Her Elemental Dragons: The Complete Series

The key to being a good assassin was to remain calm at all times—and I was the best in the four Realms. I’d faced impossible odds and dodged certain death without breaking a sweat. I’d escaped prisons and survived torture. I’d stolen from the best thieves and murdered the most vile men and women. And never once had I lost my calm.

Until tonight.

The sight of Sark sent instant, poisonous hatred through my veins and I reached for my hidden weapons without thinking. With a small dagger in each hand, I charged forward—but was held back by a large hand on my shoulder.

“You don’t want to do that,” Slade said.

“Trust me, I do.” I pulled away from him with some effort. Damn, the man was strong. It was like fighting against a boulder.

“Someday, yes. But not here. Not now. Not yet.”

I gripped my daggers tighter, the rage boiling me from the inside out at the sight of the man standing there while people bowed before him. I wanted nothing more in the world than to stab my blade through his heart. Or better yet, make him suffer the way he’d made me suffer. The way he’d made Kira suffer.

But Slade had a point, though I was reluctant to admit it. If I stabbed Sark, would he even die? We knew so little about the Dragons since no one had dared oppose them. For all we knew they were immortal. The only way to defeat them was to become Dragons ourselves.

I sheathed my daggers and muttered, “Fine.”

That didn’t mean I would stand by doing nothing. I slipped back into the shadows, while Auric’s parents made their way over to the uninvited guests with fake smiles plastered on their faces. I ducked behind statues and tables to get closer, but I wasn’t planning on attacking, only listening. Although if the moment presented itself, I wouldn’t mind attacking either.

“Sark, Isen, what an unexpected appearance,” the King said.

“Are we not welcome?” Isen asked, arching a black eyebrow.

“Of course you are. We’re delighted to have such esteemed guests. I’m simply surprised since you do not often grace our balls with your presence.”

“Sark and I have business in the city and thought we might stop by.” Isen cast a dismissive gaze across the crowd, which had reluctantly started dancing again, though the mood in the room had changed and become tense. “I heard there’d been an assassination attempt on your life. Is that so?”

“Yes, there was, but we dealt with it. The assassin is dead.” The King paused. “You wouldn’t know anything about that, would you?”

“You dare question us?” Sark asked, his voice more like a growl.

King Terel smiled at them like they were old friends. “Not at all. Simply hoping for some answers. But we’ll uncover who was behind it, I’m certain.”

Isen sniffed. “And that matter we discussed the other day? Have you had time to think on it?”

The King hesitated, then bowed his head. “Yes, I have, and I concede to your wishes. Tomorrow we’ll begin searches throughout the city for Resistance members.”

“See that you do,” Isen said, his voice carrying a subtle threat. “Otherwise I can’t promise there won’t be more trouble in the Air Realm.”

“We have reason to believe five people in particular are hiding in Stormhaven,” Sark said. “One woman and four men. They might claim to have special powers, but they are tricksters and con artists. If you hear word of them, inform us immediately.”

“I shall,” King Terel said.

“Enjoy your party,” Isen said, as he turned away and plucked a tiny pastry off the dessert table and popped it in his mouth. He gestured at Sark, but the Crimson Dragon stared at something behind the King, his brow furrowed.

I followed his gaze and saw Kira’s pale face looking back at him. Auric held her in his arms, and I couldn’t be sure if he was keeping her from running to attack Sark, like Slade had done with me, or if he was holding her up so her knees wouldn’t give out on her. That burning hatred seethed inside me again as Sark took Kira in, and I reached for my daggers in case he recognized her somehow. But then Sark spun on his heel and followed Isen outside onto the patio, where it had begun raining. They both shifted into their dragon forms and took off, while lightning flashed in the sky and thunder rumbled behind it.

As soon as they were gone a collective sigh of relief went up around the entire room and the dancing picked up. Even the music seemed livelier and the candles brighter. The Dragons had a tendency to suck the air out of any room they were in. Was it any wonder I had no desire to become one of them?

But that was before. Now, as I caught sight of Kira’s pained expression and trembling hands, a new purpose and resolve filled me. Sark had taken everything from Kira, just as he’d done to me. Even so, I hadn’t wanted revenge, not at first. I’d made my own way in the world and found a way to survive. After I’d been appointed the next Azure Dragon I’d tried to run from my destiny, but I’d been unable to stay away.

Everyone I’d ever loved was dead. I refused to love Kira and have her meet the same fate, but for some reason I wasn’t able to walk away from her either. Gods knew I’d tried, yet here I was, drawn by this invisible string to her side no matter how much I tried to fight it or escape it. Maybe, deep down, I’d known this was the only way to avenge my family and take down the beast responsible for their deaths. The best way to fight fire was with water, after all.

To defeat Sark, I had to become a Dragon myself. And this time, I wouldn’t run or hide from my fate. I would be the next Azure Dragon, no matter what it took.

I just had to make sure I didn’t lose my heart to Kira in the process.