Chapter 5
Marc parked his car beside the restaurant and he took Maya to the restaurant so they can eat, after some minutes later they finished and they went out of the restaurant, they met Amber.Amber pretend to be upset and jealous, Marc was surprised to see her.“ Amber! What are you doing here?” He asked and Amber went to meet Maya.“ I can’t let this girl go with you” Amber said.“ How do you mean?” He asked.“ I feel like she is lying and only want to steal you from me” Amber said.“ Amber! What are you saying, I can’t steal him from you. I was not raised that way, I only need his help” she said.“ Why can’t you go meet others for help? Why my Marc in particular?” She asked.“ The rest of the wolf have refuse to help me and only Marc has chose to help me. Please did not try to ruined this” she said and Amber yelled at her.“ Amber there is no need for this, you can coke with us if you have refuse to trust me” he said and Amber looked back and Theo had signaled her to go with them.“ Alright, I will come with you. I guess, I will satisfy that way and more uncomfortable because a witch can never be trusted, she might cast a spell on you ” she said and Maya wanted to enter the front seat, Amber had stopped and Maya went to the back seat, Marc drove off and Theo was also in his car and he went after them.Three hours later, they were still on the journey and Maya had already slept off, Amber noticed they Maya had already slept of and she thought it was an opportunity to take her blood but she does not know how to do that because she was seated in the front, when Marc notice they sue was looking at Maya, he asked her questions.“ Why are you staring at her that way?” He asked.“ Nothing, I just don’t trust her, I feel like she cast a spell on you and that is why you have chosen to help” Amber said.“ Why did you have to say like that? She hasn’t cast a spell on me, I chose to help her and I promise after this help, she will leave for good” he said.“ I guess, we should stop, I need to take a rest” Amber said.“ We still have more hours before getting to the dragon land” he said.“ I know about that already, just stop the car, I need some rest” she said again, Marc place in the bush to park his car, Amber rushed down, she was holding a knife so she could hurt Maya in her hand and take her blood but Maya woke up, she notice something strange about Amber, they both stare at each other.“ Amber!” She asked and Amber smiled.“ I was about to wake you up but you opened your eyes. I wanted to tell you that I asked Marc to stop the car, I need to take some rest before we continue our journey to the dragon land”Amber said in cool voice and Maya seems not believe or trust her anymore, Marc had told Maya to get down from the car and Maya did and still stare at Amber, she followed Marc and Amber was still standing.“ Thank goodness, she did not see me” Amber said and she liked back, she saw Theo’s car and she went to meet him.“ Don’t far from us, I was about to take her blood but she woke up, it’s seems she suspected me” Amber said.“ Make sure, you guys don’t leave here till night so that when slept off then we can take her blood” Theo said and Amber laugh.“ You are right. That is a perfect plan” she said and she smiles.Marc and Maya did their tent in the bush bit Amber was no where ti be found, Marc noticed.“ Where is Amber?” He asked and Maya looked at him.“ I don’t know” She replied.“ Here I am” she said and Maya stare at her and can’t see trust in her eyes but betrayer.“ You scared me, I don’t want anything to happen to you” he said and Amber smiled and went to meet him.“ I am sorry nothing can never happened to me” Amber said and she kissed Marc, Maya looked away.“ We will sleep in the same tent tonight, I have missed you and can’t wait to have you tonight” he said and Amber smiled.“ You must be hungry, we should find something to eat” he said and Maya went with him.They picked some mushroom to cook and also killed a bush rat, Maya state at Marc and Marc stop when he notice that Maya was staring at him.“ Why are you staring at me that way?” She asked.“ Do you trust her?” He asked.“ How do you mean?” He asked.“ I mean Amber? I do not trust her. I fee like she is hiding something, there was a something weird about her” she said and Marc was already angry and he yelled at her.“ Watch your mouth and never say something hill about Amber” he said in anger.“ I am sorry if you feel bad about what I said but I hope you will notice and understand someday but I hope it won’t be too late because Amber know a not who you think she is ” she said and Marc was upset and she left him.It was already dark in the night and they ate, Maya was cold and she stood up.“ I am feeling cold and sleepy, I will see you in the morning” she said and she went to her tent to sleep.After an hour, Amber notice that Marc was already in a deep sleep, she stood up and she went it of the tent, she was about to go to Maya’s tent and Marc called her, she was shocked and stood and could not look back.ChThe FightMaya was losing.Blood dripped into her eye from a gash at her brow. Her feet danced back and forth on the hard stone floor, light and eager with her hands protecting her face—little good it had done.Her form was in complete contrast to the bruiser before her. He was nearly seven feet tall and built like the haunches of a dragon—massive and muscular. Though he was all power and no finesse.“You going to dance on your twinkle toes all day, or are we going to fight?” Bruiser grunted.“I was considering it,” she bit back.He laughed gruffly. “Fine. Make it easy for me, Red.”Bruiser stepped forward, using his limited elemental magic to give him an edge as he rushed toward her. The earth rattled beneath her feet, and she shuffled side to side in an attempt to stay upright. But then he was in front of her, his eyes keen on victory before his fist even shot for her face.She blocked him with her forearm, taking a bone-crunching amount of pressure. Then she dodged the second bl
“Do you have my winnings?” Maya asked.“I do indeed.”Amber slid his hand into the inside of his tailored black suit. The cut accentuated his muscular build. He wore the white shirt with a black vest and jacket, complete with a Wastes red cravat at his neck. His hand was nimble, producing a red velvet bag heavy with gold marks, just like the ruthless pickpocket who had taken over the underground.“Here you are.” He set the bag in her hand. It held way more than what she should have earned. His almost-golden eyes glittered with defiance, as if waiting for her to suggest that it was too much money.She did no such thing. She pocketed the bag and ignored the way he ran a hand back through burnished hair that showed more red than brown in the light. Not at all like hers. Not that she would ever admit to paying attention.“You should consider working bigger fights,” Amber said. “Use more than one element.”Using only one element in the Dragon Ring kept her safe. She did it to keep a target
Maya pulled out a few marks from the purse and dropped them on the bar for Theo. “Meet me tomorrow. I’ll get you a seat to watch.”“Dragons up,” Theo said with a wink.Maya left her at the bar with her loch and watered-down ale. She headed up another level and out the back way onto the streets of Kinkadia. She breathed in the clean air from the valley and turned her head skyward to take in the twinkling night stars overhead. A dragon passed across the moon, briefly shadowing it. She missed flying. Gods, she seriously missed flying.She trudged across the cobblestones through the Dregs of the city of Kinkadia. The old familiar walkways were notoriously the worst part of the city. Primarily humans and half-Fae lived in squalor on the north side of the valley where the city was located, bracketed on three sides by an impressively large mountain range and a winding river running diagonally along the southern border.She should have headed straight for her home in Draco Mountain, but her h
“Aurora,” Witch whispered.The House of Dragons, first and foremost, helped raise the young dragons. Every Dragon Blessed knew each dragon by name. Over the years, they had all grown close to certain dragons. The hardest part about leaving the House of Dragons was going to be leaving the dragons.Maya would recognize Aurora anywhere for his bright seafoam green scales. He was the largest dragon of the five who were part of the tournament this year, but he made up for his scary demeanor by always being in perpetual good spirits.After Aurora left, a bright red jewel soared into the arena. Vampire was a nimble flyer. One of the reasons Maya loved her so. They had long been friends, as they shared the same mischievous nature.“Oh!” Theo gasped when Wolves burst into the arena next.He was the most beautiful of them all. His scales were midnight blue and glistened in the light. Though he was one of the smallest dragons, he was completely adept at every maneuver. Unfortunately, he was also
Maya and Marc had taken much pleasure in finding ways to add to that over the years. As Mistress constantly reminded them.Maya grinned as they entered the mountain that was her home. She could weave her way through the maze of corridors and climb her way up into all the dragon eaves. So few were accepting of a half-Fae girl here, but it still felt more like home than anywhere else.Mistress Moran dragged them both into her office. “You were both out of your beds last night. Explain yourself.”Maya kept her mouth shut. No explanation would be satisfactory for Moran. Fighting in the Dragon Ring in the Wastes? She might as well tell her that she’d completely lost her mind. Moran might believe her more.“It’s my fault,” Lyam piped up.Maya raised her eyebrows. Since when did Marc take the fall?“Explain, Marc.”“I snuck out last night to go to a tournament party,” he said solemnly. “Maya tried to stop me because we had to be here so early. Eventually, she came with me to keep an eye on m
The tournament!” she gasped.“Yes! You didn’t come home last night. We’re were all worried. I drew the short straw to come here and collect you.”“Can you keep it down?” Theo grumbled from the pallet next to Maya.“Theo, get up! It’s the day of the tournament.”“Scales,” Theo gasped, rolling over with wide eyes. “Are we late?”“Late?” Aurora asked with a stilted laugh. “We’ll be lucky if we make the trek back to the mountain before it starts. Now, get up. Let’s go.”With this new information, both girls moved at lightning speed, throwing on fresh clothes, and scrambling out of the room.Gods, how had this happened? She wasn’t particularly punctual, but she had never wanted to miss something this important. Then the night before came back to her—the fight, the winnings, Basem Nix.She winced. She’d fought Basem Nix. Scales. That wasn’t good. She had never seen Basem in person before, but she sure as hell knew his name. And the echo of it still rang in her ears. He was full-blooded Fae,
His black hair was swept back off his face. But it was the gray eyes, which caught and held her gaze, that made her shiver. There was something… wrong with him. Something terribly twisted inside.His gaze swept over her and then dismissed her just as quickly. Then, he turned and stormed down the hallway. Without a backward glance or a question of his direction, he just left.Scales.Maya jumped from her place against the wall, cursing her right leg for falling asleep underneath her. She shook it out, but that only made it worse. Pins and needles trailed down her leg. She winced with every step.“Excuse me,” she croaked, finally getting her voice back.He didn’t slow down or stop or even look back at her.She gritted her teeth against her dead leg and pushed herself into a half-hobble, half-jog. “Excuse me, Prince Fordham.”That got his attention. He pivoted with strict military precision and looked at her with those ever-changing eyes.“Hi,” she said a little breathlessly. “I’m here t
Only a few lines were visible. And she furrowed her brow in confusion as she read them once, twice, three times through.Red rivulets run down his spine.Her tears gouge canyons into her cheeks.Black eyes watch, unceasing.Unceasing.Maya shuddered at the imagery. Was this… poetry? Did the princeling write dark, vivid poetry?It felt wrong somehow to read this. She hadn’t known what he’d been doing, but she certainly hadn’t imagined him to be an artist. Could someone from the House of Shadows find art in their darkness?It made her feel a little sick.She snapped her fingers, and a small flame appeared in her hand. She cupped the remaining page. The fire burned it down to ashes. As if it had never been.“Maya,” Mistress Cressida said.She whipped around as if she had been doing something wrong. “Yes?”“Fordham passed through to the tournament. I am going to escort him. He is the last. You can return to the House of Dragons.”“Of course. Thank you.”Mistress Cressida nodded at her and