Page 52 of Dragon Eternal (Dragon Kings 4)
CHAPTERTWENTY-ONE
A Dragon King stood before her, pledging to keep her safe. It left Nia befuddled. Shaw had said that he was complicated, but she thought that was putting it mildly.
“Where do you want me to start?” he asked.
She shrugged. She wanted to know every detail he would share. Somewhere in his words, there had to be the reason everyone feared the Kings and magic. If she could just uncover what that was, then perhaps she could…what? What could she do? She was nothing more than a courtesan with a pretty face.
“The beginning,” she finally said.
Regardless, knowledge was knowledge. The more she had, the better off she would be. Maybe she could pass things on to others. It wasn’t much, but it was a start.
That was if she learned anything from Shaw.
He reached for her hand. She didn’t stop him when he led her away from the road to a secluded place in the trees where no one could see them. She glanced around, looking for anything that might attack them.
"Nothing is near.”
She swung her head to him. “How do you know?”
“Enhanced senses. I can see, hear, and smell far better than humans. There’s a brineling you described that way,” he said and pointed in the opposite direction. “Even if it does come near us, I’ll stop it.”
He said it with such conviction that she had no choice but to believe him. And, oddly, she realized that she felt safe. Nia watched as he sat and motioned for her to do the same. She found a place near one of the large trees and sank to the ground, facing him.
Shaw took a deep breath, his eyes on her. “Our world is called Earth. Dragons ruled for eons. Every color, every size. We inhabited every part of our realm. The frozen lands, deep in the waters, the harshest deserts, the tallest mountains, and the rolling hills. We had clans, and a King ruled each clan.”
“A Dragon King,” she said.
He nodded. “The magic in our realm chose the Kings. It looked deep within each dragon, learning its heart and power. The magic chooses that dragon to become a King.”
“What if there’s already a King?”
“The one constant in the universe is change. Every King knows he will only hold that position for a certain amount of time. Some hold it for a verra short period. Others, long. Sometimes, a King dies in battle, so the new King steps into the role easily. Then there’s the other way. The way most take the throne.”
Nia swallowed. “And what way is that?”
“By combat. To the death.”
“Is that how you came to be King?”
He glanced away. “Aye.”
“You felt the magic, then?”
“I did. It was undeniable. I heard it talking to me. I didna want to rule my clan.”
Given everyone Nia had come into contact with, everyone wanted power. So, it came as a shock to hear Shaw say that he didn’t. “Why not?”
“I didna come from a good home. My father was injured during a skirmish with another clan, and he was never the same afterward. He became mean and angry. My eldest brother, Rollon, had enough and left. That left only me to look after my younger brother, Ross.”
“What of your mother?”
“She died shortly after Ross’s birth.”
Nia licked her lips. She knew the pain of not having a mother. “I’m sorry.”
He shrugged. “It was what it was. Da’s rages were so severe that others in our clan began stepping in. Da liked to focus his fury on Ross. Anyone was fair game, really, but he usually turned to Ross first. Ross was just a youngling. He had barely learned to fly. Every time I saw him flinch at the sight of our father, I knew the time was coming for us to leave. Then, one day, I returned to find Ross lying unconscious and bleeding on the ground. I was so angry. I could’ve killed my father right then.” Shaw’s gaze lowered as his brows furrowed. “I wanted to. Had he been there, I might have.” He shook his head slowly. “Ross moaned, pulling me out of that haze. I was so scared to move him in case I caused more pain. I called for help. Others came and took us away. While Ross healed from his wounds, I planned.”
“To get revenge?”
Shaw’s green eyes lifted to hers. “For a better life. I found Rollon. The three of us then went as far away from Da as we could. We struggled, but we looked out for one another. Da had bitten through a part of Ross’s wing. Every time Ross flew, it caused him tremendous pain. Can you imagine what it would be like for a dragon who can no’ fly?”
“Yes,” she said with a nod.
He briefly squeezed his eyes closed. “That’s when I began hearing the magic telling me I had been chosen to lead the Sapphires. I wanted to ignore it, but there was no ignoring the call of the magic.” He paused, a small smile on his lips. “I told my brothers. They were as shocked as I, but they were excited about the prospect. All I had to do was challenge the current King.”
“I don’t understand the challenge. If the magic chooses you, then why doesn’t the old King step down? Obviously, his time is over.”
“Because some think they hear the magic and really doona. Kings were challenged often. Most times, the dragons only believed they heard the magic because they wanted to rule so desperately.”
Her stomach clenched. “The King doesn’t kill them, does he?”
“It’s our way. Every dragon who issues a challenge knows what’s at stake.”
“But…that isn’t fair to those the magic didn’t choose.”
Shaw shrugged. “When is anything in life ever fair?”
She had to admit that he was right. “Clearly, you challenged him.”
“Aye,” he said softly. “The fight was brutal for both of us. It went on for hours. It was worse because I actually liked him. He’d been a good clan leader. A couple of times, I didna think I would win. Even when the tides turned, and it was clear that I would, he didna give up. He fought like the noble King he was until the verra end.”
Nia asked, “How do dragons fight? Is it in the air? On the ground?”
“Aye, to both. We use our wings, tail, claws, and teeth.”
“Not fire?”
“Dragon fire can incinerate everything but a King.”
She frowned in confusion. “Wait. You said Dragon Kings are immortal. That means they shouldn’t be able to be killed.”
“I said they are essentially immortal. A Dragon King can only be killed by another Dragon King.”
“And since the magic chose you, you were basically a King.”
He nodded his head of black hair. “We can be hurt, but we heal instantly.”
That was an interesting fact. Maybe that was why everyone feared the Kings. They couldn’t be killed by anyone or anything but another King. “How long have you ruled?”
“I’m no’ sure I can count these last few millennia. The dragons were here and no’ with us. I was a King in name only.”
The pain in his words gave her pause. She wanted him to continue talking, but she didn’t want to push him after hearing the torment in his voice.
Shaw rose to his feet and turned away. “Bloody hell. This is harder than I thought.”
