Page 44 of Dragon Revealed (Dragon Kings 1)
Chapter Twenty-two
The waiting was the hardest. Varek wished he could be inside the city with the others. It grated on him that something could contain his magic the way it did. Only the Others had been able to block Dragon King magic before, but that was the power of Druids from Earth and another realm, combined with that of both Dark and Light Fae. Whatever was inside Orgate was something else entirely.
He felt better knowing that Erith and Cael were with Jeyra. But he would feel even better if Jeyra were the one waiting for him instead of the other way around. She could take care of herself, however.
Varek jerked when he heard his name in his head. He opened the mental link and was shocked to hear the male voice from yesterday. “I’m listening.”
“The mortals are venturing deeper into our territory, looking for you. I won’t allow them to go much farther.”
“Do what you must.”
There was a pause. “And you?”
“We’re in the process of trying to free the dragons.”
“We?”
The surprise in the male’s voice made Varek grin. “A mortal freed me. She’s aiding me now, but two other friends arrived.”
“Is that so?”the male asked in a tight voice.
Varek sighed wearily. “I doona know why you balk at anyone wanting to help.”
“We’ve done things on our own for a long time.”
“That doesna mean that’s how it has to continue.”The more he spoke to the male, the more Varek was sure this was one of the twins. “If you’re who I think you are, you can join me now. I’m outside the gates of Orgate in a grove of trees. I’ll never turn down help, especially when it’s to free dragons who are suffering horrendously.”
Silence was the only response. Varek flattened his lips, angry and a little irritated that any offspring of Constantine’s would act in such a way. Then again, he had to remember that while the children might have learned what had happened on Earth, it was much different than experiencing it themselves. On top of that, the twins had been dealing with their own things.
Varek remained hidden in the grove, though there was little need. The traffic in and out of the gates was light. Most everything happened inside the city. He had no way to contact Jeyra, Cael, or Erith to see if his magic continued to alter his mate’s appearance. His gaze had tracked the trio until they were swallowed up within the city, and now he was left waiting.
He used the time to get a look at the fortifications from his vantage point. The bolt thrower was somewhere. It would be heavy and bulky, and most likely stationed somewhere it could be put into place quickly. The city was situated far from the forest or mountains, giving the lookouts plenty of time to spot something in the air coming at them from all directions.
Regardless of the bolt thrower, Varek knew he wouldn’t hesitate to shift and use whatever magic was necessary to get the dragons safely away from Orgate. He was worried they might be too weak to fly. He could hear their agonized roars even now, though he had blocked them from filling his head.
What was being used to stop the dragons from being heard as well as binding anyone with magic who came into the city? And, more importantly, who was doing it?
He fisted his hands, anger simmering just beneath the surface. So many dragons had been brutally killed on Earth during the war. It was time for that to end—on both sides. If the humans and dragons couldn’t live together on this realm, then this time, the mortals should be the ones to leave. The dragons had already suffered too much.
“I hear you,” he told the tortured dragons. “I doona know if you can hear me, but salvation is coming. Hold on just a little longer. You’ll soon be freed. You have my word. One way or another, your torment ends today.”
* * * *
“Wait,” Erith said as they approached the dungeon.
Jeyra halted with Cael. “What is it?”
Death asked, “Do you have a weapon?”
“Not on me,” she said.
“What do you prefer?”
“A spear,” Jeyra answered without hesitation.
In the next heartbeat, the weapon was in her hand. She smiled at it and turned her head to thank Erith when Cael said, “Hold on.”
The words were barely past his lips before he teleported her into the dungeon. Jeyra managed to get her bearings much quicker this time. She gave a nod of thanks, then motioned for the two to follow her as she started down the tunnels.
Halfway down, a guard stepped into their path after exiting a side corridor. Jeyra quickly punched him in the face, snapping his head back to slam it into the rock wall, knocking him out.
“Nicely done,” Cael said.
Jeyra glanced at Erith to find the female staring at her with what looked a lot like admiration. After Cael moved the man out of the tunnel, they continued on, picking up the pace until they were running.
When she reached the section where Varek had been held, Jeyra glanced into the entrance. Her entire life had changed down here. She couldn’t think about that now. She had to focus on the dragons, because she had no idea what they would find.
The torches became scarcer as the incline grew steep enough that she had to slow down. Cael touched her arm to get her attention and moved in front of her. Jeyra didn’t get offended because whatever he and Erith were might be the only reason any of them survived. Jeyra glanced at Erith as they passed one of the torches, and she saw the female carrying what looked like a black sword.
The rattle of chains drew her up short. She tightened her grip on her spear as Erith moved ahead of her. Jeyra inwardly shook herself and began walking. Not too far ahead, the tunnel ended, and bright light could be seen within the opening of a cave.
Jeyra was barely cognizant of Cael and Erith using hand signals at each other. She was drawn to the light, unable to stop moving closer and closer. The chains clanked again, this time louder. They dragged on stone, heavy and large. There had to be something immense within the cavern.
Her heart hammered, and all the old fears and hatred of dragons threatened once more. Then she was at the opening, and she peered inside. Her eyes clashed with huge white orbs belonging to a red dragon lying on the ground. It’s four legs, as well as its neck, were encased in massive shackles, keeping it from standing or moving more than a few inches.
The anguish and distress pouring from the beast brought tears to her eyes. The dragon silently pleaded with her for help. She blinked away the moisture in her eyes and gazed at the metallic scales that seemed to have lost their luster.
Jeyra walked toward the dragon. She couldn’t take her eyes from it, noting the many scars that crisscrossed its massive body. When she reached it, she was dwarfed by the animal, and still, she stretched out her hand and placed it on the dragon. She felt a tremor run through the massive body. A moment later, Jeyra felt something wet on her cheek as the first tear fell. She didn’t stop the others.
