Ride the Wave

5

I wrapped my arms around her and clasped her in a warm embrace. She buried her face in my chest for a few moments, allowing me to lend her my strength, before pulling away. Over the years, Faya had been my lover, my enemy, and now my ally. We’d been through a lot together and our shared history would always be a part of us. Until recently I’d wanted nothing to do with her, but now I only wished the best for her and her child. “I heard you’re leaving soon to rescue Kira,” she said. “Take whatever supplies you need for your journey.”

“Thank you. Please watch over Reven for us until we return.”

“We will. No harm will come to him, I swear it.”

We said our goodbyes and I returned to my room in the hopes of getting a few more hours of sleep before our journey. Gods knew I would need it to face what was ahead.

4

Kira

I

waited in my cage for an eternity with only a bucket in the corner, a torn and dirty blanket, and whatever food and water the Dragons brought me. The bucket was a gift from Heldor, who came to see me after Sark. His face was solemn as he gave it to me, and thankfully he didn’t wait around to watch me use it to relieve myself. Isen brought me the blanket some time later, though he warned me not to get too comfortable because I wouldn’t be there very long. I could only imagine what Doran would gift me with when he came to visit me next.

When the door opened again some time later it wasn’t Doran who stepped inside, but Nysa. In an instant it became hard to breathe, my entire body tensing with anticipation and dread at the sight of her. My mother was incredibly beautiful, with an ageless quality I’d only seen before in the other Dragons. Her hair was the same red shade as mine and hung in luxurious waves to her shoulders, but her eyes were the color of emeralds. She had the kind of beauty that would turn every head in a crowd, even if she hadn’t been the most feared woman in the world.

“Good morning, Kira,” she said, as the door shut behind her and she approached the cage.

Was it morning? I couldn’t tell. How many days had I been here now?

“How are you feeling?” she asked, her voice pleasant. She wore a long white and black gown that trailed along the floor behind her with each graceful step, and it was impossible not to stare at her.

I ignored her question. “What do you want with me?”

She stopped a few inches from the cage and clasped her hands in front of her. “I need to take your life. Believe me, it’s not something I want to do, but it’s what must be done.”

“Then kill me already! Why wait?”

“It’s not that simple.” She tilted her head as she studied me from head to toe. “You must understand, I do not want you to die. If it were up to me, we would rule together as mother and daughter.”

My fists clenched at my side. “I have no interest in ruling, and certainly not with you.”

She waved her hand dismissively. “Your view of me is distorted by what others have told you. The truth is that everything I do is meant to protect this world. Including your sacrifice.”

A hard lump formed in my throat. “Sacrifice?”

“Unfortunately, yes.” She let out a long sigh. “I will drain your life force, and it will keep me and my mates young until my next daughter is born.”

Horror and revulsion filled me, even stronger than when I’d touched the bone cage. “Your next one?”

“I do have to apologize,” Nysa continued, as if she hadn’t heard me. “This would be a lot easier for all of us if you were still a baby, like the others before you. Now you’ve bonded with some of your mates and I must take extra precautions since you won’t be drained so easily. Of course, it also means your strength will become mine, making me even more powerful.” She dipped her head. “I will do my best to honor your sacrifice.”

All I could do was stare at her with my mouth hanging open as I absorbed everything she said, along with the implications. When the Gods created the five Dragons they were only supposed to be in power for a short time before being replaced by their daughter and her mates, beginning the cycle anew. All of that ended with Nysa, and I’d never known why. Until now. “That’s how you’ve lived so long. You drain the life from your own children.”

“I have no other choice.”

I’d always thought she was a monster, but I’d had no idea how dark her soul truly was. How many of my sisters had died before me to keep her immortal? How many babies had she drained to keep herself young?

“Oh, Kira.” She reached for me through the cage and I jerked back. She wrapped her hands around the bars instead, untouched by the revulsion that always struck me. “If I could save you, I would. But this is the only way to contain her.”

“Who?”

My mother gave me a sad, lovely smile before stepping back. “The Spirit Goddess.”

I could only stare at her as she left the room. Why would she want to contain the Spirit Goddess? We were descended from the Spirit Goddess and had been given her powers. The other Gods of Fire, Earth, Air, and Water were all her mates, and they’d tasked us with protecting the world. We’d been given our own mates to help us accomplish this task, and the Dragons were meant to serve the Gods and carry out their will—except Nysa and her Dragons seemed to be the enemies of the Gods instead. I’d assumed it was because Nysa had refused to give up her power, but maybe there was more to it?