Chapter 2

My smile was harsh, but I tried to smile anyway. What my staff members wanted to see was a woman smiling and in control. That was the person they needed. Isabella had surprised me a few months into her contract. All the time she had spent on the streets was spent well. She had a keen eye for any relevant information. A quick study. Elizabeth was tasked in teaching her and it paid off in some cases. Today wasn't that day.

"It is alright, Isabella. You can let them in. We will not stand in the way of whatever it is the king might want. Go upstairs to Elliana's room. Make sure she doesn't come down. Having knights in my home is one thing, but my daughter will not be subjected to them." I explained and ran my hands through my hair, trying my best to tame the curls before I stepped out.

"My lady, they don't even wear the insignia of the king, but some warped symbol of a dragon. I don't think you should let them into the estate." I held up my hand for Isabella.

"I understand what you think would be best, but I can assure you that I have this under control. See to it that Elliana doesn't get out of her room and that no one ever mentions her presence to anyone. Do I make myself clear?" It was cold water being dumped over my back. A few hundred years ago, when humans had tried to exterminate dragons, they had elite warriors on their side. Draco Venandi. They were exceptional in almost any way imaginable. Of course, they had to be, if they were able to fell so many of my kin all those years ago. But having them at my gate was not a good thing. Masking my face, I nodded towards Isabella and walked to the front door. Her footsteps receded up the stairs and down the hall.

Bracing myself once more, I opened the front door and glided down the path to my gate. Several gardeners stopped to watch me, only to return to work when I smiled at them. When I had started gathering my staff for the house, I had handpicked most of them. Made sure that they had nothing and no one. I built most of them up, gave them proper homes and a reason to live. For this exact moment. To ensure they would protect Elliana above all else. Some even came from families who had happily served my kind for many decades. The Draco Venandi was sadly a factor I knew would come into play eventually. When I had chosen to stay in Stygian, rather than go back to my mother, I planned for this. But what I found waiting for me at the gate wasn't half as bad as I thought.

Three men stood at the gate, covered from head to toe in a black material I had never seen before. There was a dull sheen to the armour, almost opalescent. A small dragon was embroidered onto the breast of the armour. Only indication that these men were trained killers and not just any men sent by their king. Word had started spreading amongst the Loyalists a few years ago that the Draco Venandi had risen once more. Father had said he would handle them when the time came. Preparations on behalf of Elliana and her safety had been made anyway. I was a princess, but the only humans who knew were the Loyalists and Hadeon. Not even Elizabeth knew of my heritage, nor her own.

"Excuse me, one of the kitchen girls told me that you wanted to enter the estate?" I asked and crossed my arms over my chest. I wore nothing of noteworthy, besides my wedding ring. Dull eyes ran over my body once, noting only the piss poor clothes that I wore. And my ample chest. A tall looking man, maybe in his early thirties, stepped forward.

"We have come to speak with the lady of the house. One miss Zhara Shunah. People within the city told us that we might find you here." The man explained, resting his hand on the broadsword he wore on his hip. Strange scents filled the air, but I wouldn't dare let my attention drop. There was something off vibrating through me, but I couldn't place my finger on it.

"What business do you have with her?" I asked again, my voice growing more commanding. At the first sign of trouble from these men, I wouldn't hesitate in snapping their minds into millions of shards. This was my home and no one would notice a few fresh bodies being buried by the gardeners. By morning, Elliana and I would already be whisked away to Tenebris mountain and my staff informed of who I was and what their options would be. They had two, come along with me or perish. I might have adored them all, but loose ends were a risk I wasn't willing to take with my baby girl's life.

"The king seeks an audience with her regarding an important matter we are not at liberty to disclose to some maid." Another one hissed from behind him. The taller one looked back at his friend, sneer on his lips. So far, my little rouse was holding up rather nicely.

"I cannot allow you in with so many weapons. It is a sign of disrespect to my lady, as she absolutely despises violence. Take them off and I will let you enter." I replied, barely keeping my eyes from rolling. Alpha male toxic bullshit, that was what he was spewing. Because I looked like a maid, he disregarded me. It would help my situation, but not for long.

"This is taking too long. The others have probably already entered into the property, there is no need to carry on this conversation." It was whispered to the one who had insulted me. They hadn't a clue as to who I was. As to how well my hearing would be. My heart dropped into my shoes. The house was unprotected. I was its sole defence, hence why I had come here instead of sending another. Elliana.

Unleashing the power within my veins, I searched for the strings that were their consciousness. Blooming red and growing brighter. They were hungry for blood and would most likely kill me without second thought. Sparking a bolt of black down the cords, I waited for the first one to fall, to claw his eyes from his skull. Nothing happened, instead they kept looking at me expectantly. I smiled at them, baring my teeth and tried again, but it was of no use. Something was amiss. Wrong. My power felt violated every time I tried scorching their brains.

"If you won't let us in, please go tell your lady that we are waiting by the gates. If she wants no weapons within her home, let us confer here. Do you think that is reasonable?" The tall man asked, his own smile cracking his face in half. An adders smile and one I would never forget.

Shouts echoed down from the house and I knew his friends had found out the lady they sought wasn't home. Footsteps pounded the earth behind me. Seven, maybe eight pairs. They were coming in hot and was almost on me when I finally let the full extent of my power ebb into my veins. Cold as ice and dark as night. Lux wouldn't do me any good right now. I needed force and brutality. Power to shred these men apart. Taking the subtle route was going to fail me in a matter of seconds.

"That is Zhara Shunah, you fucking idiots!" Upon hearing the men behind me, I ripped into the abyss. Black daggers flung themselves through the gate and impaled two of the three men. Where they were clad in armour, my shadows curled and dissipated. But their throats were still exposed. The tall man watched in horror as his two companions gurgled on their own blood, but I didn't have enough time to watch them bleed.

Two more soldiers reached me when the one on the outside started rattling the gates. A kick from one of them was blocked, whilst my fist collided with the other. Daggers of shadow jumped between my fingers, swirling over my hands. Knuckle guards, so that my blows would be felt even through their protective plating. Twirling on my feet, I sliced through one knight's throat and imbedded a dagger into the other's brain. There was something wrong, perverted, with the armour they wore. With the blades they carried. I wouldn't make the same mistake twice. Five more men appeared and I flung brute darkness at them. Their eyes weren't covered with the bewitched material. Slamming down on my powers, I reached for father's gift. Light swirled around me as I jumped to the house through light rays alone.

Bodies littered my doorstep and I nearly barked out a cry at who came towards me. A brute of a man walked out of the house, my beautiful baby girl in his arms, smiling when she saw me. Her mother. Her protector, who had just doomed us both.