Dragon Rule (Warrior Hearts Academy #9)

18. Riggs

18

Riggs

Cara and I stepped out onto the cliff at the new training complex.

Around us were piles of supplies—crates of food, as well as stacks of bricks and wood. Two young Dragon shifters stiffened as we approached, and then bowed their heads. At first, I thought it was a gesture of respect for Cara, but then I saw they were staring at the blasted sword on my back.

Whoa. It was me . They were bowing to me.

You are the chosen one, Breana said softly .

I don’t deserve to be the chosen one, I stated .

Tell that to the sword.

The wind howled around us as I looked away from the guards toward the ocean, and froze.

The training quarters now stood taller than the cliff that housed the gateway. A long, narrow causeway built from stone joined the two. My eye was caught by a small formation of Dragons that fought the vicious wind. They dipped and swirled, before landing on a large ledge halfway down the side.

Wow, Breana breathed. Nikolai built all that?

In hours, I said.

She paused. If he can do that…

Yep. Remind me to never piss that dude off.

The gateway was a busy place—as we stood there, it cycled again. At first, nothing came through, but then a pair of Centaurs stepped out of it, hauling a wagon filled with wood.

Cara led us out onto the causeway. The wind threatened to blow us clear off, and I admired that the Dragons could fly in it at all. Once inside the new quarters, I gaped at the tunnels with the many offshoots. Lanterns filled with phosphorescent mosses had been placed at intervals, casting a dim and rather greenish light.

We passed Centaurs who were framing doors and halls with wood and brick. Cara exchanged greetings with them, and their eyes followed us as we moved by.

Or rather, me.

There were other trades workers, too. I saw some laying wires.

“Where are they getting the power?” I asked.

“They are installing turbines that will be driven by the waves,” she said. “But it will take a bit to get them up and running. Until then, we will be relying on rather crude methods.”

I was amazed at how quickly things were coming together, and said so.

“People are afraid,” Cara stated softly. “The Legion was the last bastion against the darkness, and now it is gone. We have been careful with the recruitment of help, but all we had to do was ask. And they came.”

It’s remarkable, Breana said.

Cara continued. “Your brother has given this place a name, one that has been quite popular among those that have joined the effort. We are walking within the Talon Training Complex.”

The name resonated with me—but was this really necessary? “If we are successful in proving Daize is a frigging traitor—we won’t need this,” I pointed out.

Her expression, when she faced me, reflected regret. “I’m afraid there is no going back,” she told me. “Even if we get the proof, the new Empire will take shape rather differently. Taran wasn’t wrong when he said the old model was no longer sustainable. The Legion strained to hold the line, and the Empire was going broke trying to do so.”

I opened my mouth to protest, but then closed it again. Because she was right. What that meant for the future, I couldn’t begin to imagine.

I think that is why you are here today, Breana theorized.

Cara seemed to know where she was going. I followed her through the maze of corridors until we came to a larger room.

The speed with which everything had been whipped together was obvious in the furniture—the long table had been created from planks braced on chopped logs, and the motley collection of chairs also appeared salvaged. They were currently holding up Tyrez, Ash, Ganit, my mother, and my older sister, Banta. Treyton had spurned the chairs altogether and leaned up against the wall.

Cara put the teapot down on the table and took the pack from me. She then pulled teacups out of it. “You can’t have a meeting without tea.”

The only person present that seemed at all surprised by the cup handed to him was Ganit, who likely had less experience with her.

My mother stood to embrace me, then gestured around her. “Welcome to the Talon Complex,” she said.

It was a far cry from her palace chambers and her privileged life, but she seemed so pleased. My mother was one tough cookie.

Banta grinned at me from her chair. “I slept on a board last night. Thinking of joining the academy, they have better beds.”

I snorted a laugh. “My ex-roommate turns into a nine-foot monster when he dreams,” I said.

“Ex?” she questioned.

“He mated a Faerie, so he’s her problem now. But she seems impervious.”

Banta’s brows rose as my mother gestured to a chair. “Sit, Razir. We have something important to discuss.”

I didn’t want to sit. I wanted to pace, so my moving feet could calm my restless thoughts. But I pulled out the chair and cast it a dubious look. Then settled slowly into it.

It creaked, but it held.

“We need better chairs,” Tyrez stated. “I broke the first one.” He pointed to what I’d assumed was a pile of debris in the corner.

“Maybe you need to lose some weight,” Banta teased.

“Muscle is my thing,” Tyrez growled.

“I don’t seem to have any issues,” Ash stated.

Tyrez raised a brow. “Bones and skin are yours.”

“Dragon-worthy furniture is on the supply list,” Cara said briskly. “We have limited time, so I suggest we focus here.” She looked around the table. “I realize there is much work to do before this can become a reality, but we need to discuss what the new Empire is going to look like.”

My gut twisted. “Can’t this be decided later?”

Cara fixed me with a look. “If we are going to rally others,” she said, “they need to know what they are rallying to. We need a clear plan, or this effort will fail.”

I swallowed. The truth was, due to the hilt that stuck up over my shoulder, this wasn’t a discussion I was ready for. “What are you proposing?” Because I was pretty dang sure she already had something in mind.

“I want to hear everyone’s thoughts on this first,” Cara said.

“They are rallying to Excalibur,” Ganit offered.

My mother was watching my face closely. “Yes, they are. And Razir will be a critical focal point for everything we do. But we are here today to discuss the proposed hierarchy.”

The non-Dragon mate thing is a ridiculous rule, Breana growled in my brain. But I sensed her fear. Her bond with me had created—complications.

Ganit’s thoughts were obviously running along similar lines. “Both Razir and Tyrez are now mated to non-Dragons.”

“But both have pure-blood sons. Traditionalists will be reassured by that.” My mother glanced at Tyrez.

“Tyrez has been blamed for murdering the Emperor.” Apparently, Ganit was determined to point out the obvious. “His perceived worthiness would depend upon our ability to prove his innocence.”

“After we supposedly burned up in the fire, how can anyone not think Daize is involved with Taran’s murder—” Banta rolled her eyes.

“At this point,” Ganit said, “many are too afraid to see the truth.”

“How can they not see the truth?” Treyton now straightened from his spot on the wall. His eyes gleamed with passion. I didn’t think he could look more like my brother.

Which reminded me of my own mini-me. My eyes scanned the room. “Where is Mykal?” I asked.

Suddenly, Treyton looked uncomfortable. Tyrez turned around to look at his son. “Where is he?” he demanded.

“He said he had something to do,” Treyton said defensively. “I’m his cousin, not his keeper.”

“He is supposed to be lying low,” I growled.

“He is true to his heritage.” My mother placed her hands flat upon the table, and addressed me and Tyrez. “It is your sons that carry our future.”

“They are young,” murmured Cara. I shot her a look, but she was watching Ash.

He had stiffened as the conversation progressed, and he seemed preoccupied, staring around the room as though looking for someone. But now his eyes glowed, before starting to flash. Tyrez glanced his way before he answered. I wondered what the Oracle was telling him.

“The boys ensure that the regency has its heirs, and that will reassure the people, regardless of which brother is named Emperor,” my mother stated.

I swallowed. “Tyrez is far better suited to the title of Emperor than I am.”

Tyrez snorted. “How do you figure that?”

“I nickname people according to my favorite teenage movies.” I tapped my fingers on the table. “I pierced my dick on a dare. I seem to enjoy risking bodily harm. I hardly think any of that constitutes Emperor material.”

“You pierced your dick on a dare?” Ganit looked impressed.

“Tried to convince me to do it, too,” Tyrez said.

Ganit raised a brow.

“No, I did not,” the big shifter rumbled in reply.

“Got a pretty impressive tatt in a delicate place, though,” I pointed out.

Tyrez glared at me. “I don’t think all this needs to be public knowledge.”

“Regardless of tatts or piercings, our people would follow either one of you.” Ganit crossed his arms, but he nodded slowly. “Perhaps the sword intends you to rule together, as Emperor, and Emperor’s Champion.”

“The two of you together would provide strength in this time of chaos,” Cara agreed. “But we need to clear Tyrez’s name.”

I regarded her through narrowed eyes. I had the sinking sensation that this was what she’d wanted all along. But I also felt a twinge of hope. Putting Tyrez on the throne was something I could get behind. If I had to stand next to him to make it happen, so be it.

Ganit looked pleased. “Tyrez as Emperor, Razir as Champion, Treyton and Mykal as heirs—that would leave the matter of the Matriarch. Reinstating you would reassure the population.”

“It has been a long while since a single lineage ran the Empire,” my mother stated. “My ability to have mating flights with the Emperor yielded some excellent heirs.” She sighed before continuing. “I had been grooming Banta to succeed me.”

“Now it might be better to throw an election,” Banta stated. “The people will need to feel that their voice is heard. If they elect me, so be it. Otherwise, I can continue in my current role as assistant.”

My mother shook her head. “How is it that Taran was my only offspring to have political ambitions?”

“He passed it on to his son,” growled Tyrez.

Cara twirled her teacup on the table. “So are we in agreement?”

My mother’s fingers tapped on the table. “Yes. This structure will present a stable front that people can invest their existing beliefs in.”

Cara appeared pleased. “Excellent. Now we need to build ourselves an army. For that, we will need both Tyrez and Razir.”

“They will rally to the sword,” Ganit stated.

All eyes shifted to me. I cleared my throat. “Even with defections from the Legion, we will be badly outnumbered unless we can get proof that Daize has betrayed them.”

The Watcher nodded. “Tyrez is organizing forays into the underworld in an effort to attain that proof. But our best hope still resides with Caliel and Bree.”

“Meanwhile, I am organizing groups and ferrying them here,” Ganit said. “But enough have defected that Daize is already suspicious. We will have to come out into the open and declare our intentions.”

“We do that too soon, and he’ll decimate us before we’ve even gotten started,” Tyrez growled.

We need that proof, dammit, Bree said.

I’d already lost much in pursuit of it. And I stood to lose much, much more.

But I gritted my teeth, and replied, Yes. We do.

Family matters ate up my special abilities session, but Cara got me back in time for fight class.

Lucky me.

I discovered that Anisaus were rather good at wrestling when Sid jerked free from my headlock and spun away.

He was so dang strong. I was, too, but Dragon versus Sasquatch seemed destined to result in a trounced Dragon.

At least, it did when we stayed human.

Admittedly, Sid was having issues with that. His eyes kept flaring yellow, and his huge arms alternatively sprouted hair, and shed it again. The grass beneath our feet was strewn with long, red-gold strands. And I noticed that Cody hovered near us often, as though he kept an eye on the situation.

I was having similar issues with the scales—they kept popping up beneath my clothes. But it wasn’t the fight that had me so on edge.

It was Breana. Or rather, the complete lack of a plan on Caliel’s part to spring her out from under Victor’s nose.

Give him a chance, Breana protested.

The ache across my shoulders had become almost a permanent thing, and I was eager, poised to bolt out of here on a moment’s notice.

You can’t, Bree said for at least the hundredth time, push your Dragon too soon.

If Caliel can’t get you out, I’m coming for you.

She sighed. You are being stubborn.

Apparently, my family is known for it, I agreed.

They are also supposed to be known for their brains, she argued. And shifting before you are ready is stupid. Period.

I growled, both mentally and out loud. Circling about six feet away, Sid’s lips peeled back from lengthening fangs, and he growled back.

Dang it. I need to pay attention here. Or I was going to be eating more dirt.

My point exactly. And with that parting shot, she pulled away.

Mental arguments were at least as frustrating as verbal ones. As Sid lunged at me, I was a bit slow to dodge. I also underestimated the length of his arms—which seemed suspiciously longer than they should be.

“Sid,” Cody admonished.

The Anisau let me go, and his craggy brows dropped. After a moment, his arms shortened back to human-ish standards.

“Sorry,” he rumbled.

His beast ran so close to the surface. I longed to rediscover my own.

Nar had been late for class. Strangely, he and Leah hadn’t done their usual mix of wrestling and writhing—it had been a rather awkward bit of circling and dodging, as though the Selkie didn’t want him touching her. They’d given up and now sat on the back steps to the building. But they were a few feet from each other, and their eyes were flashing like crazy.

Telepathic mind bonds added an entirely new dimension to whispering among themselves. What the heck were they discussing?

Then I saw Nar pull something from the pocket of his sweatpants. He offered the long box to Leah.

She opened it and stared at what lay inside. Nar shuffled closer and put his arm around her.

The Selkie stiffened and closed the box, before dropping it back into Nar’s lap. She squirmed out from beneath Nar’s arm and moved away from him. Her brows were drawn low.

It distracted me to the extent that Sid managed to wrap a powerful arm around my waist and dump me in the dirt. He grinned.

“Gotcha,” he boomed.

I was rescued by the class bell. We straightened, and Adilyn applauded. “It’s so much fun watching two hunks wrestle.” Her vivid-purple eyes flashed as she stared at Sid.

When Sid rumbled a seductive growl at her, I could only imagine what had passed between them.

My heart constricted. Breana’s absence was an ache that wouldn’t end until she was back with me.

I could barely eat at lunch, and I faced the afternoon Team Strategy class—ordinarily something that might interest me—with dread. The red-headed Dire named Alex taught it, and like all his kind, he had a good grasp of working together toward a common goal.

I spent the entire class trying to see through Bree’s eyes and wrestling with the Ice Drake. To have access to the energy I needed, I had the sword drawn and sitting across my lap. It caused more than one curious glance, but Sid and Adilyn helped by ignoring it utterly.

Nar, however, seemed captivated. To the extent that he didn’t try to grope Leah. Or maybe she was still annoyed at him for some reason. But considering he’d basically ignored the sword until now, it was strange.

Their behavior was only of passing interest, because what I sensed from Breana held me captive. The heat radiating from her pulsed into me. Her Drake called to my Dragon, and it was all I could do to sit still. By the end of class, I thought I was literally going to explode like an adolescent having a wet dream.

It was so bad that I made my apologies to the team—Leah’s eyes raked over me and fixed on my groin—and took my supper tray up to the roof. I wasn’t fit company for anyone like this. And the fact that I couldn’t even ease myself without risking setting the Drake off had my lips permanently pulled back from my teeth.

And I was pretty sure they weren’t human…

Or even remotely Akolachian.