Cole

"General, it is good to have you back in the palace. Perhaps you'd be so kind as to update me on the situation at the front lines?" King Talis asked.

Wyatt flicked his eyes sideways to me. He'd only just returned a few hours ago and been summoned to the inner dining room, along with my siblings, to dine with the king.

It was a small peace offering from my father. The dining room was too small for the dragons, so Amonette wasn't present. My father could still use his heart magic without her but she could amplify it significantly.

I nodded to Wyatt and poked at the food on my plate with a fork.

"Do we really need to talk about war and battle?" Rosalie whined.

My father shot her a look and she bowed her head.

Alistair remained quiet, a permanent scowl fixed on his face. He was only there because Father either threatened him or guilted him. For a prince, Alistair didn't take advantage of the perks, or the joys of life.

"Go ahead, General," the king coaxed.

Wyatt nodded. "There have been increased mage sightings at our borders. No formal attack or threats have been made but they are looking for ways to cause chaos."

We shared another quick look. Wyatt's report was honest enough and vague enough. I could count on him to keep the peace.

"Do you think it is time for the War Dragon to rain fire from the skies again?" King Talis looked at me with a hard glare. Even behind his beard, I could see his lips were set in a firm line.

"Until my men are unable to handle the small conflicts, the War Dragon is an unnecessary show of force," Wyatt assured.

My father laughed. "Is there such a thing?"

"That depends on if you are trying to spark a war or prevent one," I cut in.

Again, I received that dark glare from my father.

"Oh, here we go," Rosalie muttered. "We're supposed to be having a nice family meal."

"This is important business," my father insisted.

"Better to be discussed in a war conference. Rosalie is right. We should be enjoying this." I winked across the table at my sister. "So, Rosalie, tell us about that prince who caught your eye."

"Wha- hey!" Her cheeks turned three shades of red and she stuffed her mouth full, taking her time chewing.

I chuckled but when I glanced at my father again, his face was practically blue and his fingers were white and trembling around his fork. For a man who could influence other's emotions, he could barely hold his own together.

"I have legitimate concerns about what's happening in Stivalia," King Talis insisted. He pounded his fist against the table.

Water sloshed over the edge of my goblet. I wiped the drops away with a napkin. "I have concerns about a loose mage of royal descent running around in Telasia. She seems to be the bigger threat at the moment since Stivalia hasn't made a direct move against us."

"But your search for her has come up empty. If we focus on taking down Stivalia, then her will, will break. It is a war tactic to go after the largest threat, not the most immediate."

Sighing, I shook my head. There was no getting out of this conversation. "No, Father, that is the tactic of a conqueror. I'm a leader, a protector of my people."

"You're nothing!" he stood up and tossed his fork across the table at me. "Until you take the throne, you are nothing!"

I pressed my fingertips to the table and rose slowly. In the back of my mind, Talon's thoughts turned to a growl on my lips. I met my father's gaze, narrowing my eyes.

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"I am the War Dragon, exactly as you wanted. If you think there is a better weapon at your disposal, then turn over military control to them. Until then, they take orders from me!" I pointed to myself with my thumb.

"And you take orders from me!" the king snarled.

A humorless laugh erupted from my throat and I sat back down. "That time has come and gone, Father. But if you want to challenge me, I can promise you, it will be me on the throne at the end of the day."

"Is that a threat!?"

"I have no intention of challenging you, Father. But if you challenge me... I won't turn away."

The dining room fell silent. All the servants lining the walls were like statues, still and stiff. My siblings tried to absorb themselves in their meals and refused to look up. The only person who didn't seem frozen in place was Sabine.

She stood against the wall like the others on the edge of my peripheral. Her hands clasped behind her back. She didn't look like she was paying attention to the argument at all.

Beside me, Wyatt had his hand on his sword. As general of the Telasian army, defense of the king was one of his highest priorities but if my father and I came to blows, Wyatt wouldn't raise his blade against mine.

Slowly, the king took his seat again. "How did I ever raise such a stubborn son with such a lack of vision?" he started eating again, shoveling mouthfuls of food down his throat and swallowing without chewing.

Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Sabine approach me. She leaned down near my ear, her dark hair falling over her shoulder.

"Sire... my apologies. There is a disturbance..." Her eyes darted toward the dining room door as she whispered.

"How do you know?"

"I can... feel it."

"What is this nonsense?" my father asked motioning between my attendant and me.

"My apologies, Your Majesty," she bowed to the king. "I-"

"STAND DOWN!" The roar of the guard beyond the dining room door broke through the thick wood.

I jumped to my feet sword drawn. Wyatt was already at the door, his sword in hand. The hallway outside echoed with the sounds of clanging metal and strangled cries.

The air rippled and a powerful wave of magic crushed over me. It was the most powerful magic I'd ever felt. I fought against it but my body wouldn't respond. The weight of it crushed me to my knees.

Shouting guards and dragon roars filled my ears. The dragons couldn't get to us this deep in the palace and the guards were useless against whoever, or whatever was attacking.

The doors blew open, hitting Wyatt.

"Wyatt!"

He flew against the far wall and fell in a motionless heap. His sword hit the ground, the clatter deafening in my ears.

The dining room erupted in panic. The servants ran about screaming and tripping over each other. My father and siblings were crushed to the ground in the same position I was in.

I reached for my magic. Nothing I could muster would come close to matching the force that overpowered us.

Rosalie was crying. Alistair held his head in his hands and whimpered. My father was curled on his side, jerking in pain. I resisted the magical assault but I could feel my resolve weakening.

Through the doors, a woman in a black cape marched in, her arms held high. The air around her swirled like a violent storm, whipping her cape and hair around. Her entire aura crackled with energy as she unleashed wave after wave of magical onslaught.

"Cara!" I ground my teeth together and gripped my sword tighter.

Talon, I need your strength.

You are too deep within the palace.

Try!

I am. These walls won't come down.

I ignored him and reached for my magic again. It flickered and was snuffed out by the force that filled the dining room. Dammit!

Cara's mages came flooding through the doors and they started slitting the servant's throats. If we didn't get out of this soon, she'd kill us all.

Next to me, Sabine was on her knees. Her eyes were filled with frightful defiance as she glared in Cara's direction. She'd felt this coming.

I tried to move closer to her but Cara's magic was too strong. Pitching forward, I caught myself on my hands and knees. My whole body felt like it was under a pile of rocks, slowly crushing me. I knew I wouldn't be able to resist much longer.

Sabine was at my side in a second. She wasn't as affected by the magic. She wasn't having as much trouble moving and she wasn't in pain.

When she'd told me that she was stronger than Cara, I wrote it off as her anger over being kidnapped and tortured. Cara's magic barely touched her, even with her binding collar. She had to be stronger.

My fingers curled into claws against the marble floor. Pressure grew in my chest and I could barely breathe.

"Are you sure y-you are stronger than her?" I forced the words out even as air refused to enter my lungs and my throat constricted.

Her hand pressed against my back, warmth spreading through me. Even without her magic, it eased the pressure building in my head. It was like her resistance to Cara's magic extended a protective shield around me.

"I am." She spoke softly, serenely. There was no hint or trace of submission now.

I closed my eyes and forced myself to sit back on my knees. My heart raced faster and faster and felt like it was going to burst at any second. I lifted my eyes to hers.

She watched me steadily, and carefully, and she didn't look away this time. All propriety was forgotten in this situation.

"C-can you take her d-down?" Each word felt like a knife sliding down my throat.

"Yes." She nodded.

She was so steady and calm. I realized it was confidence. She really was that sure of herself and her abilities. Everything I meant to avoid was going to happen now. It was the only way to save my family and to stop Cara.

"I'm sorry..."

Her brow creased for a moment.

I whispered the magical word to release Sabine's collar. Her eyes flooded with magic and she rose to her feet.