dragons breath 02 - dancing with flames (33 page)

Aidan was so shocked he didn’t know what to say. It was difficult enough wrapping his head around the idea that Zoran had cheated to such a degree on his task, but why hadn’t Bailey mentioned another dragon slayer being in the area. Did she not see him? It was possible, but he would still ask her about it the next time he saw her.

“…but I also find out you have been plotting with the female who sought to kill the Captain of the Guard, and you did nothing to dissuade her plans,” the furious pendragon continued. “I am ashamed to call you my son and from this day forward you will have no relation to me and mine. I sentence you to one year in the dungeon to be followed by banishment!”

Dear Zorya, Aidan could not believe what he was hearing. He had known Throm would be furious that his eldest son had been working with Ember, but it appeared Zoran claiming credit for Blayze’s head had sealed his fate. The punishment was even more extreme than expected. Aidan could only think that because one of the pendragon’s own children had acted in such an abhorrent manner, he felt he must make an example out of him.

“Father, please don’t do this,” Zoran said, falling to his knees. “I will do anything you want to make up for my actions, but I beg you not to banish me. This is my home and my life.”

Throm did not look at him. “Guards, take him from my sight and see that he is placed in the darkest and dankest cell we have.”

For the first time that Aidan could recall, Zoran cried. Tears streamed down his face as he begged and pleaded for their father to have mercy. For a brief moment, Aidan almost felt sorry for him, but then he remembered how his eldest brother used to lock him down in the dungeons for hours or even days at a time, simply for his own amusement. Zoran had never been a good person, and that would not change. Aidan turned away, not even caring to watch his brother dragged from the great hall.

Ruari caught his gaze.
You will decline when they call you forward.

I will,
Aidan said, resigned to do what he must.

He certainly did not want to join Zoran down in the dungeons and be stuck with his oldest brother down there for the next year—assuming Throm didn’t order Aidan executed for consorting with a dragon slayer. With his father’s current mood, that was a possibility.

In light of what has happened with Zoran and my not being chosen, I would not seek to break father’s heart further by requiring Phoebe to decline her nomination as well. One of us must participate in the Bitkal and if it cannot be me, then I will allow it to be her.

Aidan worked his jaw.
That is very gracious of you.

Ruari’s gaze turned to Phoebe, and she stiffened. Aidan could only assume their brother was telling her the news. When she relaxed a fraction next to him, he was sure of it.

“We will now announce the other four candidates,” an elder announced loudly, breaking through the rumble of discussions taking place after so many shocking revelations. Zoran’s yelling from down the corridor had finally faded away.

The elder who spoke didn’t appear to be old by human standards—perhaps fifty—but he was actually closer to eight hundred. He had shoulder-length black hair and a sturdy build. Aidan had studied under him when he was a child taking his lessons, and he remembered the old shifter as a stern taskmaster.

The elder began to call out the names, “We have chosen Sabryn, Elgar, Gvaram, and Donar.”

Aidan wasn’t surprised to hear Donar’s name among the candidates. Though his cousin could be grouchy at times, he was also kind and helpful to everyone in the toriq. He had also begun to develop a reputation as a strong fighter, particularly after the most recent battles they’d fought since returning to Earth. Donar and Aidan may have done their best to hide their fighting skills before, but with the danger that surrounded them over the past few months some of their prowess had shown through despite their holding back.

The elders naming Sabryn didn’t come as a shock, either. She was one of the strongest female warriors in the toriq and she fought in every battle. Sabryn was his cousin through Throm’s sister, who’d passed long before Aidan was born. He wasn’t particularly close to her since she ran in a different circle of friends, and she was three times older than him, but she had never given him a reason to dislike her. Aidan simply didn’t know enough to say whether she would make a good leader. Outside of her battle prowess and her defeating Phoebe in a duel once, she had never made much of an impression on him.

As for Gvaram, he was the grandson of the last pendragon—before Throm—through his mother’s side. When his family lost the seat and the power that came with it, they moved outside the fortress. Gvaram fought in all the battles and brought fresh meat he had hunted to the fortress once a fortnight as payment for taxes, but otherwise, he was not seen around often.

Elgar came from another high-born family who was in charge of mining the zaphiriam in the nearby mountains. He and Zoran had been best friends since childhood, and they shared a similar temperament. Both could fight well, but they did not get along with anyone except each other. It was one of the most likely reasons he had not been targeted. Aidan had no doubt Elgar would have purposely lost in the Bitkal rather than defeat Zoran—if it had come to that.

Throm beckoned all of the candidates forward. Aidan walked with his sister, lining up next to the others in front of the pendragon. One by one, they were asked to accept or decline their nominations. All of them accepted until it was Aidan’s turn.

His throat swelled as he forced his mouth to open. He had to say the words no matter how much they pained him—for himself, Phoebe, and Bailey. Aidan had to give up what would likely be the only opportunity in his lifetime to become pendragon. That wasn’t what bothered him, though, considering he had never sought power and did not really want it. What made him hesitate was the proud look in his father’s eyes as he waited for his son to accept. It was almost too much to bear to take that from the pendragon after what had already occurred that day.

“I must respectfully decline,” Aidan said, managing to make the words come out clear.

Throm’s gaze turned furious, but he moved on and asked Phoebe next.

She stood tall and proud. “I accept.”

The pendragon nodded, some of his anger diminishing. Aidan could only imagine what his father was thinking in that moment, but he must have known something prompted his son’s response. He would never know the truth, though. Much like no one knew exactly how Throm came to be in power despite having three brothers and two sisters who had just as great a chance as him. By the time the last Bitkal came, most of his siblings were dead or disgraced.

“Fortune favor those who have accepted,” the pendragon called out, his voice echoing across the room. Then he turned and began making his way out of the great hall.

As members of the clan came to congratulate those who’d accepted their nomination, Aidan followed his father. He did not want there to be bad blood between them during such a time. The pendragon would not live that much longer. Aidan could not bear the thought that Throm might hate him for what time they had left together.

“Father, wait,” he said, racing to catch up.

Throm stopped and turned around in the middle of the corridor. His voice was cold as ice as he spoke, “You have disappointed me. Of all my children, I put my faith and trust in you being the one to take over upon my death. If I am certain of anything, it is that you have always put our toriq before yourself. I do not know what has prompted you to decline my nomination, but I cannot think it good.”

“I did not mean to disappoint you,” Aidan said, barely managing not to flinch under the pendragon’s heavy stare.

“And yet you have.” Throm turned around and began walking again. “I have nothing further to say to you—now or ever.”

Aidan stood frozen in place. If his father said such a thing, he meant it. Though he would try, there would be little chance Aidan could ever gain the pendragon’s forgiveness. He wanted to go throttle Ruari, but that would not change anything. All he could do was help his sister prepare for the Bitkal, which would come in just two short days.

Chapter 30

Bailey

I drew back the bow, praying that this time my arrow would find its target. A few weeks ago, Aidan had spent an afternoon training me on basic archery, but I hadn’t had time to practice since then. I was full of restless energy today, thinking about our run-in with Ruari the day before, and I decided to work on my range weapon skills. Conrad could have his big, heavy crossbow. I wanted something that gave me a little more control and didn’t feel as unwieldy. When you were short and small, bigger weapons didn’t necessarily mean better.

Releasing the arrow, I watched it sail through the air and strike the tree. It stuck just inside the circle I’d painted. Finally! A weapon that might actually work for me. I sent a few more arrows at the tree and managed to get two in the bull’s-eye. Something about the bow felt much more natural than some of the others I’d tried.

The sound of wings flapping through the air drew my attention across the field. Aidan was coming in to land, heading straight for me. A spike of adrenaline shot through my veins as I stared at his red dragon form. My slayer instincts called for me to attack him, but the human side of me watched his graceful body move closer in awe. For the first time, I even noticed a light smattering of silver on his belly. I had always been so caught up in rage before that I always missed it.

I set the bow down on the ground and straightened. Aidan landed about five feet from me, puffing steam from his nostrils. Our gazes met, and I knew what he was thinking—can she handle this? I walked forward and pressed my palm to the side of his face. A rumbling sound came from deep inside him. He tilted his head, pushing into my hand.

“It’s okay. We’re okay,” I said, smiling at him.

Aidan rose up on his hind legs, and I took a step back. Sudden movements still triggered my slayer instincts, but I could push them down if I concentrated hard enough. With every deep breath I took, my heart rate slowed a little more.

Fire began racing up his body and out around him. It was even harder to watch him shift, but I stood still and ignored the itch in my skin that begged me to attack. Seconds passed as his body changed shapes, going from dragon to human form. It appeared painful, though Aidan assured me it wasn’t that bad.

Once he was finished and the flames died down, I found his face was an emotionless mask. Whatever bonding moment we might have had before he shifted, it was gone now. His gaze didn’t quite reach mine before he turned in the direction of the tree with my arrows stuck in it. Aidan raised a brow.

“How much have you been practicing?” he asked.

“Just this afternoon.”

He was quiet a moment. “This is good, though we will continue to try other things as well.”

“Like what?”

“There are many possibilities, and I am working on something new that might be better than anything currently available to us.” Aidan finally looked at me. “I will let you know.”

“So…about yesterday,” I began.

His gaze hardened. “It is done. I do not wish to discuss it further right now.”

Okay, that didn’t sound good. I swallowed. “Sorry.”

“Was there a male dragon slayer in town recently?” he asked, voice deadly soft.

I stiffened. This was one conversation I’d hoped we could avoid. “Uh, yeah.”

“And you didn’t tell me?”

“Well,” I paused, not knowing what to say with him staring so hard at me. This wasn’t the way Aidan usually behaved even when he was upset about something. “It’s complicated.”

He crossed his arms. “Did you talk to this dragon slayer?”

“No, but he…he saved my life.” I stared at the ground. “The fight where I hurt my shoulder might have been a little worse than I let on.”

“You didn’t talk to him, but he saved your life. Am I really suppose to believe that?” he asked, his tone incredulous.

“Maybe I did and don’t remember it.” I sighed and met his furious gaze. “My skull was cracked open from the fall, so I barely remember him even showing up.”

Aidan worked his jaw. “Did you meet him before then?”

“Conrad and I spotted him watching us once—that’s it.” I wasn’t sure if I really owed Aidan an explanation, but I didn’t want him worrying that I would ever betray him. We needed to have a certain level of honesty for our partnership to work.

“And the second time he saw you, he saved your life.” Aidan shook his head. “Was he attracted to you? Where is he now?”

I almost smiled. His mood stemmed more from jealousy than worry I’d betray him to another slayer. “He was drawn to me because apparently he is my father. And he left town before I recovered enough to speak to him.”

Aidan blinked. “Your father? Are you certain?”

I’d told him once that I never met my real dad. “Yeah, Earl didn’t believe it either so he made the man call my mother. She confirmed he is my father.”

Though I didn’t tell Aidan about the radio, he did know about phones. It was the only way to explain how I got updates on my family with them living so far away.

“Then why did your father not speak with you before he left?” Aidan asked, now appearing upset for me.

“No idea.” I shrugged, trying not to show the hurt I felt over that. “Earl thinks he doesn’t know what to say to a grown up daughter he has just found.” Then I went on to explain how my father had been trapped in the dragon dimension since before I was born.

Light dawned in Aidan’s eyes. “Then he is the one.”

“The one? Who?” I asked, confused.

“The one all dragons fear—The Shadow—because it is always in the shadows that he waits for us. He has grown powerful enough that he can cut off our heads with a single stroke of his blade, and he can track us better than any slayer who has come before him. When I first saw you, I thought there was a resemblance.” Aidan studied me. “Now I know it’s true, and you are his daughter.”