You’re going to have to prove yourself.
My father’s words echoed in my head.
I sliced my hand and dripped my blood onto the ground in front of me.
The stairs reappeared, and I began to climb. As I went, I made sure that the wound continued to drip steadily. Every time a droplet hit the ground, a new stair appeared.
“Let me take over,” Aeri said.
“No, I’ve got it.”
“Seriously.” She sounded annoyed.
“No, I mean it. I need to prove myself. You’ve already completed your final transition, but I haven’t.” She’d faced down a seriously powerful enemy earlier this year, and it’d taken nearly everything she had. Aeri was definitely in her final form.
Me?
Not quite.
But I would be soon.
The rain continued to pour as we climbed. I kept my head down and my senses alert. Exhaustion dragged at my muscles, and cold chilled my skin. By the time we reached the top, my head was woozy from blood loss.
I stepped on the squishy grass at the top, nearly stumbling. The green expanse stretched hundreds of yards in front of us, a flat top to a mountain carved out by the dragons. Huge black buildings perched here and there, each built from the slate that had been quarried right out of the slope that we’d just climbed.
Tarron joined me, wrapping an arm around my waist for support.
“The rain is stopping,” Aeri said.
Gray clouds parted to reveal the sun. Overhead, enormous figures swooped through the air.
I craned my neck, squinting. A gasp escaped me.
Dragons.
Real dragons.
They flew with a grace that our stone dragon had lacked. There had to be a dozen of them, swooping between the clouds. The ones that flew lowest were close enough that I could see the colors of their scales.
Red, green, blue, gold. They were all the colors of the rainbow, with differently shaped wings and heads. Magic radiated from them, so powerful that it nearly bowled me over.
“Holy fates,” Aeri breathed. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”
“They’re amazing.” Tarron squeezed me tight. His magic flowed into me, a healing touch that refueled some of my strength.
A gleaming red one swooped toward us, landing with a powerful thud about fifty yards away. Slowly, it folded its glittering red wings against its body, staring at us with eyes that gleamed like black fire.
It walked toward us, graceful despite its size. The long neck tilted down as the creature moved to smell us. I stood stock-still, fear and wonder racing across my skin as the dragon pressed its nose almost to my chest.
The majestic creature inhaled deeply, and I prayed that I passed whatever test this was. One by one, it smelled us.
Aeri caught my eye and gave me a slightly crazed smile.
I nodded.
Yep, this was both the coolest and the most terrifying thing I’d ever done.
Finally, the dragon sat back on its haunches. Since it hadn’t barbecued us on the spot, I assumed we’d at least partially passed.
What should I say now?
Before I could open my mouth, magic swirled around the dragon. Crimson streaks formed a tornado, and the creature shrank down to the size of a human. Then it transformed into one, becoming a woman of impressive stature.
She towered over me, eight feet tall at least. Her skin gleamed brilliant red, almost like she were made of rubies. When she moved, light flickered across it, highlighting the fine scales that appeared there. Her eyes continued to burn with black flame, set deep within a face that was only partially human. Black hair waved down her back, and a midnight sheath gown of sleek silk completed the effect.
At least this answered the question of how humans had ended up with Dragon Blood—they could transform.
It must be a carefully guarded secret.
“Mordaca. Aerdeca.” Her voice vibrated with power, far deeper than I’d have expected. “Two of our most impressive Dragon Bloods.”
“Thank you.” Aeri and I spoke the words at the same time.
I gestured to Tarron. “This is Tarron, King of the Seelie Fae.” I moved my hand to indicate Declan. “And Declan O’Shea. Fallen Angel.”
She inclined her head. “I am Perisea, one of the dragons here.”
“A shifter?” Tarron asked.
“No. Not quite. I do not maintain this form for long. But it allows me to speak with you. When I am in dragon form, I do not have the appropriate vocal cords for speaking.”
“Thank you for meeting with us,” I said. “I know we came uninvited.”
“It was your time.” Her eyes flicked to Aerdeca. “Though you followed a different path.”
“I did.”
“Well done.” Perisea smiled at both of us. “Come.”
She turned and strode across the grass, her midnight gown trailing in the wind. Her crimson skin gleamed as she walked, and I glanced at Aeri, mouthing, “Wow.”
Aeri nodded, eyes wide.
The four of us followed her toward the massive black stone building that loomed in the distance. As we walked, I kept stealing glances at the dragons above. Over the years, I’d grown used to my power. But I’d also dissociated it from the dragons that had once given it to my ancestors. I’d never seen any of them, so it was easy to forget.
This would not be easy to forget.
We reached the towering stone building, and Perisea led us under a stone archway and into huge courtyard paved in black slate. A massive fountain burbled in the middle, water sparkling under the sunlight. Flowering trees dotted the space, their roots sunk into the ground between the slate. It was a stark place, harshly beautiful in a way that would stick with me forever.
The strangest sense of homecoming flowed over me, along with a heavy sense of fate.
This is meant to be.
Perisea turned and swept her hand out in front of her. Beautiful wooden benches appeared.
“Please, sit.” Though low and soft, her voice rang with authority.
We sat, and she took a seat on her own bench. Her gaze met mine. “Why are you here?”
“I need more magic.”
“You are a Dragon Blood. You have the ability to make any magic you so desire.”
“I tried.” I gestured to Tarron. “He is cursed by my mother. She used a type of magic that has no permanent antidote. We have found one that will temporarily hold off the effects, but it is wearing thin. So I attempted to make the magic to cure an incurable curse.” My shoulders deflated. “And it didn’t work.”
“So you want more magic to heal him.”
“Yes. And to defeat my mother, the false queen of the Unseelie Fae. She has plans that will cause massive loss of life, and she’s insanely powerful. Growing more so by the day. I have many of her magical gifts, but not the strongest ones. I need to learn those so that I can beat her.”
Perisea’s brow wrinkled. “You wish to become like her.”
“Not like her, exactly.” I shook my head. “She’s cruel. Evil. But her magic… I need power like that to defeat her, and I cannot make it as I am right now.”
Perisea frowned. “I’m not sure you are approaching this the right way.”
My heart thundered. I needed this. “My Dragon Blood gives power. It is a source of magic. If I need more, this is the place to come, is it not?”