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1052 Words
Her rapid words made my head spin even more, but I had to tell someone what was going on to make sure I wasn’t dreaming. I grabbed her arm and dragged her into my bedroom, then shut the door. “I’ll tell you everything, but I warn you now, it barely makes sense to me.”
She sat on the edge of the bed, leaning forward anxiously. “Maybe we can sort through it together.”
“According to those guys, they’re Dragons. Or they will be.” It sounded even more ridiculous when I said it out loud. “But they already have magic.”
Her brow furrowed. “How is that possible? The Dragons are immortal and there are only five of them. How does someone become one?”
“I don’t know. But each man says one of the Gods chose him, gave him magic, and then told him to find me.”
“I’ve never heard of such a thing.” She tilted her head and frowned. “Please don’t take this the wrong way, because you know I love you like a sister…but why you?”
I drew in a long breath. “Supposedly I’m the next Black Dragon.”
She gasped. “What?”
“Trust me, I’m as shocked as you are.” I ran my fingers through my long hair, where they got caught on the tangled ends. “Do you remember on my birthday when I came inside all muddy?”
“Of course.”
“Right before that I was struck by lightning, but it didn’t hurt me at all. Ever since then I’ve had these weird dreams of four men with elemental powers. Three of those men are now sitting in the other room, and I’m guessing the fourth will be here soon. I’m supposed to go with them to each of the Gods’ temples now to ‘bond’ with them—and after that we’ll be the next Dragons. Which I’m pretty sure the current Dragons won’t be thrilled about. Especially when they learn we’re supposed to overthrow them.”
She stared at me as if she’d never seen me before. “Are you going to do it?”
I paced back and forth in front of her. “No way. I don’t know a thing about those men. I’m not sure I believe any of this is real, anyway. It sounds even crazier now that I’ve said it all out loud. There must be some other explanation…”
She chewed on her lower lip as she considered. “I think you should do it.”
I stopped and gawked at her. “What?”
“If any of it is true, then you have a chance to change things. You’ve been chosen by the Gods to make this world better and stop the Black Dragon’s reign.” A mischievous look entered her eyes. “Plus it means you’ll be married to four very handsome men. It’s hard to complain about that.”
I sank onto the bed beside her and buried my face in my hands. “But I didn’t ask for any of this! I don’t want to change things or to go up against the Black Dragon. I just want to live a quiet, peaceful life and stay out of trouble. And I don’t want four men, or even one.” That wasn’t exactly true, but the whole thing was far too overwhelming for me to even consider what being married to four men would mean.
She rubbed my back slowly. “It seems that’s not what the Gods have in mind for you. They’ve chosen you, Kira. You have to answer their call.”
“Curse the Gods,” I muttered, then immediately regretted it. Were they watching me even now? Would they strike me with lightning again if I didn’t do what they wanted?
The door suddenly burst open, and at first I thought it was the Gods coming to punish me. But it was no God, only Tash’s father, who was almost as terrifying.
Roark stood in the doorway, his large hulking form completely filling it, as he glared at us. “There you are.”
10
Kira
R
oark quickly took us both in with disgust written across his face. “What do you think you’re doing? Lazing about while we have customers waiting! Get back to work!”
Tash scrambled to her feet. “I was only taking a short break, Father.”
He grunted, then narrowed his eyes at me. “And you. It’s been two days since you last brought us any game.” He pointed to the door. “I have hungry soldiers out there demanding some supper. What am I supposed to tell them?”
Dread and panic shot through my blood. I’d been on my way to the forest to hunt when Jasin had shown up. “I’ll go right now. I’ll find something quickly, I promise.”
“Too late for that.” A sick grin twisted his lips as he grabbed Tash’s shoulder, his meaty fingers digging into her dress until she cried out. “You know what the punishment is for slacking off.”
“Father, please,” Tash started, but then was cut off when he backhanded her across the face.
“Stop,” I pleaded. “I’ll get you whatever you want right now. Just don’t hurt her.”
“The two of you siting here gossiping while the rest of us starve,” he growled, before striking Tash again. “You both need to be taught a lesson.”
“No!” I yelled, then launched myself at him. He was double my size if not more—as well as being both my employer and my landlord—but I couldn’t let him hurt my best friend. Not again.
I tore at him with my nails, reaching for whatever I could, caught in an urgent frenzy to protect Tash. With a roar, he threw me off him in a burst of strength. I fell back, my head slamming hard on the wall behind me, before slumping to the floor in a daze of pain and darkness. Tash, I’m sorry.
When the black haze lifted, three silhouettes stood in the doorway.
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