“I don’t know what to do.” I whispered, turning my face to Benedict. Benedict picked him up in his arms as if he weighed nothing.
“Let’s see if we can get one of the first houses built. He needs to feed from all of us. He’d likely kill you if you tried to heal him yourself.”
Kieran’s head whipped around to stare at Benedict, shock lining his face.
“You’d let him feed from you?”
Benedict ducked his head slightly but kept his face rigid.
“He is part of this mateship just as much as Wren is. Her health is improved by ours, so it only makes sense. Besides, I already had to feed half the colony after you were through with them.”
It would have been easy for him to be angry with Kieran, but Benedict’s tone was teasing, his eyes holding a rare degree of respect. Kieran looked away, embarrassed.
No one said another word as we made our way out of the cave. Benedict took to the air carrying Ronan, and Kieran and I followed. We pumped our wings hard to climb up above the cliffs to the mainland. The caves had been on the north side of the island, carved by thousands of years of the water pounding relentlessly against the rock. The cliffs to the east were massive and deadly, offering an unbeatable natural protection. The ground quickly sloped southward to the volcano, which sat quietly, still covered in ash and black, hardened magma. As we descended and headed further south we came upon the drakens in a small valley, already covered by green in a circle around the earth witch. She danced and writhed in the grey ash, sweat pouring down her face as the ground continued to erupt into fresh life around her. Grass exploded outwards, and small saplings stretched towards the sky. She managed to cover a large expanse around her in grass and new trees, before her knees gave out. A draken with lavender scales rushed in, catching her as she fell. Benedict veered down towards the crowd, and we landed heavily among them.
“Where did the other witches go?” I asked.
“They left an hour ago to get...my sisters…” The earth witch answered, her head lolling to the side as she fought to stay awake. Benedict gave Ronan to Kieran and put one large hand gently on her head.
“The drakens recognize the alliance between the earth and air covens.” The witch smiled vaguely, and instantly dropped into sleep.
“They’re back!”
A draken pointed, his voice filled with awe as he looked up to the sky. Dots appeared over the horizon, and the drakens cheered the return of Astrid and her coven, each one carrying an earth witch on the back of their brooms.
“More witches! Benedict will be thrilled.”
I snorted as Kieran shot me a smirk. It was so good to be with my mates again. My smile froze as Astrid waved at us, her thighs gripping hard on her broom. Panic was etched across her features.
“ATTACK!”
We rushed down to the edge of the cliff, stopping short when we saw what tailed the witches. An entire legion of the same grotesque, flying creatures that had chased us from Lyoness flew behind the witches, a mass of darkness so thick they appeared as one dark, cloud of death.
“Well, time to see if the wards work,” Benedict muttered, then spun me into his arms as we disappeared.
Five
We materialized on a large rock about a hundred yards from shore. I whipped around, fear in my eyes as the horde loomed closer. Benedict seized my hands, his face deadly serious.
“Our females have defended our shores for centuries with powerful voice magicks. The wards should hold, but anything you could do to help would keep from straining them.”
Anxiety grabbed my chest and squeezed.
“I can’t sing!” I gasped, in disbelief he thought I was in any way capable of this. Benedict bent his forehead to mine.
“It’s instinct. Just try.”
“What if I fail?”
“You won’t."
My heart pounded painfully against my chest. I leaned down and rested my head on his chest. His steady, controlled beat calmed me. He truly believed I could do this.
No one had ever had confidence in me before. No one had ever expected anything of me. Now I was to face a horde of monsters alone? I wasn’t alone though—I had Benedict, and Kieran, and Ronan and the rest of the drakens. I had little Luci, and the witch covens who risked their safety so that I would survive. I might as well start living as though I was worth all their efforts.
I swallowed and turned to face the oncoming darkness. Benedict backed away to give me room as I closed my eyes, focusing inwards on my draken instincts.
Intruders are coming. They will take our land, threaten our mates and our young. Will we let them?
My inner draken snarled, indignant with rage.
NO! WE WILL DESTROY THEM!
My eyes snapped open; my fangs bared in a snarl. Raw, wild energy swirled me. I would ravage their bodies upon the shoreline; no one threatened what was mine.
“Get back to shore,” I hissed at Benedict, and he stiffened.
“Are you sure? What if—”
“NOW!”
He disappeared in a wisp of black smoke and I waited, letting the dark creatures come closer. When I could see the whites of their eyes, I opened my mouth, and sang.
The sound wasn’t something I could describe, but reminded me of when the drakens had sung in the mountains. My voice let out a ringing high note, the better to pierce the air and be heard clearly from further away. I couldn’t tell precisely when the hordes heard me, but I saw the results. Instead of flying over the land and attacking, the first few lines of the horde kept
