Book 2: Avatar of Mercy

A/N: The Dragon’s Grace has been sent to my editor and it should be out by the end of this week! I tried really hard to get this out there!

Drozakrahth

“A scroll for you your majesty.” Said General Kohn, the drake I usually have watch my mate.

“Let me see.” I said looking at it in the darkness of the damp, but clean sewers. It was so dim, even the drakes needed torches down here, but I saw the words just fine.

I was Covered head to tow in the blood of men. They tasted frankly like shit, but it was worth the message that I sent: Drugs would not be tolerated, nor the laws being broken…

But with all that done, and the guards detaining the rest, I left it to them. The shipments of their supplies would be discovered, as well as all their treasure. That was mine now.

I couldn’t help myself. But I wouldn’t hoard it All… at least half would go to the orphanage. Those small humans kind of had a way of tugging the heart strings a bit. They were small and cute, that and I was in a good mood… I’d gotten a meeting with the Grand Magistrate of bonding.

The letter’s call demanded I see Lord Humbold Arcanum. He’d left magic in the parchment so I could go to him Right Now. I would honor it as he is an avatar of the Lord of Unity… a puppet, merely a way for him to be here without anyone outright knowing.

Most people didn’t know that, but as I used the magic to teleport…. I may or may not have thrown up…. It was disorienting to say the least. All your insides move to a new location in time and space while your outsides hold them in…

I thanked the gods that this was Outside his office in the High North, opposite to my father’s castle, and higher north than even his…. It was the western shore of the northernmost part of my father’s lands… thousands of acres of pine and redwoods lined the land, and he managed to record all marriages up there…

The threshold of the door cleaned me before my foot could step into his office, but he still glared at me.

“Leave a drop of that stench in my office and I’ll make you regret it.” He warned. “Why did you request Me to do your marriage ceremony?” He demanded. “Better yet, why am I even indulging such a request?”

I bowed my head, and knelt on bended knee. “Lord of Mercy…. Shine a bit of your light on my mate… she does not deserve the curse upon her flesh.” I mumbled.

“I Knew you wanted something for yourself you little shit.” He growled. “Get out.”

“No, that isn’t it sir…. I don’t Care about myself… she is so small and Weak… she shouldn’t be punished…” I mumbled.

“She was protected by it, but now I wonder should I even Think to lift it.” He glared at me a long time. I could feel the heat of his eyes on me. “You come to my office so dirty I had to clean you, and you have the Nerve to ask me Anything.” He sneered.

“Again… I ask only your blessing… I change for her sake.” I said bowing my head…. That made me feel dirtier than any blood or gore…

“If I recall, the Last time you kneeled to me, was because Zeshava rejected you in my realm, and you told me to let you prove yourself that you would do Better. I have as of yet to See that.” He growled.

“I… I Truly love Azula… she does not deserve me… but I could not live with myself if I were to hurt her… even her feelings.” I said looking him in the eyes… and above my head was his Lantern of Souls. It floated over my head while he still sat in the office. I didn’t know if he meant to collect mine with it if I was lying, but I wasn’t…

“Your words are true…How do I know you won’t Waste getting a second chance? Your soul looks no different.” He said standing. His yellow eyes looked at me with an almost hatred… “You Mocked me. You mocked me so thoroughly that looking at you Turns My Stomach you Little Horny Lizard.” He hit me on the head with a rolled up piece of paper…

“Marry us, and should I be a liar… by all means… it is your right to take away such a wonderous gift.” I mumbled.

“Yes, like you treated your last one.” He said looking down at me as if I were dirt. “Do you know what happened to Zeshava? She was shredded.” He said firmly. “She was so hurt, I could not do anything with her, so broken, that even the Light of my brother did not heal her. I had to remold you a New soul completely from scratch. It is the only way to undo bonds. Unlike You, who held all their original vigor and strength, she was pretty empty and broken. Azula is an entirely new mortal, devoid of even an Atom of the original mate I gave you… I anger because I Had to punish an innocent party, yet You live.” He said with narrowed eyes.

“I didn’t know that….” I said standing, but I could not meet his gaze… I didn’t know that’s what happened to mates…. “I am beyond sickened at my past actions…. But what I feel for my new mate is True… Even if Azula never has her curse lifted… I can at least be a Real husband to her…”

He sighed. “Mortal if this is a ploy, I warn you now that Mercy is only as merciful as I deem it.” He hissed. “The First Day of Fourth Moon. Get Out.” He hissed.

I blinked and I was falling from the sky above my city… if I didn’t have wings, I’d have splat into the cobblestone below… most don’t know it, but the Lord of Mercy and Unity has a temper… a bad one…

Everyone saw him as a beacon that even if you make mistakes in life, one can redeem themselves… what they don’t know, is how Hard it is to do so… but not impossible. I was sure the curse on her would be lifted soon… if he deemed me worthy.

She was never the issue… the issue was Me… and the way he went about punishing me…. It was in a way that would actually hurt. But with his agreement, I needed to ready my castle and my people. I met up with Yulanya in the air, as I would leave the decoration to her.

“King Drozakrahth, I heard you were teleported to the Magistrate.” She said casually. She was flying with only her wings, in a nice white dress, though pants were underneath.

“Yes… and he still hates me.” I said with a grin, hiding the horrid news and encounter.

“Your majesty… I’ve known you all my life. I know a fake smile when I see one, but I won’t pry. I ordered her dress and the black dragons’ new king, Krin, Kohn and Kain’s father, will handle the catering.” She smiled. She had the plans in her hands, but clutched the secret as if I’d take it.

“You Do realize I could order you to hand it over?” I said to tease her.

“You better not.” She warned as we landed. She also hissed at me playfully.

“Don’t hiss at me you little shit.” I chuckled.

She hissed again.

I hissed back.

“Want to go out for lunch? My treat Mr. Bachelor.” She beamed.

“Why not?” I said following her. She loved fish, and I guessed right. The restaurant had local verities.

We were given a table right away, as all of them knew who I was… it was her who people seemed interested in.

“Good evening your highness.” Said the elvish barkeep. It was just a local, stone tavern with big wooden chairs and tables. The hearth had a good fire going, but since it was blue, it provided cooling instead of heat since this was the tropics.

“Yes, get us two shots of drakes’ breath, and two plates of catfish.” I said happily.

“I hate catfish.” She complained playfully, saying it like a spoiled child would.

“Too bad. I already ordered because you hissed at me.” I chuckled. “Oh, and for the next hour, let the local tap be on my tab.” I smiled. “But don’t tell them. Let them find out when its time to pay.”

“Of course sire.” He said bowing and leaving.

She licked her tongue out at me. I returned it.

“Again, I’m so happy you found your one sire.” She beamed.

“I feel so lucky…. Like it’s too good to be true.” I mumbled. The shots were on the table, along with 4 plates of fish…. I think they misunderstood me, but I welcomed the food.

“To Azula. Thank the gods you found your mate.” She said, raising her glass in the air.

We toasted and ate it all… then more rounds were given to our table. It was my turn to toast.

“To you finding yours. May they be a purple drake.” I said raising my glass, but hers lowered a bit. “Oh no…. I’m sorry-”

“It’s fine.” She said with a sad smile. She took her shot. “It’s only fitting my mate be Human.” She said looking at her second shot, taking it. “I already sent word to grandfather to pick me an appropriate male.” She said looking down.

“You don’t have to do that you know.” I hugged her… she started balling her eyes out.

“All I wanted was… was I Don’t Know sire… a Dragon… he was so Weak it made me Sick to Look at him! I can’t marry a mortal… I’m already a quarter elf, and my mother isn’t purple!” She cried.

“There there… have another shot and take the day off hmm? I’ll fly you home.” I offered.

She gulped the third shot… completely hammered… she was a small dragon compared to her brother, Artez… I knew she had to do it for her bloodline…

“I know you worry of your eggs being earthbreakers, bronze, or white a drake with no color, but is that what You want?” I asked escorting her out the bar. I would keep this secret if I could help it…. We would use the back gate of the castle. I would take her to her chambers and have mother cheer her up too.

“It is… As I am, being half green and a quarter purple, if I don’t breed with either a green or purple full dragon… my eggs will be white or brown…or an earthbreaker. There’s nothing Wrong with those outcomes, but with my full aunt banished, and my brother mated to a green drake… if there is to be a successor for Artez and grandfather, I will be the one to birth him…” She said truthfully.

I sprouted wings… she was right…I did as I said without any issue… anyone with a brain knew that I would never cheat on my mate… and she was devastated… I brought it up so casually, because I never thought in a million years that she would have to make a decision like that…. While planning my wedding…