stop the cycle of hate.’ While you are most assuredly a child of two worlds, your eyes appear to be of the same color.”

Lia swallowed nervously, thankful that Ariadne’s potion was still working. “Yes. Well. Maybe I’m not the Light. But the World Eater still contacted me; he challenged me to find him.”

“Really?” With another flick of Fearson’s wrist, Lia’s golden blade spun in the air beside him. “Fascinating. Just how did he contact you? And did he tell you his whereabouts? Because our people have been searching for him for years. The last we’ve learned about him was through that peasant mage’s prophecy.”

Lia scowled. That ‘peasant mage’ he referred to was her grandfather. “I don’t know where the World Eater is exactly, but he talks to me through my dreams. That’s why I came here; to find him.” And to punish Fearson. But she left that part out.

The king frowned. “There is more to this story, I think. But perhaps we should wait to hear the rest another day.” The blade stopped spinning and floated into Lia’s outstretched hand. She quickly slid it back into her boot, comforted by having something of Kieren’s close to her.

“You have both traveled quite a distance, so I will send you to your rooms to rest.”

“We room together,” Azriel demanded.

Lia gave him a sidelong glance. Why would she want to share a room with someone who’d betrayed her? “Please, Your Highness, I would rather not spend the night with your brother.”

“Problems with your betrothed?” Fearson observed their interaction with glee. “Well then, perhaps we should put you together. It will give you time to sort things out. We will certainly speak later, little brother. I look forward to hearing about how you managed to survive all those years in Solair and why you’re betrothed to a woman who can barely look in your direction without scowling.” He smirked. “Well, at least it would appear you aren’t forcing her to love you. Not like you did with Tellie.”

Azriel’s expression darkened as he turned and stalked from the room. Lia followed, with Fearson’s cruel laughter trailing behind her.

5 LIA

The moment the door to their shared chambers shut behind her, Lia whipped the blade from her boot. “Stay away from me.”

“Or you’ll what? Stab me?” Azriel teased. “Please. We both know who’s the better fighter here.”

Lia scowled. “Don’t test me. You’ve no idea what I’m capable of.”

Azriel eyed her thoughtfully before turning to walk toward the bathroom.

His dismissal angered her even more. “So, was everything that happened in Solair a lie? Was I even your friend? What about Kieren?”

Azriel turned back and gave her a bored look. “Instead of worrying about me, I suggest you concentrate on yourself. In case you haven’t realized it yet, my brother is ruthless. He will find your weaknesses and exploit them. And you, dear princess, have many.”

Lia lowered her blade, hating how his comments stung. “What about the World Eater? You know the prophecy. And you’ve witnessed firsthand what he can do. Are you still going to help me find him? Whose side are you even on?”

“The side that wins.”

“Fine!” Lia growled. “Then I’ll find the World Eater on my own.” She took a step toward the door.

“Wait.” Azriel held out both cuffed arms. “See these? They’re spelled to block our abilities. Fearson can also use them track our movements. So if you had any thoughts of sneaking around the castle, forget it. If my brother suspects that we’re working against him, he will use every means available to punish us. It’s time to accept it. Verdura has aligned itself with a monster king.”

Lia stared at Azriel, wondering what had happened to the Verduran to make him like this. She could find no trace of her cocky friend in the broken man who stood before her.

She tried again to convince him. “It’s not impossible. If we work together, we could find a way around this.”

“Don’t be naïve. The only way to make it out of here alive is to get in my brother’s good graces. The sooner you learn that, the better off we’ll all be.” Without another word, Azriel turned and shut the adjoining door behind him.

Lia threw herself onto the bed, letting out an anguished yell as all her disappointment, hurt, and anger bubbled to the surface. Azriel had fooled them all. How could she do this on her own?

Eventually pulling herself together, she sat up and swiped away her tears, angry at herself for having given in to her despair. She was the Light. She had to keep going, even if Azriel’s motives no longer aligned with hers, he didn’t appear to be actively working against her. He hadn’t told his brother about Kieren and Griffith.

Lia held this small kernel of hope near her heart. She needed to figure out a way to locate the World Eater, and that meant she needed to get on the king’s good side. Perhaps he’d grant her access to the library. Or maybe even allow her to see the queen herself.

A troubling thought crept into Lia’s mind. If the other potential heirs had died after being brought to the castle, that meant her life could well be in danger. She needed to be on her guard; she couldn’t let her fears defeat her. With or without Azriel’s help, Lia would stay alive, gain the king’s trust, and ferret out information. And then, hopefully, figure out a way to contact Kieren and Griffith.

The mere thought of her silver-eyed warrior filled her heart with a heavy ache.

Kieren? She sent a final thought out into the dark ether.

No one responded.

Wherever he and Griffith were, she hoped they were safe.

6 KIEREN

“What are your thoughts on what Bekker said about the dragons?” Griffith asked as they left the stone speller’s house in the woods. “Do you believe him?”

The idea that he could be the only dragon left made Kieren feel very alone. “We’re still heading west, regardless of what the potion maker said.” No matter what, he needed to see the islands for himself.

“I wish Lia was with us.” Griffith sighed.

Kieren did too. “Here.” He stopped and pulled out a bit of dried meat and the loaves of bread that Minerva had packed for them.

Griffith descended on his portion with glee. “I wonder what trackers are? And why didn’t Minerva mention them?” he mumbled around a mouthful of bread. “We need to pass through the land belonging to the Tree Fairies to get to the coast. Do you think that’s what Bekker meant? Are trackers just Tree Fairies?”

Kieren shook his head. “I don’t think so.” Somehow, trackers sounded more ominous.

They finished the rest of their food in silence and resumed their trek through the woods. The shedding multicolored trees soon were replaced by a new type of tree so large that it would take a dozen grown men to wrap their arms around a trunk. The fading rays of the late afternoon sun lit up their yellow leaves in a dreamy golden luster.

After they’d walked through this section of woods for a while, Kieren stopped abruptly and studied a branch growing from a particularly giant tree. Something felt off. “Does this scene feel familiar to you?”

Griff paused and turned around, his eyes taking in the surrounding forest. “It’s just another white tree. Everything looks similar here. I’m surprised you even know which way we’re supposed to be heading.”

“Pay attention to that tree. See it?” Kieren pointed to the one with the crooked branch that had caught his eye.

Griff nodded. “Got it.”

They continued walking westward but soon found themselves standing in front of the same tree with the crooked branch.

“Moons, you’re right. We’re going in circles.” Griffith reached out to touch the trunk of the tree. “What sort of magic is this?”

A soft sound like the tinkling of bells filled the air.

Kieren immediately drew his sword. Next to him, Griffith did the same.

“They finally see the truth,” a voice muttered. Its raspy sound crackled like a leaf crunching beneath their feet.

“Odd that they have eyes but cannot see,” a gravelly voice added.

“Fairies?” Kieren mouthed to Griffith. Reaching a decision, he put away his sword and motioned for Griffith to do so too. Kieren had no idea what Tree Fairies were like; he’d only met Fyrefairies back in Solair. But it seemed unwise to antagonize beings who were capable of wielding such tricky magic.

“Hello,” Kieren said in the direction of the voices. “Pardon us for trespassing. We’re just traveling through to the coast. We mean you no harm.”

“Looking for the coast, he is?” the first voice questioned.

“Nothing good comes from going to the coast,” the other voice responded.

“To be sure, brother.”

“Please,” Kieren called out, “just remove whatever spell you’ve cast over us, and we promise not to bother you any longer.”

Griffith touched the enormous tree’s smooth, papery bark. “The voices are coming from the trees.” Raising his voice, he yelled, “Pardon this misunderstanding, oh great tree, but we would appreciate it if you would let us pass by.”

“Is that one really talking to a tree?” the first voice asked. “The only talking trees live in the southern forests. How daft can he be?”

“Oh, toss the nets already,” the second voice said. “She wants to speak to them.”

Nets? What nets? As Kieren looked up, flimsy scraps of gold cloth about the size of handkerchiefs fell on top of their heads.

Griffith removed the cloth from his head and stared at it in amusement. “They mean to trap us with this? Who’s the daft one here?”

Kieren couldn’t help but chuckle as he plucked the golden handkerchief off his head too. The fabric felt slightly sticky between his fingertips. “Well, perhaps if we were the size of insects, this would be rather frightening.”

“Laugh at us, will you? We’ll just see what happens next,” the second voice scolded. “Dust them!”

A tiny amount of golden powder, as soft and fine as pollen, fell upon their heads.

Griffith sneezed. “What is this stuff?” He sneezed again.

Kieren hollered in surprise; his friend had shrunk to the size of a child. “Griffith, you’re—”

Before Kieren could finish his thought, he let out a loud sneeze. Then, he too shrunk. The two continued sneezing and shrinking until blades of grass towered overhead, and the nets completely covered them both. Kieren tried pushing the golden cloth off, but the sticky material held him firmly in place.

“You’ve used too much powder,” one of the voices grumbled. “Now they’re too small.”

“They’re fine. We can carry them easier that way,” the second voice argued.

“Fairest won’t like it if we hurt them,” the first voice said.

“They’re fine. Just…smaller,” the other voice reassured. “Now, can we please take them to the queen? I’ve got a hankering for warm nectar and my wife’s acorn bread.”

A lean man, with pale skin and white braided hair, emerged from the trees. His slender arms and stick-like legs looked almost too long for his body. “You’ve always got a hankering for baked goods.”

Kieren blinked in surprise as another fairy emerged from the trees. Like his partner, he was pale-skinned with white hair, and he too wore a white tunic and pants, but he was shorter and a little round.

Both men shook their bodies, and their skin darkened to a rich, dark brown. Their eyes glittered green. “So? You’re the same.” The shorter man peered down at Kieren and Griffith, his eyes changing to a bright orange. “Not laughing now, are you?” And with a swoop of his arm, the fairy lifted Kieren’s net and placed him on his back.

“Can you be careful, please?” Griffith shouted as the taller man picked him up. “I bruise easily.”

The two fairies looked at each other, and the taller one shook his head. “These city folk are growing bolder and bolder. Imagine being so brazen as to come onto our land uninvited.”

“What can you expect? They’re desperate. You would be too if She was ill,” the round one said.

“Too true. Good thing She Who Is Fairest takes care of us,” the tall, thin one said.

And then, Kieren watched in amazement as the two fairies walked straight up the tree. Step by vertical step, the ground below disappeared from view.

“Don’t be scared,” Kieren’s captor said. “We won’t hurt you.”

“You don’t need to tell them that.” The taller one shook his head, swaying Griffith in the process.

Kieren watched on helplessly as his friend tumbled around.

“Hey!” Griffith yelled. “Would it be possible to not rock so much? Maybe you could try flying us to the top of the tree? You know, with your wings?”

Both fairies laughed.

“Only She Who Is Fairest has wings,” Kieren’s captor said.

After climbing several branches higher, both fairies stopped.

“Halt,” a voice challenged, seemingly from nowhere. “By order of She, state the password.”

“Bees delivering pollen,” Kieren’s captor announced.

“Incorrrrect,” the voice proclaimed, making sure to roll the Rs.

“Why do we need to do this?” Griffith’s captor huffed. “You know who we are.”

“I am just doing my job,” the invisible voice barked. “Name and business!”

“Leafy branches, Twigger, that was yesterday’s password.” Kieren’s captor shook his head. Kieren held on tightly as the net swayed.

Twigger leapt. “I’ve got it. I may be tiny, but I am mighty!”

“Corrrrect,” the voice announced. “Welcome back, Twigger and Brin.”

7 KIEREN

Kieren peered through the golden mesh of his net, the hidden world in the treetops unfolding before him. A thin layer of golden dust, as delicate and bright as pollen, covered everything around them, from the long-limbed inhabitants to the stick houses perched upon branches in the tree community.

Brin, the shorter fairy, poked Kieren with his now yellow-skinned hand. “You’re not dead, are you?”

Kieren stared at the fairy in surprise. “What happened to your skin? It was white and then brown, and now it’s yellow.”

Brin let out a loud laugh. He leaned in, his now yellow eyes twinkling. “Hey, Twigger. Did you hear this one?”

The taller fairy nodded. “I told you. The Elladians are becoming more and more daft. Can’t blame them, of course. The stones make them that way. But I don’t know why She Who Is Fairest even wanted us to get them. They don’t seem all that important.” Twigger bent his long body and peered at Griffith. “Perhaps she’s still lonely after Caird and the twins leaving.”

“Hush.” Brin glared at Twigger. “We’re not to talk about that. Come on then. Best not keep her waiting.” He motioned with his hand, and the two fairies set off.

They walked precariously along branches and across rope bridges, making their way steadily higher and higher into the tree’s uppermost canopy. Finally, after crossing a long rope bridge, they reached a structure of intertwined sticks that reminded Kieren of an inverted woven basket. Two female fairies whose skin perfectly matched the white bark of the trees stood guard outside the door.

Twigger and Brin lowered their nets, and Griffith and Kieren scrambled out.

Brin scratched his head. “Too bad I never got a chance to show either of you to my boys. They would have liked a new toy to play with.” Both fairies opened bags at their waists and sprinkled a handful of gold dust onto them.

As Kieren wiped the powder from his face, he found himself growing in height until he stood as tall as Twigger.

“Winter’s breeze!” Brin grumbled, his eyes rippling to a deep shade of orange. “Do they have to be taller than me?”

Twigger patted the shorter man on his head. “Everyone is taller than you.”

“That was amazing!” Griffith grinned widely. “You remind me of Tinker Bell. I can’t wait to tell Lia all about this.” His smile slipped.

Sadness washed over Kieren on hearing her name. He wondered where she was now. Had they found Fearson? Was she safe?

“Don’t worry. It will all work out,” Griffith murmured.

Twigger studied Griffith for a moment and then, before their eyes, changed his skin color to match Griffith’s coppery tone. His eyes took on an identical shade of lilac.

Griffith’s mouth fell open in amazement.

Twigger stared appreciatively down at his arms. “Never seen quite this shade of brown before. I like it.”

Brin tugged on Twigger’s arm. Kieren noticed that he, too, was the same color as the taller fairy. “Come on, let’s go.”

“Wait,” Kieren called after them. “Your queen?” He paused before trying out the title that they’d used before: “She Who Is Fairest?”

“She’s inside. Waiting for you,” Twigger said before both fairies departed.

“Well, that was definitely strange,” Griffith whispered to Kieren before glancing over at the two guards that stood outside the woven stick dwelling.

Both women watched them with eyes the palest shade of blue, but neither said a word. The two stood so incredibly still that they practically blended in with the sticks.

“Hello?” Griffith walked up to one of the guards and waved his hand in front of the woman’s impassive face. But he got no response. With a shrug, he walked over to the other. “Hello? Should we go in?” The other guard also didn’t respond, remaining as still as a statue.

“Yes, they are exactly like the guards outside Buckingham Palace,” a female voice reminiscent of leaves rustling in the wind called out from inside the dwelling.

Griffith took a step back. “Did I say that out loud?” he whispered to Kieren. “Because I swear that I was just about to say something about that.”

Kieren stared at the wooden door. Were they about to meet a mind reader?

“Please, come in Kieren, Son of Riehl, brother of Silas. Welcome, Griffith, son of Claes. Do not be afraid. We have much to talk about.”

Kieren gulped, and with a nod of his head, both he and Griffith walked through the door.

Inside, the dwelling was as simple as it was on the outside, but the woman standing before them was anything but. A pair of delicate dragonfly-like wings extended above her shoulders.

With skin the color of damp earth and eyes the shade of new shoots in spring, she wore her long brown hair in several braids. Like the other fairies, her limbs appeared almost too long for her body and a glittery sheen of golden dust covered her skin.

“Welcome to Mopani, the home of the Tree Fairies. My name is Ophira.” The woman looked to be in her thirties, but her voice held a timeless quality.

When Kieren bowed, Griffith followed suit.

Laughter as clear as water dancing along a creek burst from her lips. Kieren looked up in surprise and caught the woman’s eyes changing from vivid green to a dazzling sky blue.

“Please, rise.” Ophira smiled. “We have no need for such formalities here, dragon shifter.”

Kieren stiffened at the title.

Ophira glanced at Griffith. “Yes, son of Claes. All Tree Fairies have the ability to change our coloring. We typically draw our inspiration from nature.” She closed her eyes and shifted. Kieren gasped. Before them stood the same woman, but now with pale coloring and blazing yellow hair.

“B-but how did you…?” Griffith’s voice trailed. “I was just thinking that.” Openmouthed, he stared at the woman. “And what you said before, about the guards at Buckingham Palace. You couldn’t have known that. That’s from the Dark World. Are you a mind reader?”

Ophira shook her head before reverting to her original coloring. “I am not, but sometimes I catch glimpses of the future.”

Griffith looked visibly relieved.

“Is that how you knew we were coming?” Kieren asked.

Ophira nodded. “My apologies if we surprised you. Your arrival signals the start of a new branch of history. And I wanted to lend my support by offering our village as a place to rest before you take your next steps.”

“How do you manage it?” Griffith blurted out. “How can you see snippets of the future and not go—”

“Mad with it all?” She gave him a compassionate smile. “Like the wind, my gift comes and goes. But usually, my abilities strengthen whenever something important is about to happen.” Her entire body shimmered. and her eyes changed to a bright shade of orange. “You are a good friend, Griffith, son of Claes. Your loyalty and wisdom will prove helpful in this quest. I encourage you to continue to speak your mind. An honest voice is like sunlight: it encourages growth.”

She turned to Kieren. “Go on. Share your thoughts, dragon shifter.”

Kieren asked the question that constantly rested in his heart. “Is Lia safe?” he murmured, full of both hope and fear. “Will I see her again?”

“Your answer lies in this question: If you had the gift to see the future, would you use it?”

Kieren wasn’t sure how to respond. “I’d like to believe that the future isn’t set in stone. And seeing one version of the future may cause me to dwell on it, so I wouldn’t enjoy what was in front of me now. Or worse yet, believing that I couldn’t change anything would drive me insane.”

Ophira nodded. “Then that is your answer.”

His dragon let out an irritated snort. Trust a fairy to think such an answer is sufficient.

Kieren understood his beast’s frustration. That wasn’t the answer he’d expected either. He missed Lia. The thought of not being able to protect her constantly gnawed at him.

“But you must be able to tell him something? Please, She Who Is Fairest.” Griffith lowered his head in deference. “You had kind words for me.”

Ophira stood in silent contemplation for a moment before walking over to a wooden table and picking up a seed. Closing her eyes, she wrapped her hands around it and quietly chanted. After blowing on her hands, she opened them to reveal a delicate orange flower.

“When love takes root and grows, it provides beauty and reminds us there is hope. And there is nothing more powerful or frightening than hope.” She carefully set the flower down on the table. “I’m sorry, Kieren, but I cannot reveal what I’ve seen. But what if I were to tell you that I am able to send a message to Lia?” Ophira handed him a piece of bark and a feather dipped in ink. “Write something to her, and I will make sure that she sees it.”

Could she be telling the truth? With trembling hands, Kieren began scribbling.

Dear Lia, it broke my heart to let you go, but I trust you. I hope this letter finds you safe. We are traveling westward to seek help from my kin. I miss you and love you to the two moons and back. You are forever the heart of my heart, Kieren.

With a smile, Ophira took the note from him. “Please, stay for the night. My people will feed and house you. Rest well, and tomorrow you will begin your trials.”

Kieren waited for her to say more, but she didn’t.

8 KIEREN

“Can’t see why we have to watch them,” Brin muttered as he and Twigger led Griffith and Kieren across a long and unstable rope bridge.

“Seems to me, She Who Is Fairest wants the best fairies for the job.” Twigger chewed on a leaf, his long legs striding easily across the bridge spanning the great distance between two very tall trees.

“I’m sorry, but could you two please walk a little slower?” Griffith looked down and gulped loudly. “I’m not used to being so high above the ground.”

Twigger frowned back over his shoulder at Griffith, his skin turning a shocking shade of orange. “Elladians,” he grumbled, but he slowed his pace.

When something whooshed loudly overhead and the rope bridge swayed, Griffith hollered and gripped Kieren’s arm. “If we die, I leave my cell phone to Billy,” he muttered, his face pale and gray.

A giant yellow bird alighted on a nearby branch, its weight making the bridge sway back and forth precariously.

“Oh, for leaves’ sake.” Brin strode over to the bird. “You know where you’re supposed to land to deliver messages. Go on, shoo.” He flapped his hands in the bird’s direction.

The animal let out a loud shriek, and Kieren winced, covering his ears with both hands.

“Fine,” Brin huffed. “I’ll go with you this time. But you’re not a chick anymore. You should know better.” The fairy sprinkled some shrinking dust onto his body and climbed onto the bird’s back. The two flew away.

Twigger called back over his shoulder, “Guess that means you’re staying at my house. “

Griffith’s face had taken on a slightly green hue. “Could we continue this conversation sometime else? Like when we aren’t in the middle of a death trap masquerading as a bridge?”

Twigger came to a halt, causing Kieren to almost trip over him. “Suppose it’s possible,” he deadpanned.

Kieren stifled a laugh.

When they finally reached the end of the bridge, they found themselves in front of a pair of identical houses sitting in the crook of a branch.

“This is home. My wife, Camela, and I live here.” Twigger motioned to the house on the left. “Brin and his family live next door.”

The man opened the door, revealing a short, round woman. She wore her hair tied into a tight bun, and when she smiled, a light green hue spread over her cheeks. Twigger bent down, and the two rubbed noses.

The woman pulled away first and gave Kieren and Griffith a hug. She was tinier than Brin; her head didn’t even reach Kieren’s shoulders. “Nice to meet you both. Make yourselves at home. I’ve just baked a batch of honey muffins. You boys must be starving.”

Kieren and Griffith strolled into the homey looking room and took a seat on small stools around a table that looked like it was made of a hard white mushroom cap. Needing no further encouragement, Griffith began munching the muffins served on plates that resembled leaves. Kieren picked up a nearby acorn cup and sipped the warm, amber liquid. It was sweet and surprisingly delicious.

“This tea looks heaps better than the tea Bekker served us,” Griffith said.

Twigger looked at them with surprise. “You’ve met the king’s chief stone speller?”

“The poor man hasn’t been right in years.” Camela shook her head. “It’s those stones. They’ve poisoned his mind.”

“Is that why he talks to himself?” Griffith asked.

“Camela?” Twigger’s eyes and skin changed to a bright yellow. “Why don’t you go visit your sister?”

Camela’s warm smile disappeared, and she and Twigger exchanged a meaningful look before she made her way to the door. “It was good meeting you, boys.”

She left and the room instantly felt a few degrees colder.

Twigger gave them a stern look. “We fairy folk have a saying: ‘Spring brings truth and life, and fall reminds us that appearances are fleeting.’ I’m unsure which you are. Spring or fall? What are your intentions? You two seem awfully odd for Elladians. You didn’t know about us. You spoke to the stone speller, but you carry no stones. And you seemed surprised by the stone speller’s illness.” He took a sip from his cup. “Now, I trust She Who Is Fairest not to put our people in any danger, but a man ought to know just who enters his home. So, where are you boys really from?”

Kieren took a sip of his tea. What choice did he have but to tell Twigger the truth?

“We’re not from Verdura,” he found himself saying. “We’re actually from the other world: Solair. And we’re here to find the dragon shifters because we need their help to battle the World Eater.”

Kieren’s instincts told him he could trust this man. And so, he recounted their story, leaving nothing out, including Lia’s role as the Light, Kieren’s curse, Azriel’s possible betrayal and their subsequent separation. Every so often, Griffith jumped in, infusing the story with colorful detail. Twigger listened the entire time without saying a word. But Kieren could tell that the fairy was processing everything by the way his skin changed color. By the time they’d finished, the sun had set.

There was a knock on the door, and Brin walked in with a frown on his face. “Are you done questioning them yet? Because I’ve brought dinner.” He placed four packets of food on the table. “Had to get out of my house. It was getting too much with the children fighting and our wives busy gossiping like two chickadees. I assume that they’ve passed your test?”

Twigger grunted and passed Griffith and Kieren a package of food. Kieren unwrapped the warm leaf parcel to find something that resembled sticky mush.

“Well? What are you waiting for?” Brin took a big bite. “Acorn dumplings don’t taste as good cold as they do warm.”

Twigger picked up the dumpling and began to eat. Kieren and Griffith followed. Inside the mashed up meal was some egg and small chunks of vegetables. It was delicious and very filling.

“Did we pass your test?” Griffith asked.

Twigger grunted and continued eating.

“I’ll take that as a yes.” Griffith grinned widely. “So, what do you have to tell us about this world, then?”

“Go ahead.” Twigger elbowed Brin. “Tell them about Fearson and his stones.”

“Why would I tell them about their own ruler?” Brin scowled. “They must know what a pompous dandelion head he is.”

Griffith stifled a laugh, and Twigger shot the other fairy a pointed look.

“Fine,” Brin grumbled. “As you know, after the portals closed, something went wrong with Verdura’s magic. At first, it only seemed to occur wherever there was an old portal.”

“Is that what’s caused the gray patches in the forest?” Kieren said, remembering the off-ness of the area.

“Exactly.” Brin nodded. “And then it impacted your magic as well. That’s when the queen intervened. The magic of your kind is different than fairy magic. We derive our powers from the sun, moons, water, and our trees. But your people rely on the queen as your source of magic. When she tried to fix the dying areas, her powers were soon depleted.”

“Is that how she got sick?” Griffith asked.

“So they say,” Brin replied. “But some suspect foul play. They fear that the queen’s consort played a role in it all.”

“You mean the king?” Kieren asked, the dumpling sitting heavily in his stomach.

Twigger’s eyes flashed, changing from pale green to bright orange. “I will never call that thief a king. The man may be the queen’s chosen mate, but he also essentially stole the throne.”

“Hush.” Brin glanced at them nervously. “You don’t know who you are talking to. They could be Fearson’s spies.”

Twigger’s eyes and skin slowly returned to pale green. “They’re not.”

“And I’m just supposed to believe you, you old pinecone?”

Twigger nodded. “If She trusts them, we should too.”

Brin let out a loud sigh. “Leaves, brother. Fine. Truth is, many people don’t trust the king. Even amongst your people. The queen is supposed to be the most powerful of your kind, and when she fell ill so suddenly, it seemed suspicious. Now that she’s just barely holding on, all your other citizens are feeling a loss of powers too. Well, except for the king. His powers only seem to grow.”

“It’s the stones,” Twigger said.

This piqued Kieren’s curiosity. “Tell us more about these stones.”

When Brin shot him another disbelieving look, Twigger flashed the other fairy a warning look.

Brin huffed. “With the magic slowly disappearing, your kind must rely on spelled stones to boost their powers. The stones are collected up north, in mines owned solely by the king.”

“Monopolies are the worst,” Griffith said.

Brin raised his eyebrows.

“A monopoly. It’s basically when one company has exclusive ownership of a desired good. So if the king owns the mines, he is probably making a fortune from it all. But that’s not the worst thing. Mining can be a huge problem for the environment. Soil erosion, contamination of water sources, loss of biodiversity.”

“Biodiversity?” Brin enunciated the word. “Is that some sort of Elladian term?”

“It’s something I learned in earth science.” Griffith hesitated before adding, “Which is kind of like magic, I suppose. Basically, mining can ruin an area’s flora and fauna.”

“Right. And spelling the stones is making Bekker sick,” Kieren concluded.

Brin nodded. “It takes powerful magic to untap a stone’s potential. No one could do that job for that long without being affected. The other spellers were driven mad. Bekker is the only one left. Well, him and the king.”

“They’re heading out tomorrow to the Wildling Islands,” Twigger said before sipping his tea.

His eyes wide, Brin glanced between Kieren and Griffith. “The old dragon shifter lands? Why would you put yourselves in the trackers’ path?”

This was the second time they’d heard that word. “What are trackers?” Kieren asked.

“Professional kidnappers,” Brin explained. “Mining is dangerous work. No one does it willingly, so the trackers kidnap workers. Once you go to work in the mines, you never return.”

Twigger pushed his chair away from the table and left the room without saying a word.

Brin watched the taller man leave. “Don’t mind, Twig. He’s still hurting. We lost one of our brothers to trackers this past year. We tried to get him back, but the fairies we sent to find him never returned. We stopped looking for him after a fortnight.”

“That’s not very long,” Griffith said.

Brin glared at him. “Tree Fairies can’t live far away from our woods. Even She Who Is Fairest can only survive a week. At most. Our brother would never have made it that long.” The fairy’s shoulders sagged as he sighed. “A curse on your king and his mines.”

9 LIA

Lia awoke to find Azriel watching her from a nearby chair.

“That’s just creepy,” she mumbled. “Have you been there all night?”

Azriel looked uncharacteristically tired. She could have sworn she saw shadows under his eyes.

“You snore. And you have a bit of drool, right…there.” He pointed to the corner of his mouth.

With that, he crushed what little empathy Lia had mustered. “Lilith and Ariadne never complained when I slept in their tent.”

“They were being kind. You snore. And you hog the bed.”

Lia’s cheeks grew even warmer. They’d shared a bed?

He barked out a laugh. “Think what you want of me, but I am not that sort of monster.”

After Azriel’s not-so-discreet suggestion that she bathe and change, Lia found herself dressed in a simple green gown and sitting in a dining hall at a magnificent stone table overflowing with pastries and fruit. Not feeling hungry, she placed a tart on her plate but didn’t eat it.

Every so often, gnomes approached to bring a new dish or pour a drink for the king, their metal collars winking in the morning light. Lia fidgeted with her bracelets. Like them, she too was shackled.

“I trust that you found the accommodations to your liking?” Fearson studied them.

“Fine, brother. No attempts on our lives if that’s what you’re wondering,” Azriel replied a little too casually.

The king wiped his face with a napkin. “I hope you’re not accusing me of anything so base. Speaking ill of the king is considered an act of treason.”

Azriel sat taller in his seat. “Then allow me to apologize.” His voice was clipped, his tone cold. “I’ve only just returned, and I’m still operating under the rules of the previous ruler, who valued differences in opinion and welcomed open discussion.”

Lia glanced over at Azriel, shocked. Why was he trying to provoke his brother? Hadn’t he only just last night emphasized the importance of getting the king’s support? She kicked him beneath the table.

If he felt it, Azriel didn’t react.“Of course, I would never openly imply that you were behind the deaths of the other potential heirs. I was simply pointing out that, by nominating Lia as a potential heir, you were essentially putting her in danger of suffering a similar fate.”

All of the knives and forks rattled and then rose from the table. Lia watched as they simultaneously spun overhead before freezing in midair.

“Still throwing tantrums?” Azriel sounded almost bored.

Fearson’s eyes flashed, and the cutlery dropped back onto the table with a clatter. “Nothing happens in my castle without me knowing. No one will harm either of you.”

Azriel smiled. “Excellent. So it has been said, so it shall be done.”

“My brother seems in fine form this morning.” Fearson turned his attention to Lia. “And what about you? Is there anything I can do to make your stay here more pleasant?”

This was it. Time to stick to the plan. “I wish to visit the castle’s library,” she replied. “I’d like to learn more about the history of Verdura and research the World Eater.”

The king tilted his head, appearing to consider her request. Finally, he nodded. “That sounds fine to me. Seems harmless enough.”

Really? Emboldened by her success, Lia kept going, seizing the opportunity to ask for more. “I would also like to see the queen.”

Fearson arched a pale eyebrow. “As you are aware, my dear wife is extremely sick. But a visit to her chambers could be arranged; if you were to grant me two small favors.”

“Be careful,” Azriel taunted. “My brother bargains for keeps.”

Lia forced herself to give the king an easy smile. “Of course. Two small favors seem reasonable, considering your generosity.”

“Excellent.” Fearson appeared delighted. “First of all, I would like to host a ball to honor you and Azriel. After all, it’s not every day that my long-lost brother returns from Solair with a potential heir.”

“Of course.” Lia fought the urge to roll her eyes. Seriously, what was up with these people and balls? But at least she could handle those sorts of favors.

“Wonderful. Then I shall commence preparations. A couple of days should be enough time, I assume.” He cleared his throat. “And for the second favor, I would like to know what your particular magical talents are. I’m already familiar with Azriel’s abilities, having witnessed what he did to Tellie.”

Beside her, Azriel hissed a breath.

“Is she still a sore spot even after all these years?” Fearson shook his head. “Mother and Father were right. You always were weak.”

“I am no longer that youngling.” Azriel’s voice dripped with menace.

“So you say.” The king smirked. “But you bore me. I want to get to know Lia. Tell me, what exactly are your abilities?”

Lia thought back to what Azriel had told her last night. She needed to get Fearson to trust her, which meant she needed to tell him the truth. “I used to see visions of the future. But lately, I haven’t been able to see anything.”

Fearson nodded. “From what I know of Solairan mages, that is not uncommon. Still, it’s a pity. It would have been helpful to have a true prophet in our midst. Our last ones proved somewhat unreliable. Was that your only talent?”

Biting her lip, Lia shook her head. “I also have the ability to draw out other people’s memories.”

A look of calculated interest flickered on the king’s face. “Really? Now that is much more fascinating. Show me.”

10 LIA

Before Lia could even grasp what Fearson was asking, her bracelets broke apart. The sound of metal striking the stone floor echoed through the silent room. She rubbed her wrists, enjoying the sensation of freedom.

“I volunteer,” Azriel said.

“You wish to reveal all the sins of your past? Perhaps you have changed.” The king smiled at Lia. “You heard my brother. Do it. In fact, why don’t I suggest what you should look for? Find memories of Tellie. Judging from your reaction before, your betrothed never told you about her.”

Lia hesitated. This wasn’t how she’d done it before. Previously, it had been consensual. Sage and Kieren had both given her access to their private memories. Lia had no idea who Tellie was, but clearly, Azriel’s memories of her were painful. And although the Verduran was no longer her friend, she didn’t want to force him to relive something unpleasant.

“Come now, Lia.” Azriel stood up. I’m a big boy. I can take it.”

Nodding, Lia joined him. With her heart beating madly inside her chest, she took his hands and entwined her fingers with his. Azriel stared down at her, the hard expression on his face both cold and beautiful. Shutting her eyes, she willed the memories just like before.

Please. Show me Tellie.

Azriel exhaled softly and pulled Lia into the past.

A beautiful slate-gray woman with pale gray eyes and a shock of white hair stood before her. Was this Tellie? With a smile, the woman reached for Lia’s hands. Delighted, Lia took Tellie’s hands in hers.

Another image flashed before her eyes. Now she and Tellie stood outside the castle; Lia recognized the view of the houses built into the cliff. She wrapped an arm around the woman and placed a soft kiss on her forehead.

As the scene disappeared, a dam of memories broke, and Lia found herself bombarded: Tellie cooking, riding a horse, and walking through the woods. In every scene, the woman seemed happy, always smiling or laughing.

Dread filled Lia’s heart. How had such happy memories turned into painful ones?

The next vision showed the young woman in a small cottage. Her eyes a stormy gray, she was obviously yelling. Lia couldn’t hear the words, but every now and then, Tellie would point an accusing finger in Lia’s direction.

The following image showed the woman with her face in her hands, crying. No longer in a cottage, Tellie was now in a grander room, sitting on a beautifully carved white chair. For the first time, someone else was in Azriel’s memories. Standing in the corner, Fearson watched Tellie cry, a frown darkening his face.

The next image showed Tellie sitting up in bed, her hair disheveled. She looked thinner, and her once sparkling eyes now appeared cloudy and unfocused.

Azriel jerked his hands from Lia’s, dragging her back to the present. He scowled at her, his mouth fixed in a tight line.

“Is that it?” Fearson asked, glancing between them. “It certainly looked like something was going on. But how do I know that this wasn’t just for show?”

“Show him,” Azriel growled.

“You can transmit memories as well?” Fearson grinned with delight. “How exactly does this work? Is it through skin-to-skin contact?”

“Yes.” Lia walked toward the king. As if from nowhere, a couple of masked guards appeared by her side.

“Don’t mind them,” Fearson remarked casually. “My guards are quick to act. But they seem to forget that I’m not helpless.”

Azriel moaned, and Lia whipped around to see him being lifted into the air by his wrists.

“Stop. Please,” she begged.

Azriel’s body floated back to the ground. “You seem like a smart girl,” Fearson remarked. “Try anything foolish, like pulling memories from me, and your betrothed will pay the price.”

Lia nodded, understanding the thinly veiled threat. Trembling, she reached out and took the king’s hands in hers. Now she was merely a conduit for the images. As the final memory of Tellie sitting in bed flashed through her mind, Lia pulled away.

Fearson gave her a triumphant look. “You, my dear, will prove to be extremely useful. I shall honor my part of the bargain. You may visit the library and my wife.” He gestured, and the cuffs returned to her wrists.

The metal seemed to burn against her skin.

“A servant will lead you to the library. My baby brother will remain here. He and I have much to discuss.”

Lia glanced over at Azriel, but he didn’t once look in her direction. She should have been used to his icy demeanor by now, but for some reason, it still hurt.

11 LIA

The library was massive, possibly even larger than the room she’d just dined in. Filled with anticipation, Lia took in row after row of books.

“Hello, child.” Compact and sturdy, a bald woman toddled forward, resembling a moving rock. The wrinkles on her face ran deep, and her bright, black eyes resembled two upside-down arcs. “You must be Lia. Welcome to the library. My name is Lyra. I am the keeper of the books. What can I help you with, dear one?”

Lia swallowed hard. “I’d like to learn about Verdura’s history and the World Eater. Specifically, I’m looking for any prophecies relating to him.”

The woman’s eyebrows raised slightly. “Of course. This way.” She motioned for Lia to follow.

Not only did the librarian resemble a rock, but she hobbled about as slowly as one too. When they finally reached the History Section, Lyra craned her nonexistent neck to peer at the highest shelf. Lia took a step forward, about to offer her help, but a book removed itself from a shelf and floated down into the woman’s hand.

Lyra placed the weighty red leather manual in Lia’s hands. “This will give you a good overview of our history. Unfortunately, all books on prophecies are currently restricted. I’m surprised King Fearson didn’t tell you.”

Really? It didn’t surprise Lia at all.

“I’ll be sure to mention your request to the king.” Lyra gave her a small smile. “Perhaps he will give his approval. If you need anything else, just let me know.”

Frustrated, Lia muttered her thanks and began scanning the tiny, neatly printed words. A couple of paragraphs in and she struggled to keep her eyes open. The first part of the tome was a dry account of Verdura’s history. Famines, civil unrest, and coups dominated the earliest recorded years of reign. Lia flipped ahead. Thankfully, the later years displayed increased intellectual and magical growth.

Unfortunately, there was no mention anywhere of the prophecy or the World Eater.

“Apologies for disturbing your research, but there’s someone here to speak to you” Lyra motioned for Lia to follow.

This time, the librarian took a different route, and along the way, they passed a mural depicting a battling dragon and unicorn. The artist was talented and had done a phenomenal job of capturing this moment in what looked like an epic battle. The black dragon was midair, its claws extended and mouth opened, baring its teeth. Surprisingly, the beast bore a striking resemblance to Kieren’s dragon, but Lia had never seen such an expression of rage on his face. Her eyes then drifted to the unicorn. A metal collar and cuffs adorned its neck and legs. Head tilted, the determined creature aimed its horn right at the dragon’s heart.

“The painting is called ‘Fighting for the Fate of the World,’” Lyra explained. “Many believe it represents the battle between the Prime and our previous queen. But I don’t think that’s the case. The shifter that sought to destroy our world years ago was a gray dragon. And it seems unlikely our queen would be depicted as a unicorn. She wasn’t a unicorn shifter. Like Kelwyn, the previous queen had a talent for growing things.”

Unicorn shifter? That reminded Lia of what Kieren had told her before. “Are there many unicorn shifters in Elladia?”

Lyra shook her head. “They’re most likely extinct. We’ve not seen one in decades. It’s said that they hold multiple talents and an ability to heal serious injuries. But no one knows for sure.”

“Lia!” a familiar voice called out impatiently from the doorway.

“Many apologies, my lord.” Lyra beamed at Azriel. “We got distracted by this magnificent piece of art.”

“Filling her head with romantic notions of dragons and unicorns?” Azriel asked. “I’m sure Lia has better things to do than listen to your ramblings.”

As Lyra’s smile crumpled, Lia felt a rush of anger. She could accept Azriel being unkind to her, but the librarian didn’t deserve his scorn. Deliberately ignoring him, Lia gave the woman her warmest smile. “Thank you for your help today. Meeting you has been the best thing to happen to me since setting foot inside this castle.”

Instantly, Lyra’s eyes curved into rainbows again. “Good.” She placed her hands in Lia’s and squeezed. “I will speak to the king. Hopefully, he will grant you permission to study the prophecies.”

It was a kind offer, but Lia wouldn’t hold her breath.

12 LIA

“You didn’t have to be so mean.”

Azriel continued walking along the hallway, not even acknowledging that he’d heard her. Lia was about to say something else, when a pair of gnomes walked past. Around the same age as Lia, they wore bright metal collars around their necks. Unlike the gnomes she’d previously seen, these two girls looked entirely too thin. It looked like a strong wind would snap them in half.

“Care to scold me some more, princess?” Azriel glanced back over his shoulder.

“Not really.” The words that she planned to say just moments before no longer seemed important.

He led her down several more hallways until they came to a hall in front of a huge wooden door. Two enormous metal statues stood guard on either side. Taller than Azriel, the figures seemed like they could come alive at any moment.

“This is where I leave you. My brother has only granted you permission to visit Kelwyn.” Azriel gestured to the statues. “They’re Fearson’s handiwork, spelled to protect the queen. They follow his orders, only allowing certain visitors inside. Anyone else attempting to enter the room is instantly killed.” He gave Lia a smirk. “Have a good visit.” With that, he turned on his heel and walked away.

Lia took a hesitant step toward the doorway, her eyes trained on the frozen guards.

One more step.

Two more.

The statues now towering above her, Lia swallowed nervously and took one final step forward. Thankfully, neither guard moved. Placing a hand on the door handle, she pushed and stepped inside a circular room that was pale pink and awash with light. The room appeared empty, save for a massive domed metal cage. In the center of the cage stood a bed, and on that bed lay a gauze-draped figure.

It had to be Kelwyn—Verdura’s current queen and Lia’s distant relative. A diaphanous material covered the woman’s entire body, from her face all the way down to her toes. The queen’s long red hair sprawled outward, reaching all the way to the ground. She lay so still; if it hadn’t been for the slight, steady movement of the woman’s chest, Lia would have thought she was dead.

When Lia stepped forward and brushed her fingers against the cage’s metal bars, a zap of energy shot through her body. Instantly, she wrenched her fingers away, crying out in pain.

A small hand grabbed hold of her wrist, and Lia yelled again, this time in surprise. She looked down and found herself staring at a tiny girl with curious yellow eyes and tan-colored skin. Like the servants, the girl wore a simple dress and a large metal collar.

“You startled me,” Lia said, relaxing a little. “Do you work here?”

The girl nodded.

Lia waited for her to say something more. But the girl remained silent. “Do you speak?”

The servant shook her head, then pointed to the cage.

Lia gave a snort. “Don’t touch it? Yeah, I got that message loud and clear. I’m not too badly injured. The magic just surprised me, that’s all.” She tugged her hand away, a little embarrassed. Fearson had obviously spelled the bars to protect the queen. For a deadly device, it was intricately decorated. Tiny metal birds and flowers adorned the dome, sitting atop nests filled with sparkling eggs.

Lia leaned in closer. Were they spelled stones?

The girl tugged on Lia’s hand again and put her finger to her lips.

“Be quiet?”

The servant nodded. With a quick step, she placed her arm through the bars.

“No!” Lia hissed, reaching out.

But the girl flickered briefly before reappearing inside the cage, seemingly unhurt.

“How did you do that?”

The door to the room creaked open, and Azriel and Fearson walked in. Lia spun to warn the servant. But she’d disappeared.

A smug smile rested on Fearson’s face. “I wouldn’t touch the cage again if I were you.”

Jerk. Lia tried to mask her annoyance. “I’m fine. I was just trying to get inside to see the queen.”

“That’s understandable, but unfortunately, not allowed.” Fearson traced a finger along a metal bar and then stuck his hand inside. His bright blue eyes met Lia’s as he pulled his hand out, unharmed. “The cage responds only to me. It’s important that the queen be kept safe at all times.”

Was that what he was telling his people? Imprisonment would more accurately describe the situation.

“We’re here to invite you to dinner,” Azriel said.

“Yes, please join us,” Fearson added. “We can discuss the upcoming ball. You’ve seen the dying woods. Our people are worried. They want to know that their land and magic will be safe. And you, my dear, are the key to it all. If you prove yourself worthy to be the queen’s heir, then we will begin the process of making you ruler of Verdura.”

Lia frowned. That didn’t sound right. “But you already have a queen.”

The king shrugged. “I love my wife dearly, but Kelwyn is little more than a living statue at this point.” He placed a hand on Lia’s shoulder. “Make no mistake. You will be tested. And if you pass, you’ll begin the process to become queen. Our world needs you.”

Lia swallowed hard. “And if I fail?”

Fearson’s hand fell to his side. “Then we bury you with all the others.”

13 KIEREN

Following a fitful night’s sleep, Kieren and Griffith left the Tree Fairies early the next day, back to their normal size with baked acorn goods weighing down their bags and stomachs. After hiking westward all morning, they came to the edge of a cliff. Below, ocean waves crashed against a rocky, deserted beach. In the distance, the pale outline of an island emerged from the blue waters. They were finally here, just a short flight from the Wildling Islands…and the dragon shifters.

A soft note, pure and sweet, drifted through the air. Startled, Kieren looked around for the musician but could see no one.

Let me out. The dragon within stretched its wings. It’s been too long.

Kieren agreed. A ripple of anticipation crossed his skin.

“Looks like I’m finally going to get a ride,” Griffith said.

“You’ll have to hold my clothes and sword while we fly over.”

“Of course.” His friend turned away to give him some privacy.

Something rustled in the nearby woods.

“On second though, you should keep your pants on. It looks like we have company,” Griffith murmured.

Kieren turned around just as two strangers stepped out of the trees. Tall and sinewy, one was more mountain than man. A sword hung low on his hips, and he had four blades strapped to each leg. The other man was short and balding, with a sallow complexion and a substantial paunch. Like his taller partner, he wore metal and stone cuffs on his wrists, but surprisingly, he was unarmed.

The balding man grinned. “Looks like it’s our lucky day. Two more to add to our collection.”

Merely grunting, his partner drew his sword.

The dragon within let out an angry growl. How dare he stop us from flying? Release me, and I’ll deal with them quickly.

Don’t worry. We’ve got it. Kieren unsheathed his blade.

“It looks like it’s going to be a good day.” The shorter man studied them with a hungry look. “Why don’t you put away those weapons? I’m a businessman, not a fighter. I don’t want my goods damaged.”

“You’re trackers, I’m guessing?” Kieren asked.

The round man bowed. “Always such an honor when our reputations precede us. Since you seem to know who we are, you must also know that begging won’t help.”

“He thinks we’re going to beg?” Griffith chuckled. “I kindly suggest you leave, friend, before we do something to ruin your lucky day.”

The paunchy man sighed. “Why do they always have to make things difficult? Go get them, Ordel.”

The tall tracker moved faster than Kieren had expected, and Griffith’s blade rose to block his opponent’s swing. At first, it looked as if Griff would successfully fend off his sword, but Ordel simply pushed harder.

With a grunt, Griffith scrambled out of the way. Not giving their opponent a second to recoup, Kieren ran up and attacked. The sinewy tracker immediately spun around, slicing his sword through the air. Having failed to anticipate the man’s fast reflexes, Kieren only just managed to dodge the weapon.

“Ordel, you oaf. What did I tell you?” the shorter man yelled. “Don’t damage the goods. We don’t want to waste time healing them before putting them to work.”

Heat surged through Kieren’s limbs, and he took advantage of the strength and speed that came with being a shifter. The clang of metal on metal rang as Kieren and the tracker exchanged blows.

With unwavering speed and accuracy, Ordel appeared to anticipate Kieren’s every move. After one particularly surprising block, the man twisted his body and backhanded Kieren. Pain blossoming in his head, he flew backward and fell to the ground in an ungraceful heap. As he scrambled to his feet, he felt something warm and wet on the back of his neck.

His dragon clawed to get out. Shift, now!

Kieren fought to control his impulses. Given the relationship between dragon shifters and the other Verdurans, it seemed unwise to reveal his true nature. With a grunt, he shook his head, trying to ignore his beast.

A yell caught Kieren’s attention, and he looked over just as the tall Verduran brought the handle of his sword down hard on the back of Griffith’s head.

“No!” The word flew from Kieren’s throat.

Griff crumpled to the ground and failed to get back up. Ordel leaned over and swung Griffith’s body over his shoulder, maneuvering him as easily as a sack of rice.

Heat exploded within, and Kieren’s body thrummed with power. “Let him go.”

Not seeming to hear, Ordel continued walking toward his smirking partner.

Let me out! his dragon roared.

Still ignoring his beast, Kieren pulled a dagger from his boot. With a flick of his wrist, the blade buried itself in Ordel’s right calf. The man gave a small grunt but carried on with the knife jutting out of his flesh.

Kieren whipped out another blade. Like the first, this weapon flew true and found its way into the man’s other leg. This time, the tracker stumbled, but to Kieren’s surprise, he continued plodding along before gently placing Griffith’s unmoving body in front of his partner. With his task completed, the man ripped the two knives from his flesh and tossed them onto the ground.

Kieren frowned at the Verduran’s tolerance for pain. What sort of creature was he dealing with?

The shorter tracker clapped his hands. “Congratulations. You fought well for someone without stones.” He glanced over at Ordel. “My partner here is only as good as the gems on his wrist. Aren’t you, you dumb giant?”

Ordel didn’t say a word.

“I would be curious to see what stones could do with someone as powerful as you.” The shorter tracker gave Kieren an appraising look. “Behave yourself in the mines, and you just might get your own set of bracelets as a reward.”

No, thank you. Kieren eyed Ordel. Sweat dotted his brow and thin black lines crisscrossed the man’s trembling forearms. “Your friend doesn’t look too good. I don’t think you’re in any position to make demands. Give me back my friend, and we’ll let you leave.”

The tracker threw back his head and laughed. “Oh my. You do have spirit. No, I don’t need Ordel anymore. Not when your friend is right here.” He pulled off one of his gloves, revealing a hand so pale, it looked like it had never seen the sun. “Have I shown you my powers yet?” He plucked a small flower from the ground and held it up for Kieren to see.

Before his eyes, the flower turned a sickly brown before crumbling into dust.

“Why carry blades when my hands are the best weapons of all?”

Kieren stilled. The man held the power of death.

The tracker blew the dust from his hand and held his ungloved hand mere inches from Griffith’s face. “Drop the sword. Unless you want your friend to suffer the same fate as the plant.”

Kieren placed his weapon on the ground.

“Excellent.” The round tracker smiled. “So pleased that we came to an understanding. See, Ordel? I was right. Today is our lucky day. Three captures, and all of them spirited. That’s good; the spirited ones last longer.” He waved his hand. “Go on. You know what needs to be done.”

The giant man stiffly walked forward.

“Turn around,” the shorter man commanded. “This will only hurt for a moment.”

Doing as he was told, Kieren felt a sharp pain on the base of his neck, and then everything faded to black.

14 LIA

Q ueen. The word rang in Lia’s mind as she pushed her food around her plate, barely able to stomach the smell, let alone the thought of eating.

“Feeling nervous?” The king raised a glass. “Perhaps a drink will help?”

Following his suggestion, Lia took a sip. She frowned. The water had a slightly sour, almost metallic taste. Her stomach lurched, and she shakily set the glass down.

“Is everything alright?” Azriel studied her. “You’re not looking well.”

“I’m fine,” she forced out, her heart racing as her body broke out in a cold sweat. “I’m just a bit tired and not particularly hungry.”

Fearson calmly lifted another forkful of food to his mouth. “That’s a shame. You are missing out on a delicious meal.”

Feeling lightheaded, Lia found it difficult to even look at the dishes in front of her. The ground beneath her swayed, as if she were on a ship in the middle of a stormy sea. She gripped the sides of her seat, trying not to fall over.

What was wrong with her? She reached out to take another sip of water but knocked the glass over instead. “I’m sorry.” The words slurred on her tongue.

“Perhaps it’s time for us to retire.” Azriel’s voice sounded strangely far away. “We have a busy day ahead of us tomorrow.”

Lia wanted to protest, but now her head was spinning, and her stomach had begun to cramp terribly.

“Of course,” Fearson said. “There will be time to talk tomorrow.”

“Ready?” Azriel got to his feet.

Lia nodded slowly, fighting to keep her breathing steady as pain invaded every inch of her body. She must have closed her eyes for a moment because when she looked up, Azriel hovered above her, a troubled expression on his face. She blinked hard and shook her head. When had he gotten there?

“Come, let us retire for the evening,” Azriel murmured.

Gritting her teeth, Lia attempted to stand, but her legs refused to support her. Azriel grabbed hold of her arm before she fell.

“Good night, Lia. I hope to see you tomorrow,” Fearson said.

She didn’t even have the strength to respond. The room was now fully spinning, and it felt as if someone had taken a dull knife and was relentlessly scraping against her stomach. Azriel’s grip tightened around her arm, holding her steady. Lia readily accepted his support, not caring that she appeared weak before the king.

Partway back to their room, Lia pulled free of Azriel’s hold and leaned against the wall—panting and grunting with a pain so terrible that she wanted to curl up in a ball and scream. “Just leave me here,” she forced through measured breaths. “You don’t care about me anyway.”

“We should head back to our room.” He tugged on her arm.

She wanted to fight him, but her legs chose that moment to buckle beneath her. Instead of falling onto the hard stone floor, Azriel caught her in his arms and carried her back to their room, where he gently laid her on the bed and covered her with a blanket.

“Don’t look at me like that,” she whispered. The pain was so bad now, she found herself getting teary.

The golden-haired Verduran stood at the foot of the bed, watching her. “Like what?”

“Like you care.”

His expression hardening, he left the room.

Sleep finally claimed her, but Lia awoke several times that night to vomit. The first time, she tried to make it to the bathroom but failed, making a mess all over the floor. The second time, someone held a bowl beneath her mouth. Lia lost track after that, but each time she threw up, a pair of cool hands brushed the sticky strands of hair from her face and rubbed her back.

“Gabby?” Lia moaned into the dark.

The hands pulled away.

Sobbing, she fell back to sleep.

LIA AWOKE to the sound of crashing waves and the smell of the sea. She found herself standing on a beach. The sun’s rays warmed her shoulders, and the ocean’s icy water lapped against her bare toes. On edge, she spun around. Behind her the World Eater stood beside a giant fortress, which meant that this had to be a dream.

He looked worse from the last time she saw him. His skin stretched tightly over his bones, while angry black and purple welts mottled his milky-white skin. Cuts, some pale with age and even more that appeared to still be healing, covered his torso and arms.

He gave a small grunt and pointed behind her, across the water.

She studied the distant coastline. “Is that one of the Verduran islands?”

The World Eater shook his head and pointed to his feet.

Lia peered across the ocean and then back at the beach where they currently stood. “I don’t understand.”

Keeping his fingers pointed to the ground, he mouthed those two familiar words.

“Yes. I know,” Lia snapped. “‘Find me.’ And trust me, I am trying to. It’s just that the king appears to have other plans right now.”

The World Eater’s face fell.

Compassion crept into her heart, and she tried to fight it. This was the man who’d orchestrated the deaths of hundreds of innocent boys just to transform Kieren into a dragon. This was the man who’d caused most of the Verduran village to fall ill. He was Lia’s enemy, prophesied to destroy all the people and places she cared about. But sympathy still tugged at her heart because, at that moment, he didn’t look like a monster. He looked like a victim.

Once again, the World Eater pointed to the ground.

Realization struck. “Wait a moment. Are we standing on an island?”

The man nodded furiously.

Lia wracked her brain. They were on an island across from the mainland. But the only islands she remembered seeing on Minerva’s map were the Wildling Islands.

“Is this where the dragon shifters live? The Wildling Islands?”

The World Eater shook his head. “Find me,” he mouthed again.

15 LIA

“Lia!” A voice cut through the haze of sleep and the mattress dipped from someone else’s weight.

“You need to wake up!”

With a groan, Lia opened her eyes and immediately regretted her decision. A disgusting sour taste coated her mouth while a hammer pounded in the back of her head. She sat up carefully, not liking how the room was spinning.

As Azriel slid off the bed, snippets of last night appeared in her mind.

Vomiting.

Pain.

Someone holding back her hair.

“W-what happened to me?” She sounded like a frog, but she didn’t care because, at that moment, the room began spinning faster. Lia closed her eyes, bracing her hands against the bed to hold herself steady. She felt as if she’d been hit by a truck.

“You were poisoned.”

Lia’s eyes whipped open. She’d eaten nothing and had only drunk water at Fearson’s insistence. “Was it in the water?”

“I suspect so.”

She swallowed, riding the wave of nausea that threatened to overwhelm her. “Why would your brother poison me?”

“All potential heirs are tested to see if they are worthy. I’ve never been privy to the trials, but I guessed what was happening last night. He used poison as a way to evaluate your strength.”

Lia massaged her head. The room had finally stopped spinning, but she suspected the headache would last all day. “So, I’m guessing by all the vomiting I did last night that I didn’t pass.”

A smile slithered across Azriel’s face. “On the contrary. You did pass; you lived.”

“Great. I’m not dead.” Anger surged in Lia’s chest. “Just who does your brother think he is, playing around with my life like that?”

“The king.”

Lia shut her eyes. “Please. I know you hate me, but could you speak quieter? I’ve just survived an attempt on my life and am dealing with the mother of all headaches here.”

“I suppose that does warrant a modicum of compassion.”

Was the man making a joke? Lia cracked open an eye, but Azriel’s face remained expressionless.

“When is the next test?” she forced out.

Azriel crossed his arms over his chest. “As I said, I’ve never seen a queen chosen before. But I assume that he’ll want to win over public opinion by putting your powers on display at the ball.”

Lia frowned. More images from the night before flashed through her mind. “It was you, wasn’t it? You held my hair back and wiped my brow. Why did you do it? Why did you take care of me?”

“Don’t get your hopes up, princess. Remember what I said before: My intention is to get on my brother’s good side. And having you wind up dead won’t help me with that. Now you’re awake and in a somewhat respectable state, the servants will prepare you for the ball.”

Lia groaned. “Isn’t that tomorrow?”

“You’ve slept through an entire day. And it’s already late afternoon.” He threw open the drapes, letting in the dazzling sunlight.

Lia hid her face, feeling like a vampire. Without a shred of mercy, Azriel flung open the door to their chambers. Four maidservants walked in, all wearing simple green gowns and metal collars.

The oldest woman scrunched up her face. “Smells like an animal died in here.”

“Missa, you mustn’t,” a younger woman whispered, glancing nervously in Lia’s direction. “That’s the potential heir.”

The first woman frowned. “We are servants to the king, Kaya. If the girl is to be the next queen, we do her no favors by coddling her. You’d best remember that.”

If it weren’t for her pounding head, Lia would have protested more as the older woman tugged her off the bed and got to work. Azriel slipped out without saying goodbye.

Missa eyed Lia and shook her head. “Two of you go fetch her something to eat. She’ll need her strength for tonight.”

When they returned with several loaves of freshly baked bread and some, hopefully, poison-free lavender water, Lia resisted at first. But the delicious aroma called to her, and she soon gorged herself on the fluffiest, freshest bread she’d ever eaten.

When she finished, the maidservants insisted on soaking her in a steaming hot bath, which, if Lia was being honest, she rather enjoyed. Once that was done, they vigorously rubbed oils into her skin and brushed her unruly, wavy black hair until it shone. Missa, the group’s designated leader, then proceeded to apply gold paint to Lia’s face and arms, brandishing her brush with the same degree of concentration as Michelangelo working on the Sistine Chapel.

Her painting finished, Missa shooed the other women out of the room and began the process of braiding Lia’s hair.

Lia kept trying to turn around in her chair, wanting to get a glimpse of what exactly was going on. But each time, the woman shook her head, refusing to give her even the tiniest peek until she was finished. Eventually, Lia surrendered to the woman’s nimble fingers, remembering Lilith’s tiny hands braiding flowers into her hair. That precious moment seemed a lifetime ago.

“You’re different from the others, my heir.” Missa spoke so quietly that Lia thought she might have imagined it.

“Others?”

“Yes. The other potential heirs. We can feel it now, even those of us who’ve never had much magic. Our world is dying. But perhaps with you, we could have hope.” The woman paused before resuming her braiding. “We all want you to succeed.”

Nervousness gnawed at Lia’s stomach. She worried she wasn’t who these people thought she was.

A pair of hands rested on Lia’s shoulders. “Why don’t we get you dressed.” Missa brought over a sparkly red gown. “Isn’t it magnificent? Every bit fitting for a queen, I think.” She held out the dress to Lia.

Recognizing it, Lia gasped. It was the one she’d worn in her vision when she first met Azriel all those months ago.

16 LIA

“Do you like it, my heir?” Missa asked.

Lia nodded dumbly, scrambling to remember more of the vision. She recalled wearing this exact red gown. But in her vision, she’d also worn a collar. As had Azriel. And together, they’d faced a room filled with creatures from all walks of life.

Had her vision been of this ball?

“Come, let’s get you into this dress.”

Still feeling unsteady from last night’s illness, Lia gratefully accepted the woman’s help.

“You are stunning,” Missa murmured as she took a step back.

Lia stared at her reflection in the mirror, admiring how the gown’s tiny jewels caught the light in the room, sparkling and teasing with each movement. Surprisingly, her makeup was natural and understated, except for the swirls and dots of gold paint around her temples and the line of gold running from the center of her forehead to her chin. And other than the gold paint and the cuffs, her arms were bare.

“Are these jewels spelled?” Lia asked, eying her dress nervously.

“No, my heir.” Missa shook her head. “They’re just for decoration.”

“Good.”

Missa held out a golden necklace that contained a large red jewel. “And here is the last item.”

Mesmerized by the stone’s size and color, Lia reached out to touch it, but something prickled painfully against her fingertips. She pulled her hand away. “No. I don’t think I’ll be wearing that.”

Missa’s brow furrowed. “But it’s spelled to make its wearer more likable. It’s supposed to help you win over the other guests tonight.”

Spelled? That explained how she felt when it came near her. Lia shook her head, now even more sure of her decision. “I’ll wear the dress. But not that necklace.”

For a moment, the older woman looked worried. “But the king’s requested that you wear it.”

Lia took the servant’s hand in hers. “And I will take full responsibility for choosing not to.”

Someone knocked on the door.

“Come in,” Lia called out.

The door opened, and Azriel paused at the entrance, his golden eyes sweeping across Lia’s body and face. He wore a simple tunic and pants, but the clothes fit him so well she assumed they must have been tailored to his body. A swipe of gold accentuated each cheek.

Missa bowed. “My lord. The potential heir is ready.”

“She cleans up rather well, doesn’t she?” His voice was smooth, and a small smile played on his lips—for the maidservant’s benefit, Lia assumed. “Shall we, my dear?”

Lia murmured her thanks as she took his arm.

“No necklace?” Azriel asked as they walked along the hallway.

If he knew about the necklace, then he certainly understood why she wouldn’t wear it. “No.”

His eyebrows raised. “I’m not sure whether to admire your confidence or scoff at your poor choice.”

Lia scowled. “Not sporting a jewel of your own, I see.”

“I wasn’t offered one. I don’t need jewels to make others like me. I’m likable enough on my own.”

Momentarily caught up in their easy banter, Lia chuckled. But Azriel immediately reassumed his disdainful expression, as if sensing the wall between them crumbling.

Desperate to see the man she’d known in Solair again, Lia took a chance. “I spoke to the World Eater last night. I know where he is.”

Azriel remained silent, but the slight furrow of his brow indicated that he’d heard her.

Lia pressed on. “He’s on an island, off the coast. But it’s not the Wildling Islands. It’s another one. Do you know the place?”

“No. I have no idea.”

Everything inside her screamed that Azriel was lying. He knew. He knew where the World Eater was. Lia felt herself growing desperate. “Please. Where is he?”

“Instead of thinking about tomorrow, I suggest you concentrate on surviving tonight. We’re here.”

They walked through a pair of large wooden doors, stepping into a neat and manicured garden. A faint floral scent reached her nostrils. In front of them, a narrow path led to a bridge across a sparkling pond that surrounded a brightly lit glass building. All around them, tiny white flowers covered the ground, forming a carpet of sweet-smelling blooms. Pale lilies, larger than Lia’s hand, floated lazily in the water, their centers shining with a beautiful pale blue light. And in the deep purple-black sky above, three identical moons nestled peacefully in a field of stars.

It was the most enchanting torture chamber Lia had ever seen.

Seemingly unmoved by the beauty around them, Azriel released Lia’s hand and headed toward the bridge. Lia hurried after him, but bushes filled with blue, rose-like flowers captured her attention.

“Lia; Azriel,” Fearson called from across the bridge, his body backlit by the glowing entrance to the ballroom.

Lia’s steps faltered. This was the place from her vision, and according to Azriel, the time of her next deadly test.

“The garden is lovely, isn’t it?” Fearson’s fingers brushed against the blue flowers. “These are called azure trillium. Aren’t they stunning?”

“Funny that you would have a garden filled with poisonous plants. These flowers are toxic if ingested,” Azriel added.

Lia’s stomach clenched, remembering their last dinner.

“Must you ruin everything?” Fearson’s voice held an edge. He eyed Lia. “My apologies for my actions two nights ago, I was only doing my duty. It’s good to see you looking so remarkably well. I was afraid I would have to cancel tonight’s ball.”

The king may have hurt her, but he hadn’t destroyed her. Giving him her brightest smile, she plucked one of the largest blooms and inhaled its scent deeply. “I’m feeling wonderful. Last night’s sleep was so refreshing.”

Fearson took the flower from Lia’s hands and grinned, baring his teeth. It was a shark’s smile, and the thick swipes of gold paint on his cheeks caught the light. “I’m glad to hear that. You look beautiful tonight. But your outfit appears incomplete. Where is the piece of jewelry that I gifted you? The gem would have provided a much-needed boost to your rather plain personality, I think.” He tore the flower’s head off its stem and dropped it onto the ground. “We wouldn’t want our guests to eat you up tonight.”

How dare he try to intimidate her! Lia struggled to suppress a scowl. “Thank you, but I would rather rely on my own abilities than on stones to make me feel better about myself.” She stared pointedly at the king’s arms, where several jeweled bracelets rested, before grabbing hold of Azriel’s hand. “I did manage to get this handsome man as my betrothed just by being myself, after all. And he does have rather discerning taste.” She gazed up into Azriel’s face adoringly.

The golden-haired Verduran coughed but made no attempt to pull away.

His face darkening, Fearson beckoned to a servant. “Since you didn’t like that necklace, perhaps you would prefer these instead.” He held up a pair of collars.

Azriel shot his brother a sharp look. “Aren’t the cuffs enough?”

The metal bands around Lia’s arm squeezed and she cried out painfully.

“Put them on. Now,” Fearson commanded.

The pain dissipated and Lia slipped the collar around her neck, feeling a painful burning as it settled against her skin.

The king flicked his wrist, and their cuffs unsnapped and floated into the servant’s hands. “Now, that we’re ready, let’s greet our guests. I shall enter first, and you two will follow. And for Verdura’s sake, smile. This is a party, after all.”

17 LIA

“Are you ready, princess?”

Lia took Azriel’s hand again, already knowing what was about to happen. They stepped into a beautiful ballroom, its ceiling painted a brilliant blue and decorated with hundreds of painted gold stars. Inside, an overwhelming number of Verdurans of all shapes, sizes, and colors stood before them.

It was the same scene from her vision.

Fearson made his way to a golden throne at one end of the room. He smiled at them, raising his glass. Several purple-skinned women in practically translucent tunics and pants surrounded him, holding up platters filled with fruits, pastries, and cheese. Every so often, Fearson reached down to grab whatever, or whomever, interested him.

Repulsed by the spectacle, Lia turned away. Azriel pulled her over to one of the tabletop fountains located around the room and ladled out a drink. “Have some. You look like you could use it.”

Remembering the elderflower juice he’d given her at the Remembrance Festival, Lia refused the glass. “No, thank you. I’ll need my wits about me if I’m going to make it through the night.”

“Suit yourself.” Azriel gulped it down. “Liquid courage never tasted so sweet.”

“Fellow Verdurans…” As Fearson’s voice rang out, the scantily clad servants retreated. “It is good to see so many familiar faces here today. Thank you for joining me in celebrating the return of my beloved brother, Azriel, from Solair.”

A hush fell over the crowd as all eyes turned in their direction.

“My brother’s return to Verdura is a marvelous gift, and it saddens me that the queen is too sick and our parents did not live long enough to see him.” Fearson placed a hand over his heart, carefully playing the part of a doting husband and son. “And as you can see, he did not return alone. The beautiful woman beside him is Lia. She is the granddaughter of Adalia, who was a distant relative of our queen herself. As many of you may remember, Adalia was once my betrothed and will always hold a special place in my heart. So it is with great joy that I welcome her granddaughter to Verdura.”

The surrounding guests cheered. Lia tried to force a smile in return, but inside, she seethed. The man they called King was nothing but a liar and a monster.

Azriel’s arm slipped around her waist. “School your features. You’re giving too much away.”

Lia widened her smile. The bastard would pay for what he’d done.

Fearson continued, “As the queen’s only living female relative, Lia is considered a potential heir. And tonight, she will give us a taste of her powers.” He extended a hand. “Come, girl. It is time to test your worthiness.”

Each step toward the golden throne felt like a step closer to her destruction. When she was within his reach, Fearson grabbed her wrist and held her arm aloft. Lia struggled not to squirm under the crowd’s intense scrutiny.

“Azriel, why don’t you join us? Our guests need to be reminded of what real power looks like.”

All eyes fell appreciatively on the golden-haired man who now approached the throne. And Lia could understand why: Azriel moved with the grace of a natural predator.

Fearson’s expression turned triumphant when Azriel reached Lia’s side. “Now all we need is the assistance of one of my loyal subjects.” His eyes scanned the crowd before landing on a petite woman with bright green hair and piercing green eyes. “Ophira, my dearest, how good of you to come. It’s so rare for us to see you outside of your forest. Won’t you please join us?”

The woman’s lovely light brown skin shimmered with gold as she moved. As she neared, her hair and eyes changed from bright green to yellow.

She must be one of the Tree Fairy folk, like Jin.

“You are a lucky girl, Lia.” Fearson chuckled. “Tree Fairies typically don’t leave their forest because they can’t survive long away from their woods. But as their leader, Ophira is more powerful than most.”

The Tree Fairy wore no crown or jewelry, but the title explained the regal way she carried herself. Unsure of what to do, Lia dipped her head.

The woman’s eyes swirled from the brightest yellow back to the color of fresh shoots in spring. “She is delightful, my King.”

“And powerful too,” Fearson added. “Lia has a unique ability to pull out memories.” He paused as the crowd murmured and shot fearful glances in Lia’s direction. “In honor of our relationship, I will not ask her to reveal any deeply personal secrets. Instead, perhaps you could show her a recent memory?”

“Of course, my King.” Ophira bowed slightly.

Fearson turned his icy blue eyes on Lia. “Find out who Ophira last entertained.”

Lia hesitated. Although the collar around her neck compelled her to obey, she still hated the idea of invading another person’s mind.

“It’s fine, child.” The fairy stepped forward. “Go ahead and take a look. I give you permission.”

At these words, the collar unlocked and flew into Fearson’s hand.

A soft sigh escaped Lia’s lips as power seeped through her skin and swirled at her fingertips. She placed her hands in Ophira’s rough brown ones. Closing her eyes, Lia relaxed for a moment before the memories flooded in.

Lia found herself inside a spacious room that reminded her of a giant wicker basket. The door opened, and Kieren and Griffith walked in. Her heart leapt. They were alive! Lia longed to reach out and touch them, but she was stuck within the boundaries of the memory. So instead, she drank in all the details of their appearance, noting with relief that they seemed unharmed.

Ophira walked over to a table and picked up a seed; she blew on her hand, and Lia watched in wonder as the seed grew to become an orange flower. The fairy then handed Kieren what looked like a piece of bark and a feather pen. He leaned over and wrote something before showing it to Ophira.

With a gasp, Lia let go.

The room had fallen utterly silent. All eyes were now on her.

“What did you see?” Fearson asked.

Ophira’s eyes changed from bright green to the perfect blue of a summer sky.

“What did you see?” the king repeated.

Everything. She’d seen everything she needed to see. Kieren and Griffith were safe and heading westward to find the dragon shifters. How had Ophira known to have him write a note? Had she realized what would happen tonight?

“You are sorely trying our patience.” Fearson’s voice held a note of warning. With a wave of his hand, the collar snapped back around Lia’s neck.

She winced. It was as if a cold, wet blanket had been wrapped around her. She returned her attention to the king. “I saw her in a large room that looked like it was created by weaving branches together. Ophira was talking with two male guests. One had brown hair and silver eyes; the other was shorter and had violet eyes. They seemed surprised to see her at first. And then she showed them how she could change a seed into a flower.”

“Is this true?” Fearson asked.

Ophira nodded. “All true.”

The crowd gasped.

“Everyone here tonight stands as a witness.” Fearson pointed to Lia. “She was able to do that with her own abilities. She does not need stones to do magic.”

It was at that moment Lia noticed just how many sparkling jewels there were in the room. In people’s ears, around their necks, adorning their fingers. At the king’s words, the looks directed her way transformed from mere curiosity to something akin to respect, and in some cases, jealousy.

Fearson held up his hands to regain the crowd’s attention. “But let us not forget Azriel. My brother has not been in court for some time. But his face should still be quite familiar. Some of you may well remember Azriel for his, shall we say…indiscretions.”

As women around the room tittered, Azriel remained stone-faced.

“Now, now.” Fearson patted his brother’s shoulder. “There’s no need to be shy. You had quite the talent for giving women what they wanted. In fact, I haven’t mentioned this before, but I want to present you with a surprise gift tonight. Bring her in,” he called to the servants.

A woman with a cloak covering her head walked in, keeping her eyes to the ground. When she reached the king, she lowered her hood, revealing a delicately beautiful woman with slate-gray skin and large eyes. She wore her long white hair braided into a crown around her head, and three necklaces with green stones rested around her neck.

“Tellie, dear. Come join us.” Fearson reached out his hand to take hers.

Lia waited for Azriel to explode. To yell. To fight. But the Verduran just stood there. Too still. Too pale.

Without so much as a second glance, Tellie walked past Azriel.

The king stroked her arm. “How are you feeling today?”

“Better, my King,” she whispered.

“Good. I brought you here to see this man standing next to me. Do you know who he is?”

As Tellie studied Azriel, the crowd held their collective breath.

“I don’t think I know him, my King. But my memory isn’t always reliable. Should I know who he is?”

Azriel let out a small sigh. Of sadness or relief, Lia couldn’t tell.

“Do you remember being engaged to him?” Fearson asked.

Tellie frowned. She reached out as if to touch Azriel’s face, but then retracted her hand. “No. My apologies, my King, I do not. Have I done something wrong?”

“Of course not, my dear. You’ve done remarkably well. Why don’t you let the servants show you out?”

Tellie’s shoulders sagged and she nodded, appearing relieved.

As the slip of a woman left, Fearson addressed the crowd once again: “Many of you know what Azriel did to her years ago. He was punished for his crime, and today, he returns older, wiser, and more powerful than ever.” With a wave of Fearson’s hand, Azriel’s collar unlocked. “Brother, it is time to demonstrate what you can do.”

Azriel looked broken. Any trace of the cocky, flirtatious, angry man was gone. Moving slowly, as if in a dream, he reached out his hand.

An unseen force pushed against Lia’s mind, and she moaned, feeling like something was being taken from her. Something private and important. She struggled to repel the invisible enemy.

“It feels good, doesn’t it?” Fearson motioned to the crowd. “Make them do something. Tell them to raise their arms.”

Lia watched in amazement as the crowd immediately did as they were told.

“Now tell them to turn to their neighbor and imagine themselves staring at their most hated enemy,” Fearson commanded

Lia watched in horror as the Verdurans did as the king ordered. The crowd snarled and hissed, some even pulling out daggers and swords.

“We should probably stop them before they hurt each other.” Fearson sounded positively thrilled.

As one, the crowd returned their attention to Azriel, an adoring expression on their faces.

Azriel’s eyes glowed bright gold, and his face held a feral beauty. “I hold them all, brother. What’s to stop me from turning them against you?”

As all eyes looked to Fearson, Lia held her breath.

The king waved his hand, and the metal tightened around her throat. She gasped and tugged at the collar, trying to pull it away.

“As much as you hate me, I don’t think you want me to hurt her.”

The pressure around her throat ceased. Tears streaming down her face, Lia hunched over, panting for breath.

“Test me again, and I will hurt the girl,” the king snapped. “I don’t care whether she’s the heir or not. Now, tell everyone that the ball is over. Let them believe they had a wonderful time, and they are free to go.”

As Azriel relinquished his hold over the room, the guests looked at each other in confusion. Fearson waved his hand again, and the collar returned to Azriel’s neck.

“Good to have you back in the fold.” Fearson winked at his brother before stepping into the crowd.

For the first time since Lia had met him, the golden-haired Verduran looked truly miserable.

“Come on.” She grabbed Azriel’s hand. “Let’s go back to our room.”

18 LIA

On the walk back to their chambers, Azriel remained silent.

“Stay out here,” Lia ordered as she hurried into the bathroom to change.

She ripped the pins from her hair and scrubbed her face and arms. Leaving the gown pooled unceremoniously on the floor, she dressed in her black tunic and pants. Feeling more like herself, Lia stepped back into the bedroom, expecting to see Azriel changed as well.

But he hadn’t moved. Still wearing the same clothes, he sat slumped in a chair by the bed.

“Azriel?”

He gazed up at her with bloodshot eyes.

Lia planted her hands on her hips. “You know, I’ve never seen you look this unpresentable before.”

He didn’t rise to the bait. Not a single snarky comment or rude retort passed his lips. Nothing greeted her except the lost look on his face. Lia crossed the room and wrapped her arms around his shoulders. “Stay with me. I promise we will make him pay.”

The man didn’t stir. Not knowing what else to do, Lia pulled a blanket from the closet and wrapped it around his shoulders while giving him the gentlest of kisses on his cheek. Then, exhausted, she hopped into bed and fell asleep.

LIA AWOKE in some sort of cave, torches on the walls providing the only light in the dark cavern. Metal bars surrounded her, boxing her in. Realizing this was a dream, she studied her surroundings, determined to gather all possible clues.

A familiar face peered through the bars of her prison—a younger Fearson with a crown on his head, minus its usual bloodstones. As Lia drew herself into a ball, a glance at her pale arms told her whose memory she occupied—the World Eater’s.

The king banged on the cage, yelling at Lia. He was obviously angry about something, but as always in other people’s memories, she couldn’t hear anything.

Lia lunged at the bars.

Shaking his head, Fearson pulled out a piece of jewelry—a bloodstone necklace with two gold moons, identical to the one her mother and Minerva owned. After dangling it in front of Lia, Fearson hid it back beneath his tunic. He then pulled two more bloodstones from his pocket.

Two guards dragged in a man with a burlap sack over his head. When the king removed the bag, the prisoner blinked several times before staring at Lia. She gasped. His eyes were mismatched: one was bright blue like a summer sky and the other bright green.

The man had different colored eyes. Just like her.

Fearson studied the man for a moment before pulling out a blade. The prisoner took a step backward, but the guards dragged him back.

With a flick of the king’s wrist, the blade floated through the air and sliced into the man’s arm. Fearson rubbed two bloodstones against the victim’s wound before approaching Lia’s cage. As he waved his fingers, her metal collar fell to the ground.

Lia’s stomach grumbled with hunger. Tendrils of golden light rose from the injured man, bathing the room in light. Breathing in, Lia absorbed the life-giving energy, experiencing pure euphoria until she forced herself to stop. The man with the different colored eyes fell to the ground.

The metal band snapped back around her neck and tightened, crushing her throat. Panicking, she gasped and squirmed, her lungs on fire. The squeezing stopped and Fearson yelled at her. Obediently, she thrust her arms through the bars of the cage. Using another knife, the king slashed her wrist and wiped her blood onto the two bloodstones as well.

Then everything went dark, and Lia’s surroundings faded away.

19 KIEREN

Kieren awoke to a pounding headache and the ground rolling beneath him. He breathed in a musty, damp wood smell mixed with something salty. Thin beams of sunlight slipped through the gaps in the wood slats of the room, and his ears caught the lonesome cries of sea birds outside.

The rocking made sense now. They were no longer on land; they were on a boat. Below deck, he suspected. Kieren tried to check the wound on the back of his neck, but his arm stopped short; his captors had chained his hand to the floor. Fear staked Kieren’s heart as everything came back to him. The giant man. The bracelets with the stones. The tracker with the ability to kill with a mere touch. Griffith lying unmoving on the ground.

Instantly alert, Kieren peered around the dim surroundings. Where was his friend now? There appeared to be three of them chained to the floor, one was a small female, a redhead by the looks of it. He sighed with relief when he recognized the other prisoner.

“Griffith!” Kieren shifted his weight. “Can you hear me?” His voice caught in his throat. As his panic escalated, Kieren’s skin rippled, and the telltale prickles ran across his arms and legs.

No. I can’t do this now.

Why not? his beast asked. Your friend needs us. Shift so we can break free and escape. We’ve wasted enough time; now we need to get to the Wildling Islands. It’s the only way.

A pair of wings sliced through his back.

“Kieren? Is that you?”

Kieren froze. “Griffith?”

“Couldn’t wait to go all dragon on me, could you?”

Kieren could hear the teasing in his friend’s voice. “It’s good to hear from you.”

Griffith sat up, his face half in shadow, half in light. One of his eyes had swollen shut, a telltale dark ring forming around it. “I woke up when they brought us aboard. Big guy didn’t like it too much.” Griffith slid closer. “Luckily, I heard a couple of things before they realized I was awake.” He glanced over at the immobile female prisoner. “Like, that she was a bit of a handful.”

The other prisoner shifted, and Kieren had the suspicion that the girl was awake.

“We’re not going to hurt you,” he said to the shadowy figure. “My name is Kieren. And my friend with the black eye is Griffith. They took us from the cliffs opposite the Wildling Islands. Is that where they captured you too?”

“Come on, Kieren,” Griffith announced loudly. “Can’t you see the poor girl’s too afraid to speak?”

“I’m not afraid,” a muffled voice replied.

A smile curled the corners of Griffith’s mouth. “Is that your name: ‘Not-afraid’?”

When the girl didn’t answer, Griff shrugged his shoulders. ‘I tried,’ his expression seemed to say.

“If you are afraid, it’s understandable,” Kieren added. “We’re all here against our wills. None of us wanted to be captured and sent to the mines.”

“That’s where you’re wrong,” the girl growled.

Well, that was surprising. “You wanted to be captured?”

“I’m nothing like you. And you know nothing about me. So I suggest you shut your mouth.” She sat up quickly and pushed a strand of red hair from her face. “And tell your friend over there…”

The girl stared at Kieren, her mouth hanging open. “Y-you have wings.”

Kieren stilled. He’d been too careless. Concentrating hard, he willed them away.

“Listen, Not-afraid,” Griffith said, “I don’t know what you think you might have seen, but I suggest you—”

“My name’s Lumen,” the girl stared at Kieren, awe evident on her face. “You can partially shift.”

“Shift?” He pretended to not understand. Kieren wasn’t sure whether he could trust the strange girl.

“Don’t treat me like I’m some dumb kid. I know what I saw. I know what you are.”

“And what is that exactly?”

“A dragon shifter.” Lumen uttered the title as if it were both redemption and an accusation.

She’s one as well, the dragon inside sounded pleased. You should claim her now.

Claim her? He didn’t even know the girl.

That’s how you form clans. The strongest dragons lay claim over the weak. You are Alpha here, and the girl is spirited. She’s clearly a dominant dragon. She would be a good addition to your clan.

“Are you speaking to him now?”

Surprised by the girl’s perceptiveness, Kieren nodded.

Lumen dragged herself into the light, allowing Kieren to better see who he was talking to. She was a mere slip of a thing, her brown eyes seeming too old for her age, her pale face all angles and covered in freckles. Patches covered the knees of her too-short pants, and the rest of her clothes had seen better days.

A fleeting smile momentarily transformed her distrusting features. “I knew it. You can shift. I could sense it when they brought you down here.”

Kieren frowned on seeing an ugly bruise around her wrist, presumably the work of Ordel. The thought of the tracker hurting a child angered him. But that wasn’t her only injury; several dozen parallel scars ran across her forearms. As someone used to nursing wounds, he could tell that these injuries were older, and they’d been systematically made by a blade of some sort. Although they had healed, Kieren was still struck by the sheer number.

Who would hurt a dragonling? The dragon within him roared. Such a monster needs to be punished.

His skin rippled.

Griffith cleared his throat. “So, Lumen ‘Not-afraid,’ why don’t you tell us where you’re from and why you don’t seem at all surprised that my friend Kieren is a dragon?”

“Why do you insist on hanging out with this one?” the girl asked Kieren, refusing to even look in Griff’s direction.

“You wound me.” Griffith placed a hand to his chest. “Kieren and I are best friends. Have been since we were kids.”

“But he’s a dragon shifter. And you’re…” Lumen stared at him for a moment before finishing lamely, “not.” She frowned at Kieren, clearly confused. “They hate our kind.”

Griffith jumped in, answering her in gentle tones. “I’m not a dragon shifter, but where we come from, dragon shifters and non-dragon shifters can still be friends.”

“You’re a dragon shifter too, aren’t you?” Kieren asked. “From the Wildling Islands?”

She nodded. “But I’m not like you. My dragon is dormant. I can’t shift. None of the shifters in my clan are able to.”

Kieren’s excitement grew with each word. “There are others? I heard that they were all wiped out after the war.”

“We practically were. There are less than a hundred of us left now,” Lumen explained. “We stay on our island because we are powerless and the Verdurans hate us. But things are getting difficult there. Our land is no good for growing crops. That’s why Fane left: to work for money and food. But it’s been months and he never sent word or came back. Everybody said he just ran, but I know something must have happened to him. He must have been taken by the trackers. He swore he’d come home.”

“Who’s Fane?” Griffith asked.

The girl’s brown eyes shone fiercely. “He’s my best friend. I know he isn’t a dominant like me, but I don’t care what the others say. He isn’t a coward.” She glared at Kieren. “Why are you even friends with him? We live on scraps while they live like kings.”

“I hate to break it to you,” Griffith said. “But you’re wrong. The Verdurans aren’t living like kings right now. They’re losing more and more of their magic.”

“But you have magic.” The girl studied Kieren. “You can shift.”

Show her, his dragon urged. Show her what we look like in full dragon form.

Kieren disagreed. “Listen. You’re right. I am a dragon shifter. And I can fully shift. But if we’re going to get out of here alive, you can’t tell anyone. Especially the shorter man.” He shivered, thinking of what the man could do with his bare hands.

The girl’s eyes narrowed. “Fine. I won’t tell Ordel or Mercer. But only if you promise me two things. One, you’ll help me find my friend, Fane.”

“You think he’s working in the mines?” Griffith asked.

She nodded. “That’s the only scenario that could explain his disappearance.”

The girl’s dedication to her friend is impressive, Kieren’s dragon murmured. You should help her.

I’m planning on it. “Alright,” Kieren said. “And what is your second request?”

“When you escape from the mines, you take Fane and me with you. And you come back with us to meet the rest of my clan. They need to see what you can do.”

“Well”—Kieren turned to Griffith, pretending to consider her demands—“what do you think? Should we agree?”

Griffith shrugged. “I suppose that’s only fair.”

Lumen’s face broke into a smile.

20 KIEREN

Someone knocked on the ceiling above. “Are you awake?”

Lumen scowled. “It’s Mercer.”

The hatch above them opened.

“Oh, good.” The short, round tracker hobbled down the stairs. “You’re all up. And you’ve met each other, I assume?” He waved his gloved hand around.

Kieren’s dragon snarled at the sight of the man, but Kieren held onto himself, refusing to give in to the urge to transform.

“So quiet, I see. Well. Good. It’s better when our workers don’t waste their energy on idle prattle. I’m here to tell you that we’ll be docking soon.” He gave Kieren an extra-long look. “The men at the mine are going to like what we’ve brought them.”

Mercer headed back above deck but left the doors open, allowing Kieren a whiff of sea air and an earful of chatter. They were on a fully crewed ship by the sounds of it.

When the tracker returned, he brought Ordel and a short, lean man whose complexion and eye color reminded Kieren of the Tree Fairies.

Dangling a key from a golden chain, Mercer announced, “This is how it’s going to work. All three of you know Ordel’s ability. And you know what I can do.” He pointed at the newcomer. “His name is Jin. He’s here to help us with the girl.” Mercer frowned over at Lumen. “Now, we’re going to take you upstairs. I don’t think I have to remind you, but if any of you should start to feel brave, just remember that I’m only one touch away.” He waggled his fingers to emphasize his point.

After unlocking their shackles from the boat, Mercer and the other two led them up the stairs, still in their handcuffs. Used to being below deck, Kieren squinted at the bright light. There were about twenty men on board from what he could see, but none of them even glanced their way as they were marched down the ramp.

As soon as his foot touched the sandy shore, Kieren heard faint music playing in the distance.

Pointing to the trail up ahead, Mercer announced, “Now we just need to make it up the mountain.”

“You’re not heading back out? Jin asked.

Mercer shook his head. “Not for a while. The king plans on coming here to check on how things are going, and he wants us here when he arrives. Strange that you seem surprised. Doesn’t he tell you his plans?”

Jin scowled. “What are you implying?”

“Don’t trust fairy folk, is all.”

Jin’s scowl deepened. “I’ve proven myself time and time again. You know where my loyalties lie.”

“I know what you want us to see.”

Jin’s eyes flashed, switching from light blue to bright orange. “We should get going. We don’t want to be out too late.”

“Then hurry up and let’s go,” Mercer snapped.

They began their trek up the mountain.

KIEREN WIPED the sweat from his brow. The sun shone high above, and the ground was so warm that he could have sworn he saw steam rising from it. They’d been journeying up the mountain for ages, with little to see other than rocks, dirt, and the occasional prickly plant. Kieren didn’t mind the scenery, but the faint music that came and went seriously irked him. Quiet at first, it would build to a crescendo before fading again. And every time he tried to work out where it was coming from, the music would disappear.

They’d kept up a grueling pace for some time now. Luckily, Griffith’s injury didn’t seem to affect his ability to keep up. Lumen, however, was a different story. Much shorter and younger than her companions, the girl was clearly struggling. Her face was entirely too red, and Kieren couldn’t help but notice how she swayed every so often.

He knew sun sickness when he saw it. “We need water,” he called to their captors.

Mercer looked back, his face an unattractive shade of tomato red thanks to the heat. “Why would we waste water on you?”

Out of the corner of his eye, Kieren saw Lumen stumble again. “Because arriving with three dehydrated captives won’t impress those in charge.”

Their captor paused, harsh laughter turning his face an even brighter shade of red. “You’re funny; you know that? Truth is, you’ll probably just die in a year or so anyway. No one lasts long in the mines. We’ll work you to the bone, boy. And when you’re dead, we’ll feed your body to the ghastors.”

“The ghastors?” The fear in Lumen’s voice was unmistakable.

“That’s right. You haven’t heard of them, have you?” A toad-like grin twisted Mercer’s sweaty face. “They come out at night, searching for living creatures to consume. We’ve got spells to keep them out of the mines, but step one foot out of the site, and they’ll get you.”

A waterskin landed at Kieren’s feet, and he turned to see an annoyed-looking Jin. “We’re taking too long. Go on, take it. There’s not much left in there.”

“Bit of a soft spot for the captives?” Mercer flexed a gloved hand. “Fancy that. Seems the peace-loving fairy doesn’t have the stomach for this line of work.”

Jin shot Mercer a cold look. “Healthy workers means more stones, and more stones means a happier king.” Without waiting for a response, he continued up the mountain.

Mercer rolled his eyes before following. Ordel stayed behind, studying the three prisoners but not doing anything to help or prevent them from taking the water.

Kieren picked up the skin and offered it to Griffith.

Griff shook his head. “No thanks. I’m not thirsty.”

Kieren arched a brow, eying his friend’s flushed face. Griffith said nothing more. Instead, he glanced at Lumen before looking at the ground. Kieren nodded, understanding.

The girl’s breathing was shallow. She was barely holding on.

Kieren offered her the water. “Turns out that we aren’t as thirsty as we thought.”

Lumen opened her mouth as if to argue, but her words were lost in a lengthy cough. “I’m fine.” Without conviction, she pushed his hand away, her face turning even redder.

“Suit yourself. Guess I’ll tell Jin that we didn’t need the water after all. Pity. Seems like there’s quite a bit left inside.”

A small hand snatched the skin. “Well, there’s no point in wasting perfectly good water.” She opened it and guzzled the liquid down.

Ordel lumbered over, his eyes focused on the young girl, and Kieren tensed, wishing he had his sword.

“What do you want?” Lumen wiped her mouth with the back of her hand.

She’s a dominant, alright. His dragon chuckled.

Ordel towered over her, but Lumen stood her ground, her eyes never leaving the tracker’s face. A corner of the giant’s mouth lifted in what appeared to be the smallest of smiles. Without uttering a single word, he grabbed her around the waist and lifted.

Lumen screamed. “Put me down, you big bully.”

Kieren took a step forward, planning to pull Lumen from Ordel’s grasp.

But the tracker did something unexpected. He swung Lumen up onto his shoulders.

“Put me down. I can walk by myself.” The girl pounded the man’s head with her fists.

To his credit, or maybe the credit of the stones around his wrists, Ordel just kept walking, not seeming at all bothered by the tiny, fierce creature on his back.

Griffith jogged over, his one good eye peering after their retreating figures. “You know, despite Ordel giving me this black eye, I don’t think that he or even Jin are all that bad. Mercer, certainly. But the other two are like the ocean.”

Kieren arched an eyebrow, waiting for his friend to finish.

Griffith gave him a dazzling grin. “They have depth.”

Moons. Kieren shook his head.

When Ordel caught up to the other two Verdurans, Mercer took one look at the girl sitting on the giant’s shoulders and began berating the man. Ignoring the shorter man’s protests, Ordel kept walking up the trail, the stones on his metal bracelets gleaming in the sunlight.

As they continued climbing, the path became rockier and the music grew louder and more insistent. Many different tones now demanded Kieren’s attention, all of them high-pitched and unnerving. Surprisingly, none of his companions seemed bothered. His dragon, however, was growing increasingly agitated, head butting against Kieren’s mental barrier and whining.

“Do you hear that?” He finally asked after a particularly eerie note rang out.

“Hear what?” Griffith asked.

“Musical notes. It almost sounds like a flute.” Kieren pointed to a group of oddly shaped rocks. “There. I can hear music coming from over there.”

Griff paused and stared in the direction Kieren pointed. “I don’t hear anything.”

“What’s the holdup?” Mercer waddled back to check on them, huffing and puffing from the effort.

“My friend keeps hearing music. Strange, we know. Coming from over there.” Griffith pointed.

A slow smile crossed Mercer’s face. “I don’t hear any music, but I do see that pile of rocks.” He patted Kieren’s back, hard. “You’ve got good eyes, boy. You’ve spotted some of the ghastors’ victims. That’s what happens to those who try to escape. The ghastors consume them and turn them into piles of rocks.”

Kieren found it unnerving, knowing that a pile of stones had once been living, breathing beings. The music stopped, and they continued walking, their mood even more somber than before. After they’d climbed a particularly steep portion of the hike, the soft tones began again. Much to his relief, this time, the sequence of notes didn’t last long.

They reached an area of the mountain where they spotted groups of men and women with rail-thin, sinewy bodies. Some carried baskets of rocks in their arms, while others pulled carts of stones to wash off in a nearby stream. Their eyes lifeless and dull, like walking dead who’d accepted their fate.

“This is where the magic happens.” Mercer dabbed at his face with a dirty handkerchief. “Tents for male workers are over there. And the tents for female workers are over there. You will receive two meals a day. Portion size depends on just how skilled you are. Never let it be said that the king does not reward hard work.”

Two young miners walked by, their faces dirty and weary, but their clothes and overall health appearing much better than the others. As one of them, a boy about Lumen’s age, with black hair, glanced over at the group, his bright green eyes widened, and he stopped in his tracks.

“Fane,” Lumen whispered.

So the girl was right. Her friend had made it across the water only to be captured and put to work in the mines. Fortunately, he looked like he was faring better than the others.

When the boy’s eyes met Kieren’s, his gaze immediately dropped to the ground.

He’s submitting to you. Even though he can’t shift, he recognizes your power, Kieren’s dragon explained.

“Don’t you have something you need to do?” Mercer shouted at the boys. One hurried away, leaving Fane to study their group a little longer before he also departed.

Mercer shook his head and pointed out several locations in the distance. “We have guards stationed all around. If any of you get an itching to start some trouble, they will deal with it. All guards are equipped with stones.” He gestured toward his own arms. “Our magic is enhanced to keep the population in check. And if by some small chance you manage to escape, remember the ghastors and the ocean. Any questions?”

Kieren and Griffith both shook their heads, but Lumen was still staring after her friend, her emotions written across her face. Luckily, Mercer didn’t seem to notice.

A tall white-haired man approached them. As the miner drew closer, Kieren stared at his face in surprise. The man had two different colored eyes, one bright blue and one green, just like Lia.

The miner gestured to them with his hands. Not a sound came from his mouth.

“This is Caird. He welcomes you to the mines,” Jin explained.

“Good to see you,” Mercer spoke slowly, as if speaking to a child. “Here are three more volunteers.”

The man’s eyes narrowed as he looked at Lumen’s arm.

“She fell,” Mercer said, chuckling. “Come on, Ordel. Our job here is done.”

With more care than Kieren would have expected, the giant man placed Lumen on the ground before resting his palm on the top of her head. Then, he too walked away. Once the two were out of earshot, Caird began signing again, with Jin serving as his interpreter.

“How are you? Did they hurt you?” Jin asked.

Griffith shook his head. “It’s nothing a little time won’t fix. But I’d say my modeling days are probably over.”

“What’s modeling?” Jin asked.

“It’s when you get paid for being beautiful.”

Caird frowned, clearly not understanding. He then signed to Jin again.

“He wants to know how you are doing, little one,” Jin translated.

Lumen crossed her arms over her chest. “I’m fine. Why do you care? And why are you suddenly being so nice to us?”

Caird signed furiously, a small smile on his face.

“He says that you’re observant for your age.” Jin glanced around. “Perhaps it’s better if we speak elsewhere.”

Caird nodded and gestured, and they followed him to a large tent. Inside, a handful of miners lay on beds, many with dry, hacking coughs that jerked their emaciated bodies. A woman with gray skin and bright white hair stood to greet them, a pair of bracelets with light green stones twinkling around her wrists. Her eyes moved from Kieren to Lumen and Griffith before she softly clucked and pulled out a pot of pale-yellow cream.

Griffith allowed the woman to apply the ointment to his face.

“They are taking them too young.” The healer reached for Lumen’s wrist, but like an angry cat, Lumen hissed and batted the woman’s hand away.

Jin bent down to talk to her. “Let the healer do her work. To survive here, you need to make sure that you’re in good health. After she’s done, we’ll put you to work.”

Although Lumen still didn’t look happy about it, she allowed the woman to apply the salve. Once she’d finished with them, the healer walked to the back of the tent to check on her other patients.

As the faint music from before started again, Kieren shook his head, trying to ignore the sounds. The notes continued playing, sometimes clashing, other times in harmony, but the incessant cacophony grew overwhelming. Seeking a distraction from the sounds, he stared through the open flap of the tent, focusing on the men and women ascending and descending the mountain like lines of busy ants. Thankfully, the sound eventually faded.

“There are a few things you need to know about the mines,” Jin said. “We dig up stones that are then spelled and sold to the Elladians. Most of the Verdurans working here are volunteers, just like you. Although most of the older, more established mines are tapped out, the demand for stones grows daily.”

Shaking his head vigorously, Caird signed something. Jin nodded. “We’re under pressure to keep providing more stones. Which means miners are forced to work the more dangerous veins.”

Caird pointed outside the tent, at a group of children and young men walking up one of the trails in the distance. Kieren recognized one of the miners as Fane.

“Children usually volunteer for the most dangerous mines. They’re smaller and more agile,” Jin explained. “They can fit through the tunnels. But because they venture into the more dangerous mines, they are more likely to suffer from the silent sickness.”

“What’s that?” Griffith asked.

“A mild case results in dizziness or headaches. The more complicated cases lead to unconsciousness and then death.”

“It sounds like carbon monoxide poisoning,” Griffith said.

Jin and Caird stared at Griffith, identical frowns on their faces.

“It’s an odorless, poisonous gas,” Griffith explained. “I learned about it in earth science. Who would have guessed that you could actually apply what you learn in school to the real world?”

Kieren tried not to smile as the others’ expressions grew even more confused.

Griffith flapped his hand. “I read about this happening in other mines too. They dealt with it by taking small birds into the tunnels with them. Birds have smaller lungs and are more susceptible to the gas. So when the birds got sick, the miners left the tunnels right away because it meant they’d hit a source of carbon monoxide. That way, the miners stayed alive.”

Caird signed furiously to Jin, glancing over at Griffith every so often. Kieren watched, unsure of what was going on. Once they’d finished having what appeared to be an argument, Jin finally turned to address them. “Just who are you, exactly?”

“Travelers,” Kieren said.

Jin frowned. “That’s a coincidence. There have been a few visitors lately, such as the king’s brother returning with the queen’s heir.”

Kieren tensed. Jin had to be talking about Lia.

What are you waiting for? The dragon murmured. Find out what’s happened to her.

Griffith coughed and tapped his arm. Kieren glanced down and saw a patch of black, iridescent skin on the back of his hand. He hid it behind his back.

“An heir to Verdura’s throne?” Griffith asked. “Did I just hear you right?”

Jin nodded. “If this latest girl passes the tests, the king will bring her up here to familiarize her with the mines within the week.”

He must be talking about Lia. Kieren’s heart latched onto the possibility of her making it. When she got here, he and Griffith would be waiting.

21 LIA

“Lia?”

She jolted awake and moaned, rubbing her head as her dream settled like a heavy cloud. All this time, Fearson had known where the World Eater was. Not only that, out there was another person with blue and green eyes.

Lia sat up and Azriel’s eyes darted nervously to her face. “Did I hurt you last night?”

It broke her heart to see him so beaten. “Your brother forced your hand. You didn’t hurt anyone.”

“Not this time.”

Lia knew he was thinking about Tellie.

He slumped in his chair, trapped in whatever torment Fearson had orchestrated. Lia hated seeing her friend broken like this, so she blurted out everything that had happened since arriving in Verdura. She told him about the queen and her weird handmaiden. About her dreams of the World Eater. And her frustration at not knowing where he was, despite having seen the land across the water. She shared how she’d watched Fearson punish the man with the blue and green eyes and how he’d smeared the man’s blood on the bloodstones.

As Lia spoke, a new spark of life flickered in Azriel’s eyes. “The Wildling Islands are southeast of Verdura. But there is another island to the north, across from the mines. That’s it, Lia. I’m sure of it. That’s where my brother must be keeping him.”

“Do you know what this means?” Lia asked. “In Ophira’s memories, I saw that Kieren and Griffith were heading to the Wildling Islands to seek help from the dragons. And now that we know where the World Eater is—”

“You can finally fulfill the prophecy,” Azriel finished. “We’ll defeat the World Eater and go home.”

Home. The possibility seemed too much to hope for.

Lia bit her lip. “Do you think the man in my dream, the one with the blue and green eyes, could be the real Light?”

Azriel seemed thoughtful. “Perhaps. But does it matter? Even if you weren’t the Light, would you still have done all of this? Come here? Tried to stop the World Eater? Or would you have returned home and carried on as if nothing had happened?”

Lia shook her head. “I still would have come here. It was the right decision.”

A smile curled the corner of his mouth. “That’s all you need to know then.”

Lia found herself mirroring his smile. “So, what do we do now?”

“Last night, we both passed Fearson’s tests, which makes you the official queen’s heir. My brother needs to believe he has us right where he wants us. And then we can convince him to take us to the World Eater.”

They both agreed that Azriel needed to speak to Fearson. Once he left, Lia washed her face while mentally preparing herself for what was to come. They were about to battle the World Eater. And dethrone a king in the process.

As Lia walked out of the bathroom, she froze. She wasn’t alone. Sitting on her bed was the handmaiden she’d seen in the queen’s room. The tiny girl got to her feet and put a finger to her lips.

“What are you doing here?’ Lia asked.

The handmaiden gestured for Lia to join her.

Hesitantly, Lia approached. “I don’t know what you want me to do—”

The girl grabbed Lia’s hand and the world around them shifted. Lia found herself standing at the foot of the queen’s bed, the bars of the cage surrounding them.

“How did you do that?” Lia wasn’t sure how Fearson’s magic worked, but she didn’t want to awaken the metal soldiers outside the room. “Why did you bring me here?”

The servant pulled Lia over to the queen’s bed.

“No. I can’t…” Lia’s protests died in her throat as she stared down at the woman beneath the flimsy cloth. The shape of her face. The smattering of freckles. The similarities between Kelwyn and her grandmother, Adalia, were unmistakable.

The servant removed the cloth from the queen’s body, exposing her face, chest, and hands.

Lia scanned the room. Any minute now, she expected Fearson to barge in. “You want me to read her memories? But I can’t, not when I have this on.” She pointed to the collar around her neck, the same as the one on the girl standing in front of her.

The girl touched Lia’s collar, and the horrible piece of jewelry fell to the ground.

“You did it!” Taking full advantage of the girl’s gift, Lia took the queen’s hands gently in hers. A ripple of energy danced through her body. “My name is Lia. I’m Adalia’s granddaughter. They say that I’m the Light, and I’ve come from Solair to find the World Eater. I have the ability to see other people’s memories, and I’m asking permission to see yours. I know you’re very sick. But can you show me something, anything, that will help me stop the World Eater from destroying our worlds?”

LIA FOUND herself back in the library. Lyra stood before her, holding up an open book. Lia read the words on the page:

The cycle begins with fear and hate,

History dishonored as he forces the hands of fate

Mourn, great Verdura, covered in blood

Your people imprisoned; your treasure not enough

Your magic now gone; your heroes have flown

An unworthy imposter claims a stolen sacred throne.

Wings and horn will battle at the world’s end

The Light must overcome all to separate foe from friend

Beware the World Eater, his words drip with lies

See past his dark glamour; find the truth that he hides

Darkness begets darkness, but a Light can save our land

Which is the true evil, the head or the hand?

LIA RELEASED the queen’s hands and analyzed what she’d read, attempting to uncover clues that might help her defeat the World Eater.

The meaning behind the first part was clear. Verdura’s magic was slipping away, that much was obvious. Heroes flown? That also made sense, given that the queen’s guardians had been disbanded. And the part about the unworthy imposter claiming a throne? That could only refer to Azriel’s brother.

But what about the second half of the prophecy? Were the wings and horns referring to the dragons? Did the World Eater’s words really drip with lies? And the last line? Which was the true evil, the head or the hand?

The handmaiden made a grunting noise and motioned to her neck, fear evident in her eyes. Lia nodded. They’d been here too long. She picked up the collar, gasping as that familiar unpleasant sensation overcame her once again. Hating what she was about to do, Lia snapped the cold metal back around her neck.

She’d barely had a moment to adjust to being collared again before a small hand seized hers, and she was back in her chambers. The door flew open, and Fearson stood in the doorway, a scowl on his face. Azriel stood behind him, clearly relieved to see Lia.

“I told you she was here,” Azriel grumbled. “I don’t know why you felt the need to check on her.”

Fearson strode up to her. “Where have you been?”

Lia fought the urge to check if the handmaiden was still in the room. “Here, my king.”

“Don’t lie to me.”

The metal collar tightened around her neck, bringing tears to her eyes. “I’ve been here the whole time,” she insisted. “I haven’t gone anywhere.”

“Then why couldn’t I sense you?”

Lia fought to keep breathing. “I don’t know,” she managed to wheeze out.

Fearson jerked her closer and studied the collar. Lia closed her eyes, hating the way his gaze scorched her skin.

With a grunt, he released her. Lia lost her balance and fell onto the bed. As the metal loosened around her neck, she took deep, greedy breaths.

“Get ready to leave,” Fearson snarled. “We’re traveling tonight.”

Had Azriel managed to convince his brother so easily?

“My King,” Lia hated the tremble in her voice, but she continued anyway, “where are we going?”

“To the mines. You are now the official heir to the queen. It’s time you learned where our people’s power is collected.”

Her heart pounding, Lia didn’t dare look at Azriel for fear of revealing everything. This was it. They were closer to finding the World Eater.

22 LIA

Lia followed Azriel and his brother through the castle’s hallways. She assumed they were heading to the stables, but instead, the king seemed to be leading them deeper into the castle’s lower levels. As they descended, the temperature grew noticeably cooler.

She shivered.

“Is there a reason we’re just one floor above the prison cells?” Azriel asked his brother. “Have you changed your mind? Instead of crowning Lia, you plan to imprison her?”

Fearson countered his brother’s snarky comment with a fierce look. “You think you’re being witty, but you actually just sound stupid.”

They entered another hallway, empty of doors save for one: a giant metal door with several different colored stones surrounding its handle. A lone masked guard bowed as they approached.

“We require her services today,” Fearson said.

The guard pulled out a key and unlocked the door’s three sturdy locks to reveal a cozy sitting room. Unlike the dim hallway outside, a small fire filled this space with warmth and light. Several piles of books sat neatly on a wooden desk.

“Meridian?” Fearson called out.

A beautiful petite girl with sandy colored skin and large yellow eyes walked out of an adjoining room. Lia’s eyes widened. This was the servant from the queen’s chambers, the one able to get around Fearson’s spelled cage. What was she doing here? And why was she being held prisoner behind so many spelled stones and locks?

“I see you’ve been to the library again,” Fearson observed.

Meridian nodded, keeping her eyes fixed on the king.

“We’re in need of your services. Can you take us to the mines?”

Meridian nodded, the perfect picture of an obedient servant, but Lia had seen the girl in action. This submissive acquiescence was just for show.

“Why do you keep her locked up?” Azriel asked.

The king scowled, and Lia caught a glimpse of the two brothers growing up. “Why don’t you ask her?”

Azriel glared at Fearson before walking over to the handmaiden. He stood in front of her, blocking her from the king’s sight. “Tell me, does my brother keep you here against your will?”

The girl shook her head.

“See?” the king said, failing to hide his smug satisfaction. “You’re always so quick to paint me as the villain. This young woman came to the castle about a year ago, seeking my help to keep herself stable.” Fearson raised his hand, releasing the girl’s collar. At first, nothing happened, but then the handmaiden appeared to flicker. Like the flame of a candle, she momentarily disappeared before reappearing again.

“Meridian is half-fairy. That’s why she can safely stay here. Whoever her parents are, they must be powerful indeed. The girl can transport herself with a thought.”

“You have two fairies working for you?” Azriel asked. “That’s practically unheard of.”

Fearson smirked. “Jin and Meridian have both been extremely helpful and loyal, unlike a certain brother.”

Meridian glanced at Lia, her eyes flickering from yellow to orange.

“What about the collar?” Lia asked. “And the locks on the door?”

“The stones and spelled door help her control her abilities. She’s not trapped here. She can travel around the castle. In fact, the library is one of her favorite places. Isn’t that right?”

The handmaiden nodded, her eyes changing color again, this time to a blue.

“Can she leave the castle on her own?” Azriel asked.

“No,” Fearson said. “She isn’t stable enough to go for long periods of time. But that doesn’t mean she’s my prisoner. I’m helping her.” The king turned to the girl. “Meridian, I’d like you to take us to the mines. Azriel first. Then Lia. And then me. Do you understand?”

The girl nodded.

Fearson regarded the girl with pride. “She’s only transported me before, but I’m confident she can manage all three of us.”

Lia watched on in amazement as Meridian took Azriel’s hand and the two disappeared. Seconds later, Meridian returned on her own, her eyes now a dark brown and her skin faded to a dull grayish brown.

“Now you.” Fearson motioned to Lia.

With a nod, Lia took the girl’s offered hand, and before she’d had time to register what was happening, everything around them disappeared. Lia gasped, feeling like her entire body was being pulled apart and then shoved back together again. As this sensation passed, she found herself standing on top of some rocks facing the ocean. Almost invisible to the naked eye, a pale gray island surrounded by fog rested on the horizon. Lia’s breath caught in her throat as she instinctively knew what she was looking at. They were across the ocean from the World Eater.

Meridian gave her a small smile before disappearing again.

“That girl scares me every time I see her,” a voice she didn’t recognize said.

Azriel stood nearby, surrounded by several men. Lia recognized two as the ones who’d originally taken them to Elladia. Howler, still with one shorter horn, grinned at her, revealing rows of sharp teeth. Beside him stood a scowling Jin, his eyes a bright orange and his skin almost bronze.

“She’s one of your kind, isn’t she?” Howler said to him with a smirk. “Pretty. For a fairy.”

Jin remained silent.

A couple of steps away, two figures materialized, and Lia scooted aside as Fearson reappeared with the handmaiden. Almost transparent now, the girl flickered repeatedly.

“Head back to the castle and rest.” The king patted her hand. “I will summon you when we need your services again.”

Meridian nodded and glanced over at Lia before finally disappearing.

The king turned to head up the mountain. “What are you waiting for, my heir? It is time to embrace Verdura’s future.”

23 KIEREN

For the past three days, Kieren had kept his head down and his ears open, determined to see Lia when she arrived.

If she arrived. What if she didn’t pass the king’s tests?

“You don’t look too good,” Griffith observed as they lined up for breakfast. He gestured to his still-bruised eye. “And coming from someone who looks like this, that’s saying something.”

Kieren stifled a yawn. “I didn’t sleep well last night.”

“Nightmares again?”

Kieren nodded. Since they’d arrived at the mines, it was the same dream every night. The World Eater took him and Lia to the empty cave with the massive blue stone. Then, against his will, he transformed into the other gray dragon. Every waking moment, Kieren analyzed the dream, trying to understand what had happened. His dragon, usually so quick to comment, stayed strangely silent on the matter.

They got their meager breakfast and took a seat at a nearby table. Kieren stared down at his bowl of tasteless, watery porridge and frowned. Although he had no desire to eat it, hunger had burrowed its way in. Mining was physically demanding work, and his body needed sustenance, even if it came in this unappealing form.

After breakfast, he and Griffith picked up a small pickaxe each and joined the line of gloomy men and women heading underground. The only good thing about being in the tunnels was that they were finally out of the guards’ earshot. Unfortunately, down here, the music he’d heard since he first stepped off the boat rang much louder. If Kieren concentrated hard, he could keep the sounds at bay. But his relief was always short-lived. Each time, the notes returned, beckoning for him to find them. It was as if they came from the very earth itself.

“Do you think Lia will show up today?” Griffith glanced around them before continuing, “Jin said that she should arrive within the week. And since he hasn’t heard anything about her not passing the king’s tests, we can only assume things are still running to schedule, right?”

“You’d best stop your chatting.” One of the other miners pointed farther into the tunnels. “The guards want us to go deeper. They think we’ll have a better chance of finding stones.”

“Good thing these veins are more established,” Griffith muttered. “Or I would have insisted they get birds for us too.”

As they walked farther into the mine, it became increasingly difficult for Kieren to ignore the sounds. The haunting tones persistently called out, tugging at his attention. He succeeded in pushing them out, as he had done before, until one particularly gripping note rang brightly up ahead.

Where was the sound coming from? Everywhere he looked was rock and earth. Desperate for peace, Kieren struck the wall with his pickaxe. With each blow, the tone grew louder and louder until something pale green glimmered against all the gray. The moment his fingers scraped against the stone’s smooth geometric planes, the tune fell blissfully silent.

Kieren studied the stone in his hand: no bigger than his thumbnail, but beautiful in its geometry. Was this what he’d heard? After pocketing the crystal, he followed a soft, high-pitched note that came from several feet away. This time, instead of trying to block the sound, he focused on it and dug. As before, he found another beautiful light-green stone.

Finally! The dragon within him stretched its wings and released a satisfied puff of smoke. Took you long enough.

So this was what he was hearing. The tones correlated with crystals buried in the ground.

“You did it!” Griffith could scarce contain his excitement. “You found a stone!”

The other workers around them stared in surprise.

“You have to show them. Go now.” One of the miners pushed them toward the exit.

Kieren and Griffith navigated their way through the tunnels’ twists and turns until they made it back to the entrance. Kieren squinted as his eyes took a moment to adjust to the glare of the sun.

Mercer stormed over. “What are you doing out here? Get back down there!”

Kieren opened his hand; the two green gems sparkled in the light.

The tracker snatched the crystals and spat on them, then wiped them against his pants. A satisfied smirk slithered across the man’s face.

“Well, well. Looks like you might be good for something after all.”

As Mercer opened his mouth to say something more, Ordel walked by, carrying a small body in his arms. Accompanying the giant was a stocky young boy, who Kieren recognized as Fane.

Mercer pocketed the gems. “What are you doing with those two?”

“We were in the mine, and Lumen went too far down,” Fane explained. “When we didn’t hear back from her, I went in and found her like this.”

Worried, Kieren eyed the unconscious girl. Thankfully, she was still breathing.

“Take her to the healers’ tent,” Mercer ordered. “One meal only. Let her rest for the day, and if she wakes up, send her back down tomorrow. You get checked out too, boy, and then back to work. Otherwise, it’s just one meal for you too.”

Ordel gave the shorter man a slight frown but didn’t respond. With a grunt, he left with Fane and Lumen.

Irritation prickled beneath Kieren’s skin. Lumen was sick because she’d been forced to work in unsafe conditions. “Should she be sent back down so soon? Why not wait until you have enough birds to monitor the miners’ safety?”

Mercer folded his arms over his chest. “If you’re so concerned about your little friend, why don’t you take her place?”

“I’ll make you a better deal.” Kieren took a step forward. “How many stones does that particular mine usually produce?”

“Two, maybe three stones a week.”

Closing his eyes, Kieren summoned the sounds. The tones eagerly responded, as if calling for him to pull them out.

“If I find five stones in that mine, you give all the kids working there three full meals for the next two days in addition to two days off. And you let Lumen fully recuperate before sending her back down.”

Mercer eyed Kieren’s wrists. “A bold proposition from one who has no stones of his own. But I’ll bite. You find me eight stones, and I’ll agree to your conditions. But if you miss one, or keel over before pulling them out, the children get no dinner tonight. And your young friend returns to the mine the moment she wakes up. No healing time.”

“Deal.”

“I’m coming too.” Although Griffith kept his tone light, the expression on his face was far from it. “Someone has to be there in case he blacks out.”

Mercer smirked. “Sounds like we have a plan.”

The Verduran led them uphill to what looked like a large hole dug in the ground. As Kieren stood, taking in the scene before him, he grew angrier with each passing moment. Many of the children working there were shoeless, with bodies covered in dust. They should be playing, not risking their lives in an underground prison.

“What are you lazy sacks of rocks loafing around for?” Mercer hollered. “Get the others out!” After a flurry of movement, a pair of children scrambled down the hole, and then a dozen or so scrawny bodies scuttled out.

“How many of you fell ill today?” Mercer asked.

A couple of the children coughed, but no one said anything.

Mercer gave Kieren a slimy smile. “See? And you were worried.”

Let’s burn the man’s face off, his dragon suggested.

I hate him as much as you do, but why don’t we try my way first? Kieren said. We still need to be here for Lia.

Fine. But then I rip out his heart.

For once, Kieren and his dragon were in complete agreement.

Mercer addressed the group of kids again: “This man thinks he can do better than you. Says he can find eight stones inside. In fact, he’s so sure of his abilities that we made a wager. If Kieren finds eight stones without falling ill, you all get the next two days off and three meals each day, despite not finding me any stones. But if he fails, then none of you gets any dinner. What do you think of that?”

Some of the younger children stared at Kieren with open admiration. But a couple of the older kids looked doubtful. Kieren acknowledged their concern but didn’t look away. He needed them to know that he was prepared to make good on his word.

“Well, go on.” Mercer mockingly gestured toward the mine’s entrance. “Let’s see you perform a miracle.”

Kieren closed his eyes and focused. He could feel the sun on his dust-covered skin and hear Mercer’s heavy breathing. Quieting his mind even further, he finally heard it: a whole chorus of pure notes emanating from the ground.

A hand rested lightly on Kieren’s back. “You ready?”

With a nod, Kieren walked toward the hole in the ground.

“Remember,” Griffith whispered, “if you start feeling dizzy, get out of there. Forget the stones. You need to stay safe.”

Kieren didn’t respond. He had no intention of coming out until he’d found all eight.

He lowered himself into the darkness. This mine made the one they’d been working in look positively palatial. Here, no torches lit the tunnels; no wooden beams prevented the unstable earth from swallowing him whole. Only the tiniest scrap of sunlight and a poorly carved tunnel met him below. Kieren experienced a brief moment of panic. This was, essentially, no bigger than a large tomb.

Get a hold of yourself and start listening for the stones!

His dragon was right. Kieren forced his breathing to slow. It was dark down here, but he didn’t need the light; the notes rang everywhere. He took his pickaxe and began digging at the sound closest to him. Soon, a gem met his fingers. Without stopping to admire the treasure, he repeated the process of listening and digging for another five stones.

With each gem uncovered, Kieren moved farther and farther away from the mine’s entrance and the lone pillar of light. The walls closed in, but he pressed on, determined to succeed. Failure was not an option.

As the tunnel took a sharp turn, Kieren stumbled and coughed. His lungs felt coated in a dense layer of dust, and the beginnings of a headache stirred. Every muscle in his body tensed. No. Not now. He couldn’t fall ill, not when he was so close to success.

Using his hands to guide him, Kieren kept going until a soft note caught his attention. He attacked the area and once his fingers found the gem, he leaned against the wall to steady himself. Blinking furiously as the world spun around him, he tried to keep his mind focused and his breathing even.

The final note sounded much fainter than the others. Perhaps the stone was buried deeper in the earth? Or maybe it was just because Kieren was losing consciousness. He let out another cough, trying to clear the dust from his lungs. Was this how he was going to die? Alone underground, just days away from seeing Lia again?

Don’t you dare! the voice inside commanded. Grab that stone and get out of here. Lia’s coming soon. You have to make it.

Kieren staggered forward, hoping that his luck would hold. The last note ringing triumphantly in the air, he fell to the ground, clumsily wielding his pickaxe to unearth the final stone. Immediately, he turned and stumbled back through the tunnel, crawling more than walking, wanting nothing more than to close his eyes and rest. But a beautiful face with a warm smile and a constellation of freckles propelled him forward. He had to keep going.

Finally, he peered up at a glorious patch of sky.

“Griff.” Kieren didn’t recognize the voice that came out of his mouth. The rocky wall in front of him flickered in and out of view.

“Hold on. I got you.”

Kieren felt himself being pulled up. The light outside hurt his eyes, but, moons, the hot sun never felt so good.

When Griffith released him, Kieren sprawled in the dirt, coughing and shaking his head.

A pair of dusty black boots appeared in front of his face. “You’d better have something to show for all that time you were down there. Otherwise you’ll be joining the children here tomorrow.”

Steeling himself, Kieren staggered to his feet. Triumphantly, he pulled the stones from his pocket and dropped them into Mercer’s greedy hands.

Around them, the children cheered as Mercer’s mouth fell open. He wrapped his fat fingers around the gems and counted them.

“Eight.” The astonishment in the Verduran’s eyes transformed into something predatory. “I sure hit the payload when I found you.” He turned to the children. “You’re free for the next two days, and you get to eat, you dirty rats. And you,” he addressed Kieren, “we need to take you to the healer. Can’t let our lucky stone-finder get hurt.”

The children cheered again, and this time, even Kieren had to smile. For one brief moment, the weight of the world lifted off his shoulders.

Griffith gave a little holler and patted his back. Kieren let out a painful cough.

“Sorry about that.” Griff looked apologetic. “I’m not sure how you managed to pull it off, but you surprised me down there. I guess the carbon monoxide’s escaped?”

“No. It’s definitely still there.” The realization that he’d only bought the children a couple of days before returning to their dangerous work left him feeling slightly less celebratory. “I should have asked for more days for them.”

Griff shook his head. “You can’t think like that. You saved them today.”

Noticing the shy smiles of the surrounding children, Kieren let the truth behind those words sink in. At least they were safe for the moment.

As they made their way to the healers’ tent, Mercer stopped to speak with a large group of guards. A tall, white-haired man stepped from the crowd, and Kieren immediately recognized him as Fearson. Frantically, he searched the group. Caird stood beside the king and Jin, signing something, and Kieren recognized the rest of the men as mine guards.

Where was she? Where was Lia?

The king turned his attention to the healers’ tent. A tall golden-haired man with a metal collar around his neck stepped outside. A woman dressed in a fitted Solairan dragon hunter’s uniform followed closely behind. Like the man, she too wore a large metal collar. Her steps appeared hesitant, and she turned back to gaze at the tent.

“Lia,” Kieren whispered her name like a prayer. She’d made it. Lia was finally here.

Azriel looked up, the corner of his mouth lifting in a small smirk.

Can you hear me? Kieren mentally screamed, willing her to notice him.

Azriel gave him an all-too-knowing look as he placed an arm around her waist and pulled her closer.

Lia. Kieren tried again. Turn around. Moons. Why couldn’t she hear him? They’d been able to share their thoughts before.

Without looking in Kieren’s direction, she leaned closer to Azriel and allowed him to lead her back to the king.

Kieren took a step forward.

“Can’t stop staring, can you?” Mercer approached and gave Kieren a knowing look. “Maybe today is your lucky day. The king wants to meet the special miner who pulled out ten stones. And since I like you so much, here’s a tip.” The Verduran leaned in closer and Kieren could smell the man’s putrid breath. “Stay away from the girl. She’s the queen’s heir. And if Fearson catches one whiff of your infatuation, he’ll punish you. You’ll probably need two arms to find stones, I’m guessing.”

24 LIA

Everywhere she looked, there were miners with tired faces, dressed in ragged clothes, and guards, many of them wearing stones, walking by. Lia had to step aside when a giant man lumbered past, carrying an unmoving girl.

“What happened?”

Jin glanced over. “One of the miners was injured.”

Her heart tightened. They were using children to mine the stones?

Fearson must have seen the unhappiness in her face. “If you’re so worried, you and Azriel should follow Ordel and the girl. The healers here do a fine job of taking care of everyone.”

He was saying all the right things, but Lia didn’t buy it. If the healers were doing a good job, it was only because the king wanted workers, not because he actually cared about anyone’s health.

Azriel placed an arm around her waist and gently pulled her away.

An exotic-looking woman with gray skin and white hair greeted them at the entrance of the tent. “Welcome.” The woman studied Lia, a slight frown on her face. “Pardon me, but I don’t believe we’ve met before. Are you new volunteers?”

“This is the queen’s heir,” Azriel said. “And I’m her betrothed. We’re here to see your patients.”

“Of course.” The woman gestured inside the tent. “You’re welcome to come inside and take a look.”

Sleeping or coughing miners occupied over half of the beds. The man Lia had followed sat nearby, and beside him, a stocky black-haired boy. Both were staring at a red-haired girl lying on a bed.

How old was the patient? Twelve? Thirteen?

Lia blinked, and she was no longer in the tent. She was back in New Jersey, back in that hospital room, staring down at her father. She struggled to swallow past the lump in her throat.

“What happened?”

“It’s the mines, my heir,” the healer replied. “The established ones aren’t producing as many stones. So they’ve had to dig newer mines, which aren’t as safe or stable.”

“And they use children?”

The woman lowered her eyes. “It is an honor for them to serve their country.”

Lia wanted to lash out, wanted to scream and rile against the disgusting notion of forcing children to work in such unsafe conditions. But the collar around the healer’s neck reminded Lia that it wasn’t the woman’s fault. They were all prisoners of the king.

“Shall we head back out?” Azriel studied Lia, his face giving no clue to his emotions.

Lia nodded dumbly and allowed him to lead her outside.

Azriel leaned in and pulled her close. “You’ve got to hold yourself together, princess. It’s time to begin our play against my brother.”

Squaring her shoulders, she gave a small nod. His words were like steel, sharpening her determination. Fearson would pay for his crimes.

“Learn anything interesting?” the king asked.

She schooled her features. “I wasn’t aware that you used children to mine the stones.”

“Well, that wasn’t always our intention. But they’re skilled and proud to be doing this great service.” He held out a handful of pale green gems for her inspection. “These are what we’re all here for. These crystals are beautiful in their own right, but once they’re properly spelled, they provide our people with access to their magic.”

The king turned to a short man with a potbelly and a sweaty, red face. “I hear they were just found today. By one of our newest workers, isn’t that right, Mercer?”

“Oh yes, Your Majesty,” the man simpered.

“Bring him to me. I would like to meet the man who has such a knack for finding stones.”

An older miner walked over to the group alongside Jin. When the man looked up, Lia was surprised to see his mismatched eyes: one blue and one green. This was the man from her vision.

“Caird!” The king’s smile widened.

The miner dragged his gaze from Lia’s.

“Did you notice his eyes?” Fearson chuckled. “If I believed in the prophecy, I would call Caird my Light. But he has no magical abilities or even the use of his voice. He is, however, very good at helping to manage the workers.”

As Caird’s hands began moving, Jin translated. “I hear that someone unearthed ten stones today?”

Fearson nodded. “Yes. Mercer is fetching the hero so that we may congratulate him. Can you imagine such a talent?”

Mercer returned with two men. Although both were covered with dust and dirt, Lia would have recognized them anywhere.

“I’d like to introduce you to our two newest miners.” Mercer beamed proudly. “This one discovered the stones, and this other one has some interesting ideas about using birds to help prevent accidents.”

Griffith gave the group a wide grin. Beside him, Kieren’s mouth curled up into a disarming smile, his hungry gaze drinking her in.

25 KIEREN

Kieren soaked up the minute details of Lia’s appearance: the freckles across her nose, the rosy blush of her cheeks, and the quickness of her breath, which had increased under his attention.

He smiled wider, appreciating the effect he had on her.

“Eyes down, you cad.” Azriel stepped in front of Lia. “I don’t know what sort of rock you crawled out from under, but you should know that staring at another man’s betrothed like that is akin to announcing your desire to duel.”

Betrothed? Who does he think he is? Kieren’s dragon fumed. Lia is ours.

“My, my, my.” The king chuckled. “It appears that this one may be prepared to fight you for Lia’s hand. Come now, brother. There’s no need to be upset. The boy didn’t know. Besides, we can’t have you hurting him. Not if we want our citizens to have access to their magic.”

Azriel wrapped his arm possessively around Lia’s waist. “Control him. Or else I will teach him a lesson.”

At this, Kieren’s dragon went crazy, clawing against the mental barrier that held him captive. But Kieren knew better than to react.

Lia? He tried speaking into her mind but to no avail.

She rubbed her finger along one edge of the metal collar around her neck, and Kieren knew she was trying to tell him something. As much as he wanted to tear her from Azriel’s arms, he would do nothing that might put her in danger.

“Apologies, my lord.” He lowered his head in submission.

“What is your name?” Fearson asked.

“Kieren.”

“Interested in the queen’s heir?” The king’s tone was light, but his eyes held an edge.

“Just interested in her jewelry. I’ve never seen such a large necklace before.” Kieren kept his eyes cast down, but deep inside, he itched to look at her again.

“I see. Even without stones, my brother and the queen’s heir are quite powerful. So for everyone’s protection, I’ve collared them to help control their powers.”

Kieren nodded. So that’s what Lia had been trying to tell him.

“Well, that was certainly exciting,” the king stage whispered to Azriel. “I have a suspicion that, as young as he looks, this one would have kept you on your toes.”

“How did you find the stones?” Jin asked.

Kieren looked up, startled by the guard’s voice; he’d almost forgotten they had an audience. Next to Jin, Caird moved his hands in a rapid series of motions.

“Ten stones in one day is a bounty,” Jin translated. “How did you find so many?”

“I heard them singing,” Kieren said.

That got Fearson’s attention. “Did I hear you correctly? The stones sing to you?”

Kieren nodded. “I hear musical notes, almost like a flute. And I follow the notes to the stones.”

“Fascinating. Can you hear this music now?”

When Kieren closed his eyes and quieted his mind, a pair of soft tones called out. “Over there.” He pointed to a mine entrance in the distance. “I hear two.”

Jin quickly stepped forward. “Perhaps we should take both men to the healers’ tent to ensure their time down in the mine hasn’t made them ill.”

“That’s a wonderful idea. Jin and Caird, make sure they’re given the finest treatment.” The king’s eyes bored into Kieren’s. “Tomorrow, I’d like to give you a gift to enhance your abilities.”

Lia’s eyes widened, and she shook her head slightly. Kieren had to fight the urge to grab her hand. “Of course.”

“Perhaps I could go with them,” Lia said. “I would be interested to see how they treat patients.”

The king frowned. “But you’ve already been there. Why don’t you tour the mines instead?”

Although it sounded like a suggestion, Kieren knew the words were a command. His heart sank. Being so close and not able to hold her was a struggle.

In silence, Kieren and Griffith followed Caird and Jin to the healers’ tent.

“Just where are you two from, exactly?” Jin asked once they were inside.

“Around,” Griff said at the same time as Kieren replied, “Verdura.”

“What were you thinking, showing off your ability to find stones?” Jin hissed.

Someone at the back of the tent began coughing repeatedly. A pair of healers went to investigate, leaving them alone at the front.

“What do you mean?” Griffith asked. “Isn’t it a good thing that he found them?”

Caird signed and Jin translated: “Your ability puts you right in the king’s sight. And trust me, you don’t want to capture his interest.”

“What else should Kieren have done?” Griffith shot back. “He was only trying to help. And aren’t we here to get my friend checked out? He breathed in carbon monoxide, for moons’ sake.”

Caird signed something to Jin before the guard left to get a healer. Seconds later, Jin returned with a woman.

“Please sit.” The woman motioned to a nearby chair. “Have you experienced any headaches?”

“Just the once,” Kieren replied. “In the second mine, where the children worked. But it’s gone now.”

The woman nodded. “Follow my finger with your eyes without moving your head.”

Kieren did as he was told.

“Well, you seem able to focus.” The healer leaned in closer. “Now, take off your shirt.”

When he stripped off his tunic the woman let out a gasp.

“What?” Kieren glanced down, expecting to see something horrible. But the same familiar dragon tattoo and burn scar still covered his chest.

“Leave us,” Jin barked. “Tell no one of what you saw.”

The healer nodded and hurried away, casting a frightened look back over her shoulder as she left.

“For Verdura’s sake, put your shirt back on,” Jin said.

Kieren bristled, unsure why the man was using that tone with him.

Caird gestured toward Jin emphatically.

“His painted skin means nothing!” Jin’s eyes flickered to orange.

“Anyone want to clue me and Kieren in as to what you’re arguing about?” Griffith asked.

Caird pointed to Kieren’s chest.

“My dragon tattoo?” Kieren asked. “I got that a while ago.”

Caird began signing again.

Jin rolled his eyes and sighed. “Fine, I’ll translate.” He addressed Kieren. “Caird says that you should never take off your shirt in front of anyone else. Ever.”

“Come on,” Griffith said lightly. “Sure, Kieren’s good looking, but he’s not that good looking. No one will be interested in his body or the tattoo.”

Both Verdurans shook their heads.

“You hear singing stones,” Jin said. “You were found near the Wildling Islands. According to Mercer, you’re abnormally strong and fast. And you have a dragon printed into your skin. We’re not blind. You’re a dragon shifter, aren’t you?”

Kieren frowned but remained silent.

“I can’t do this.” Jin turned to Caird. “This changes nothing. I need to go.” Without another word, he turned on his heel and stormed from the tent.

Kieren had no idea what to say next. He knew how the Verdurans felt about dragons.

Caird cleared his throat. And surprisingly, a soft, raspy voice crawled out. “The heir is the Light, isn’t she? And you are the dragon shifter. The prophesied battle has finally come.”

“You can speak?” Griffith gasped.

“When I need to.” Caird spoke deliberately, as if each uttered syllable pained him. “You are in grave danger. Tomorrow, the king will gift you a pair of bracelets. They will strengthen your ability, but you will belong to him. And eventually, your body will weaken under the effect of the spelled stones. But if Fearson sees your tattoo and realizes what you really are, he will kill you. The king fears the prophecy more than he lets on. You’ll need to shift and fly away. Tonight.”

“But what about the others?”

“You care about the girl, don’t you?” Caird gave Kieren a sad smile. “I captured it in paint, but only now am I beginning to see.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Nothing.” Caird shook his head. “Just the ramblings of an old fool. I will speak to the healers and tell them to keep you here tonight under observation. The king shouldn’t bother you; you’re too valuable to him.”

“I’ll bring Fane,” Griffith added. “But how will we tell Lia and Azriel?”

“Jin will fetch them,” Caird said. “Then you take your friends and leave.”

“What about you?” Kieren asked. “You’re welcome to leave with us. Jin, too, if he wants.”

Caird gave Kieren a small smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “I will stay here until the day I die. You are not the only one with a role to play in all this.”

26 LIA

“The young miner seems quite infatuated with you.” Fearson searched her face for a reaction.

“Really? I hadn’t noticed.”

Of course, it was an absolute lie. Lia had noticed. And it took every ounce of her willpower not to go to him. But she wasn’t about to give the king any more reason to be interested in Kieren.

“Bring the boy to me tomorrow morning,” the king ordered Mercer. “I’ll have a pair of bracelets ready.”

Mercer’s grin widened.

“Ah, Jin,” the king addressed the guard as he approached, “is our talented stone-finder well?”

The fairy nodded. “The healers want him to stay overnight. Just to be sure.”

“Good. Since you’re here, why don’t you take our future queen and my brother for a tour of the mines?” Fearson turned to Azriel and Lia. “We will meet for dinner later.”

“And what will you be doing, brother, while we tour this magnificent operation of yours?” Azriel asked.

“I’ll need time to spell stones for our newest miner.”

Every fiber in Lia’s being tingled. “What stones? I thought you were just giving him bracelets?”

The king shook his head. “If Kieren is this powerful without stones, just imagine how much stronger he will be with them.”

Lia fidgeted with the collar around her neck. As much as Fearson seemed to believe in the power of the spelled gems, Lia already recognized their addictive qualities. And the thought of anything happening to Kieren terrified her.

“Come,” Jin said. “We should really begin the tour now.”

A plan began forming in her mind as they walked away from the king. Somehow, she must warn Kieren about the bracelets. “Can we visit the healers’ tent again?”

Jin frowned. “After the tour. Perhaps.”

“Thank you for being so flexible. We really appreciate it.” Azriel gave the fairy a long once-over. “Out of curiosity, just how long have you worked for my brother?”

Jin cleared his throat. “Several years.”

“Interesting. And do your parents live in Mopani? That’s the Tree Fairy village in the western woods,” Azriel explained to Lia.

“My mother does.”

“And what about your father?”

Jin’s mouth settled into a long, thin line. “My father left my mother, my sister, and me years ago.”

“How sad,” Azriel said. “Have you met the other fairy working for the king? What was her name again? Merry? Mercy? Hold on.” He came to an abrupt halt. “I remember. Her name is Meridian. Lovely girl. Like Caird, she works for my brother and doesn’t speak.”

Jin picked up his pace as if determined to increase the distance between them. “I’ve seen her around, but don’t know her very well.”

Azriel raised his eyebrows at Lia. ‘He’s lying,’ his expression seemed to say.

Why would Jin lie about knowing Meridian? But Lia had little time to contemplate that question, as they soon arrived at a mine. Carved into rock, the entrance stood only slightly higher than the tallest miners and was wide enough that five human-sized Verdurans standing side by side could fit through. Tree trunks propped up its sides. Several guards stood watch, swords hung low on their hips and arms shining with jewelry.

“Why don’t you wear bracelets and stones?” Azriel asked, staring pointedly at Jin’s bare arms. “The other guards don’t seem to have any qualms about accepting my brother’s gifts.”

Jin shrugged. “The stones can only amplify what’s already there. They can’t give powers to those who were born with none. Come”—he moved off again—“there are four other mines in the area. We’ll need to hurry if we’re to visit them all before dark.”

Everywhere Jin took them, dry, hacking coughs filled the air and there was a sense of hopelessness in the miners’ expressions. Lia’s heart grew heavy, she wasn’t sure just how much more she could take. And then they stopped in front of what appeared to be a large hole in the ground.

“This is one of the newer mines,” Jin explained.

This was where children worked? The image of kids climbing in and out of the hole left an uncomfortable feeling in the pit of her stomach. “This isn’t right.”

“I agree, my heir.” Azriel glared at Jin. “And I suspect that we’re not the only ones who think this way.”

“The king does what he must to ensure the safety and health of everyone,” the guard said. “We are all grateful to be in his service.”

“I see.” Azriel’s golden eyes narrowed. “My brother is lucky to have such a loyal worker.”

“Thank you.”

“Fearson is also fortunate to have found someone who is able to communicate so well with Caird. You are truly talented.”

Jin shrugged his shoulders. “I just picked up his hand signals quickly. That doesn’t require any magical skills.”

“No. It just requires time and practice.”

Jin frowned. “Come, we have one more mine to visit, and then I’ll take you back to the healers’ tent.”

27 KIEREN

Lying on a cot, pretending to be ill, was proving to be more difficult than Kieren had expected. He wasn’t sure how much more monotony he could take, and inside, his dragon experienced the same impatience. It was funny how, in the beginning, Kieren and his beast were always at odds. But over time, they’d reached an understanding.

The dragon let out a small puff of fire in agreement. You’re not so bad yourself.

Kieren smiled.

The tent flap lifted, and Griffith walked in, carrying a small bowl. “Eat up, friend. While it’s still wet and slimy.”

Covering his laughter with fits of coughing, Kieren slowly sat up, feigning weakness. His stomach rumbling, he forced down a mouthful and swore that once they escaped the mines, he’d never eat gruel again.

While he ate, they both studied the young girl lying on a cot nearby. Lumen still hadn’t regained consciousness.

“Are you feeling any better?” Griff asked.

Kieren coughed noisily.

When his friend raised his eyebrows, Kieren shrugged; he’d never claimed to be an actor.

“I spoke with Fane earlier,” Griffith whispered. “He’ll be visiting you tonight. I haven’t had a chance to speak with the others though. But Caird’s assured me that everyone will come.”

The opening to the tent lifted again, and Jin entered this time. His eyes briefly flickered from yellow to orange when he spotted them.“This way, my heir.”

Kieren exhaled softly as Lia walked in. Her eyes studied the tent, taking in all the patients, and when they found Kieren, she paused. Behind her stood Azriel, a little too close for Kieren’s comfort, his hand placed intimately against the small of her back.

Unsure of Azriel’s loyalties, Kieren didn’t know if the Verduran was merely acting or if there were genuine feelings on his part. But as far as Kieren was concerned, the man looked entirely too comfortable.

A small growl escaped his lips, and something immediately smacked against his back, hard.

“Just helping you with that pesky cough.” Griffith spoke loud enough that the others would hear. “Go ahead. Let. It. All. Out.” He slapped Kieren’s back with each word.

Kieren scowled. “I’m fine now.”

“Of course you are. But we don’t want everyone to notice you ravishing her with your eyes. Now, cough.”

Kieren rolled his eyes and let out a series of dramatic coughs, making sure to aim a few specifically in Griffith’s face.

“Is that the miner who discovered the stones today?” Lia seemed to be holding back a laugh.

“Yes, it is. Would you like to speak to him?” Jin asked.

“Surprising that such a small fellow could manage that sort of feat,” Azriel commented.

Kieren grabbed Griff’s hand before it made contact with his back. “Thank you. I’m feeling a lot better now, actually.”

“Of course. Just let me know if you need my help.”

Jin led Lia and Azriel over. “Let me reintroduce you to Kieren and Griffith.”

“Good to meet you again.” Lia shot him a smile.

“You seem in fine spirits for someone so sick.” Azriel’s eyes held a spark of amusement.

Kieren coughed loudly. “Thank you. I should be ready to return to the mines tomorrow morning.”

“We appreciate your hard work.” Lia shot a nervous look in Jin’s direction. “The king is so pleased that he plans to reward you with a gift.”

Judging by the fear in her eyes, the king’s ‘gift’ would be as unwelcome as Caird warned.

“Yes, my heir. So I heard. Bracelets with stones. It will be an honor.”

Griffith cleared his throat. “I hope you don’t think me too impolite, but I have a small request.”

“Yes?” Lia said.

“Could you visit my friend again tonight? Your presence seems to do wonders for his spirits. He’s been feeling very low. So very, very low. It’s depressing to see him in such a state. You see, Kieren misses one particular friend from home. She--”

Kieren cleared his throat loudly and coughed in Griffith’s direction.

Griff wiped off his face. “Forgive me. Where are my manners? Please, invite your betrothed as well. Kieren appreciates all visitors during this time of illness.”

A smile played at the corner of Lia’s lips. “I would love to visit, but I’m not sure if that’s possible.”

“It would be my honor to accompany you both.” Jin bowed.

Azriel took one of Lia’s hands in his. “Now that you’ve done your good deed for the day, my darling, let us allow the boy to rest.”

His dragon growled at the sight, but Kieren kept his gaze fixed on Lia’s expression. She gave him a small smile before allowing Azriel to lead her away.

“Until tonight, then.” Azriel raised their linked arms with a smirk. And then they were gone.

“I. Am. Going. To. Kill. You.” Kieren muttered between fake coughs.

Griffith gave an exaggerated bow. “You’re welcome.”

28 LIA

After touring a handful of other mines and some of the workers’ tents, they ate dinner in Fearson’s private tent. Lia sat across from Azriel and the king, platters of bread, cheese, meat, and fruit placed between them. Two guards—a red-haired, freckled man that Lia had never seen before and the giant man from earlier—stood by the tent’s entrance.

The food looked delicious, but Lia found that she had no desire to eat. It was as if someone had handed her several puzzle pieces, and her mind was struggling to see how they all fit together.

Jin was proving to be the biggest enigma of all. Verbally, he was loyal to the king, but that stood in opposition to his offer to escort them to see Kieren later tonight.

“After we’ve given our young miner his reward tomorrow morning, the three of us will head off to visit another friend,” Fearson said.

Lia’s mind focused back on the conversation happening around her. “Who are we visiting?”

“The one you came here to find. The World Eater, of course. I’ve recently found his location and will take you there.”

A feeling of dread mixed with anticipation settled in her stomach. It felt as if she were approaching the top of some terrifying roller coaster ride, right before plummeting down the other side.

“And just where exactly does our mutual friend live?” Azriel asked.

The king gestured in the direction of the ocean. “Over there. On an island across the sea.

“You should eat, Lia.” Azriel popped a red fruit that resembled a strawberry into his mouth. “Verdura’s heir needs her energy.”

With trembling fingers, she picked up a piece of cheese and forced herself to eat. Azriel was right. She needed to get food into her so that she’d be ready for whatever happened tomorrow.

NEITHER LIA nor Azriel spoke once they entered their shared tent. He took a seat on a chair beside the bed, and from there, periodically glanced over at the entrance.

“My heir?” a voice whispered from outside.

“Come in,” Lia said.

Jin stepped inside. “I’ve been assigned as your guard. And I am here to escort you to the healers’ tent; if you so wish.”

“Come, princess.” Azriel stood. “Now we do something truly naughty.”

Thankfully, the mining site was all but deserted at this time of night. The workers were all in their tents, and only the occasional guard walked past. None of them challenged the trio; they had no reason to, not when Jin accompanied them.

Caird welcomed them inside the healers’ tent. Surprisingly, the tent stood empty, except for Kieren, Griffith, the young red-haired patient, and the boy who sat by her bed. With red around their mouths and on their shirts, they looked like they’d eaten something bloody.

“What happened?” Lia panicked. “Are you alright?”

“They got sick. It’s quite contagious, so the other miners have been sent back to their own tents tonight,” Caird explained.

Griffith gripped his stomach and moaned dramatically. “Such terrible stomach pains. I even coughed up blood.” He held up a small red berry and smiled. “Don’t worry. It’s all fake. Caird came up with the genius idea. Once we bit into the berries, it looked like we were spitting out blood. It was awesome, just like a movie special effect.”

“When I was an artist, I used these berries to create paint,” Caird murmured.

Lia’s mouth hung open. “You speak? But what about all the sign language earlier?”

“He shouldn’t speak too often,” Jin said with a frown. “It strains his voice.”

“Now, can we stop pretending that we’re dying and greet each other properly?” Griff wrapped Lia in a big hug.

She squeezed him back.

“This is Fane.” Griffith motioned to the boy. “And the girl over there is Lumen. They’re both dragon shifters. Like Kieren.”

Fane wiped the ‘blood’ from his mouth and waved shyly.

“How is she doing?” Lia asked.

“She hasn’t gotten any better.” The boy fidgeted in his seat. “Then again, she hasn’t gotten any worse either.”

Caird placed a hand on Fane’s shoulder. “Lumen will recover. It will just take time.”

“And I should probably introduce you to this guy over here as well,” Griffith pointed to Kieren, who now sat up in bed. “His name is Kieren, and he’s been a beast ever since his girlfriend left him and pretended to be engaged to another man to save the world. You know, typical love triangle stuff.”

“Lia.” Kieren’s silver eyes held hers and she swore an invisible force was pulling her closer.

“Just how well do you know each other?” Jin asked.

“I’d say we know each other pretty well, wouldn’t you?” Kieren reached out to tuck an errant strand of hair behind her ear before tracing her cheek with a lingering touch. “I missed you.”

“I missed you too,” she whispered back.

A pair of strong arms encircled her waist, and Lia allowed herself to be wrapped in his embrace. This was Kieren. This was home. His arms tightened around her, and before she knew it, tears overflowed and trickled down her cheeks. She swiped them away, not wanting anyone to see how close she was to falling apart.

“I’m here,” he murmured in her ear. “You’re not alone. I’ve got you now.”

“The queen’s heir is a dragon shifter too?” Fane asked.

Kieren left his arm around her waist. “No. She’s not. She’s different.”

“She’s a unicorn shifter,” Jin said.

All eyes turned to Lia expectantly, and she wished briefly that the ground would open up and swallow her.

“I’m not a unicorn.” She looked at Kieren. “I mean, I know what you said before, but I don’t think I am. I haven’t shifted or anything like that.”

“But you’ve not yet had the opportunity, have you?” Jin eyed the metal collar around her neck before turning to Caird. “They’re the ones in your painting, aren’t they?”

“What painting?” Kieren asked.

“I’ve been wondering about your relationship this whole time.” Azriel stepped between Jin and Caird. “Caird’s your father. The one who abandoned you and your sister.”

“Yes, I am Meridian and Jin’s father,” Caird said. “My parents were two of the most powerful prophets in Verdura. Frightened by my mismatched eyes, they convinced the Tree Fairies to take me in as a child. There, I regained the usage of some of my voice and I married one of their own. It was my intention to live the rest of my life there, until I began having a recurring vision of a dragon and unicorn fighting. The image was so vivid, I captured it in paint and brought it to Elladia to show the queen. But when Fearson saw my different-colored eyes, he imprisoned me and eventually forced me to stay here at the mines.”

“You never should have left us,” Jin said. “Now Meridian and I are both trapped as well.”

Caird signed something with his hands, but Jin looked away. “It’s too late now.”

The older man’s hands moved again, but Jin didn’t say a word.

“Your painting is beautiful,” Lia said. “I saw it in the library. But there’s one thing I don’t understand. If the dragon is Kieren and I’m the unicorn, why are we fighting each other?”

Caird shook his head. “I don’t know. That’s just how the image revealed itself to me. I’m sorry.”

“We’ll take you both with us tonight,” Kieren announced. “Neither of you has to work for Fearson any longer.”

Jin scowled at his father. “I’m not like him. I would never abandon my sister.”

Caird gave Kieren a sad smile. “I appreciate the offer, but like I said before, I will stay here.”

“So it’s the six of us then?” Griffith asked. “Can you carry all of us?”

“I’m not sure,” Kieren said. “But I’m willing to try.”

Lia gave him a guilty look. “Actually, it will only be five.”

Kieren’s hand fell from her waist. “What are you saying?”

Lia knew she was making the right decision, but her heart still broke with every word. “The World Eater lives on an island across from the mines, and Fearson’s taking us there tomorrow. I can’t leave with you. I have to see this through.”

Kieren’s face fell. “No. I won’t let you go alone. It isn’t safe.”

“I can do it,” she found herself growing slightly annoyed. “I thought you trusted me.”

“I do.” Kieren sighed. “But I’m just worried.”

“Don’t worry, dragon shifter.” Azriel’s eyes glinted gold. “She won’t be alone. I’m staying here with Lia. I won’t leave her to deal with my brother on her own.”

The tent flap opened, and the giant guard stepped through. Lia and Azriel immediately shielded the others with their bodies.

“You don’t have to worry. Ordel is with us,” Jin said.

“Really? Then why did he give me a black eye?” Griffith asked.

“They’re heading this way,” the guard muttered.

Lia’s heart began pounding. Seconds later, the tent flap opened again. The second he stepped inside, Howler turned back and yelled, “We’ve found them, my King.”

Oh no. This was bad.

Fearson strode in with Mercer and the redhead guard at his side. “What are you two doing here? This tent was supposed to be off-limits due to a highly contagious illness.” He glared at Lia and Azriel and she could feel the collar beginning to dig uncomfortably around her neck.

“I spoke with Caird, and everyone seems to be feeling much better,” Jin said calmly. “So, I didn’t think it would be a problem if I brought the queen’s heir and your brother to visit.”

Fearson walked past Lia and peered down at Kieren. He reached over as if to touch him. “This one seems fine. Perhaps we should just give him the bracelets now.”

“No!” Lia grabbed Fearson’s arm without thinking.

The king’s eyes glowed. “No?” With a flick of his wrist, the collar around her neck tightened even more. Lia dropped to her knees, tugging at the metal and struggling to breathe.

“Don’t you ever disobey me again.”

The world turned hazy. “Go.” She looked Kieren straight in the eye, pleading him to listen to her. “Go,” she whispered again.

The collar tightened further, cutting into her flesh. Lia gripped the metal, trying to pull it away, her lungs on fire.

“Let her go,” a voice commanded.

The pain immediately ceased.

29 KIEREN

As thousands of razor-sharp blades ripped apart his skin, a pair of wings tore through his back. Roaring, Kieren shredded the tent’s flimsy fabric.

Fearson would pay. He’d hurt Lia. A ball of fire shot from Kieren’s mouth, and he lunged at the king.

“Please, no!” The king’s eyes widened as he backed away.

Another angry blast of fire. How dare he beg for mercy? Images of Lia falling to the ground fueling his anger, Kieren knocked down the king with one swipe. Fearson didn’t get up.

All around him, people shouted, and someone was calling his name. It sounded faint, as if from a distance. But his sole focus was finding Lia. Where was she? Was she safe?

He spotted a tall blond man carrying her body from the fallen tent.

Enemy!

Kieren screamed and snapped at the man with his powerful jaws.

Another shorter man, one with bright violet eyes, stepped between Kieren and the pair. “Snap out of it. Azriel has Lia. She’s safe.” The man drew his sword. “I don’t want to fight you, but I’ll do it.”

The warrior’s voice broke through Kieren’s rage. Why did the man look so familiar? Kieren focused hard, and his memories slowly returned. This was Griffith, his best friend, and the golden-haired man carrying Lia was Azriel. The Verduran could be annoying at times, but he could be trusted to take care of her.

“Lia will be okay!” Griffith yelled.

A tall, red-haired guard strode toward them, a sneer transforming his handsome face. “Good to see I’m not the only one around here with a fiery temper.” The man’s hands lit up with flames, and Griffith and Azriel only just managed to jump out of the way as two orbs of fire shot straight at them.

He wants to play?

From Kieren’s mouth came a blast of heat, meant to scorch the man’s skin right off his bones. The other guards scattered, screaming in fear as flames licked at the remaining scraps of tent. As Kieren paused to admire his handiwork, a shadowy figure walked straight through the fire.

The red-haired man emerged from the blaze, unscathed. “Nice try, but now it’s my turn. I’m going to enjoy watching your world burn.” And then, surprisingly, instead of aiming at Kieren, he shot a blast of heat behind him.

Kieren whipped around to see Ordel, Fane, and Caird running for their lives, the enormous guard carrying Lumen in his arms. With a powerful sweep of his tail, Kieren sent the red-haired fire-wielder flying.

Howler, the green-skinned satyr, rushed at Ordel, brandishing his sword. The giant gently lowered Lumen to the ground and drew his sword with a grunt. As the two fought, Kieren used his tail and fire to keep the other guards away.

Nowhere near as powerful as Ordel, Howler scuttled around, jabbing and stabbing, but the giant managed to block his every move.

“You wasted the king’s gift, you idiot.” Howler’s blade sliced across Ordel’s arm, and his smile widened.

With a loud grunt, Ordel gripped his forearm.

“Surprised?” Howler sneered. “Your stones won’t protect you against my weapons. They’re poisoned. It’s too late for you and your little girl.”

Ordel turned around, searching for Lumen. Howler took the opportunity to stab a blade straight through Ordel’s leather vest. With a gasp, the giant man fell to his knees.

Howler loomed over him. “Say goodbye to your little red-haired friend. I will enjoy making her my own personal plaything.”

An angry holler exploded from Ordel’s mouth as he swung his arm, and with one fell swoop, he severed Howler’s head from his shoulders. As the satyr’s lifeless body tumbled to the ground, Ordel’s eyes met Kieren’s for a moment. And then he too collapsed and lay still.

Caird rushed over and rolled up the fallen man’s sleeves; black veins crisscrossed both arms.

“It’s too late,” Caird cried out in his scratchy voice. He dashed off into the smoke. Nearby, Fane clutched Lumen’s unmoving body with one hand and shakily held a blade in the other.

Stationing himself in front of the pair, Kieren peered into the surrounding smoke and flames. Where were the others?

Griffith appeared out of the haze, holding a piece of cloth over his mouth. “More guards are heading this way. Besides the man with fire, none of them seem to have any real magical abilities, and Azriel’s managing to hold some of them off. Jin’s disappeared. The king is still unconscious, and Mercer’s guarding him. And Lia’s still unresponsive. What do we do now?”

Caird staggered over, coughing and wheezing. He shoved a bag into Fane’s hands. “Brew this like you would tea and give it to Lumen when she wakes. You have to go, now. Take your friends. Before the king wakes.”

Griffith glanced at Fane and Lumen. “What about Lia and Azriel?”

There was no way Kieren was leaving her. Not again.

A handful of guards emerged from the smoke, their arrows aimed straight at them.

“Fire!” one of the men shouted.

Caird and Griffith dashed behind Kieren. Arrows rained down from overhead, but his impenetrable scales shielded the others from serious injury. With a roar, Kieren unleashed fire on his enemies. Most men fell to the ground, screaming, their bodies consumed by flames. The remaining few scrambled back.

Another figure joined the fray. His hair glowing red, flames shot from his hands. Kieren unleashed his own flame in response, and the two merged to create a ball of fire so brilliant the sky momentarily lit up as bright as day. Without pausing, the redhead released another burst of fire. But anticipating his assault, Kieren again met the flames with his own.

His opponent suddenly stopped, his handsome face warped in pain. Grabbing his wrist, the redhead winced as thin veins of black snaked out from around his bracelet.

“Careful, I told you not to overexert yourself.” Fearson strolled up, surrounded by a group of guards.

Kieren tensed. If the king and his men were here, where were Lia and Azriel?

As if reading his mind, the king called out, “Bring out my traitor of a brother.”

A couple of guards dragged Azriel over. They’d bound his hands with metal cuffs, and his face was already darkening from the welts around his cheeks and eyes. Despite being chained, Azriel still had the audacity to glare at his the king.

Kieren growled when he saw one of the guards assigned to Azriel—Jin. The fairy stared straight ahead, his face expressionless.

“What is Jin doing?” Griffith muttered.

Fearson motioned with his hand, and Azriel was forced to his knees.

“Mercer, bring out the heir,” the king commanded.

The smirking, round guard approached with Lia’s body and placed it on the ground. Removing his glove, he placed his hand right over her face.

Kieren’s blood turned like ice in his veins.

“Give up, dragon shifter,” Fearson said. “I have captured your accomplices. My brother’s in chains, and the queen’s heir lies unconscious.”

The small golden blade floated out of Lia’s boot and flew through the air, straight into the king’s hands.

“When the dragons and their Prime attacked, our people struggled to fight back,” Fearson explained. “As with you, arrows were ineffectual against the dragons’ scales. And you monsters burned or tore apart any man who dared to come close. Our queen tasked her best potion makers and spell casters for help. Together, they created a magical blade, the Dragon Slayer, which she used to defeat your Prime. No one knew what happened to it after the war. It completely disappeared.”

Fearson held aloft the golden weapon that Kieren had given to Lia all those months ago. Something tightened around his heart on seeing his gift in the king’s hand. “Strange, isn’t it, that this particular blade, used by one of Lia’s ancestors to kill one of yours, should have landed in her possession?”

Fearson walked over to Lia and pushed aside her hair to examine her face.

Get your hands off of her!

Kieren took a step forward, but Mercer lowered his hand until it hovered right over her exposed neck. “If you try anything, you’ll regret it.”

“Silence!” The king pointed at Caird. “You have the two different colored eyes, but you have no powers.” He peered at Kieren, his brow furrowed as if he was trying to work something out. “And you are the first dragon that we’ve seen in years, so it makes sense that the prophecy refers to you.” The king turned back to Lia. “Her grandmother degraded herself by wedding that Solairan peasant, which makes the heir a child of two worlds. And the World Eater contacted her. Could it be? Is she the true Light?”

Loud laughter cut through the air. “That would make you the imposter, wouldn’t it?” Azriel’s gaze was defiant. “Isn’t that how the prophecy goes? ‘Mourn, great Verdura, covered in blood. Your people imprisoned; your treasure not enough. Your magic now gone; your heroes have flown. An unworthy imposter claims a stolen sacred throne.’” Azriel’s eyes glowed gold. “That seems to describe you, doesn’t it, my imposter King?”

Fearson snarled, and with a flick of his wrist, the blade flew from his hand and repeatedly plunged itself into Azriel’s stomach. The golden-haired man gasped and dropped to the ground. Kieren could only stand there and watch, the air stripped from his lungs.

With one jerk of Fearson’s hand, the golden blade returned to him. “Now, let us finally take care of this ridiculous prophecy once and for all. Farewell, dragon.”

Again, the golden blade whizzed through the air; this time, much faster than Kieren had expected.

But the blow never came, as someone ran in front of him.

Caird!

The older man collapsed to the ground with a gasp. His hand wrapped weakly around the weapon impaled in his chest. “Tell Ophira I love her. And tell Jin and Meridian that I love them and that I’m sorry.”

And with that, the old miner closed his eyes and took his very last breath.

30 LIA

Lia groaned. Her head was pounding, and the acrid smell of smoke filled her nostrils. She cracked her eyes open. One of Fearson’s guards stood over her, and everywhere she looked, bursts of fire and smoky black clouds filled the air.

It seemed like the whole world had gone to flames.

“Mourn, great Verdura, covered in blood, your people are imprisoned, your treasure not enough.”

Recognizing Azriel’s voice, she tilted her neck, straining to hear.

“Your magic, now gone, your heroes have flown. An unworthy imposter claims a stolen sacred throne. That seems to describe you, doesn’t it, my imposter King?”

Was he speaking to Fearson? Lia tried to see, but guards stood between her and Azriel. A sense of dread filling her stomach, she glanced up at the man standing over her, fearful that he’d realized she was awake. Luckily, the guard seemed more interested in the commotion happening in front of them than in her.

“He’s going to do it,” her guard growled. “Fearson’s finally going to shut his brother up.”

Lia froze.

She couldn’t see what was happening, but she heard the crowd’s collective gasp. The guards pulled back to reveal Azriel lying on the ground.

No! It couldn’t be. Lia stifled the sob that fought to escape.

Azriel’s head slowly turned to her. “Run,” he mouthed.

“Now, let us finally take care of this ridiculous prophecy once and for all,” Fearson cried. “Farewell, dragon.”

The guard left her side and joined the others to watch what was about to happen.

Lia swiped at her tears and stumbled to her feet just in time to see a golden blade flying through the air, heading straight for Kieren.

No!

But the weapon never reached its target. Caird ran in front of Kieren and the blade struck his chest instead. Clutching the knife, the miner dropped to the ground. Kieren let out a wailing roar and nuzzled the fallen man. But Caird didn’t move.

Again, the king waved his hand; however, nothing happened this time. Sprawling black veins covered his arms. “Give me your stones,” Fearson yelled at the nearest guard.

The red-haired man tore off his bracelets and handed them over.

The king fastened them around his wrists. Then, closing his eyes, he began to murmur. Although Lia couldn’t hear his words, she knew what would happen. This time, the blade wouldn’t miss.

A sense of determination filled her. She had to protect Kieren. The collar around her neck burned, as if sensing her intentions. Pushing through the pain, she sprinted toward the dragon as fast as she could.

As fast as hope.

As fast as light.

And the world around her shimmered gold.

31 KIEREN

Kieren felt her approach before he saw her. And the instant he laid eyes on the gorgeous creation of bone, muscle, and light, he forgot everything around him.

A unicorn ran toward him, as beautiful as it was magical. Swirling whorls of color flashed beneath its skin.

Kieren? The mythical animal ran up to him and nuzzled his side, her presence acting as a balm to his weary soul. She was comfort and hope and life, all wrapped up in a graceful equine form.

Lia? How did this happen? He eyed the collar around her neck.

I-I don’t know. She turned to face their enemies.

Fearson’s eyes lingered possessively on her. “You are magnificent.”

How dare he look at her like that. Kieren let out a menacing growl. Beside him, Lia flicked her tail and lowered her horn.

“It was hurting Azriel and killing Caird that led you to shift, wasn’t it?” Fearson smirked. “If I’d known that was all it took, I would have killed them both days ago.”

Lia’s horn shone like a beacon. A blast of anger, desperation, and pain burst through Kieren’s mind. He let out a small whimper while around them, the king’s guards dropped their weapons and clutched their heads in pain. Some fell to their knees, moaning in misery.

“She has psychic powers,” Fearson shouted. “But her magic can’t touch me. Not when I have my bloodstones.” He flicked his wrist.

Lia’s horn jerked to the ground. Shaking her head from side to side, she flattened her ears as she tried to step back.

Kieren panicked. What’s he doing to you?

A jumble of pain filled his mind. Fearson was hurting her. With a roar, Kieren took off and flew overhead, spewing fire down on the king and his guards, scattering them. Only Fearson’s red-haired fire-wielder remained, his powers shielding himself and the king. But the Verduran struggled. Without his bracelets, he’d clearly lost much of his strength.

Intent on ending this madness once and for all, Kieren dove toward the king. Fearson ran away as the fire-wielder attacked. Kieren returned fire, shooting out blast after blast of flame.

“Kieren!” Griffith called. “We need to go.”

Lia stood beside his best friend. Fane and Lumen were already on her back.

Can you change back? Kieren asked her.

I’m not sure.

That wasn’t good. They’d just have to make a run for it and figure things out once they reached the beach.

I’ll keep my eyes open for the ghastors. Kieren swooped down, intending to grab Azriel.

I’d rather take my chances with them than whatever magic the king’s about to wield. Lia shot Kieren an image of the king rubbing Azriel’s blood onto his cuffs. That’s how he spells the bloodstones. I think he’s going to somehow take Azriel’s power.

Go, Kieren ordered. I’ll hold them off.

But it was too late. A group of guards who’d now recovered from her earlier attack surrounded Lia and the others. Griffith drew his sword as Fane tugged Lumen off Lia’s back. A wild look in her eye, Lia aimed her horn at anyone who came near.

Something’s wrong. She sounded desperate. I’m trying to attack them like I did before. But nothing’s happening.

Lia wasn’t the only one to realize what was going on. Realizing that they weren’t in any immediate danger, some of the braver guards inched forward. Griffith held them at bay with his sword.

Kieren took aim and shot fire at the group. But this time, Fearson’s fire-wielder was ready; he raised his arm and extinguished the flames. Somehow, he’d managed to get another bracelet.

“Lia!” Fearson’s voice cut through the smoky haze. Triumphantly, he held a single black stone aloft, his hands covered in blood.

A shiver ran down Kieren’s spine.

“You belong with me,” Fearson yelled.

Don’t listen to him. Kieren spoke through their bond. Please. Stay with me.

Lia glanced over at Kieren, her eyes filled with fear. I can’t help it. I have to obey. She took a hesitant step forward.

Kieren landed between Lia and the king. Some of the guards lunged to attack, but he swiped at them with his claws and tail.

“Come here.” The king’s voice rang with authority.

Lia took another step.

“That’s right. Obey me. My voice is the only one that matters, the only one you want to please. The dragon and his friends are your enemies. His kind hurt our people.”

Lia? Kieren called, desperate to stop her. Ignore him. Don’t give in.

Her thoughts now a mere whisper in his mind, Kieren strained to hear them. You have to leave. I don’t want to hurt any of you.

“Kill the dragon’s friends,” Fearson commanded. “Break his spirit. And when you’re done, kill the beast.”

Lia slowly turned around to face Griffith and the others, her fear and confusion overwhelming Kieren.

No! Kieren screamed. You have to fight this.

Griffith raised his sword to Lia.

Lia’s unicorn hesitated only briefly before she lowered her head.

32 LIA

No!

A red-hot current branded her body. Lia struggled against the compulsion, but with every passing second, the urge to obey the king grew stronger.

“It’s time to make him pay,” Fearson yelled.

Seeming to realize what was about to happen, Griffith dropped his sword and ran in front of Fane and Lumen.

Every muscle and sinew in her body exploded. I’m sorry, she whispered.

A giant blast of energy tore through her. Griffith screamed, his body convulsing. And then he tumbled to the ground.

33 KIEREN

No. This couldn’t be happening. Kieren watched in horror as his best friend fell.

“Now it’s the dragon’s turn.” Fearson sounded jubilant. “Kill him.”

Lia? Lia? Kieren screamed.

When her unicorn turned and looked at him, an icy wave washed over Kieren. This wasn’t his Lia. It was like he was staring into the dead eyes of a stranger.

Forced to make a decision, Kieren flapped his wings and grabbed Griffith and Lumen with his claws. Then, lowering his head, he breathed a small gust of fire, hoping that Fane would understand.

The boy scrambled onto Kieren’s back.

As the guards surrounded them, Kieren leapt into the sky, hoping he wasn’t too late to save Griffith.

I love you. Kieren sent out the last thoughts, desperate for her to hear. I will be back for you. Please forgive me.

But she didn’t respond.

34 LIA

Sage and Minerva had called her the Light. But they were wrong. Lia was no savior; she was a monster. She’d given in to Fearson’s command. She’d killed Griffith. As the agony that wracked every cell of her body subsided, lightheaded and nauseous, Lia swayed on her feet.

But Fearson wasn’t done. He opened his mouth and uttered the next unspeakable order, “Now it’s the dragon’s turn. Kill him.”

The fresh barrage of pain came without warning. The power behind the command coaxed and bellowed, demanding to be obeyed. Eroding her willpower, it threatened that she would live in constant torment unless she gave in.

Lia fought against her traitorous body, but her horn lowered.

For a moment, the dragon stared into her eyes.

Run! she screamed. Run!

The black dragon grabbed the others and shot up into the night sky.

He was safe.

But now, she was alone.

Broken by what she’d done, Lia knelt on the ground.

Footsteps drew closer until Fearson leaned over her. “Blue and green,” he murmured. “I knew it. You are the Light.”

Desperate to get away, Lia tried to stand.

“Stay still,” the king commanded.

The blast of power behind his words held her in place. She struggled against the order, but pain tore through her body with every refusal to obey. Trembling, she finally stopped.

“You won’t hurt me or my men.” His voice held no fear or doubt. “Tie the ropes around her,” he ordered.

Two guards placed a halter around her face and pulled it tight. Lia whipped her head back and forth, trying to get free. But it was no use, the bands painfully cut into her skin.

“You’re much stronger than the others. Most would immediately succumb to my will, especially as I used a bloodstone spelled with Azriel’s blood. But you fought it.” Fearson touched her face, and Lia tried to pull away.

“You avoid my touch but are friends with that disgusting dragon shifter? Bring my brother here.”

Azriel? Lia watched in fear as two guards dragged her friend over. One of the guards she recognized as Jin. He avoided Lia’s gaze.

She studied Azriel’s stomach wound; it didn’t look good. A low moan escaped his lips, and Lia seized hold of the sound, wrapping it around her heart like a shield. There was still hope. Azriel was alive.

Fearson pulled out a blade and placed it beside his brother. “You’ve already killed one friend. How would you like to be responsible for the death of your beloved?”

What was Fearson going to make her do? Lia reared and tried to pull away. She couldn’t stay there. She wouldn’t hurt someone else she cared about.

The guards dragged her back.

Fearson ran the blade down Azriel’s arm. A thin rivulet of red stained his clothes. “Bow to me, Lia, and you can save him. But if you continue to disobey, he will pay the price.”

Heart racing, Lia watched as one of the guards handed Fearson a pair of metal cuffs.

“I was going to use these on your dragon shifter. But they’ll do quite nicely for you, especially once I add these stones.” Fearson placed a bloodstone on top of each bracelet. Closing his eyes, he whispered several words.

The metal bubbled and liquified, engulfing the stones to create a new set of cuffs. By the time he’d completed the task, crisscrossing black veins wound up his arms. Not seeming to care, Fearson stalked over and snapped one of the bracelets around her front leg.

The metal burned her skin and Lia tossed her head back and let out a whinny.

Fearson grabbed her harness. “Trust me, you’ll be happier once this is all over. My brother hurts women. Tellie went through something similar to forget Azriel. And she’s much better now.” With a flourish, he snapped on the second cuff.

Suddenly, all of her fears melted away. She felt nothing. She was nothing.

“Lia?”

She gazed up at the man who’d spoken. Lia? Was that her name?

“Do you know who I am?” he asked.

She tipped her head to one side and shook it. No. She didn’t know who he was, but she had the strongest desire to please him.

“Take off the harness.”

The man wearing the twisted crown with black stones reached out, and Lia lowered her head, allowing him to run his hands over her face, back, and flanks. “You were beautiful as a woman. But you are even more exquisite in this form.” He smiled. “My brother was an idiot. He had a unicorn and the Light in his possession, and he never even knew. But you belong to me now. And I know just what to do with you.”

Lia didn’t move. She belonged to him; she lived only to serve him.

“Do you know this person?” The man with the crown pointed to a bloodied figure on the ground.

She studied the injured stranger, her eyes settling on the injury on his stomach. No. She shook her head. She did not know him.

Her answer appeared to please the white-haired man. “My name is Fearson. I am the King of Verdura, and this man is a traitor. You and I are to be married. Would that please you?”

Lia whinnied. Yes, it would. Very much.

Fearson smiled, and Lia basked in it, wanting only to make him smile again.

“Obey me and you will be revered as the glorious creature you are.”

Lia bowed again. Yes. She would be whatever the king wanted her to be.

“We need to show everyone what happens to those who disobey me. It is time, Lia. Use your power on him.”

She lowered her horn, ready to strike.

But the man on the ground chose that moment to awaken. His golden eyes gazed at her with sympathy, and Lia hesitated. Why was this man expressing compassion and not fear? He’d just been sentenced to death.

“Do it. Now,” Fearson insisted. “Mete out your punishment, my love.”

Lia swept the doubt from her mind. The man before her was a traitor. He would get what he deserved. As energy shot from her horn, the golden-haired man clutched his stomach and screamed. His eyes closed, and his body sagged.

“Take him away,” the king commanded.

Two guards dragged the unmoving body away. One of them stared back at her, his eyes flashing orange.

A brief flutter of concern brushed against the insides of her belly. What had she done?

But the king’s pleased smile quieted her rising panic. She’d done what she had to. What he’d wanted her to.

“I am proud of you. Now, shift back,” Fearson commanded.

Bones snapped, and flesh poured into another form. Lia opened her eyes, staggering as the cold air nipped at her naked body.

Someone draped a blanket around her shoulders. Gripping her hand, the king led her into a tent. “Rest. Once you regain your strength, we will rule over a new world.”

Obediently, Lia lay down on the bed inside and shut her eyes. The king’s presence faded, leaving her completely and utterly alone.

Sadness wound itself around her heart, digging its roots in deep, and didn’t let go. She missed him so much.

Who was she thinking about? Who did she miss?

The king, of course, she reminded herself. She loved Fearson; she lived only to make him happy. And with that thought on her mind, she drifted off asleep.

35 KIEREN

“Keep following the coast,” Fane yelled.

Although sick with fear, Kieren continued following the winding, rocky coastline that slithered along the black seas. Angry, dark thoughts taunted and plagued him as they flew late into the night.

Had he made the right decision? Azriel was injured, most likely dead. Caird had sacrificed himself in Kieren’s place. Lumen still hadn’t woken up, and Griffith hadn’t moved since…

Kieren let out a low, anguished moan as the sense of dread sitting in the pit of his stomach threatened to overwhelm him.

Lia had hurt Griffith. Who knew how badly? And Kieren had to leave her behind, in the hands of a demented king, because if there was even a slim chance that his best friend might still be alive, Kieren owed it to him to keep him safe.

The ocean winds rushed against Kieren’s body, causing him to dip lower than he intended. It was growing more and more difficult to maintain altitude. Just as he was about to suggest a short break, something called in the distance, and his head snapped up at the bright, pure sound.

Somewhere nearby was a stone. A giant one, it would seem, if he could hear it from this altitude. Kieren tilted his head toward the coast, but the sound wasn’t coming from there.

“Home is that way.” Fane pointed to a small group of islands surrounded by seemingly infinite waters.

Kieren turned his body in that direction and the note burst into a dazzling melody before dropping off to a quiet hum. Fane’s arms tightened around his neck as they descended onto the main island. Then, with more gentleness than ever before, Kieren landed on his back legs and laid Lumen and Griffith on the sand.

The young dragon shifter slipped off his back. “I’ll get my grandfather. He’ll know what to do.” Fane ran up the beach and over a rocky outcrop before disappearing into the surrounding forest.

Kieren shifted back, shedding his scales and claws and clothing himself in human flesh once more. The notes quieted, almost as if muffled under a soft pillow, but Kieren still felt their invisible tug.

“Here.” Someone threw him a pair of pants. “As grateful as I am to you for saving our dragonlings, I’d rather express it to someone with pants on.”

“Grandfather!” Fane said, sounding shocked.

“Yes?”

“Kieren can shift. He is our Alpha, and we should show him proper respect.”

“And I will, lad. When he’s dressed. No one, not even the most powerful dragon, wants to be spoken to when they’re as naked as a baby.”

Kieren quickly put on the pants. When he turned around, a bald man with a shockingly white beard stared back at him from beneath a pair of dark, bushy eyebrows. The older shifter held Kieren’s gaze for quite some time before finally glancing away.

“My name is Mica.” The man’s voice was low and gravelly. “I’m Fane’s grandfather and leader of our clan. Thank you for bringing our dragonlings home.” He gave a slight bow and placed his right hand over his heart.

“Lumen?” A woman with bright red hair emerged from the group of shifters that had now joined them on the beach. All wearing ragged clothing, they stared at Kieren with open curiosity.

“What happened to her?” The woman leaned over the girl.

Fane handed her the bag from Caird. “Lumen breathed in some of the gas in the mine. We’ll need to give her this when she wakes up.”

The woman opened the bag and peered inside. “Mungwort and Pelargonium?”

“The healers said they would help,” Fane explained.

The woman embraced the boy. “Thank you for taking care of my little girl.”

Fane pulled out of the woman’s hold, looking embarrassed. “It was nothing. Lumen was the brave one; she came to rescue me.” He walked over to Kieren and removed a slender golden knife from his boot. “This is for you.”

Although he’d hoped to never again see that tainted blade, Kieren accepted it anyway. All those months ago, he’d gifted the weapon to Lia, not realizing its sinister past. And today, the cursed knife had claimed the lives of two good men.

Fane’s face fell. “I couldn’t leave it there.”

Kieren imagined the boy pulling the blade from Caird’s body. He placed a reassuring hand on Fane’s shoulder. “You were very brave to get it out.”

The boy shook his head. His bottom lip quivered. “No. I wasn’t.”

Understanding how it felt to process tragedy at a young age, Kieren kneeled beside Fane and spoke the words that he wished his father had told him. “Being brave doesn’t mean you’re never scared. Being brave means doing what needs to be done, even when it frightens you. You did the right thing. If they’d kept the knife, they could have hurt me. You were brave. And I am forever in your debt.”

Fane’s eyes widened, round like two full moons, and he stood a little taller.

“Is that what I think it is?” Mica walked forward. “The Dragon Slayer?”

“Yes.” And Kieren wanted nothing to do with it.

“May I?”

Kieren gladly let the blade go.

“It’s stained.” The man eyed Kieren, assessing his body for injuries. “Yet, you are whole.”

Kieren knew what the man was saying. How was he still standing when this horrible knife was covered in death?

“It isn’t my blood. A good friend died protecting me.” He swallowed. And how had he repaid those good deeds? With an act that seemed as cowardly as the others were brave. He may have escaped to keep Griffith safe, but there was no doubt in his mind that he’d failed the person he most cared for.

“My name is Tindra. I’m Lumen’s mother and the village healer.” The red-haired woman motioned to Griffith. “Did your friend also breathe in the mine’s fumes?”

“No,” Kieren replied. “He was attacked.”

Tindra brushed a hand over Griffith’s temple. “I’ve never seen anything like this. His body has completely shut down. It’s almost like he’s in a spelled sleep.” She frowned. “Who did this to him?”

Kieren flinched as an image of Griffith crumpling to the ground appeared in his mind.

“It was a unicorn,” Kieren finally replied.

The other shifters standing around them gasped. Disbelief emanated from the crowd.

“How can that be?” Tindra’s eyebrows rose. “We’ve not seen a unicorn shifter in decades.”

“Kieren speaks the truth,” Fane added. “The queen’s heir transformed into a unicorn. She tried to protect us. But then, somehow, the king was able to control her. And he forced her to attack her friend.”

At that, the other shifters’ voices increased in volume.

“The king is forcing a unicorn shifter to do his bidding?” a voice called out.

“He must be stopped.” A shifter with long, braided black hair and a face full of angles stepped forward. “Far too long we’ve stood by and done nothing. Teach us, Alpha. Show us how to shift.”

As the crowd grew louder, the faraway note increased in volume as if signaling its agreement.

But Kieren wasn’t so sure. “I don’t know if I can. I’m not like you.”

“But we’ve seen you do it. You can access your dragon!” a short, stocky man called out.

“He’s selfish. He wants to secret the secret to himself,” a woman accused.

The crowd’s support waned.

You’d better explain it all to them quickly, his dragon warned.

Kieren agreed. “I wasn’t born a shifter,” he addressed the crowd. “I was cursed to become one.”

“That’s not possible!”

“He’s lying!”

“No Verduran can become a dragon shifter.”

Others joined in, voicing their agreement.

Regardless of how we came to be, I am real, his dragon said darkly. You need to take control of this crowd. Make them obey.

Obey? Kieren shot back. He had seen what happened when people were compelled to carry out others’ orders. No. There’s no need to force them into submission. We’ll just figure out a way to resolve this without hurting anyone.

And how will we do that?

Kieren didn’t know. He took a step closer to Griffith, readying himself to pull his friend away if things grew violent.

Fane stood beside Kieren, a scowl on his face. “You saw him!” the boy shouted back at the crowd. “Who of you can shift? Who of you can hear stones?”

Nobody said a word after that.

Fane crossed his arms over his chest. “That’s what I thought. Who cares how Kieren became a shifter? He’s more powerful than all of us, which makes him our Alpha. And he saved me and Lumen. I say we take him to the Stone. And then we see.”

A note rang clear and loud in Kieren’s mind before once more diminishing to a background hum. Beside him, Lumen stirred and began coughing.

“Fane’s stupid yelling woke me up.” The girl coughed again and then shot Kieren an accusatory glare. “I can’t believe I missed seeing you shift! You promised I would see your dragon!”

A smile tugged at the corner of Kieren’s lips. “I’m sure something could be arranged.”

Tindra helped her daughter to her feet. “While you debate this man’s credentials, I’m going to cast my lot with Fane. Take Kieren to the Stone. I have more important things to deal with than your fragile egos. My daughter needs my help. So, begging your pardon, Mica. But I’m taking her with me.”

The clan leader nodded. “Of course.”

Before leaving, Tindra folded one arm over her chest and gazed into Kieren’s eyes. “You saved my child and Fane, so you have my loyalty. Bring your friend to my cottage, and I’ll see what I can do.”

Touched by the woman’s offer, Kieren bowed. “Thank you.”

Mica raised his hands, and all eyes turned to him. “Tindra and my grandson are right. This shifter saved two of our own, and he deserves our respect. Tomorrow, I will take Kieren to the Stone, and then, we will see.”

36 LIA

Lia stared out across the sparkling ocean waves, enjoying the way the cool water lapped at her toes as she walked along the sandy shore. Although this picture-perfect world was nothing more than a dream, Lia didn’t care. Here, she could escape the voice that haunted her, the one both velvet and alluring while also slicing into her soul.

An image of a black dragon appeared in her mind. It was so detailed that she could see the purple sheen of its scales and practically feel the heat of its fire against her skin.

Was this another creation of her imagination, or was this an actual memory?

With a shiver, Lia pushed the creature from her mind. The frightening beast must be imaginary; monsters like that didn’t exist in real life.

Lia stared out over the ocean again and smiled.

She liked being alone.

37 KIEREN

“You may stay here with your friend.” Tindra took Kieren to a small one-roomed cottage crammed with several sleeping cots. “This is where we keep our sick and injured. We’re a reasonably hardy folk. Don’t often fall ill, but on the rare occasion we do, Mica insists that our people have a place to heal and rest.”

Her gaze drifted to Griffith, who appeared to be resting peacefully in one of the cots. “There’s nothing I can do for your friend. Hopefully, tomorrow brings better news.”

Kieren nodded. “Thank you.”

“Of course. I meant what I said before: Our whole clan is in your debt. Dragon shifters don’t normally have many offspring, so Fane and Lumen are the only children here. That girl is my bright flame. Her father died years ago, so she is all I have left.”

It was obvious from the expression on the woman’s face that she loved her daughter very much.

“Lumen is fearless,” Kieren said.

Tindra chuckled. “She’s courageous but foolish as well. Such is the balance of childhood, I suppose. Rest well, my Alpha.” She gave Kieren’s arm small squeeze before she left.

He lay down on a cot beside Griffith’s and restlessly turned back and forth. Kieren knew he needed to rest, but how could he with his best friend lying here and Lia somewhere out there being controlled by the king?

How had the days grown so dark?

“Griff?” Kieren paused, wishing he could hear his friend utter another ridiculous joke.

Somewhere outside, a nighttime bird quietly hooted.

“I don’t know if you can hear me, but I hope that you can.” Kieren let the words pour out, not knowing if this was the last time he’d speak to his friend. “Don’t leave me, Griff. You’re more than a friend to me, you know that? You’re my brother. Not the one I was born with, but the one that I chose. Stay with me. Please. I’m going to do everything I can to help you and rescue Lia. But you have to come back to me. I need you by my side.”

His friend didn’t respond.

“I can’t do this alone.” Kieren closed his eyes and fell into a dark and uneasy sleep.

38 KIEREN

Kieren stared across the infinite blue-green waters. Calmness seeping deep into his soul, he watched the waves steadily approach and recede again and again. As he took in the whole glorious shoreline, a lone figure sitting near the edge of the ocean caught his attention.

“Hello?”

The crashing waters buried his greeting. “Hello?” he tried again, this time cupping his hands around his mouth.

The only other person on the beach gave no indication they’d heard him.

Curious, Kieren made his way toward the figure. As he approached, he noticed how the wind coaxed tendrils of wavy hair from a long black braid.

Could it be? Sprinting toward her, his heart raced with equal parts of fear and hope.

“Lia?”

The girl turned her head to look at him.

Relief washed over Kieren. It was her! She wasn’t so far gone that she hadn’t figured out a way to contact him. He fell to his knees and wrapped his arms around her. “I’m so pleased to see you,” he murmured into her hair.

This was Lia. His Lia. Everything was going to be all right.

But instead of returning his hug, Lia pulled away and stared at him, a frown on her face. “Do I know you”

39 LIA

“It’s me. Kieren.”

Lia was about to tell the stranger that she didn’t know him. But the hurt in his eyes unexpectedly tugged at her heart. Cautiously, she studied his features. With full lips and high cheekbones, he was handsome, no question. His slightly too-long bangs flopped over a pair of beautiful silver eyes that stared expectantly into hers.

Uncomfortable with the way his gaze seemed to sear her skin, she scrambled to her feet and backed away. “I don’t know you. I’m sorry.”

He stood and took a step toward her.

Why wasn’t this man getting the point? She didn’t know him. She didn’t want him near. Lia drew her sword and held it out against the stranger. “You can stay if you want, but don’t come close to me.”

“You really don’t remember me?” He reached out, and she lunged with her sword, hoping to warn him off. Kieren quickly stepped back, holding up his hands to show he was unarmed. “I won’t hurt you.” His voice cracked. “I would never hurt you.”

Lia wanted to believe him, but she couldn’t. “How do I know you’re not lying?” Nervously, she peered around. “How did you get into my dream? Did the voice send you?”

“The voice? No. I don’t know who this voice is. It’s just me. Kieren. I care about you.”

She took another step back, shaking her head in disbelief. No one could care about her. “Get away from me,” she snapped. “I know he sent you. But I’m not going back there. I can’t. I won’t.” Her hands began trembling uncontrollably.

Kieren scowled. “It’s the king you’re talking about, isn’t it? What is Fearson making you do? Is he hurting you?” He reached out again, and Lia reacted.

The blade sliced his arm, drawing a line of blood.

He pulled away and Lia dropped her sword in to the sand. She stared at her hands in horror. What had she done?

A hand grabbed her arm, and Lia screamed. “Let go—” The words died in her throat as pictures swirled in her mind.

A golden blade stabbing an older man with two different colored eyes. A warrior with fearful violet eyes running to stand in front of two children. His face frozen in pain as he crumpled to the ground.

Lia tore her arm from his grasp. “What did you just show me?”

“Do you really not remember? They were memories. From the mine.”

Something stirred in the back of her mind, but she pushed it away. Whatever it was, she didn’t want to remember. She came here to forget.

“Don’t you remember Griffith?” he asked. “What about Sage? Azriel? Holly? Or Gabby?”

As he fired off the names one by one, Lia grew increasingly agitated. This stranger seemed to believe that she should know these people. But nothing came to mind. In fact, all that came to mind was the voice, the one that told her what to do and how to think. The one that claimed her beginning and threatened to stay with her until the end. She thought she would be alone here. But who was she kidding? There was no escaping the voice.

Not even here in her dream.

“Please.” Lia couldn’t bear the thought of what would happen once the voice found her again. “I don’t know any of those people. Go away. Leave me alone.”

She turned her back on Kieren and once more watched the ocean waves rush onto the shore. As the beach fell silent behind her, she assumed the man must have taken her advice and left.

Strangely, that both relieved and saddened her.

Something touched the small of her back.

“Don’t touch me!” She spun to face him, energy exploding from her hands, shattering the fragile tranquility of her surroundings.

Moaning, Kieren fell to his knees, his face frozen in a mask of pain.

She backed away. “Don’t touch me again. I don’t want to hurt you.”

As an image of an injured golden-eyed warrior flashed in her mind, Lia hunched over and gasped.

Was that a memory? Had she hurt that man too?

“Look at me, Lia. For moons’ sake, just look at me.”

A pair of strong arms wrapped around her shoulders, holding her together.

“I love you. You belong with me, and I’m going to bring you home.”

The earnest words threatened to unravel the knots of fear in her belly. No, she didn’t know this Kieren, but something deep within told her that he was a good man. Unfortunately, that further solidified why she could never be with him.

Lia lifted her chin, knowing what needed to happen next. “You can’t love me. I belong to him now.”

And with that terrible confession, Kieren disappeared.

40 KIEREN

Kieren awoke in a cold sweat, fear’s icy fingers still gripping his aching heart. That was no ordinary dream. He’d been with Lia, spoken to her even. But she’d had no idea who he was. Somehow, Fearson had managed to wipe her memories completely.

He knew how it felt to be manipulated by someone and to have your memories taken away. But Kieren had made it through those traumatic events with the help of his friends. How was Lia going to survive Fearson’s manipulation when the only person with her was poisoning her mind?

“I’m going to find her, Griff.” He spoke with conviction, but the words felt hollow in his heart. How would he do this alone?

A soft note called from outside.

Desperate to find Lia, Kieren stepped out of the cottage ready to find the stone and leave.

“Morning, Alpha.” The shifter with the long black hair and angular face crossed his arm over his chest and lowered his head.

Kieren stared at the man. “Why does everyone call me that?”

“The alpha is the most powerful shifter in the clan. Given that you’re the only one capable of shifting, I think that title belongs to you, don’t you?”

Kieren frowned. He didn’t feel particularly powerful. “I suppose so. But I prefer to go by Kieren. And what do they call you?”

The man’s dark eyes met his. “Shale. Come, I’m supposed to take you to Mica.”

Kieren followed the other dragon shifter through the clan’s village, taking in the dozens of cozy log homes. Quite a few faces appeared in windows or peered through open doors. Kieren tried to ignore their curious looks, but the burden that years of expectations and broken hopes placed on him weighed heavily.

“What does it feel like?” Shale asked. “To breathe fire and fly?”

The answer came easily. “Exhilarating.”

Is that it? His dragon seemed amused. Surely you can do better than that.

Kieren inwardly sighed, but he tried again. “It feels like freedom and power. Everything looks, smells, and tastes, more vibrant. You feel alive and whole…” He stopped, feeling slightly embarrassed.

“I would give anything to feel that.” Shale gave Kieren a crooked smile before clearing his throat and pointing to a cabin in the center of the village. “We’re here.”

“Morning, Alpha.” Mica, who stood at the cabin’s open front door, placed an arm over his chest. “How did you sleep last night?”

“Not that well. Although it wasn’t due to the accommodations.”

Mica raised an eyebrow.

Kieren shrugged. “Bad dreams,” was all he would say. His moments with Lia were private.

The older man nodded, but he didn’t push, seeming to understand that Kieren didn’t want to discuss it. “There are two members of our clan who are eager to see you again.”

A familiar red-haired girl shot through the front door and ran past Mica. “Kieren!” Stopping just short of colliding with him, Lumen hastily placed her arm across her chest and bobbed. “I mean, my Alpha.”

Seeing the young shifter healthy again brought a smile to Kieren’s face. Fane joined the girl and gave a similar greeting.

“Come inside. You’re just in time for breakfast,” Micah said.

The clan leader’s home was lived-in and comfortable. Kieren and Shale took a seat at the table and Tindra handed them a steaming bowl each of what looked like gruel.

Kieren’s stomach did an uncomfortable flip; he’d eaten enough mush back at the mines to last him a lifetime. But not wanting to be rude, he took a cautious mouthful. Thick and sweet, the porridge was packed with fruit and nuts. “It’s delicious. Thank you.”

Shale grunted in agreement.

Lumen ate a spoonful of her breakfast and then wiped her mouth on her sleeve. “Are you going to see the Stone today and then go back to punish the evil king and rescue your girl?”

“Lumen!” Tindra chastised. Fane covered his mouth with his hand in an unsuccessful attempt to hide his laughter.

The red-headed girl rolled her eyes. “I don’t know why I shouldn’t say what everyone else is already thinking.”

Kieren chuckled. “That seems to be the plan.”

“In that case, you’ll need a second helping.” Tindra rose and filled his empty bowl.

“I wish Fane and I could go with you.” Lumen sighed. “But mother said that facing the Stone is something you need to do on your own and confronting the king is too dangerous.”

Mica nodded. “It is. Fearson is powerful. You’ve seen that firsthand. And you also know that the Stone will only reveal its secrets to a select few. Given that Kieren is the only one of us that can actually shift—”

“The Stone will hopefully reveal itself to him,” Lumen finished. “I know.”

The note floating in the distance trilled in agreement.

Kieren shook his head, trying to dislodge the sound. “What exactly will I learn from the Stone?”

“In the past, each clan’s Alpha would visit the Stone before assuming their role as leader,” Shale said. “It anointed them with the power to connect and lead the others.”

Lumen scowled. “Hopefully Kieren is a better Alpha than the Prime before us.”

Kieren gave Mica a puzzled look, unsure what the young girl was referring to.

Luckily, Fane was practically bursting at the seams to explain. “Three clans once lived together peacefully on our islands, each ruled by a powerful Alpha. No one knew why, but over time, the dragon shifter population declined.”

“Dragons don’t find it easy to fall pregnant,”Tindra added.

“Right.” Fane’s face turned a bright red, but he continued, “One of the Alphas came to believe that the only way for our clans to survive was to unite as one. That Alpha visited the Stone, asking for the power to rule over all three clans. The Stone granted the man his request, and he became the first and only Prime to exist in the history of dragons.”

“But the power proved to be too much,” Lumen jumped in. “It corrupted and twisted him. The Prime became obsessed with expanding our lands. And that’s why we went to war.”

“It was a tragic affair,” Mica continued. Tindra placed a steaming cup of tea next to the clan leader, and he nodded his thanks. “Not everyone agreed with the Prime, but everyone was forced to fight. So many dragons gave their lives to the cause, including the Prime. And then it was made even worse when we realized that, somehow after the war, we’d also lost our ability to shift.”

“Did the Verdurans cast some sort of spell on you?” Kieren asked.

Mica shook his head. “It’s unclear what exactly happened. But even if that were the case, we couldn’t do anything to demand it back. Our clan never regained its numbers.”

“I blame the Prime.” Shale scowled. “Clans pledge their loyalty to their Alpha because they believe in his or her strength, wisdom, and leadership. The Alpha is supposed to provide stability to his clan. And in return, the clan lends its powers to the Alpha during times of need. We were vastly outnumbered during the war. To fight the queen, our Prime drew on all of our powers, including our ability to shift.”

“But that makes no sense.” Tindra gave Shale a long look, and Kieren suspected this wasn’t the first time the two had this discussion. “The power should have returned to the clan once the Prime died. But it didn’t.”

Tindra gave Kieren a sad smile. “None of us have ever shifted, but we can still feel our dragons inside. It is difficult, knowing that a part of you is always just out of reach.”

The loud clatter of a spoon on the table signaled to Kieren that Lumen had left in a hurry.

“Lumen!” Tindra called after her.

“I’ll get her.” Fane followed the girl outside.

Kieren stood up, about to follow, but Mica shook his head. “Some of us feel the absence of their dragons more acutely than others. For Lumen, the loss of her dragon is also coupled with another loss.”

“My husband committed suicide a couple of years ago,” Tindra said quietly. “He was a dominant, like Lumen. And he succumbed to the loneliness of a life without his dragon half.”

Kieren’s heart tightened. Suddenly, the rows of scars on the girl’s arm made sense.

“Sometimes, the brightest of us burn too quickly,” Shale murmured. “I hope the Stone chooses you as worthy because I don’t know how much more loss our village can take.”

41 KIEREN

Fane and Lumen still hadn’t reappeared by the time Kieren left with Mica and Shale, but Tindra didn’t seem particularly worried. “They’ll be fine. They’re safer when they’re together.”

Kieren hoped that was the case.

The trek up the mountain was cool and quiet. Massive trees, their branches covered in dark green needles, towered over them, filling the air with their clean scent. Inside, Kieren could feel his dragon stretching impatiently, yearning to fly overhead. Understanding, he did his best to soothe the creature.

“Where exactly are you from?” Shale’s question sounded innocent enough, but Kieren could sense something a little more than just curiosity on the shifter’s part.

Wanting them to trust him, Kieren decided to tell the truth. “Solair.”

Mica’s eyebrows raised. “The other world?”

“How is that even possible?” Shale scoffed. “The portals between our worlds were closed.”

“They were, but we managed to find a way through.” Kieren proceeded to share the whole story. How the World Eater cursed him, how Lia and Sage rescued him, how he lost his memory, and then regained it along with the ability to fully transform into a dragon.

The two men listened with rapt fascination. But when Kieren got to the part about their arrival in Verdura, both shifters could no longer restrain themselves.

“The girl, the one you believe to be the Light, is the unicorn?” Shale asked.

Kieren nodded.

“And she is currently under the king’s control?”

He nodded again.

Mica rubbed his beard thoughtfully. “Shifters, in general, are pretty uncommon, and unicorn shifters are particularly rare. Their instinct is always to protect. To twist such a creature is an abomination.”

Shale nodded. “We cannot hide from the rest of Verdura any longer. We need to do our part to stop the king.”

In the distance, the note rang loudly again and Kieren’s steps quickened. Hopefully the Stone would provide the answers he was searching for.

The path through the dense woods soon gave way to a steeper and rockier trail. They continued at a good pace, but every so often, Kieren and Shale would stop to wait for Mica to catch up.

“I’m not as spry as I used to be.” A thin sheen of sweat covered the man’s skin.

“You’re still young enough,” Shale said gruffly.

Mica gave him a gentle smile. “I’m surprised that you’re so positive about my health. With me out of the way, you could claim leadership earlier.”

Shale held onto the older man’s arm, helping him up a particularly difficult pass. “I don’t look forward to the day I lose a dear friend.” He shot Kieren a look. “And besides, I don’t know whether I’m the best candidate anymore.”

Did you hear that? Kieren’s dragon whispered. He honors the old ways. You are Alpha here. You could claim the right to rule.

The stone’s soft note began again, quietly humming in the background.

I have no intention of taking over, Kieren answered. Once this is over, I’m taking Griffith and Lia home.

The dragon’s reply was immediate. Really? Wouldn’t you like to stay here? This could be your new home.

Kieren knew what his dragon was implying, but his answer never wavered. No. If they ever defeated Fearson and the World Eater, he’d find a way to be with Lia. She was his home.

“What do you think, Alpha?” Shale asked.

Kieren stared at the shifter’s serious face. “I don’t want to be your clan’s leader.”

Shale looked doubtful. “Perhaps you’ll think differently after speaking to the Stone.”

They continued the rest of the hike in silence. Midway up the mountain, Kieren found himself standing at the mouth of a giant cave. The path carried on past the entrance, but even without Mica and Shale saying a word, Kieren knew there was no need to go any higher. The notes increased in volume, tugging at his heart.

Mica pointed inside. “By the Sacred Stone, may you find the answers that we’re all looking for.”

42 KIEREN

Do you feel it? his dragon purred.

Kieren did. Calling to him, the Stone’s melody drew him closer. Step by cautious step, Kieren ventured deeper within. The cavern soon narrowed to a tunnel which veered a sharp right, plunging him into darkness. As his eyes adjusted to the lack of light, he noticed with surprise that a faint blue glow now covered everything. Kieren continued following the tunnel and soon found himself in another large cavern. In the middle stood an enormous glowing crystal. Taller than a man, it was glossy and blue, with delicate golden veins crisscrossing its mirror-smooth surface.

This was it. The same stone that he’d seen in his dream.

Go on, his dragon urged. Introduce yourself. Tell her what you want.

Her?

Do you have a problem with female stones?

Kieren could almost imagine his dragon laughing. No. Of course he didn’t. He cleared his throat. “Hello. My name is Kieren, and I’m from Solair. I was cursed to become a dragon shifter and I’m here today, hoping that you could help the clan unlock their powers.”

The melody abruptly stopped and the Stone’s light pulsed brightly. Kieren held up his hands to shield his eyes.

Is that all? his dragon asked. Because I think she can sense that you’re lying.

Of course she could. Apparently, this was a magical sentient stone.

“That’s only part of the reason why I’m here. I also need your help. The king has control of someone I love and my friend Griffith is very sick. I want to help all of them, but I’m no hero. I need your help.”

The Stone began softly humming again.

Keep going.

Kieren placed a hand on the Stone and whispered his next words as a reverent prayer, “Please help me to be more than I am to help those that I love.”

The melody rang triumphantly as a swirl of images flooded his mind.

A gray dragon with a twisted crown of horns flew toward a castle of peridot, raging as he lit the world on fire. Hundreds of dragons, ranging from deep green to the brightest red, followed him. A queen with long brown hair and a face full of freckles, wielding the power of the earth, fought him, trying to protect her people. A golden blade anchored in the gray dragon’s chest.

Kieren couldn’t believe what he was seeing. The stone was showing him the war between the dragon shifters and the Verdurans. But why did the Prime in his vision so closely resemble the last dragon Kieren had hunted in Solair?

Notes thundered around him and a kaleidoscope of images dragged Kieren back into the past.

A man peered at the gray dragon, now bound and chained.

Kieren gasped, instantly recognizing the man. Fearson.

Several warriors dragged the Prime through a forest of rainbow-colored trees. As they stood in front of a large white stone, one said a few words and waved his hand. The dragon struggled as the Verdurans dragged him toward the stone and through the portal.

The melody stopped, and all was silent.

Kieren tore his hand away from the Stone. Despite what everyone believed, the Prime hadn’t been murdered during the war. The Verdurans had kidnapped him and taken him into Solair, where, years later, he was found and killed by Kieren and his hunters.

The Stone’s veins glowed.

Keep going, his dragon whispered.

The dragon shifters lost their ability to change forms because the Prime had been transported to Solair.

And where did you get your ability to shift? his dragon asked.

From the World Eater. He had forced Minerva and Ariadne to create more dragon shifters. Kieren remembered what Sage had told him all those months ago: The spell they’d cast required dragon’s blood to work.

And which dragon did they draw blood from?

The gray dragon. The Prime.

Kieren’s powers came from the Prime. And the only reason Kieren had been cursed to become a dragon was that the World Eater demanded it. But why would Verdura’s enemy want to create a new dragon? A dragon was meant to help the Light destroy him.

Why indeed?

As the Stone glowed even brighter, Kieren could feel both his dragon and the Stone pushing him to make the jump in logic.

Why would their enemy try to help the Light? It made no sense. Unless the one they called the World Eater wasn’t actually the prophesied destroyer of the worlds.

The dragon inside him roared as the Stone flashed a brilliant white. When Kieren opened his eyes again, a tall man with gray hair and piercing, black eyes stood before him. The man bore a striking resemblance to Shale.

Even though Kieren had never met this man before, he knew that this was the Prime.

“The Stone wants to offer you a gift,” the Prime murmured. “You were cursed to become a dragon. When you killed me in the dungeons of Hearst Castle, you absorbed my power and the power of the entire clan. You were given no say in what happened. But the Stone is giving you the opportunity to choose. You may remain a dragon shifter, or you can return back to your formal self.”

Kieren could scarcely believe what he was hearing. “You mean I don’t have to be a dragon shifter anymore?”

The Prime nodded. “The Stone gives, and the Stone takes away. Just say the word, and she will remove the curse. You would no longer be a dragon. It’s what you’ve wanted all this time, isn’t it?”

For a second, Kieren considered the possibility. There was a time when he would have leapt at the chance to be normal again, but now he wasn’t so sure any longer. “What about Lia and the prophecy?”

“The words never specified which dragon would help the Light. Release my powers, and one of the other shifters could help the girl instead.”

The Stone hummed again, as if impatient for Kieren’s response.

His heart tightened. He may have hated being a dragon before, but now Kieren knew that his abilities would help him fight by Lia’s side. “I choose to remain a dragon shifter. But I also choose to share your powers with the clan. I know I won’t be as powerful, but it’s the right thing to do.”

The older man tilted his head, studying Kieren. “You are a better dragon than I, my Alpha.” He placed his right arm over his heart and bowed. “You were a worthy opponent, and I shall miss you.”

A bright red light shot from the Stone and a wave of power struck Kieren square in the chest.

43 LIA

Lia hugged her knees to her chest and watched the waves ebb and flow on the sand. She was alone once again. But the water no longer had a calming effect. Kieren had done what she asked and left; however, she found herself even more anxious. It was as if a part of her heart had gone with him.

None of this made sense. How could she miss someone she’d only just met?

“Lia.”

The voice caused her to snap to attention.

It was him. Rebellion flared. She wouldn’t respond. Not this time. Not again. She clutched her knees tighter and shut her eyes, willing him to go away.

“Lia!”

The voice commanded her to heel, like a dog at its master’s table. But she ignored it. She would stay here, where she was safe.

“Wake up. Now.”

She tried to hold onto her surroundings, but the dream faded, and Lia awoke, lying in bed inside a large tent. A man with rich brown skin, delicate features, and the most startling yellow eyes stood nearby. “Good morning, my heir. How are you feeling?”

Panicked, she sat up. “Who are you? What are you doing here?”

The man bowed. “My name is Jin. I am one of the king’s guards, and I was assigned to watch over you.”

The king. That’s right. Lia was betrothed to the king. She loved him. He’d given her the bracelets on her arms. Lia studied the jewelry, noting how each cuff contained a single black stone. They were undoubtedly beautiful, but the metal felt cumbersome and heavy. She took hold of one to slide it off, then froze. No. She wasn’t supposed to take them off. Ever. Lia’s hand dropped, and she was suddenly filled with an intense desire to see the king.

“When can I see my betrothed?”

“I will take you to him once you’re dressed.” Jin turned to leave the tent.

An inexplicable fear crept over her. “Wait. Please. I know I’m seeing my betrothed, but I’m nervous, and I don’t understand why.” She bit her lip.

The man turned around and his eyes changed from yellow to orange. “There was some fighting earlier. A dragon got into the mines, and you were injured. Several of the guards died, along with the king’s brother.”

Lia tried to conjure an image of the man, but her mind just drew a blank. “Did I know him?”

The guard nodded. “You did. Perhaps that’s why you feel uneasy.”

Yes. Of course. That must be it. “I’m sorry about what happened to Fearson’s brother.”

“As am I, my heir.”

“And what happened to the dragon? Was the monster captured and killed?”

“No.” An unreadable emotion flitted across Jin’s face.

Lia couldn’t understand why she felt relieved knowing that the dragon was somewhere out there, still alive.

Jin made his way to the tent’s entrance. “I will wait outside.”

Lia got out of bed and found the simple brown dress that someone had laid out on a nearby chair. She took off her nightgown and put it on. Its coarse material scratched at her arms, and the fit wasn’t quite right. Not thinking too much of it, she quickly braided her hair, washed her face, and rinsed her mouth out with water, wishing that she had something to clean her teeth.

An image of a tube and a small colorful brush appeared in her mind. She looked around. Neither brush nor tube was anywhere in sight.

“Jin?” she called out.

“Yes, my heir?”

“Do you happen to have any toothpaste?”

“Toothpaste?”

“You know. It’s white. Minty. Comes in a plastic tube. You use it to brush your teeth. Or I’d make do with some mouthwash.”

After a long silence, he finally responded: “My apologies, my heir. We don’t have those things here in Verdura.”

Lia hesitated. If they didn’t have the items here, then where had she learned about them? “Have I ever lived outside of Verdura?”

Another lengthy pause. “I don’t think so.”

Confusion and doubt began to creep in. It seemed like Jin was keeping things from her, but she wasn’t sure why.

Lia stepped cautiously outside the tent. Jin bowed when she appeared and handed her a piece of cheese and some bread. “The king has already eaten. He wants me to escort you to the boat.”

Right. A boat. So they were taking a trip. Lia nibbled on the food as Jin led her through a village consisting solely of canvas tents. Every so often, one of the inhabitants would bow when she walked by.

As they walked, Lia grew increasingly uncomfortable with the appearance of those they passed. Few wore shoes while many had loud, hacking coughs that rattled their gaunt frames. Most carried heavy baskets filled with rocks and dirt.

“They’re miners, my heir,” Jin explained. “They work for the king.”

The man she was marrying was responsible for the state of these people? More doubt crept in when she spotted a child with a particularly emaciated form. But before it could take root, Lia squashed it down. Fearson was a good man. He must have good reason to treat his workers this way.

Leaving the village behind, they made their way down a sloping trail. In the distance, the sparkling ocean beckoned.

“Do you know where the king is taking me?”

“That is for him to tell you.”

She stared at Jin for a moment, now certain that the guard was hiding something from her. “Before I was injured and lost my memories, were we friends?”

“No, my heir. We were not friends. We only just met.”

Again, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something more lay beneath his words. “I see. But besides the king, did I have any friends here?”

Jin paused mid-step. “You did.”

“Where are they?” Lia asked.

The guard resumed walking; this time, with a quickened pace. “The dragon took them away.”

Took them away? Does that mean that the beast didn’t kill them? Lia pondered Jin’s choice of words until their path brought them to the sandy shore, where Fearson waited beside a boat.

“My dear, you look well-rested.”

Lia gave a small curtsy. “Thank you, my King.”

“There’s no need for such formalities here.” Fearson took her hand, and her heart fluttered nervously. “Has anyone ever told you that your eyes are extraordinary? Blue as the sea and green as new spring grass. I never imagined I’d see such a combination in my lifetime.”

Before she could respond, the king leaned in and kissed her. His lips demanding against hers, she yielded.

“You are exquisite,” he breathed.

Lia’s cheeks burned. “Thank you.”

Fearson stepped aboard the wooden boat bobbing in the shallows, avoiding a large brown blanket and several barrels that covered one side of its deck. He turned and held out his hand, helping Lia to hop into the vessel. With a grunt, Jin pushed them farther into the water before jumping in.

Fearson looked at the guard in amusement. “If the boat is too heavy, perhaps next time I should get someone a bit stronger to row us to the island?”

“Whatever you wish, my King,” Jin replied as he began rowing.

Fearson returned his attention to her. “Now, my darling, I know you’re feeling out of sorts. And that’s perfectly understandable. Several nights ago, a monster attacked you and some of my men. Several lost their lives.”

Lia nodded. “Jin mentioned that your brother died. I’m so sorry to hear about that.”

“Thank you. Azriel and I were close. His passing hurts me greatly. The only reason the dragon didn’t take more lives that night was that he was afraid.”

“Of what?” She couldn’t imagine anything frightening such a beast.

“You.”

Lia stared at the king in surprise.

“You are a unicorn shifter, my love. He was frightened of you. And that’s what will stop him from hurting more of our people. You will transform again to protect us, won’t you?”

Lia stared into his eyes and found herself nodding. Of course. She would do whatever it took to keep the others safe.

“Splendid.” Fearson smiled again, and she felt a shiver of pleasure in knowing that she’d made him happy. “We’re taking the boat out today to visit someone. You’ll enjoy this trip immensely. I love you,” Fearson leaned in and whispered. As his crown caught the sunlight, Lia couldn’t help but notice how the black stones in his crown matched those in her collar and cuffs.

“I love you too,” she responded automatically.

44 KIEREN

Kieren opened his eyes. The Prime had disappeared. He ran his hands over his stomach and chest, studied his arms and hands. Although he didn’t feel any different, he could have sworn that something had changed.

What happened? he asked the dragon inside.

No response.

Come on, he goaded his beast. I give you free rein to point out everything that I’m doing wrong.

All remained quiet and Kieren knew for certain that his dragon was gone. Somewhat surprisingly, he found himself saddened by the loss. He had grown used to having the beast around.

Wondering whether he still retained his ability to shift, Kieren closed his eyes. His skin instantly rippled as his body transformed. Now towering over the Stone, he stretched his wings so that their tips brushed against the sides of the cave. Everything felt the same. And yet…

Kieren crawled around the Stone, studying it.

The crystal stood silent. He couldn’t hear any music. And, there was something else. Kieren sniffed the air: he could smell another dragon nearby. Two, in fact. He could detect their smoky, woodsy scent.

Mica and Shale were waiting outside. Were they all right?

Kieren shifted back to his human form, noting with surprise that he still wore his clothes. Strange. That had never happened before. He sprinted back through the tunnels but skidded to a halt when he spotted two gigantic beasts standing guard at the cave’s entrance. One was a smaller light-gray dragon, the other a massive coppery brown.

Kieren whipped out his sword. “What have you done with Mica and Shale?”

The two dragons peered at each other, but surprisingly, neither one moved. Instead, they closed their eyes, and then the great beasts shimmered and shrunk until Mica and Shale stood before him, both still fully clothed.

Shale gave him a huge smile. “You did it!” The shifter patted Kieren on the back before crossing his right arm over his chest. “Thank you, my Alpha.”

Mica lowered his eyes and did the same.

“No longer Alpha, I’m afraid.” Kieren grinned. “I can’t hear the stone anymore. I’m just a normal dragon shifter like the two of you.”

“How did you do it?” Shale asked. “We knew you’d passed the Stone’s test the moment our dragons returned.”

Kieren tried his best to explain everything, from the Stone’s humming to him realizing what had really happened to the Prime.

“We should return to the village and see if the others are able to access their dragons as well.” Mica’s eyes lit up at the prospect.

The trip down the mountain felt shorter than the one up. Mica’s steps seemed easier, more confident. It was as if the clan leader had received a new lease on life.

As they approached the village, dozens of men and women stood outside talking to each other. Kieren broke into a run when he caught sight of Lumen standing next to a very awake Griffith.

“Griff!” Kieren embraced his friend.

“Wow. That’s a tight hug. You really missed me, didn’t you?”

“How did this happen?” He took in Griffith’s healed face. “I saw what happened. But you look fine.”

“I was hurt. I mean, Lia hurt me. And I’m talking everywhere,” Griffith said. “The pain was unbearable for a second, but then, I felt nothing. It was like I was cocooned from it all. Then I sort of blacked out.”

Unable to tear his eyes from his friend, Kieren found himself almost at a loss for words. “B-but how?”

“It was Lia. Although she did as Fearson commanded, she stopped herself from hurting me too badly. I know it looked like the king was in control. But she’s still in there, Kieren. I know she is. Otherwise, I would be dead.” Griffith looked around, taking in all the villagers staring at them. “It looks like you’ve been busy. Imagine my surprise when I wake up to see dozens of dragons. Moons. It was surreal.”

“You did this, didn’t you?” Lumen asked. The girl’s eyes sparkled, and every strand of her red hair seemed to dance and spark with fire. She looked different. And it wasn’t just her. Everyone in the village appeared brighter somehow. More vibrant. More alive.

“The Stone made this happen,” Kieren addressed the crowd. “It returned your powers.”

Mica placed a hand on his shoulder. “You’re too humble. The Stone doesn’t just grant wishes. If that had been the case, we would have had our dragons back years ago.”

“But how did he do it?” someone called out from the crowd.

“I killed the Prime,” Kieren answered.

That definitely wasn’t the answer they’d expected.

“Not sure that was the right way to phrase it.” Shale crossed his arms over his chest and eyed the confused crowd, a look of amusement on his face.

Kieren tried to do a better job of explaining. “My friend Griffith and I aren’t from Verdura. We are from another world: Solair. We were dragon hunters.”

The mood turned even more hostile.

“You seriously need to work on your people skills,” Griffith whispered. He watched the crowd, his hand resting on the handle of his sword.

Kieren raised his hand to silence their protests. “Please. I was a different person back then; I didn’t know what I know now. We only saw the dragons in their beast form, so we had no idea they were shifters. In Solair, the dragons were violent and unpredictable. They killed a lot of our people and livestock.”

“You know the instability that comes from staying in our dragon skin too long,” Mica added. “The shifters who crossed over in their dragon form were rendered incapable of transforming back.”

The clan leader’s remarks calmed the crowd enough for Kieren to continue, “Months ago, I was cursed to become a dragon. I didn’t realize that the last dragon we hunted was your Prime.”

Angry murmurs rippled through the crowd. While these men and women weren’t happy about the Prime taking their powers, it was clear they found Kieren killing one of their own even more abhorrent.

“We weren’t able to shift after the war because the Prime was kidnapped and taken to Solair,” Shale announced. “When Kieren killed our Prime, the power of all of our people transferred to him. But today, instead of keeping that power, he made the decision to return it to us. And that is why I take my place behind him in succession.”

Mica stared at the younger shifter in surprise. “What are you saying?”

“I’m next in line to lead. But I gladly give that spot to Kieren.”

“I will honor your choice.” Mica turned to Kieren. “What do you say? Will you accept the role of Chief and Alpha of this clan once I’m gone? If that is not soon enough, I too surrender my role to you. We owe you a tremendous debt of gratitude.”

Kieren could feel everyone’s eyes on him. He cleared his throat, shattering the deafening silence. “Thank you, but this is an honor I cannot accept. Mica and Shale have lived, breathed, and spent a lifetime here. And that makes them more qualified than me.”

As if his words had broken some spell, members of the crowd looked surprised. A few even cheered.

Mica nodded. “So it has been said, so it shall be done. Shale will keep his place in the never-ending line of succession. And now, I encourage you all to get reacquainted with your dragons. Practice your shifting and flying. Tonight, we celebrate!”

Cheering loudly, the crowd dispersed, leaving Kieren and Griffith alone with Shale and Mica.

The clan leader peered at Kieren, his gray eyes as ancient and knowing as the rocks themselves. “You say you don’t wish to be our leader, but I feel great power within you. You are still Alpha. And as the strongest dragon, you could easily force us all into submission. We are hierarchical creatures; we would have no choice but to obey. If you wish, you could even compel us to fight the king for you.”

Kieren shook his head. As much as he wanted to help Lia, that would never be an option. “And what kind of leader would I be then? Forcing others to act against their better judgement?”

“Again, more proof that you would make an outstanding leader.” Mica eyed him thoughtfully.

“Where’s Lia?” Griffith peered around and his smile faltered.

“Fearson still has her. I had to get you out of there.” Kieren tried to fight the regret that hit him full in the chest, but he knew how weak his explanation sounded. “I needed to keep you, Fane, and Lumen safe.”

Griffith’s eyes narrowed. “Well, I’m better now. So let’s get her out of the hands of that psychopath and make him pay.”

Kieren nodded. This time, he wasn’t leaving without her.

“I’m coming with you,” Shale said.

Kieren wanted to accept the shifter’s offer, but he couldn’t. “Perhaps that isn’t the wisest idea. If anything were to happen to you, the clan would suffer a great loss.”

“Do not make me a liar,” Shale growled. “I will fight by your side, Alpha.”

“Let him come,” Griffith said. “We need all the dragon help we can get. Now, what’s the plan?”

“Fearson is taking Lia to the island where the World Eater lives,” Kieren said. “It’s across the ocean from the mines.”

“So we’re flying there and rescuing Lia,” Griffith concluded. “And that means fighting the king and the World Eater.”

“Remind me of this World Eater’s powers again?” Micah asked.

“He can trap people in dreams.” Kieren thought back to the Verduran villagers in Solair. “He also absorbs other people’s power, causing them to become sick or weak. If he absorbs too much, they can die.”

“You know this is seriously messed up, right?” Griffith said.

Although Kieren had never heard the expression before, he appreciated its sentiment. “You’re right. And it gets worse. Fearson is the reason why the Prime was in Solair. He sent the dragon through the portal.”

“Then Fearson is the true mastermind behind everything.” Griffith paced as he talked. “He murdered Lia’s grandmother and he sent the Prime into our world, preventing everyone here from shifting.”

“And now he’s in control because the queen is unwell,” Shale added.

“It wouldn’t surprise me if that was also his doing. And I’ll bet he’s also holding the World Eater prisoner.” Griffith shook his head. “Moons. The World Eater couldn’t have forced Minerva to curse you to become a dragon if we hadn’t had the Prime in our world.”

“Sounds like the king is the real World Eater,” Mica murmured.

Kieren paused. “What do you mean by that?”

“The World Eater is prophesied to destroy our worlds,” Mica explained. “But it seems like the king has done more to orchestrate this destruction than this other imprisoned Verduran, doesn’t it?”

Griffith’s eyes widened. “You’re right. Fearson is the real villain here.”

Kieren’s heart fell. “And he has Lia.”

45 LIA

An unnatural fog engulfed them as they ventured farther from shore. Heavy and dense, it shrouded everything like a cold, damp blanket. The waves also grew steadily choppier, as if the water itself wished to toss them overboard. Lia’s stomach jostling uncomfortably, she gripped the side of the boat, trying to ride the undulations. One sizable wave later, and her stomach lurched. She leaned over, releasing its meager contents into the water.

“Not comfortable on the water, are you?” Fearson asked, sounding surprised.

Lia weekly shook her head. A cold sweat covered every inch of her skin. Closing her eyes, she clung to the side of the boat before lurching forward and vomiting again. Somewhere between the bouts of dizziness and nausea, more doubt crept in.

Lia loved the beach, but she hated being on the water. How could someone betrothed to her not know that?

Her eyes shot open when a warm hand rested on her shoulder. The king gave her a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry; we’ll be on dry land soon enough.”

By the time they finally reached the island, Lia had thrown up several more times. And as the sour stench assailed her nostrils, it was almost enough to set her hurling again.

The boat tilted as Fearson climbed out to make his way to shore. Jin followed, but unlike the king, he waited and held out his hand to Lia. Her legs trembling, she’d barely taken a step before they gave way. As a warm hand grasped hers, images swirled in her head.

A young girl with brown skin and bright yellow eyes played at the foot of giant trees, their trunks so vast it would take over a dozen people to surround their circumference. A man with one blue and one green eye walked over to the little girl and lifted her up. His smile was warm and infectious.

The scene flowed into another, this one inside a large tent, similar to the one Lia woke up in.

The man with the two different colored eyes was there again, but now, he was much older. His blond hair was sprinkled gray, and his hands moved vigorously as he communicated with some sort of sign language. A teenage boy with brown skin and smiling violet eyes stood nearby. Next to him, a blond man watched, a smirk resting on his handsome face. Slightly apart from the group, stood the warrior with silver eyes: Kieren, the one she’d seen in her dreams. And he had his arm wrapped around a girl’s waist. Her waist.

Lia gasped. Kieren was right; she did know him. Once again, the images swept her away, and another scene appeared in her mind.

Outside at night, surrounded by smoke, she dragged the handsome blond man’s body, his face mottled purple and his eyes closed. But when Lia pulled up his bloody shirt, smooth, flawless skin lay underneath.

The image faded to another.

She leaned over the blond man, who was now awake, and covered him with a large brown blanket.

Lia pulled her hand from Jin’s and tugged aside the brown blanket in the boat. A handsome man with golden hair stared back at her. “Hello, princess.”

She froze. The blond man from her visions was hiding in the boat, which meant everything she’d seen was true. But Lia had no recollection of putting the man there.

“What’s taking so long?” Fearson called from the fog.

Jin’s mouth hung open, his bright orange eyes staring at her, wide with fear. Had those been his memories?

Lia tossed the brown blanket over the stowaway. She didn’t know why, but she decided to keep the guard’s secrets from the king. “I tripped. I just need to find my land legs.”

“Jin,” Fearson snapped, “help your future queen out.”

“Yes, my King.” The guard reached out to help her again, and Lia braced herself for another flood of images. Fortunately, nothing appeared this time. Jin held her hand tightly in his, but he uttered not one word about what had just happened.

Hand in hand, they walked up the sandy shore. Thankful for the privacy that the fog afforded, Lia processed what she’d just witnessed, trying to understand it. It was clear that she’d seen memories from Jin’s perspective. Kieren, the silver-eyed warrior from her dream, had stood beside her, his arm draped easily around her waist as if it belonged there.

Her cheeks burned at the memory.

“Are you feeling better now, my dear?” Fearson asked.

“Yes, thank you.”

The guard instantly pulled his hand from hers. “I should go back and take care of the boat.”

And the man hidden inside, Lia had no doubt.

“Yes, of course.” The king waved his hand dismissively.

As Jin sent Lia one last unreadable look before disappearing back into the fog, Fearson handed her a small skin of water. “For your strength. We have a climb ahead of us.”

She drank the water gratefully, and then they set off, the sandy shore soon turning rocky. Unfamiliar with the terrain and barely able to see more than a few feet ahead, Lia slipped several times as she tried to match the king’s pace. When they reached a plateau, the fog thinned somewhat, and she spied an enormous stone building that hadn’t been visible from the shore.

“We’re here,” Fearson announced.

The structure resembled a small castle, with two men standing guard out front and several dozen more keeping watch from the parapets.

“It’s the king,” one of the guards called out. “Open the doors.”

With a creak, the enormous wooden doors swung open to reveal a courtyard, the men and women inside scrambling to attention when they saw the king. Lia noted the vast, empty space and the guards’ angry, suspicious faces. Now, this didn’t feel like a castle; it felt more like a prison.

“My King?” Lia asked. “Who lives here?”

“Just one prisoner,” Fearson said.

“You need this many guards to watch over one prisoner?”

Fearson’s expression grew deadly. “Years ago, a prophecy spoke of a great evil coming to our land and destroying everything. The World Eater. I found this monster and kept him locked here to protect our people. You were prophesied to stop him.” He gave her a look filled with expectation. “Will you be able to do that? Will you save our people by destroying the enemy?”

Lia trembled. “Yes.” If this was what the king wanted, she would do it.

“Wonderful.” Fearson grabbed her hand. “Come, my pet. It’s time.”

He took her to a door in the back of the courtyard, which opened to reveal a set of stairs leading underground. Fearson pulling her onward, and Lia stumbled down several steps before her eyes grew accustomed to the faint glow provided by magicked stones set into the walls. The king’s long white hair swayed before her, and his grip on her hand stayed firm. While the touch of his skin should have given comfort, her desperation only increased the farther they descended. Something about this felt so very wrong.

Terrified, Lia tore her hand from Fearson’s.

The king spun to face her. “What is the matter?” Annoyance crept into his tone.

Lia tugged at one of her bracelets. “I’m sorry. I’m just not used to being in such a dark environment.”

“Of course.” His voice softened immediately. “I was forgetting how difficult this must be for you. We’ll quickly take care of everything down here, and then we can return above ground.”

‘Take care of everything.’ The words sounded so final in her ears.

“Shall we continue?” He offered his hand again.

She nodded and was about to take it when a roar rattled the wooden door and echoed through the stairwell.

“What was that?” Lia had the sudden urge to run up the stairs and see what made the noise. It wasn’t so much the volume of the sound that had captured her attention; it was the anguish. That roar had been so filled with despair that she practically drowned in it.

“It’s nothing.”

Lia wasn’t sure she believed the king. “But it sounded like something big. A creature of some sort?”

Fearson grabbed her hand and squeezed. “It. Was. Nothing.”

As she stared into his eyes, the doubts that crept into her mind seemed to diminish in importance. “Yes. You’re right. I’m sorry to have questioned you.”

Fearson gave her a tight smile. “Of course, my darling. There’s no need to worry about it.” He let go of her hand and turned to walk back down the stairs, gripping his right arm as if it pained him.

“Is your arm okay?” she asked.

Fearson paused but didn’t turn back. “I’m fine. No need to worry. It’s just an old injury that comes and goes.”

With a nod, Lia scrambled to follow him. At the bottom of the steps, another solid-looking wooden door greeted them, separating them from whatever lay on the other side.

“Lia,” Fearson said, “before we step inside, I have to warn you. The World Eater has certain special abilities. He is able to absorb others’ energies, and without the right protection, you would be vulnerable. To protect the guards, I’ve trapped the enemy inside a shielding spell. Stay outside the red line, and you won’t feel his power. But the moment you step foot in the red circle, you will be at risk.”

The king’s implication was unmistakable. To kill the World Eater, she would have to put herself in danger.

Lia licked her lips. “Have I done this before?” Her voice trembled. “Have I killed someone?”

Fearson studied her for a moment before answering. “Yes, you have. Don’t doubt your abilities. You are the prophesied Light. By murdering him, you will protect this world and our people. Trust me.”

And she did.

46 KIEREN

His heart racing, Kieren skimmed across the ocean’s dark, churning waters. Tracing the curving coastline, he pushed against the blustery winds. They could have waited until the skies grew dark to get the upper hand. But Kieren couldn’t bear the thought of Lia being under that madman’s power for one more second than necessary. So they flew north in the bright midday sun, to face whatever lay ahead.

It was either the ultimate act of bravery. Or sheer lunacy.

Once they flew over the shore near the mines, Kieren veered westward. An unusually dense fog materialized around them.

“I hope you can see better than I can,” Griffith called out from Kieren’s back.

“Over there!” Shale yelled. “The island.” Although the shifter could now transform into a dragon, he’d chosen to remain in his human form. No one wanted to draw attention to the clan, not when they just regained their abilities to shift.

A single stone building loomed over the east side of the small island. Arching his body, Kieren began his descent toward the lone structure. Neither Shale nor Griffith said a word. They didn’t need to. Everyone was ready for what was about to happen.

As the fog thinned, Kieren spotted two people below. One was the king, and beside him, a figure that Kieren would recognize anywhere: Lia. Thank the moons, she was still alive. Metal bracelets, similar to Fearson’s, encircled her wrists, and she wore a large metal collar around her neck.

Kieren could practically feel her fear and pain. And it tore him apart. Vaguely aware of Griffith yelling, he descended with a new sense of urgency, determined to reach her.

But before he made it to the ground, Fearson pulled Lia into a room and shut the door behind them. Landing in the courtyard, Kieren roared in anger and frustration. She’d just been right there. He’d almost had her.

Griffith and Shale leapt from his back.

“That’s certainly one way to make his entrance,” Shale remarked before drawing his sword.

“Let’s get our girl,” Griffith added.

Kieren blasted a burst of angry fire. He would bring down the world in flames to rescue her.

47 LIA

The room behind the wooden door smelled like fear.

Two men who stood guard inside both towered over Lia. Wearing golden masks, the pair shared eerily identical unmoving expressions.

Torches hanging from the walls revealed a circle of red stones surrounding the monstrous cage in the far corner of the room. Made of twisted brass adorned with precious stones and large enough for a grown man to walk around in, the enclosure appeared empty, except for a pile of rags and a lone wooden bucket. Taking a closer look, Lia realized that what she’d thought was discarded bedclothes was, in fact, someone lying huddled on the floor.

Doubt twisted in her stomach. Was this the great villain who threatened the lives of countless people? Lia had difficulty reconciling the king’s accusations with the figure cowering on the ground.

“It’s time.” Fearson thrust a golden knife and key into her hands. “Use this blade to end the World Eater’s life. Free us from this monster forever.” He placed a hand on her shoulder, and a newfound sense of self-assuredness settled over her, instantly calming her nerves. Yes. She would do this. For Verdura and for the king.

Lia approached the cage. The moment her fingers crossed the red stone circle, a zap of power shot through her body. She pulled back.

The door to the room flew open. “My King.” The intruder’s eyes briefly darted to Lia before he continued, “He’s here. The dragon is here. And your brother lives. He fights alongside the beast.”

Fearson’s expression darkened. “Go, upstairs. Hold them off,” he barked at the two guards inside the room. The three men hurried up the stairs.

“Your brother is alive?” Lia asked.

“You idiot.”

She flinched at the sound of his voice.

“Why is my traitorous brother still alive, despite my order?”

The bracelets and collar burned against her skin. “Please stop,” she whimpered. “You’re hurting me. I’m sorry I displeased you. I’ll do better next time.”

Fearson took a menacing step toward her. “You had better. Now get inside the cage and do not come out until you’ve completed your mission. Kill the World Eater.”

Every single word of his command etching itself into her very bones, Lia nodded stiffly. She wished only to do his bidding.

As she crossed the red stone barrier, the wave of power struck her again. But Lia pushed through, despite the magic searing her skin. It was nothing compared to Fearson’s wrath if she didn’t obey him.

The key easily slipped into the lock, and Lia stepped into the cage. The stench of ammonia assaulted her nostrils, and the dirt floor was caked with red as if someone had poured blood directly onto it. Lia pointed the blade toward the pile of blankets. This was it. She was going to do it.

The prisoner sat up. He was pale to the point of being chalky, and his eyes appeared abnormally large against his gaunt features. He stood and the cloth hanging over his shoulders slipped, revealing an arm covered with hundreds of cuts. Many looked like old scars, but others were puckered and irritated as if still healing.

Lia’s hand trembled. No. This was wrong. The man didn’t look like a villain; he looked like a victim.

“What are you waiting for?” Although Fearson stood mere feet from her, it was as if he’d spoken from miles away.

Lia’s neck and wrists burned. She gasped and nearly dropped her blade, feeling as if her bones were on fire.

The World Eater’s eyes flashed from the lightest of blues to a bright blood-red. Waves of golden energy shot from his skeletal figure and wrapped around Lia’s chest. She flinched, expecting more pain, but felt only the lightest of touches.

“Do it,” Fearson shouted from beyond the red circle. “Do what you’re prophesied to do.”

Another burst of sharp pain ripped through her body. But the golden beams of light around her chest brightened, and the World Eater’s bony fingers encircled her wrist.

Images flowed through her mind.

The king cutting the World Eater’s arm and collecting his blood on the stones. The World Eater meticulously writing something with his own blood on the floor of his cage: ‘Which is the true evil, the head or the hand?’

A loud banging on the door brought Lia back to the present.

“Kill him. Now,” Fearson screamed.

The World Eater’s eyes blazed a bright blue, the golden light surrounding both of them now. Looking down, Lia gasped. Her skin glowed different colors: shades of pink, blue, and purple. She was a prism. She was pure light.

With a sad smile, the World Eater tugged Lia’s wrist toward his body, plunging her blade deep into his stomach.

As the light within her exploded, Lia screamed.

48 KIEREN

Just as Kieren was about to race after Lia and the king, something whizzed by his head. Instinctively, he leaned to one side, shielding Griffith and Shale from the onslaught of arrows that followed. With a roar, Kieren aimed a mouthful of fire at the group of archers. Shouts of fear rang out as the Verdurans scattered. Moons, he didn’t have time for this. He needed to get to that door and find Lia. Roaring again, Kieren breathed out another ball of fire, determined to end this.

However, this time, his flames extinguished midair.

“Is that all you’ve got, dragon?” The guard with red hair and freckled skin stepped forward, a satisfied smirk on his face.

“Who is this guy?” Shale asked.

“Fire-wielder,” Griffith called out as he defended himself against another two guards. “Stops Kieren’s flames but can also create fire of his own.”

As Kieren swiped his tail and sent several men flying, out of the corner of his eye, he spied the red-haired man lifting his hand. He raised a wing in front of Shale and Griffith just in time to protect them from the fire-wielder’s flames.

“Go,” Griffith said. “We can handle this.”

Kieren hesitated, not liking the idea of leaving his friends outnumbered, especially with a fire-wielder in mix.

“I’ve got an idea.” Shale pulled out his bow and arrow.

“Are you kidding? He’ll burn those up,” Griffith yelled.

Shale shook his head. “Can you attack him, Kieren, and give me some time to catch him off guard?”

Kieren nodded and let out another blast of flame. Temporarily distracted, the fire-wielder failed to see Shale’s arrow until it was too late. The man gasped as it struck him in the neck. Shale immediately sent another arrow after the first, and the guard fell to the ground, where he lay, unmoving.

“Nice job!” As Griffith raised his hand to give Shale a high five, a blond man appeared out of nowhere and sent Griff flying. An arrow whizzed past, narrowly missing them both before hitting the ground.

Griffith leapt to his feet. “Get off of me, you—” His words froze when he caught sight of his assailant. “You handsome dead man!” A smile lit up his face. “Azriel!”

“Didn’t think you could get rid of me that easily, did… Behind you!” Azriel yelled at Griffith.

Griff whirled around and blocked an attacker’s blade with his own. With a grunt, he pushed it away.

“Who is he?” Shale asked.

Griffith rammed the handle of his sword into his opponent’s head. “That’s Azriel.” Griff gestured to their friend, who was now busy fighting another guard. “He’s Fearson’s brother and a first-rate pain-in-the-butt. But, boy, am I glad to see him alive. And, Azriel, this is Shale. Future leader of the dragon shifters.”

Shale and Azriel gave each other cursory nods before returning to the fight.

“How did you survive?” Griffith called out.

Kieren wanted to know the same thing. He’d seen the king stab the Verduran.

Azriel aimed a well-timed kick at his enemy’s chest. “Lia disobeyed my brother. Instead of killing me, she healed me. And then Jin—”

With a roar, Kieren swatted away several more guards. Jin had backstabbed them and returned to the king’s side the day he took Lia away.

“It’s okay, Kieren.” Azriel grunted as he blocked another blow. “The fairy had to play a role to stay close to the king. He did it to keep Lia safe.”

“Is that your Jin up there?” Shale pointed to the man who was single-handedly taking down the remaining archers on the battlements.

Jin pushed a guard, who then fell over the edge with a scream.

“Yup. That’s him.” Griffith grinned. “Half-fairy, all man. Hey, don’t suppose you could do your puppet-master thing and make the guards fight each other or obey you?”

Azriel fingered the collar around his neck. “Not while I’m wearing this.”

Shale raised his brows. “You keep a surprisingly diverse assortment of friends in your company.”

Kieren gave a small grunt of agreement as he surveyed the surrounding smoky carnage. Although the fort was large, luckily, there seemed to be few guards. He suspected that, before today, no one had expected a dragon to show up. And this appeared to have worked in their favor. Jin seemed to be handling the archers, while Shale, Griffith, and Azriel were holding off the few remaining guards. Closing his eyes, Kieren shifted back to his human form.

“You’re clothed,” Azriel said with a smirk.

“We can do that too. Why is this such a big deal?” Shale asked.

Griffith rolled his eyes. “It wasn’t always this way. You should have seen him before.”

Not wishing to hear the rest of that conversation, Kieren dodged the fallen bodies and burning objects, Shale’s laughter ringing in his ears. The door leading downstairs stood ajar, as if people had left in a hurry. Sword in hand, Kieren ran down the dark stairwell, the fear that he was already too late threatening to swallow him whole.

At the bottom of the stairs, another wooden door barred his way. Unleashing his full fury, Kieren rammed it with his shoulder, but it didn’t budge. As he gathered his strength for another attempt, from the other side of the door came a scream followed by a bright light that shone through the cracks around the edges.

Lia! What had the bastard done to her?

Anger and fear blurring into one, Kieren rammed the barrier once more. With a screech of metal hinges, the door flew open.

A massive unlocked cage stood in the middle of the room. Outside the cage, the king stood over Lia, who lay curled up on the ground.

“You’re too late, dragon.” Fearson waved his hand in the air, and the door to the room slammed shut.

Kieren cried out as some unseen force wrenched his sword from his grasp.

The king flexed his hand again, and the other weapons that Kieren kept on his body flew from their hiding places, slicing his skin along the way.

“Your weapons are useless here.” With a quick flick of the king’s wrist, all five blades floated in front of Kieren, their sharp points aimed directly at him.

Kieren knew that he should focus on the metal-manipulating lunatic threatening him, but his eyes kept darting to Lia’s motionless form. Why hadn’t she moved or said anything?

“What did you do to her?”

Fearson smirked. “I did nothing.”

Kieren jumped out of the way as his sword whizzed toward him. After missing by a fraction of an inch, the blade clattered to the floor.

“Lia,” Kieren yelled. “Whatever happened, I’m here for you. Look at me, please. Let me know you’re fine.”

“Oh, she’s better than fine.”

Then, faster than Kieren could react, the remaining four blades sped toward him. Instinctively, his wings unfurled, and he lifted from the ground, managing to avoid all the weapons except for one, which nicked a corner of his wing, slicing through the delicate membrane.

Before he could recover, the fallen blades rose again and simultaneously launched themselves at him. Kieren closed his eyes, expecting to feel pain. But they merely glanced off his chest and fell to the floor. Astonished, he opened his eyes and looked down. The weapons had cut his clothing, but the slits revealed shiny black scales.

Fearson grabbed hold of his arm, wincing in pain.

Taking advantage of this temporary distraction, Kieren flew toward Lia.

“Get away from her!”

A pair of metal shackles flew at Kieren’s arms and bound them together. Kieren tried to channel his dragon strength to break free, but the metal responded by squeezing tighter. As the cuffs bruised and tore at his flesh, the need to completely shift out of his human form overwhelmed him.

He almost gave in to the temptation, but something about Lia’s huddled form warned him that seeing a dragon would only frighten her.

Fearson waved his hand and dragged Kieren forward. Twisting his body back and forth, he dug in his heels, trying to fight it.

Behind him, something banged on the wooden door.

“Do you hear that, Lia?” Kieren called out. “They’re here. Your friends are here. Azriel, Griffith, Shale, and Jin are outside. We’ve come to take you home.”

“She is home. Don’t listen to him, Lia. It’s time for you to take care of another one of Verdura’s enemies.” The king hobbled forward, clutching his arm, the telltale black veins telling Kieren everything he needed to know. Fearson was using too much power at once. “Kill the dragon shifter.”

“No!” Kieren charged at the king.

With a wave of the king’s hand, Kieren’s wrists pulled him backward and slammed him against the wall. He coughed in pain.

“Stand up,” Fearson screamed. “I order you, Lia. Stand up.” The black stones on his crown glinted in the torchlight.

Outside, something banged on the door again.

“Stand up and look at the shifter,” Fearson roared.

Lia jerked to her feet and lifted her head. Kieren noted her vacant expression and blood-covered hands with alarm.

“What have you done to her? Please, Lia. You have to snap out of this.”

“You’re too late.” Fearson gave him a triumphant smile. “I am the fire that’s forged her into iron. Lia has killed the World Eater, and now she is mine.”

49 LIA

The blood was everywhere. It seeped into her skin and stained her soul.

“Lia!”

Startled, she focused on the source of the voice, expecting to see fear and loathing. But instead, she saw sadness and a spark of something else…

Tenderness. Compassion.

“Oh, Lia.” Kieren’s face crumpled. “I’m sorry I wasn’t here to protect you.”

Protect her? Did he know nothing? She didn’t need anyone’s protection. He had it all wrong. He needed to get away before she did something terrible again.

“Run,” she whispered.

Fearson put his arm around her. “Did you hear our little Light? She told you to run away. You ought to listen to her, or else you’ll end up like the World Eater. Dead.”

Kieren’s expression hardened. “I will never again leave her side.”

Fearson shrugged. “Noble words, but in the end, meaningless.”

“Don’t listen to him,” Kieren pleaded. “He’s filling your mind with lies. The king is responsible for everything. He murdered your grandmother and then lied about it. He kept the World Eater trapped here this whole time. He enslaves people to work in his mines. And he’s forced you to hurt your friends. You’re not the villain; he is. Surely, you have to see that?”

As a memory bubbled close to the surface, the collar around Lia’s neck tightened and burned. She shrieked.

“The dragon lies. You know what you must do. Obey me. Transform into your unicorn. Kill him. Rid our land of evil.”

His words seeped into Lia’s consciousness, forcing her to obey. The air around her shimmered as bones snapped into place, and muscles and tendons stretched and reattached. Once she’d finished shifting, she aimed her horn at Kieren, drawing from her personal wellspring of pain.

“Now,” Fearson commanded.

Lia was about to release her power when the door burst open, and three men raced inside.

A man with long black hair and brown wings flew to Kieren’s side, his dark eyes taking in everything. “Is this the king?”

“More dragon shifters?” Fearson snarled. “I should have killed you all when I had the chance.” With a swing of his hand, the blades on the ground flew toward the men.

“Watch out!” the man with long blond hair shouted. Lia recognized him as the one Jin hid in the boat. The others scrambled to move out of the way.

“Lia,” a boy with a gash on his forehead called out. His violet eyes peered sadly at her. “It’s me—Griffith. Remember? The peanut butter to your jelly. Please, you don’t have to do this.”

“Silence!” Fearson roared.

Griffith backed up as a sword inched closer and closer to his stomach.

The other winged man shot a burst of flame from his mouth, and it struck Fearson square in the chest. With a scream, the king fell to the ground and rolled. The weapon threatening Griffith clattered to the floor.

“Come on, Lia. Let’s go!” Kieren offered her his hand.

She took a hesitant step forward.

“Stop!” A full blast of compulsion struck her. “You remain with me,” the king ordered. He lay on the ground, his clothes and skin singed from the other dragon shifter’s fire.

“Lia,” the blond man from the boat said. “Don’t listen to my brother. Listen to me. You need to remember. Remember who you are.”

The tiniest of pains niggled at the back of her mind.

“Don’t,” Kieren snarled. “Don’t take away her willpower and force her to obey. If you do, you’re just as bad as your brother.”

Despite her headache, Lia gazed adoringly at Azriel, patiently awaiting his instruction.

“Stop, Lia.” Fearson’s words cut through Azriel’s command, freezing her in place. “Don’t you dare listen to my brother.”

“Get Jin,” Azriel shouted to Shale. After taking one look at Lia, the dragon shifter slipped out.

Fearson stumbled to his feet, his skin a mottled mess. Half of his face was covered in wet, mottled flesh. The right side of his tunic had fused to his skin, and fragments of metal and stone stuck to his wet, injured arm. “I don’t know how you managed to remove your collar, Azriel, but you’re too late. Lia listens to me. I alone control her.”

A blast of fire hit him square in the chest. The king screamed and fell to the floor in an attempt to put out the flames.

Kieren ran over to her and wrapped his arms around her neck. “Please, Lia. Stay with me. I love you. For your heart and your light.”

She hesitated as a small tingle danced across her skin. Had she heard him correctly? How could he love a monster?

Kieren let go and someone else stepped closer. Lia stared back at the guard in surprise. What was Jin doing there?

Closing his eyes, the man touched her collar and whispered something. Instantly, the collar and bracelets that had weighed so heavily against her skin unlocked and clattered to the floor.

As if waking from a bad dream, she groggily stared at the men surrounding her: Kieren. Jin. Griffith. Azriel. She knew them all. And the World Eater’s words from her vision surfaced in her mind: ‘Which is the true evil, the head or the hand?’

The head. It was so clear now. Just like her, the World Eater had been a victim. Fearson had instigated it all. He was the true evil.

“What have you done, fairy?” As Fearson’s eyes gleamed dark blue, a knife flew through the air and stabbed Jin in the upper back.

Lia aimed her horn at the king.

“So quick to turn against me?” Fearson growled. He waved his hand, and the monstrous cage in the middle of the room creaked and twisted. With a groan, several dozen metal bars snapped and tore free.

Shale and Kieren shot fire at the king, but this time, Fearson was ready. The bars flew through the air. Using his wings, Shale rose from the ground, dragging Azriel and Griffith safely away with him. But Kieren wasn’t so lucky. A piece of debris struck him in the face as he tried to get Jin out of the way.

“Now you will see what I’m truly capable of,” Fearson shrieked. With that, the cage shattered, and the fragments of metal swirled around him like an angry tornado.

Lia glanced at the king in horror. There was no way they’d make it out of here alive, not unless she ended this once and for all. This was what she’d been called to do. As she ran at the king, a blast of fear and pain, hot and fierce, shot from her horn and struck Fearson square in the chest. He fell to his back and sputtered.

The swirling mass of metal debris converged and fell, piercing Fearson from head to toe.

A wet, choking sound filled the room. And then, all was quiet.

Lia immediately shifted back into her human form. She edged toward the unmoving figure, determined to make sure it was finally over.

The king’s glassy eyes stared up at her, unblinking, his mouth curled in an eternal snarl.

Wrapping her arms around her torso, trying to stop herself from shaking, Lia let out a muffled sob. She’d done it. She’d killed him.

A pair of warm hands took hold of her shoulders.

“No!” she shrieked, sobs wracking her body as tears poured down her cheeks. “Stay away from me!”

50 KIEREN

Ignoring the others in the room, Kieren kept his arms around Lia and wrapped his wings around her trembling body.

Moons. She’d done it. She had fulfilled the prophecy, but at what price?

“Lia,” he tried soothing her. “You did what had to be done. We will get through this together.”

“I killed them,” she sobbed. “I murdered them both.”

Kieren heard the door creak behind him, and he knew that the others left.

“You can’t think of it like that. You saw what Fearson was doing. He’d enslaved his own people. He would have destroyed the land. You stopped him.” Brushing a thumb over her cheek, he wiped away a tear. “You saved us all.”

Her skin no longer holding its ethereal glow, Lia gazed up at him, her expression vulnerable and sad. Yet Kieren’s breath still caught in his throat. She was so incredibly brave and so utterly broken.

He chose his next words carefully. “Tell me what happened to the World Eater.”

Her bottom lip trembled. “I walked into the cage, and the World Eater reached out and grabbed my wrist. That’s when I saw everything. I saw Fearson cutting him to spell his bloodstones, and I saw him writing on the ground with his own blood. And then he…” She took a shaky breath. “He pulled my hand toward his stomach, and I stabbed him. I killed him.”

She wept again.

Kieren gently kissed Lia on the forehead, his heart breaking for her. “But don’t you see? He took your hand. He chose to end his life.”

“That’s what makes it worse.” Her voice grew hysterical. “I murdered a victim. He was alone and tortured his whole life. He called out across worlds to bring me here. And I was too late. I didn’t save him. I’m not a savior. I’m a murderer.” She spoke the last words as a whisper, and the light in her eyes faded.

The darkness loomed, threatening to take over, but Kieren refused to let her go. “You came for the World Eater. You stopped the man who was hurting him. And at the end of his days, he was with someone who cared. You.”

Her sobs tore him apart.

Tears ran down Kieren’s cheeks. “I love you. And I will never leave your side. We’ll get through this together. I promise.”

She leaned into his arms, fragile and strong at the same time. “I want to go. Let’s go home.”

Kieren held her tight, wondering how they were going to pull through.

EPILOGUE: LIA 7 MONTHS LATER

“Thomas Kevin Wick.”

Lia fidgeted with the cords around her neck, trying to stand patiently as her classmate walked onto the stage. She peered out again at the familiar faces of seniors sitting on the football field. Today, she was finally graduating, and she’d honestly thought she would never make it.

Those first few days after they’d defeated Fearson were a blur. They’d flown Jin back to the healers at the mine, given Caird a proper burial, and returned to the castle to find the queen had awoken. It turned out the king had spelled her into an enchanted sleep in his bid to take over the throne. Once they’d finished telling and retelling their story to Kelwyn, and then again to Minerva and Sage back in Solair, Lia had returned home to Gabby and Holly, exhausted.

“Kenton Xu.”

Lia shuffled forward, keeping her head down. Through it all, Kieren had stayed by her side, comforting her when the nightmares plagued her sleep. For the first couple of months, she’d dreamt that she was back in Verdura, under Fearson’s power, a prisoner in her own skin being forced to do unspeakable things. And when she awoke, she merely went through the motions, living in constant fear that it wasn’t really over. That Fearson hadn’t really died and she would be dragged back to Verdura.

The World Eater’s face would often appear in her mind. And she’d cry as she remembered what she was forced to do.

Yes, Lia had been broken, and it had taken Kieren months of patient coaxing to bring her back from those dark moments.

Something soft caressed the back of her mind.

I can feel your nerves, Kieren whispered into her thoughts. You can do this.

A smile curled the corners of her lips. They’d discovered early on that they somehow still shared the connection they’d had in Verdura. Squinting, Lia scanned the bleachers, trying to find his familiar face in the crowd. But it was impossible amongst the hundreds of families and friends gathered.

Are you thinking about what happened in Verdura again? Kieren murmured.

I am, Lia tentatively sent back.

You can’t keep punishing yourself. It wasn’t your fault. You saved them.

I know.

But do you believe it? Kieren asked.

Lia couldn’t answer that question. Not yet.

“Natalie Juliet Yablowsky.”

Lia took another step forward and straightened her robe, trying to ground herself in this moment. It was Friday, June twenty-first. She was graduating today. But the diploma she was about to receive didn’t just belong to her; it also belonged to her family and her friends. They’d helped to put her back together when the pain was too raw. They’d helped her push through and pass her classes.

“Lia Nova Yang.”

That’s my girl. Lia could feel the pride behind his thoughts.

She walked across the stage. Someone in the audience was yelling. Holly, she assumed. Someone else honked two air horns; that would be Griffith. She’d heard him boasting to Kieren that he’d make the loudest ruckus possible, as he wanted to get the full high school experience. Lia’s smile widened. She could already imagine the expressions of the other onlookers around him, given that Holly and Billy had already received similar dual-horned acknowledgments. The smile plastered onto her face, she accepted her diploma from Principal Thompson and posed for a picture.

Having returned to her seat, she watched the final few students receive their certificates. Holly turned back from a couple of rows ahead and gave a big thumbs up. Lia returned the gesture, thankful she felt normal for the first time in ages.

She pushed back a stray hair and stared up at the clear blue skies.

Things were going to get better; she could feel it. The prophecy was finished. The queen was awake. And this summer, Lia was going back to learn more about her powers and help rebuild Verdura. Apparently, even after dismantling the mines, Kelwyn was still struggling to repair the damage Fearson caused.

It would do Lia good to use her powers to heal and not destroy.

“Congratulations, graduates!” The principal’s closing remarks broke into her thoughts. “It has been an honor and a privilege to watch this particular class grow and change over the course of four years. Your teachers and I now send you off, excited to see all the good work you will do in the world.”

As the crowd around her roared, Lia found herself joining her classmates, tossing her hat high into the air.

“Oh my gosh. We did it!” Holly bounded over, her smile radiant. She hugged Lia tightly.

“Your speech was amazing,” Lia said. “The jokes were on point, and the inspirational parts were better than a TED Talk.”

Holly beamed. “You really think so?”

“Definitely.”

Her best friend squeezed her hand. “I have to go find my mom.” She gave Lia another hug. “I’m so proud of you.”

Lia fought back the tears. “Thanks, Holls.”

Lia. A happy voice filled her mind.

She turned to see Gabby and Sage approach, flanked by an overexcited Griffith holding three balloons, and a smiling Kieren.

“Hi, Sage.” Lia gave her grandfather a hug. “Thanks for coming today.”

“I’m so proud of you, child. I wouldn’t have missed this for the worlds.”

“Did you hear me?” Griffith gave Lia a side hug. “Kieren thought I was going to get kicked out, but the people around us were too excited to care.” He tied a balloon around Lia’s wrist. “This is so we can find you for pictures later.”

Lia eyed the balloon. “A unicorn? Really?”

Griffith shrugged. “It seemed fitting. The other two are for Holly and Billy.” His smile turned slightly sweeter after mentioning the other boy’s name.

Lia squeezed his arm.

“Mija, I’m so proud of you.” Gabby wrapped her in a hug, enveloping Lia in her comforting vanilla perfume. Her godmother pulled away. “How do you feel?” Gabby’s smile was genuine, but there was also concern in her eyes.

“Today, I’m feeling good,” Lia said. And that was enough.

“Good.” Gabby rubbed her back. “We’re going to go congratulate Holly and Billy. Come find us when you’re done.” She linked arms with Griffith and Sage, and they disappeared into the crowd.

As Kieren took a step forward, Lia stood there, admiring how he looked in her favorite outfit: a soft, worn T-shirt and jeans. Even now, after knowing him nearly a year, her breath still caught when she looked at him. She reached out and traced a finger along the scar over his eye, a memento of their final battle with Fearson. As he leaned into her touch, Lia could practically hear his dragon purr in contentment.

Do I really purr? He eyed her with amusement.

Yes.

He took her hand and gave it a gentle kiss.

Lia inwardly sighed.

“I’m so proud of you.” His silver eyes held hers.

She felt her smile wobble.

Kieren’s arms were immediately around her, and Lia sighed, delighting in how their bodies fit together. He bent down and gave her a lingering kiss, setting a flurry of butterflies dancing in her stomach.

Oh, you liked that, did you?

Lia looked up, blushing, and hastily changed the subject. “How will Soren and Reina manage without you?”

About a month ago, Kieren had briefly returned to Solair to act as Reina’s new unofficial advisor on all things Verduran. They’d worked together, brainstorming ways to peacefully introduce the Solairans to the mages and Verdurans living in their midst.

Kieren grinned. “I suspect they’ll be fine. We found a replacement. Azriel is taking over my role for a while.”

“Really? I’d pay good money to see Reina and Azriel work together.” Although she sounded facetious, in reality, both Kieren and Lia knew how much the blond Verduran had changed. He was now one of their best friends. “Actually, I think it will benefit Azriel to do something…good.”

“And Reina can certainly handle him,” Kieren added, a twinkle of mischief in his eyes. He slipped his arm around her waist.

Lia rested her head on his shoulder. “So we’ll hang out here for a couple of weeks, but then I’m heading back to Verdura for the rest of the summer. Queen Kelwyn thought I could help out and learn the ropes a little, so to speak.”

He kissed her on the nose. “Sounds good. I’ll head there with you as well then.”

“You’re coming too?” Lia squealed, unable to contain her happiness.

His silver eyes sparkled with playfulness. And something more. “It will allow me to spend more time with you, my heir. And, of course, allow me to see how my clan is doing.”

Lia noticed a new tattoo circling his arm. “Hey? What’s this?” She read the words aloud: “I honor the light in you and will help heal the darkness in you.” She looked up at Kieren in surprise.

He placed a hand on her cheek. I got it for you. It’s about our relationship and how we saved each other. I love you. He pulled her close and rested his forehead against hers. And I will follow you to the ends of this world and beyond.

I love you too. She smiled at him, her heart overflowing with hope.

ALSO BY GINGER LI

Light and Fire Series

Half-Blood Mage (Book 1)

The Lady Thief (Book 2)

Haven of Smoke and Shadows (Book 3)

A Heart so Dark (Book 4)

DEAR READER

We’ve now reached the end of Lia and Kieren’s story. It’s been quite an adventure, hasn’t it? Thank you so much for reading A Heart So Dark.

If you enjoyed this book, would you please share it with a friend or post a review on Amazon or Goodreads? Your feedback and support help make this story more visible to other readers.

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Thank you so much for joining me on this creative journey. I am grateful for all of your support!

~Ginger Li

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ginger loves the color yellow, baked goods, and all things Halloween. When she's not busy playing with kids, she enjoys reading, listening to sappy pop music, and dreaming up love stories featuring brave heroines, a touch of magic, and hopeful endings. Ginger lives with her husband and two Pokemon-loving boys in sunny California. She has yet to see a soot sprite, but always keeps her eyes open just in case!

To find out more about Ginger and her books, visit here.

Table of Contents

Title Page

Copyright

Thank you!

A Heart So Dark

Contents

1. Kieren

2. Lia

3. Lia

4. Lia

5. Lia

6. Kieren

7. Kieren

8. Kieren

9. Lia

10. Lia

11. Lia

12. Lia

13. Kieren

14. Lia

15. Lia

16. Lia

17. Lia

18. Lia

19. Kieren

20. Kieren

21. Lia

22. Lia

23. Kieren

24. Lia

25. Kieren

26. Lia

27. Kieren

28. Lia

29. Kieren

30. Lia

31. Kieren

32. Lia

33. Kieren

34. Lia

35. Kieren

36. Lia

37. Kieren

38. Kieren

39. Lia

40. Kieren

41. Kieren

42. Kieren

43. Lia

44. Kieren

45. Lia

46. Kieren

47. Lia

48. Kieren

49. Lia

50. Kieren

Epilogue: Lia 7 months later

Also by Ginger Li

Dear Reader

About the Author