Chapter 117: Laryn
Bastian's cry moves everything into slow motion. I know his son or mate are gone, possibly both. I get just a touch of Roxy's magic so I know she's alive. This doesn't ease my fear. I'm almost at the door where the children were kept when Bastian walks into the hall with blood covering his chest. I glance into the room and see Ashrac's body.
Rage fills me. Bastian reaches the room at the end of the long corridor first with me at his heels. I take in everything at once.
My brothers and their mates surround Drakon. He's actually hissing and lunging at each of them in turn. Roxy's face is covered in blood but she's up and ready to kill him. I catch her eye and almost throw the halberd her way. I meet Acasia's gaze and without another thought toss her the halberd. In one motion she catches it and swings.
After all the pain he's caused, it seems almost anticlimactic when Drakon's headless body slumps to the floor. Acasia goes to her knees and her wails are as heart wrenching as Bastian's earlier scream. I'm surprised when Tahr, with no hesitation, runs from the room. Pepper looks at me and I can only shake my head. I have no idea where he is going.
"Roxy," I whisper into her mind. "Are you okay?"
Without answering, she runs into my arms and I squeeze them around her as tightly as I can. My Roxy seldom cries so it makes the situation even more surreal. I can only hold her as she falls apart in my arms. "Our children are safe," I whisper. I lift my gaze and meet Bastian's grief-filled eyes. He's holding Acasia.
"The Goddess," shouts Pepper and she's off running.
I push my mate back a bit and take her hand leading her to the door. I'm just in time to see Tahr carrying Ashrac as he races up the stairs with Pepper directly behind him. All of us start running. I try not to feel hope, but I can't help it. Ashrac can not be dead. The Goddess must help.
The front entry door is open when we get out of the ground level of Sarn's castle. Sierra and Dmitri have the children and the egg as they head to the door with us. I step outside into complete darkness when it should be full daylight.
The last time I saw this was the day my parent's and baby brother died. Ashrac is lying on the ground with Tahr beside him on his knees. Tahr isn't looking at Ashrac, his head is tipped up to the sky.
"Take me," he yells. "I will serve you as a slave for all eternity if you take me instead of him."
Everyone is outside now. I turn slightly and see Pepper place her egg within Acasia's arms. "Raise him as your own and tell him I love him." She walks to her mate and drops to her knees beside him. I look at my two children-more than treasure, there are no words to describe my love. Roxy takes Cantor's hand and lifts it so his fingers wrap around Acasia's. He's holding Lex and I am so proud of him for keeping his brother safe. Roxy looks at me and I place my hand out. She walks forward and her bittersweet smile gives me courage. We join our friends as Sarn and Sierra do the same.
The three of you should bow in my presence and kiss my feet.
The words Tahr spoke thousands of years ago, before the curse, shoot through my mind. Dragons bow to no one. And here we are offering everything to the Goddess for a treasure greater than any other.
A child.
***
Tahr
Lightning strikes in front of us. I can't help but remember the day my parents died. I loved them and they loved me. I turn slightly and gaze at my mate. A gentle smile forms on her lips. We sacrifice everything together. Acasia will care for our child. My brother's and their mates kneel beside us and pride fills me. Not pride for myself but pride that I am not alone as I offer everything I am to the Goddess.
The lightning strikes once more and this time slams into Sierra and Sarn. They fly back and writhe on the ground. She will take us in pairs as is fitting. I want to go now with Pepper's hand wrapped in mine. I'm at peace with our decision but I hate seeing my friends suffer.
"Damn you, take me!" I yell to the sky. Magic bursts behind me but I don't look back. Lightning strikes again and hits Ashrac. His body is tossed high and I have hope that the Goddess has taken our offer and will save him. His dragon explodes from his human body with a burst of light that's impossible to look at.
"Ahhhh, hell," screams Sarn and the magic behind me bursts again.
I dare to glance back.
Sierra and Sarn are the most incredibly brilliant purple dragons. "What the hell," I mutter.
"Mother," Ashrac whispers into our minds.
Another streak of lightning followed by a loud boom of thunder shakes the ground as the dark clouds recede and the sun shines down upon us.
I feel different and it takes a minute to realize the weight of the curse is gone.
Pepper releases my hand and runs to Acasia who is still holding our son and pulling Cantor and Lex with her as she goes to Ashrac. Within a second all our children are in the arms of their parents.
"Mother, I don't feel so good," Ashrac says after he shifts to his human form. He vomits in the grass before bringing his hand up to his healed throat. "It hurts."
Sarn and Sierra shift to human too and for the strangest reason we all start laughing. Then, the tears begin. I haven't fully cried since the curse began but I cry now.
We all do.
