Ride the Wave

15

“You want us to kill your mate,” Reven said, his eyes narrowed.

“It’s the only way to stop her and to save Kira.” Doran pushed his seat back as if he was about to stand. “There’s a lot more I need to tell you, which will help you understand Nysa better and how she became so corrupted, but we need to start heading toward the Water Temple as soon as possible. Only once you’ve bonded with all four of your mates can you hope to stand against her.”

“But the Water Temple was destroyed,” Slade said.

“And the Dragons know we’ll be going there,” Jasin added. “They’ll be waiting for us.”

“No, they won’t,” Doran said. “And it hasn’t been destroyed, because I moved it years ago. None of the Dragons know where the real Water Temple is. I made sure of that.”

“Where is it?” Auric asked, his quill clenched in his hand and his eyes bright with the promise of secret knowledge.

“In the far reaches of the Water Realm. It will take us a few days to get there, so I suggest we leave as soon as we’re able to.”

“It depends on Reven,” I said, glancing at him. “He’s still recovering and—”

“I’m fine,” he said quickly. “I’m ready to go.”

Doran stood and glanced around the table. “Then I guess it’s time for us to head out.”

11

Kira

T

hat evening there was a small funeral for Parin, now that most people had returned from the battle at Salt Creek Tower. As the ceremony began, Slade opened up a large hole in the side of the mountain with a mighty tremble that seemed to shake the entire world. Parin's body had been cleaned and prepared, and members of the Resistance lowered it into the hole while Faya watched with stoic eyes. Once Parin was placed inside, Faya dropped in the small jade carving of a dragon, meant to represent the Earth God, which Parin's mother had made. Slade then covered up the tomb with dirt and rocks, allowing Parin to become one with the mountain that housed the Resistance hideout. As the son of the Earth God’s High Priestess, it seemed a fitting resting place for him.

When it was over, there was a somber celebration with food and soft music in Faya’s house. I wanted to offer my condolences to her and to tell her that Parin was a hero, but she was surrounded at all times by other people. I even saw my father speak to her for a few minutes, and I wondered who Faya thought he was. A strange traveler come to join their cause? Just another member of the Resistance?

“Kira,” Brin said, drawing my attention away from my father. She threw her arms around me and gave me a quick squeeze. “I'm so glad you're okay. When the others told me what happened I was worried, although I knew you'd find a way out.”

“I only escaped thanks to my mates and...” My eyes found my father again.

She followed my gaze. “Who is that? I saw him with you earlier.”

I wanted to tell her. In fact, I was desperate to talk to her and have some girl time, but not here. Too many people surrounded us, and I didn't want them to hear what I had to say. “Would Leni mind if I dragged you off to talk?”

Brin glanced over at her girlfriend, who was speaking with Slade. “I doubt it. Besides, a little jealousy now and then only spices things up, right?”

We walked out of the house, although not before Brin grabbed a bottle of wine and some tiny little cakes and pastries. Once back in my guest room we eagerly kicked off our shoes and climbed onto the bed, sitting across from each other. A pang of sadness shot through me at the memory of doing this with my best friend, Tash, and the reminder that I never would again. Sark had taken that from me, like he'd taken so many other things.

Brin poured us some wine before spreading the desserts out in front of us. She eyed them carefully, before plucking a flaky pastry from the plate. “All right, I'm ready.”

I chugged a big gulp of wine. “The man you saw...he's my father.”

Her eyes widened. “Really? Wait. Does that mean...?”

“Yes, he's a Dragon. The Azure one.”

“Wow. I've never met him before, only Sark and Isen. What's he doing here?”

“He's left the Black Dragon and has joined our cause. He wants to protect me and help me defeat her. Or so he says.”

She took a bite of her pastry as she considered this. “What's he like?”

I picked up my own pastry and eyed it. “I'm not sure yet. He helped me escape and he's given me some answers about my past, but it's hard to trust him, knowing what he is. Even if I do learn to trust him and get to know him, it's my destiny to overthrow him.” My throat grew tight. “To defeat the Black Dragon, I have to kill all her mates first. That includes my father.”

Her eyes turned sympathetic. “What are you going to do?”

“I don't know yet.” I took a bite of my pastry, sending flaky bits all over the bed. “There's more too. When I was being held captive, I met my mother. She was beautiful, regal, and…she's a monster.”

I quickly told Brin everything that had happened and what I'd learned about my sisters, including my twin. Brin let me get it all out, and it was so good to talk to someone who wasn't directly involved, like my mates were. They all wanted to leap over themselves to protect me, shelter me, and make me happy, but Brin could just listen and offer unbiased advice. Sometimes that's all I needed.

“This definitely calls for more wine.” Brin poured more wine into my glass from the bottle she'd swiped. “Eat another dessert too, it'll make you feel better.”

“What do you think I should do?” I asked, before shoving a bite-size raspberry cake into my mouth.