My skin is shiny red and my jaw’s long and wide. I have tiny, pointed spikes scattered around my entire body, but my wings are smaller and thinner. I dig my sharp claws into the ground and lift myself off the ground, taking a large gulp of fresh air. Most of my human senses are lost, but I sense magic, almost like I can touch it with my human hands.
I want to draw blood of the creature who circles above me. I rise into the sky, releasing raw fire, gathering all my energy to attack.
Sebastian’s dragon isn’t wasting any time. He dives in the air and attacks first, releasing smoke with fire and I somehow manage to avoid it, flying lower than I intended to in the first place.
I lose sight of him, flying over town now, trying to spot him in the darkness. The craving for his blood burns my throat, but my vision is limited, so I feed on energy from the soil and mountains nearby.
His dragon is at least a meter larger than mine. He keeps his distance, following me around for quite some time. We’re playing a cat and mouse game, but I’m not planning on wasting my time. His jaw stretches wide in a silent howl and I drop several feet down below, losing sight of his beast again.
Then I hear a horrible noise, a yowling, screeching and screaming somewhere beneath me. Sebastian attacks, instantly ripping my lower stomach with his horns, releasing a storm of fire at the same time. I register hot pain and let go of a loud roar. He must have used some kind of magical spell, tricking my senses and causing my ears to ring. I don’t even realise we’re flying around in a circle, close to the castle tower.
I work hard to rise higher, but Sebastian’s dragon blocks me, launching its enormous body on me. When he releases his fire I’m too slow and too heavy to rise above and escape. The heat blast burns my entire left side, and the smoke blurs my vision.
Fierce pain shakes me to the core, and it feels as if my tough dragon skin is melting away. Pain erupts above the surface of my back, thick smoke enters my nose, and I lose sense of coordination in the air.
I try to use my wings to remain flying, but I can’t control my free fall from the sky. The fire burns my wings, and everything goes dark.
“She’s Wyvern, Thayer. How is this possible? How did we all miss the fact she’s been living here, in Rivenna, this entire time?” asks a mumbled voice I can barely hear. I want to wake up and open my eyes, but my body’s spasming uncontrollably, or maybe this whole thing’s happening in my head. The soaring pain shifts around and icy horror begins drenching my veins. I can’t move my arms, legs or neck. Something’s wrong, and the darkness shatters my vision.
I don’t remember what happened.
Where are my Pixies? I’m desperate to see them; they can heal me—put me back together again.
“They were all slaughtered, my lord, during the Great War. There were others in neighbouring cities, but Rivenna has only mountain shifters. I don’t understand how she hasn’t been seen around. People aren’t secretive around here. We should have known.”
“She’s one of them; a protected species, maybe even the last one of her clan. My father tried to track creatures like hers his whole life,” adds the same voice.
“Maybe you should cancel the contest. The news will spread fast and her life will be in danger if this reaches other parts of the Eastern World,” adds the other voice I’ve heard before. It must be Thayer.
Entire parts of my body are numb, and coldness spreads throughout my chest. The burning smell of flesh wafts through the air.
I feel lightning pain pounding through my entire left side, like my skin’s burning, peeling away. The contest—I remember shifting into my dragon, but something went wrong. I’d used my magic, a lot of magic, but Sebastian launched his beast on me.
Anxious energy rolls through me and I want to wake up from this nightmare.
“She has to stay in the castle for now—with me. I’ll make sure she’s looked after. The guards will keep an eye on her.”
“But, my lord, the others witnessed her shifting into a Wyvern dragon. What if the mas–”
“Silence, Thayer, don’t even mention his name to me. He won’t dare show his face around here. He won’t. Astri is my responsibility now. I think you should go and find out as much as you can about her past. There must be something we all missed. I’m planning to keep her here for as long as possible,” the same voice adds and I want to scream with pain and wake up to find out what’s happened. More darkness shades me and the pain breaks the dragon inside me again.
Someone’s caressing my face, and warm energy spreads over my body. My dragon stirs inside me, unharmed, and I exhale with relief. I know I should be opening my eyes, but it feels so nice and pleasant.
I’ve never been so warm and comfortable; the sheets smell like lavender and lemons. Little waves of magic crackle over my arms, spinning rapidly as I let it loose, probably for the first time since I can remember.
“She has to be all right, Emilia. Astri’s strong and she’s going to get through this,” says a high-pitched voice that can only belong to Lenin.
I blink rapidly spotting Emilia. She’s smiling and her eyes are puffy. She looks like she’s been crying.
“What’s going on? What are you doing in here?” I ask, staring at the white walls in a huge room that can only be the castle’s hospital, because there’s a bunch of other beds next to mine. My skin feels sticky and I try to remember what happened, but everything from today’s events seem fuzzy in my head.
Lenin and Jetli are flying in front of me. They’re relieved and happy I’m conscious again.
“That other contestant, Sebastian. He went overboard with his dragon fire and he nearly killed you. The duke was furious when you went down on the ground. I think he healed you using his dragon venom. His magic is extraordinary,” Emilia explains, touching my hand.
Now I remember what happened. I had to shift into a dragon and I picked Sebastian’s name out of the hat.
I pull back the covers and see I’m only wearing some lousy T-shirt. My arm, ribcage and left leg are covered in bandages. Everything’s slowly coming back to me. I unleashed my dragon, and we were fighting over the castle grounds. Sebastian attacked me out of nowhere and nearly ripped me apart.
“I peed in his shoes while you were asleep,” Lenin admits proudly and high-fives his sister. I drag my hand over my scar, feeling like a complete idiot.
Of course, that piece of shit, Sebastian won the latest challenge. I haven’t unleashed my dragon for months and I don’t know what I was expecting.
Emilia tries not to laugh, but I notice a tiny smile on her face. I lift myself and sit up in the bed. Then I remember the conversation between the duke and Thayer. They must have been near my bed when I was fighting to wake up. They were talking about me, and the duke’s plan to keep me in the castle for as long as he can. Now they know I’m a Wyvern, and I’m the only one in Rivenna.
“And what are you doing in here, Emilia?” I ask.
“The duke’s people showed up in the shop. They were asking me about your family. They wanted to know how long you worked for me,” she explains, sounding a little on edge. For Hommis, I hope Jorgen didn’t send his people to my aunt and uncle too. This would have been a total disaster.
“Emilia, please tell me you haven’t told them I lived with humans,” I ask, already imagining their reaction when the duke or his guards showed up at their door.
“I had no choice, Astri. That shifter, Thayer, was very persistent. I explained they were the only family you had left and they raised you,” she says and Lenin slaps himself in the forehead. A bunch of heavy bricks traverse down to my stomach, and I need to get out and have some air. “But I explained to them your aunt and uncle wouldn’t want to speak to them. I said that I always treated you like a daughter, and they wanted me to be here when you woke up.”
“Oh Hommis,” I whisper and then glance back at her, realising what she said about the duke. “Hold on, how did Jorgen heal me?”
“Jorgen said you were badly injured, and you
weren’t going to make it, so he used his magic and his dragon venom to put you back together. The duke saved your life, Astri,” she says and I stare at her with disbelief. “That man is so handsome and he has such a good heart. If I could just find the right shifter female for him.”
I kind of switch off when Emilia starts going over a perfect match for the duke. I can’t believe I’m alive.
I don’t get why Jorgen would decide to heal me. He tried to kill me all those years ago. I realise a lot of time has passed and he probably doesn’t remember me. I was a little girl the last time he saw me.
“I’m glad I survived, but now the contest is over for me. I lost to Sebastian,” I say, filled with bitter disappointment. My magic failed me again.
“Are you giving up so easily? I thought you were going to teach that arrogant shifter a real life lesson,” says a familiar voice that makes my heart shudder in my chest. Warmth travels down my body when the duke enters the hospital, wearing his Rivenna army uniform.
No, no, no, I don’t want to owe him anything. He’s the enemy. My own body shouldn’t betray me like this, especially not in front of Emilia. She’ll try even harder to hook us up. I mentally slap myself for allowing my stupid hormones to take over my body at will.
“But what about the contest rules? Sebastian must have scored the most points,” I say, feeling too exposed in this huge room. My scar is visible and he’s staring at it and I don’t know how to act around him. Lenin and Jetli are flying around Emilia. They’re quiet for a change.
“Yes, and so far you’re right behind him, in second position,” Jorgen says, sounding like he’s proud of me. I stare at him in utter disbelief. There’s no way I’m in second place after what happened out there. I bet he healed me because he had no other choice. Now people will believe he’s a real hero.
Wyvern’s history has always been unclear, and now he knows who I am.
“Game on, Astri. We can stay… Can I kiss you, my lordi lord? I’ve never been so happy in my life!” Lenin starts shouting and flying like crazy. I suppose he’s happy we don’t have to leave the castle after all.
“Emilia mentioned you healed me. I must thank you,” I say, rubbing my cheek, trying to ignore the fact I enjoy his company. But then I have to remind myself he’s the reason my parents’ are dead, and every time I look at him I’m reminded they aren’t coming back.
I accepted my aunt and uncle were taking advantage of me. I accepted I couldn’t make any friends because of the way I looked, but ever since the dream, I can’t stop thinking about avenging them.
“You exhibited a great amount of bravery and your dragon is very unique. It was the least I could have done for you,” he adds. “I’ll leave you now. I hope you recover soon.”
He nods to Emilia and walks away.
“Yes, Astri, the whole town is talking about you. Wyverns are so rare and of course you never shifted anywhere near me, so I didn’t know,” Emilia says, and I automatically feel guilty. There was so much more I’d hidden from her.
“The whole town?” I repeat feeling dizzy.
“Yes, you’re famous and now your dragon is too. The shop has been swamped since this morning. People keep asking me about you. They want you to win!”
Chapter 11
The night crawler.
I hate to admit it, but I’m glad to have been bed-bound for the past few days, because Emilia’s allowed to keep me company. Ever since Jared passed away, Emilia’s been working constantly and Marianne, the new shifter, is taking care of the shop.
My scar’s stinging a little, but I try to ignore the burns all over my body. After all, Jorgen assured me I’m still in the running. I can win, but I have to up my game and stop feeling sorry for myself. My skills are unique and I’m fast in my natural setting. Many shifters don’t realise their magic can work to their advantage. They don’t take time to develop or train their abilities. Jared taught me everything I needed to know from a very early age. He was the only other shifter who understood me. I miss him every day, like I miss my parents.
Derek, one of the doctors in the castle, mentioned Jorgen used rare spells in order to heal me. A mage shifter should never gift his own dragon venom to another creature in case his magic isn’t the right match. In many cases, the magical energies can work against each other and cause more harm than good, but it looks like Jorgen’s and my abilities were the perfect match.
I’m confused because we’re from two different clans, and he’s a mage too—shouldn’t be possible. I try not to think about it too much, knowing there’s still a lot I have to learn about magic and my own inner dragon.
The doctor keeps me in the hospital room until the next day. Sebastian’s creature burned my entire left side, but my recovery is going well.
When I take Emilia back to my chamber, I have a feeling everyone’s talking about me. The guards, maids and other members of Jorgen’s entourage are staring when we walk through the long corridors.
“It looks like the press managed to get to your aunt and uncle after all,” Emilia says, when a maid hands her a local paper.
“I don’t need to know what they said about me. It’s probably nothing good,” I say, seeing my picture splashed on the front page.
“I’ll take the paper back with me, so you don’t have to read it. Just rest and enjoy this fabulous day,” she tells me with a smile, folding the paper away. “Well, I think I’ll head back to the shop now. I’m glad you’re all right after all, so you can manage without me.”
Lenin and Jetli vanished somewhere. They’re much braver than before, so they wander around the castle, probably hoping to steal some cakes from the kitchen. The cook already warned me once to keep them away.
“Thank you for staying with me. It was a blast,” I say, wishing she didn’t have to go yet, but Marianne is new. She can’t be left alone for too long.
“I’m sure now all these handsome and single shifters are already queuing for you. The blond shifter who delivers the stock asked about you yesterday. We had a little chat just after the qualifying task.”
I roll my eyes, shaking my head no. “Come on, just give it a rest. I can’t think about dating right now. And he’s only interested because I’m one of the contestants. He doesn’t want to get to know the real me,” I say, feeling oddly warm again when Jorgen passes through the main corridor. He nods to me and Emilia with his enigmatic smile. I’m trying hard to dismiss all these new emotions, but my heart starts bouncing in my chest every time I see him. Damn him and my emotions.
Emilia smiles, twisting a lock of her hair around her finger.
“Oh, I wish I were still young like you,” she sighs, looking around.
“You’re not old, Emilia,” I remind her. “No one says you can’t have fun anymore.”
“I’ve been married three times, dear, and I’ve had my fun. It’s your turn now,” she says with a twisted gleam in her eye. “But you need to keep focused. I have absolute faith you’re much more skilled than the others, even that arrogant Sebastian.”
“I’ll be fine, don’t worry. I learned my lesson earlier on.”
She hugs me again and starts walking towards the courtyard. My Pixies greet us outside and start wrestling with each over bits of an old piece of chocolate cake.
I watch her as she disappears around the corner and feel sad, touching the rough patches on my cheek. Sebastian’s in the lead, but Thayer mentioned everything will be decided during the final task. I really need to believe I have a chance at winning. My body needs to regenerate its energy, making me more tired than usual.
I go back to my chamber and fall asleep. When I wake up it’s already dark outside. An hour later, I end up tossing and turning, unable to find a comfortable position and fall back to sleep again. The clock on the wall tells me it’s two a.m. I try to read a book I found under the bed, but after a few hours, I’m still restless.
“Hey, Lenin, Jetli, wake up,” I say, trying to shake them, but Lenin waves his hand, mutters in his
sleep and turns himself to the other side. And Jetli snores loudly next to him.
I don’t know what to do, and my stomach’s growling. Jorgen told me I shouldn’t be hanging around the castle on my own, but I need a drink and the kitchen isn’t far from my chamber.
Now, my new ability might come in handy.
I get off the bed and stand in front of the mirror. A few deep breaths later, I wait for my new energy to take effect. The lower part of my body disappears first, and then I vanish completely.
I keep forgetting I don’t have to ask anyone for permission to go anywhere. My aunt and uncle aren’t here. They have no power over me.
I sneak out of my chamber wearing my pyjamas. Deep down, I’m kind of excited being in the castle after midnight. I still walk on my tiptoes, noticing Jorgen placed a few guards along the corridors. The cold draft ruffles my hair, and I shiver sensing other shifters around. One of the guards at the end of the corridor is snoring loudly, still holding his sword.
It doesn’t take me long to get lost. It looks like I’ve taken a wrong turn by the East wing. Silence starts ringing in my ears when I move down the long staircase.
“Cheers, mate, I really needed something stronger tonight,” says a voice I automatically recognise. I stop and move closer to the wall.
“It’s straight from Jorgen’s storage. I’m sure he won’t know one of his best bottles of whiskey is missing,” says another voice. It’s that other contestant, Alun, and I wonder what the hell he’s doing in here talking to Sebastian in the middle of the night.
I hear them cheering to each other.
“I deserve it after my win,” Sebastian chuckles.
“Well, I’m still in third place,” Alun adds.
“The scarred girl won’t be here for long. She might be a Wyvern, but it doesn’t change the fact she’s too weak to stand by the duke’s side,” Sebastian says. “Besides, she’s just too ugly, and that horrific scar will put anyone off.”
I clench my fists, trying to ignore his childish insults. No one can know I have the ability to become invisible. It’s my ace in the hole—a different level of magic, not even accessible to mages.