Kingdom of Scorched Earth

There weren't always dragons in the valley, but of course, the damned pests would be there when I was needing to make my way through.

“I believe I told you this would happen, Scortcha.”

“Oh, shove it, Vhell,” I hissed pushing a stray blond lock away before waving my hand in dismissal. Annoying imp. He had, in fact, told me this would happen. But I’d hoped he was wrong. We needed to cross the valley into Aritzia before nightfall. The journey should have been easy. But now dragons stood in our way.

“What are they doing in the valley anyway?” I huffed while eyeing two who looked to be on patrol.

Vhell’s rasp sounded from where he was perched above. “I imagine doing the same thing we are. Making their way into Aritzia. Rumor has it, the dragon king is looking for a fair lady of the land.”

I rolled my eyes at his mocking tone, but my feelings on the matter matched Vhell’s.

“You know…” he drawled. “They say he’s got particular tastes, so he’s looking at all ladies as potential candidates.”

A humorous laugh left my lips. “Of course, some pompous, over-grown lizard feels he can take whatever lady he wants. Luckily, I’m no lady.”

I risked taking my eyes off the patrol to glance up at my imp companion. “And where do you even hear these rumors?”

At the moment Vhell was in his raven form. It was one of his favorites, he said it allowed him a sense of freedom. He’d been banished from Styx over five hundred years ago and the loss still stung. Why he'd chosen to stick around me, I had no clue. But I was thankful for the mischievous bastard.

“At the tavern of course. Stella loves to tell me things.”

“Stella loves to tell lots of people lots of things. Rarely are they true,” I said turning my attention back toward the dragons. A copper tang alerted me to the fact that I’d damaged my lip with all my gnawing as I tried to come up with a plan. A tingling warmth spread through my body, but I paid it no mind—focusing on our current hurdle.

Tonight was the winter gala, and if Stella the barmaid had been sober enough to speak some truth, then it looked like these dragons would be in attendance. Dragons were known for their love of gold, unfortunately, they were also known to be possessive of it. Causing a bit of a conflict of interest, since my plan was to steal gold tonight. Lots of it.

“Vhell, would a dragon carry gold on them?” I asked, trying to keep my tone light. A soft thud sounded beside me as he landed in his wolf skin, my favorite of his forms. I didn’t truly know how many forms Vhell had. He was always vague about his abilities. Which suited me fine, I wasn’t one to go sticking my nose places it didn’t belong. And who was I to judge about magik, my own was chaotic and very much outlawed.

Rarely did I ever use it, and never in public. A memory always tickled my mind about the importance of keeping it hidden. But like sand, the image of whom had told this to me always slipped through my fingers. Vhell’s scolding tone pulled me back to the present.

“Don’t you dare think about it, Scortcha. It’s too risky, even for you. It’s literally called their hoard. Not ‘share our gold with everyone’.”

I pursed my lips but didn’t bother responding to the warning. We both knew I would risk it, it’s why his little speech was said will zero bite. My theory was these speeches helped his imp conscious feel better.

I scanned the valley for signs that the patrol was still nearby. We would need to move quickly once the coast was clear. Vhell and I were bunkered down in a bramble at the edge of the forest, but as soon as we stepped into the valley all coverage would be gone. The term valley tended to bring about images of lush grasslands and maybe a lake or two. But that wasn’t the case for Mortem Valley. The landscape was scorched and harsh—dead. Legend told that it was desecrated and cursed by the last blood witch queen in a war against the other sects of Mystics.

Tonight’s gala was in honor of the winter witch defeating the evil blood witch queen. But I’d always found the villain of a tale was highly dependent on who was telling the story.

“Don’t you find it curious that the blood witch queen is considered evil but the dragons, who allied with her, are now being thrown a bride selection party?” I whispered while moving forward out of the brush.

Vhell let out a chuffing noise from beside me as we both rushed toward the charred remains of a tree. The moment my back hit the measly coverage he answered.

“There are many buried secrets when it comes to that war little one. The dragons were not only allies with the blood witch queen, they were…closer than that. The winter witch has been jealous of that for a very long time.”

“Closer how? I’d always been told they’d only joined the blood queen because they’d been promised land,” I asked, my curiosity piqued. But at that moment Vhell’s ears perked up and he scented the air. I couldn't detect anything but the overwhelming smell of burnt wood. The stench would last in my hair for days.

“We need to move quickly.” His kohl eyes met mine, narrowing on my face. “You are bleeding little one, now we must really hurry. Though, I supposed this is all inevitable.”

The last part of his statement was said so low I almost missed it. Vhell’s canine form burst past me; headed for the next cluster of charred trees. I sprinted after him, my long legs pounding the blackened soil. Whatever my heritage was, it made me faster and stronger than most; something that came in handy when you were a thief.

As soon as I neared, Vhall took off once more. There was a tightness to him—something was worrying him. I followed closely behind, dodging debris scattered about. Some very closely resembling remains.

“Hurry, Scortcha. Into the forest, they have scented you.”

Vhell’s words sent a shiver running up my spine. There was no need to ask whom he was referring to. A loud roar sounded through the valley, followed by a symphony of others.

“Vhell?” My words came out breathy, but it had nothing to do with the gruesome pace we were keeping. It was the fear threatening to take hold of my body.

“Now I understand why they call it a thunder of dragons,” I called out. I’d never heard something as intimidating as what I was currently witnessing. I didn’t dare look back to where the beating of wings seemed to be gaining on us.

“Why are they following us? It’s not like it’s illegal to cross Mortem. Are they hungry?” My voice hitched at that last thought. Dragons had two forms, and I'd always thought they preferred to feed in their human form. But I was having second guesses on that theory.

“It’s the scent of your blood, Scorcha. They are following it. I should've warned you about this when we were at the edge of the valley. I know how you have that bad habit of gnawing on your lip. But I am not to interfere.”

At some point, Vhell'd switched from speaking to me, to mumbling to himself. But I caught every word. The winter forest came into view. Trees blanketed in snow were a stark contrast to the blackened land we currently were sprinting through.

“Hurry child, the dragons are not allowed to enter without the winter guard escorting them. We must reach the forest before they stop you. Draw on your power, girl.”

Vhell usually spoke to me as a friend, but his wisdom and age poked through in situations like this. Or when he spoke to me of my chaotic powers. His entire demeanor changed, but he'd always spoken in riddles—his eyes pleading with me to unlock the secrets he couldn’t share.

I pulled at the well of power nestled in my chest, still thrumming from earlier. Nudging it to carry me faster across the valley. I knew next to nothing about my power, but I had a clue as to what I was. And I knew it could be used to enhance my physical strengths.

The moment the magik coursed through my body a roar let out—louder than the first.

“Shit,” Vhell called.

But before I could question him, the earth shook beneath my feet; sending me careening forward. My leather pants saved the tanned skin on my legs, but little could be done for my palms as I hit the jagged earth right at the edge of the forest. Teeth clamped onto my forearm, careful not to break the skin, as Vhell yanked me forward. Pulling me into the icy sanctuary. I scrambled to my feet, ready to take off through the forest.

“Stop. Who are you?”

The deep rumble sent chills over my skin. I looked to Vhell for guidance but he was nowhere to be found. Leaving me alone with a damn thunder of dragons.

“Boy, do I hope you're correct about them not being able to enter the forest,” I mumbled turning to face the voice. Part of my brain was screaming at me to run, but my reckless side won out.

It usually did.

My eyes widened at the bare-chested men standing in front of me. They were gorgeous, I wasn’t really sure what I’d expected a dragon to look like in their human form, but it certainly was not like seven-foot warrior gods.

“You, woman. Get back over here,” the closest of the dragon males barked, breaking the spell their good looks had weaved.

My hands hit my hips, causing a slight wince, but I kept my tone firm. “Excuse me, I'm not sure who the hell you think you are, but you can’t bark orders at people.”

His nostrils flared, but I couldn’t tell if it was in anger or interest. Both possibilities worried me.

“I assure you, that is exactly what I am able to do. Now, get back over here,” he bit out the words, his hands fisted at his sides. Same as the two other males who stood behind him.

“And why is it that you need me to go back over there? Actually, why is it that you lot were chasing me to begin with?” I sassed. Vhell was probably cursing my name for provoking a dragon.

They must've been absolutely massive in their dragon forms because it'd sounded like far more than three dragon males following me. But I didn’t see any others and there weren’t many places for them to be hiding. My eyes traveled across the three men. The one on the far right was even more massive than the other two, and his face was stony—unreadable. A scar cut across his brow, and his blue eyes matched mine. I’d yet to meet someone else whose were so icy they almost appeared silver.

They all had facial hair that gave them a rugged masculine look, but not unkempt. I bit my already damaged lip thinking about how that would feel against my skin.

“Because you smell delightful,” answered the blond one on the left. His eyes zeroed in on where blood was once again flowing. His haughty grin set me on edge, more so because it made me want to step closer. I racked my brain for everything I knew about dragons, which was pretty much shit. Did they drink blood and I’d somehow missed that memo? And did they have the power to enthrall? Or was this a case of me needing to get laid before I fawned over every male I came in contact with?

“Garrison,” the lead dragon barked, his golden eyes never leaving me. “We just want to talk, please, come back over,” he said in a sickly sweet tone. Like he was coaxing out prey. That's what he thought I was—prey.

But the word please sounded like his mouth was coated in ash. Manners were apparently not a staple practice in lizard land.

“I think not. Wish I could say it's been lovely meeting you, but it hasn’t,” I called back as I turned on my heel to leave.

“Little šarkan, we will find you. And next time you won’t have a forest to protect you.”

His words send a chill down my spine, but I forced my legs to carry me forward. He called out once more.

“Imp, remember your place.”

Vhell’s muttered words from earlier came rushing back.

“Though, I supposed this is all inevitable.”

What had he meant by that, and where was he now?