Her Elemental Dragons: The Complete Series
Her Elemental Dragons: Stroke the Flame: Chapter 12

I didn’t get any more sleep that night. After telling my story to the town’s soldiers and trying to comfort Tash and her mother, I’d accepted it was time for me to say my goodbyes. It was clear I couldn’t stay here any longer, no matter how hard it was to leave my home behind.

Roark and Koth had never been especially loved in Stoneham, but they were respected. They’d lived in the town their entire lives and were related to half the people in it. The soldiers believed me when I’d said their deaths were a result of self-defense, especially when Tash and her mother backed up my story, but the townspeople would never look at me the same way again. Especially if word got out about my new companions’ strange magic. So far no one else knew about them, but how long would that last?

No, the longer we stayed, the more dangerous it was for everyone. Including Tash.

“Are you sure you’ll be okay?” I asked her for the tenth time. We stood in the middle of her kitchen, with dawn’s light filtering through the windows and illuminating the shadows under her eyes. Tash hadn’t slept much either last night.

“I’m sure,” she said, with a weak smile. Her eyes were puffy and red, but she stood tall, as if a great burden had lifted from her shoulders. “We both knew something like this would happen eventually. I’m only grateful none of us were hurt.”

I took her hands in mine. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

“It’s all right.” She squeezed my hands. “You protected me for so long, and my mother too. But it had to end someday. At least now we can live without fear, and you can fulfill your destiny without worrying about me anymore.”

“I hate leaving you behind,” I said. “You could come with us, you know.”

She chuckled softly. “What, and travel the world with you and your four men to help overthrow the Black Dragon? That sounds fun, but my place is here. I have an inn to run, after all.”

I nodded. I knew that would be her answer, but I had to ask anyway. “You’re going to be amazing at it. But what about food?”

“I’m reaching out to the farmers my father made angry to see if they’ll do business with me instead.” A sad smile touched her lips. “Don’t worry about me, I’ll figure it out. Just make sure you come back and visit sometime, okay? I want to hear all about your adventures.”

“I will, I promise.”

“And be careful.” She gave me a tight hug. “I believe in you, Kira. If anyone can save this world, it’s you.”

Emotion made my throat tight as I hugged her back. “I’ll do my best.”

We said one last tearful goodbye and then I rushed out the kitchen door and headed toward the stables. I lifted my pack up on my shoulder while wiping my eyes before approaching the four men who waited for me near their horses. The four men I was supposed to spend the rest of my life with. Starting now.

Gods, I was not ready for this at all.

Reven leaned against the stable walls with his arms crossed, his hood pulled low over his face so all I could see was his dark stubble. He’d barely said a word to the other men, so it wasn’t just me he was chilly with. I got the feeling he wasn’t all that excited about being here, and how could I blame him? We’d all been forced into this situation, but there was nothing to do except make the best of it somehow—and trust that the Gods had chosen us for a reason.

The other men stood apart from each other as well. Jasin rocked on his heels, his fingers resting on the hilt of his sword as if he might pull it out at any moment, while he watched for any trouble from the soldiers or other townspeople. He wore his military uniform again, which consisted of black trousers with a stiff coat over them, both trimmed with dark red to show he was from the Fire Realm division. As a former member of the Onyx Army, could I really trust him?

Slade stood inside the stables, saddling a large brown horse with gentle eyes. He had a calm way about him, perhaps because he was a few years older than the rest of us. I had no doubt he was loyal to our cause, and I couldn’t forget the way it had felt to be held in his arms for even a brief moment, but I had the sense something was holding him back too.

Auric peered at a map and took notes in his journal while the wind tousled his golden hair. His clothes were finer than the rest of ours and I wondered how he felt about being stuck with a girl like me, so below his station. I got the feeling he saw our mission as a chance to uncover hidden knowledge, but was that all he cared about? Could he ever care about me?

Would any of these men?

Not Reven, for sure. Slade was just as distant. Jasin maybe, though I got the feeling he’d be willing to bond with just about any woman.

“We need to make a plan,” Auric said, snapping me out of my thoughts.

I drew in a breath as I stared at his map, which was more elaborate and finely made than any I’d seen before. Done in different colors, it depicted the four Realms, each one converging in the center at the capital, Soulspire, where the Black Dragon and her mates resided near the Spirit Temple. The Earth Realm, where we were now, was located in the north, with the Air Realm to the east, the Water Realm to the west, and the Fire Realm to the south. The map had each Realm’s capital labelled, along with some other major cities, rivers, lakes, mountain ranges, and—most importantly—the five Gods’ temples.

“We have to visit the temples in the order in which we arrived,” Auric said. “That means the Fire Temple is first.”

“Why can’t we go to the Air or Earth one first?” I asked. “They’re both closer.”

“Because that’s what the Gods decreed,” Slade said.

Jasin flashed me a suggestive grin. “Definitely fine with me.”

“I suspect they made that rule to keep it fair and to encourage us to replace you faster,” Auric said, with a shrug. “Either way, we need to head to the Fire Realm first.”

For the next few minutes, Auric, Jasin, and I plotted a course to the Fire Temple, with a few helpful comments from Slade, while Reven ignored us entirely. Once that was done, the men’s horses were brought out, each one as unique as their riders. I didn’t have a horse, and certainly didn’t have the money to buy one. Not that there were any for sale in a town as small as Stoneham anyway.

“You’ll have to take turns riding with one of us,” Auric said, from atop his elegant white horse with the gold-trimmed saddle.

“She can ride me any time.” Jasin winked. “I mean, ride with me.”

“I’m sure that’s what you meant.” I rolled my eyes and threw my pack on the back of Auric’s horse. Jasin was a little too eager, and the other two were keeping their distance from me, so Auric it was.

Auric offered me his hand and I climbed onto the horse behind him. A jolt of surprise and desire shot through me when I pressed against his back, along with the realization of how close we were. It had been years since I’d been this close to a man, but in the next few days I’d have to sit with all of the men like this. Of course, if they were really my mates, I’d be doing a lot more than just riding a horse with them soon.

I hesitated, then slid my arms around Auric, trying not to focus on the feel of his strong chest or his clean, fresh scent that made me want to get even closer. He sucked in a breath at my touch, but then rested his hand over mine and gave it a quick squeeze.

“Ready?” he asked.

I cast one last glance back at the town that had been my home for the last three years, then turned to gaze at my other companions. Each one was staring at me, waiting for me to give the signal to leave. Reven, on his swift black steed, looking broody and bored. Jasin, impatiently twitching on his dark stallion that looked like it was no stranger to combat. And Slade, on his large chocolate brown horse, waiting with a steady, calm demeanor.

“Let’s go,” I said.

My arms tightened around Auric as the horse began to move. It had been three years since I’d ridden a horse and I had the feeling it would take some time to get used to it again. By the time we stopped, I’d probably be sore all over.

As we rode out of town, the soldiers watched us with stony glares and a few people stepped out of their houses to gawk at our strange procession, but no one seemed all that sad to see me leave. I’d killed Koth, and might as well have killed Roark too. They weren’t the first men I’d killed and likely wouldn’t be the last, but their deaths still weighed heavily on me. Taking a life never got easier, nor did seeing a dead body, even if the person deserved it. I only hoped Tash and her mother would be okay.

I gazed at the forest where I’d gone hunting every day for the last few years. I’d promised Tash I would return someday, but it was hard to know what lay ahead of me, or how different I would be if I did return. Would I truly be the Black Dragon then? I’d never seen the current Black Dragon before, but I knew she was immortal, could control all four elements, and turned into a great winged beast with huge talons and glowing eyes. Was that my fate as well?

And what would the Black Dragon do when she learned I was like her?