This time it was the dragons. I gathered lightning in both my hands and then waved them, letting the charge arch halfway around me, scorch the ground in a half circle in front of me, and prevent the dragons from advancing. It worked as everyone jumped back, not sure what to expect.
‘Now!’I took off.
I looked down as I flew away to see Zilon following right behind. Then, Landers took flight, and after a short hesitation, Philit followed too.
Knowing we were escaping, I led the way and kept us low, using the trees to hide us from sight. I could hear the beating of wings, and that let me know the dragons were in pursuit.
But the confidence building in me over the last week told me it was going to be okay. That we’d escape.
18
‘Where are we going to go?’Zilon asked.
Once we knew we were in the clear or at least far enough away, we stopped so the guys could shift into dragons. I was riding Zilon this time, giving him the attention we both needed to re-cement our bond after our separation.
‘Away from this whole fucking mess. I don’t want to even be within a thousand miles of all this fucked upness.’Landers was pissed off and irritated.
‘Is that really the answer though?’Philit asked. ‘To run like that. We can’t just shirk our duties.’
‘And what exactly are our duties?Landers asked, his response dripping with sarcasm.To fight a pointless war against the Fae? One that will never end. To die for a dragon king who has only ever locked us up and tried to take Rayna for himself?’
‘But that’s the thing,’I finally said. ‘There can be a way to end all this.’
‘I don’t want to hear more about this prophecy bullshit,Landers said.I don’t know why you have three mates. It just is what it is. No bigger mystery here. I’d rather move the fuck on and stop getting involved in all these power struggles. We have our own shit to deal with.’
‘The Fae have answers. I say we go back there. Learn what we can from them. Then we leave. We can’t just disappear as things are,’I said
‘No. Hell no. Fuck no. How many more ways should I say it?’Landers asked.
‘That is a bad idea. We need to stay away from the Fae. They’re dangerous. Don’t forget they’re the same people who killed your father,’Philit said.
I gritted my teeth and tightened my grip on the spinal spike I was holding onto. ‘I have never forgotten that. Ever. Trust me. I know damn well what they can do, what they have done. But it doesn’t change anything. They have answers I need. And we can learn so much from them. Wouldn’t Landers call it something like “use them and dump them?”’
Landers made a snorting noise as he flew up next to me, all while giving me a side eye that said he wasn’t impressed.
‘We escaped because of what I learned from the Fae. And I think there is truth in what they’ve told me. At least more truth than anything the academy has ever told me. I think dragons do use up a rider’s magic, but from my own experience, I think there might be more to that. Why else would we exist the way we do? We work together; you can’t deny that. But the dragons paint it like my only job is only to serve you guys, and it’s already been proven wrong.’
I showed them my lightning again. It seemed like it was all I had at the moment to offer to prove to them that I could be strong too.
‘We should go there. See what else we can learn. I want to learn more. I want to fight by your side, not as a rider but as a Divine,’I said.
For the first time, I finally understood the term “Divine.” It was reclaiming it. Being a Divine wasn’t about being weak, and it wasn’t being used as a slur either. It wasn’t an insult. It was what we were—who we were—but time had twisted the meaning until it was seen as an insult. Even our real identities were stolen, replaced with a weak, inadequate word like “riders.” There was no strength in being called a rider, no power in it. But Divine had a nice feel to it. Like we were more than weak, more than just a tool or a battery for the dragons.
I liked it a lot.
‘Divine.’
Zilon spoke up first. ‘I’m with Rayna. I’ll go where she goes, and there seems to be merit in what she’s telling us. We saw what the academy and the dragons had to offer us. Why not explore the Fae then? Get a sense of the other side?’
‘I don’t like it. Not at all,’Landers said.
‘If you don’t like it, we’ll leave. I’m just asking for a chance,’I said.
‘It’s too dangerous. Even if we can’t fight with the dragons, it doesn’t mean we should be running to the enemy instead,’Landers continued.
‘I’m only asking for a chance to show you, so you can see what I’ve been witnessing for the past week. It’s definitely confusing, but even some of the Fae aren’t so bad there. Neyil is scary for sure and the men in his army too, but some of the Fae are just trying to live. They have citizens there too, innocent Fae making the best of their lives. But it isn’t even about them. I want you to meet the Divines. See what they can do, how strong they are, and how strong they can be. You saw what I could do, but frankly, I’d still lose if I went against the other Divines, and I’m supposed to be strong with the potential to do even more powerful magic. They’re just more experienced with working with what they have, and it gives them an edge. Please.’
I wasn’t above pleading with my mates. I desperately wanted them to witness what I had. To feel the same awe I did watching the others learn.