Chapter Fifty-Three

Daegal.

I paced in my office, one arm wrapped around my stomach and the other stroking my scruffy chin. The witch was crafty, to say the least.

Blood. The evilness of this woman grew greater each day. Dramatic, as well. Blood? The audacity. The fear she put in my kingdom was brazen and strategic. She wanted them to doubt me. She wanted them to perhaps turn the other way when she arrived. Not trust my opinion and trust her.

My office door shut and Stetson stepped inside with me.

His skin was still smeared with blood, but he’d wiped his face off well enough. Even his boots left a smudge of blood on my floor. Not that I cared. It was hardly the time to care what the castle looked like.

“She’s going to show up soon,” I said. “She’s getting stronger, and Poppy is getting bigger. She's brave, Stetson. I don't like it."

Stetson leaned against the nearest bookshelf and grabbed his knife from his boot. He began to toss it up and catch it while I continued to pace a hole in the floor.

“We need to move the female dragons and their babies somewhere safe,” I mumbled. “There are the bunkers, but I’m not sure they are strong enough to keep Kelli away.”

“It’ll give them somewhere to hide that’s not out in the open. Somewhere to be, at least," Stetson said.

“We could line it with fire. She seemed amused by a fire death for Selena, but now that she’s attempting to sell her soul, I don’t even know if that’ll work. Maybe Selena will have some sort of protection spell she can cast over it."

Stetson pressed the end of his blade against his mouth. “What deters evil?” he asked. “Goodness.”

I gave him a look. “What goodness do we have in this kingdom? I don’t believe in holy water. It’s just water. We’d need God himself to save us from her, but we need to prepare ourselves, nonetheless.”

“We move the women and children first. Get Poppy down there—”

“No,” I said. “Poppy stays with me. Always. She’s either with Selena or me. She’s going to go after her first. It’ll put all the children in danger if she’s down there with them. I need her somewhere separate.”

Stetson frowned. “Don’t make a rash decision because you don’t want to let go of her, Daegal.”

“That’s not it. Kelli is going to go after the things I love most. She went after the kingdom and now she’s attacking my mate and child. She wants to hurt Poppy because she wants to hurt me. I'm the one who promised her my kingdom and then sent her into another realm. Selena and I will be her ultimate trophies. Poppy is the knife she'll use to break me first."

Stetson nodded.

“Can you alert the dragons that we’re having a meeting in the elder’s courters in one hour? I’m going to gather the female dragons and children.”

Stetson left my office in a quick rush to get to the warriors. I didn’t feel as confident uprooting the children and their schedules to place them in an underground bunker wedged into the mountain.

But keeping them safe was my responsibility.

I descended the stairs and found Selena with Poppy in the lobby. She turned her eyes toward mine, and I noticed the worry in them.

The blood wasn’t something I’d expected. Neither had she. Poppy looked over her shoulder. She’d taken a shower, so there was no more blood on her skin, but she looked ashen. “Maybe you should sit down, Ember. You look pale.”

“I feel fine besides the fact that it’s raining blood. That’s some evil shiznit and I don’t like it.”

Selena smiled softly. “I agree with Poppy. Evil shiznit.”

I touched Poppy’s shoulder and her skin felt hot. “You’re burning up,” I mumbled, pressing my palm to her forehead. “Melinda,” I shouted, feeling unhinged at the thought of Poppy becoming ill. “Can you call Rachel to come see about Poppy?”

Melinda looked worried. “What’s the matter?” she asked.

“She’s warm. I don’t like it. I think she has a low-grade fever."

Melinda ran toward the phone, while I helped Poppy to the nearest chair. “I don’t want to sit down,” she mumbled. “Where are you going? I want to go with you."

“I’m going to gather all the female dragons and children. I’m putting them in the bunkers for a while until we can figure out how long we have.”

“Is Poppy moving to the bunkers?” Selena asked. “Do I need to?”

“No,” I said. “I want Poppy with you or me at all times. We don't know when Kelli will show up."

Melinda walked out of the kitchen, wiping her hands on a towel hanging from her apron. “Rachel is on her way,” Melinda said, touching Poppy’s forehead. “Do you feel weak?” she asked. "Dizzy?"

Poppy shook her head. “No. Thirsty, and pregnant, but not weak.”

“I’ll get you some water. You go ahead, Daegal. We’ve got her until you get back.” I hated leaving her there, but I knew getting the women and children to safety was important.

“I’ll be back within the hour,” I said, bending down to kiss her forehead. She reached up and grabbed my wrist with worry written all over her face. “What’s the matter, Ember?”

“I’m scared,” she whispered.

I cupped my hand around her jaw and lifted her chin upward. “We made it through once, we’ll make it through again.”

She closed her eyes as I kissed her softly. “I’ll be back soon. Tell Rachel to check everything,” I said.

I left in a rush toward the door. I swung it open, walking toward the cabins in the distance. Most of the dragons had hidden in their homes during the rain. Some stood on their porches waiting to hear from me.

I stopped several yards from the middle cabin so that most of everyone could see me. “I know you’re all afraid,” I shouted.

More and more dragons walked out, and I waited until I could see what I thought was all of them. “The witch we sent away is attempting to come back. My fear is she’s coming for Poppy because she’s my mate. As you all know, Poppy is with child. I’m afraid for her. I’m worried, but I will not step down. All female dragons and children will reside in the bunkers until further notice. Take today to get your belongings packed. The men, the warriors, are meeting with the elders now. I’ll join them soon.”

I caught Tessa’s eyes, holding her baby girl in her arms, from her porch. There was so much fear there. “She made the blood?” someone shouted.

“We believe so. But we won’t be forced out of our kingdom or scared. We’ll fight her till the death. It’s our way.”

No one said a word. I could feel the anger and confusion from them. I cleared my throat. “If anyone isn’t here, tell them. Get your children enough clothes and all their belongings. I don’t know how long this will take. I will give daily updates until this is over with.”

When no one responded, I turned and walked toward the elder’s courters. I knew the kingdom was frustrated. We’d lived here for decades with no problem, and then my human mate shows up and everyone wants to bring us down.

But I wouldn’t be the king that was elected or the mate Poppy deserved if I didn’t do whatever I could to end this.

The wind picked up and my wings fluttered in the breeze. My dragon was on edge. He assumed everything we passed could be a threat.

And at this point, I was right along with him.