“Safer for me but not for the billions of people living on those planets,” I said. “Besides, I hate hiding. It's boring.”

  Cerberus laughed. “That's my girl! You're going to need backup, El. I'll go with you.”

  “I can't,” Freya whispered to Cerberus. “I've got businesses to look after. I'm sorry.”

  “It's okay.” Cerberus lifted her hand and kissed it. “You came last night and that meant a lot to me.”

  “I'll go as well,” Odin said as Cer and Freya made googly eyes at each other.

  “Do you need us with you, Elaria?” Aunt Adelaid asked.

  “I think I'll be okay handling Gods one at a time,” I said.

  “If you find yourself falling short, contact me immediately; I still have the charms you gave me,” she said. “We can be with you in a moment's notice.”

  “Thank you.” I extended my look to include all the Spellsingers who were nodding in agreement with Adelaid.

  “We're with you, Niece,” Eilener said. “We'll wait for word.”

  “I'll return to Coven Cay and gather a small group to accompany you,” Vivian said. “You'll have a witch from every element to help you. Thank you, Elaria.”

  “As I said; this is my mess.” I waved off her gratitude. “This all began when I released Darc.”

  “It's our mess,” Darc corrected. “I called you to me, and I don't regret it.”

  “Neither do I,” I said as I took his hand. “Which makes this doubly our responsibility.”

  “I'll check in with the Coven after we complete every mission,” Odin said to Vivian. “You can update us with new reports as we go.”

  “Very well,” Vivian agreed. “May the elements come quickly to your call.”

  Vivian waved her hand and a swirl of water encased her in gleaming ribbons. A second later, it collapsed and Vivian was gone.

  As I said, there are many ways to magically travel. Witches have to cast elaborate spells to journey to other realms—which is why I gave the Witch Leaders and my parents Shining One traveling stones—but Witches can use their elements to move around Earth far easier. And they all loved to make a show of it.

  Odin chuckled as Vivian's mist dispersed. “All right; let's get moving, everyone. Gather what you'll need and put on some work clothes. Oh, and what are we doing with the orbs?”

  “We'll take them with us,” Darc said with a heavy look my way. “I'll carry yours and you carry mine.”

  “All right,” I agreed.

  The orbs would call to us but with each of us holding the other's magic, we should be able to resist their temptation.

  “I think I may be able to help you with the lure of your magic,” Odin said. “I'll call Vivian and ask her to have a containment vessel prepared for the orbs. It should block their pull completely.”

  “That would be appreciated.” Darc nodded gratefully.

  “After you're ready, we'll stop by Coven Cay to pick up the containers and our reinforcements, and then we'll get right to work.”

  “Who are we putting to sleep first?” I asked.

  “Firran,” Odin said grimly.

  Darcraxis was the only one who recognized the name but judging by his expression, we did not want Firran waking up.

  Chapter Twelve

  “How's this for a honeymoon?” I asked Banning.

  We stood in the middle of the Kaiyonne Sea on planet Ry in the Dragon Realm. The Witches had put a priority on stopping Firran the Dragon God from rising, and I had to agree with them. I'd been to Drach before—home planet of the Drachen—but this was my first visit to Ry. Drachen are what you probably know as Western Dragons; those who fly, breathe fire, and burrow beneath the earth. Ryū, on the other hand—the inhabitants of planet Ry—are Eastern Dragons; they also fly but accomplish it magically, without wings, they're more prone to bring rain than breathe fire, and they're most comfortable beneath the sea.

  Both races of Dragons keep extensive historical records. Not only did the Ryū have the full story of their god, but they also knew exactly where he was imprisoned. Their representatives brought a condensed report to the Coven after Vivian notified them that we'd be journeying to Ry to sing their god back to sleep. We had all gone over the report before the Ryū representative used his Ryū diamond—as opposed to a Drachen diamond—to take us to planet Ry.

  Firran had created the Drachen first, in his image, and later used his minor water magic to fashion the Ryū. When the Dragons banded together to overthrow their god, they decided that Ry would be a better choice for his prison since water covered 84% of the planet and was the element Firran was less powerful in. To give you an idea of just how much water that is; the Earth's surface is 71% water. When I first heard we'd be going to Ry, I expected it to be a situation similar to when I'd gone to visit the Water Fey; mainly, a lot of swimming. But that wasn't the case.

  When I said we stood in the middle of the sea, I meant on the surface. Tsutomu, our Ryū guide, had brought us through the Veil and landed us directly on a transparent platform in the middle of Kaiyonne; no land in sight. A wide lip surrounded the circular platform, preventing any waves from splashing the surface. In the center of the platform, a vaguely Oriental building stood, built of the same clear material as its foundation. I could see an elevator waiting inside for us; also made of the transparent stuff.

  “Is this glass?” I asked Tsutomu as I waved a hand at the clear material.

  “Dragon glass,” he said. “As strong as our diamonds.”

  “Nice.” I nodded as I stared down the length of the elevator shaft that disappeared into the shadows of the sea beneath us. “You have air-filled chambers down there?”

  “We have entire air-filled cities beneath the waves. Ryū enjoy both of our forms, and this one”—Tsutomu waved his hand down his slim body—“requires oxygen. Please, this way.”

  Tsutomu led us into the dragon glass building and then into the elevator. Thankfully, it was a large elevator car and all of us—including my men, Cerberus, Odin, and a group of four witches—were able to fit in it together. Darc stood beside me grinning. When I'd put his god magic into my orb of light, I'd left him with a portion of his water magic. He felt right at home beneath the sea. Speaking of the orb, Darc carried both his and mine in an enchanted, metal box set in a sleek, leather, waterproof backpack shaped to cling to his back like a turtle's shell. The Witches had done well; neither of us felt a twinge from the orbs.

  The elevator door slid shut, and we plummeted down the tube into the sea. Sea life swam by, but we passed them too quickly for me to get a good look. Instead, I stared down at the rapidly approaching city.

  “This tube seems overly large for the size of the elevator,” Torin noted.

  “This isn't merely a passage for people, King Torin,” Tsutomu explained. “It's also a passage for air. This shaft supplies some of the city's oxygen.”

  “And the movement of the elevator helps to create flow,” Darcraxis surmised.

  “Just so,” Tsutomu confirmed.

  Sure, the air shaft was interesting, but I was more curious about the dragon glass barrier that covered the city. I'd expected a dome but as we drew closer, I could see the more organic form of the barrier. It laid over the dragon city in a roughly pod-like shape but this pod wasn't smooth. Well, it was smooth but only because it was made of glass. Runnels ran down the body of the barrier lengthwise in undulating channels as if giant fingers had raked down the glass. Both ends of the pod terminated in points; one of which we descended into.

  We stepped out of the elevator and onto another platform; this one opaque. The polished stone floor stretched out behind the elevator toward the pointed end of the city's barrier. No homes or buildings stood within that tapered end, only the elevator and the stone extension that abutted the dragon glass. The entry platform rose above the rest of the city and the pointed tip presented an amazing view of the coral reefs outside the barrier.

  “What an interesting shape,” Odin noted as he stared above himself at the rippled dragon glass.

  “We let the tides determine the form of the dragon glass,” Tsutomu explained. “This reduces stress on the barrier.”

  “Ingenious!” Odin exclaimed.

  “I wish I could take credit for it, but the barrier was made long before I was born,” Tsutomu said with a nonetheless pleased smile and then waved us toward a grand set of stairs. “Welcome to Zhenzhu. This way please.”

  The city rose around us as we descended onto its pristine streets. Towering buildings of crimson, cream, and custard stone lined the roads, their upper halves paneled in silver. Lanterns hung on wires strewn between the tops of the buildings, their cheery light compounded by the reflective architecture. Literally brilliant, the design made the city glow. It should have blinded its occupants, but the glare remained above us with the silver and lanterns, only its softer rays reaching the street.

  Groups of ryū passed us, casting curious looks in our direction. Tsutomu nodded at them but said nothing, and no one dared to question him about our presence. Vehicle traffic consisted of carriages and carts drawn by gray, thick-skinned, four-legged creatures that looked more like hippos than horses. Tsutomu ushered us into three carriages that waited at the base of the stairs. Inside, cinnabar silk lined the walls and turquoise velvet covered the benches. The gold curtains scooped back, bound by emerald sashes to allow us a view of the city as we rode through it. The Ryū sure weren't shy about color.

  The Dragons' clothing mimicked the gaudy buildings and our carriage. People strolled by swathed in prismatic fabric and precious jewels. The Asian influence—actually the Ryū influence—presented itself everywhere but it seemed as if humans had inspired the Dragons right back. Some of the ryū wore T-shirts, jeans, sneakers, or leather jackets with logos I recognized from Earth, and some of them had obviously been the products of interbreeding. I raised my brows at a woman with long dreadlocks and deep umber skin.

  Shops selling fascinating wares lined the streets; glittering machines, gleaming clothing, and exotic pets competed with dried herbs, fragrant fruit, and fresh meat hanging on hooks. Dragons bowed to each other before exchanging pleasantries, mothers proudly showing off their babies, and men smoking elaborate pipes. Calm. Normal. It was obvious their leaders had kept the problem of their rising god from them.

  “Firran is entombed beneath the palace,” Tsutomu said. “That is our destination.”

  I cast my gaze forward and saw a silver gate at the end of the street. It opened for us as we neared, and we rode smoothly into a roundabout that circled a coral fountain. Not coral as in the color but actual branches of coral that jutted up like alien trees with water jetting between the branches. Our carriage stopped at the base of a short flight of stairs; just a few steps up to a glittering palace of sloping roofs, crimson coral walls, and faceted diamond columns. A pair of silver doors parted for us as Tsutomu helped me out of our carriage.

  “Emperor Junjie is waiting for us in the God's antechamber,” Tsutomu said. “Please, follow me.”

  Soldiers stood to either side of the main doors. They bowed as we entered and then closed the doors behind us with barely a sound. Our boot heels echoed over the cerulean tiled floor as Tsutomu led us through twisting corridors of solidified sand; not glass, but sand bonded together. Courtiers bowed respectfully as we passed then quietly continued on their silent, silk-clad feet. Artwork covered the walls, some painted directly onto the walls themselves, and silk draped the ceilings. The palace writhed with light and color, a nearly dizzying effect. But as soon as Tsutomo led us into a stone stairwell and took us beneath the palace, the ambiance changed significantly.

  The walls, ceiling, and floor became bare stone; no artwork or color beyond beige. Simple square lanterns cast islands of illumination every few feet, leading us relentlessly to an iron door. Tsutomu opened the door and bowed in the frame, toward whoever stood in the space beyond. Then he ushered us inside as he announced us in a manner similar to that employed in Shining One court.

  “King Darcraxis of Kyanite, Queen Elaria of Kyanite, King Torin of Onyx, King Declan of Alexandrite, Prince Banning of the Blooders, Gage of the Griffins, Oregon Zone Lord Slate Devon, Cerberus Skylos of Hades, and Odin Earthshaker Leader of the Element of Earth,” Tsutomu intoned.

  I noticed that he didn't bother to introduce our witch escorts. I suppose they weren't important enough to meet the Emperor.

  “This is his Imperial Majesty, Emperor Junjie of Ry.” Tsutomu bowed to a man who stood to my left.

  I turned to nod politely to the Emperor but ended up blinking in surprise.

  Emperor Junjie was blond. No, wait; he wasn't blond exactly. His hair was a little too orange to be labeled as such. Citrine; that's what it was. His features roared Ryū; almond, monolid eyes, narrow nose bridge, flared nostrils, thin lips, low cheekbones, and a slim build. Instead of the usual brown, his eyes glowed mahogany; a rich, reddish shade. But the shock of the Emperor's appearance went beyond his coloring, extending to his clothing. Junjie wore a skintight garment resembling a wet suit except the fabric appeared to be formed from golden scales.

  “Thank you for coming to assist us,” Emperor Junjie said graciously. “Firran's restless stirrings have begun to vibrate into the sea. There have been two tidal waves on land already. Soon, my people will notice and then they will panic.”

  “We're happy to help,” Odin said politely.

  “Where are you keeping him?” I asked.

  Emperor Junjie turned around and breathed fire over a stone wall. It slid open to reveal another corridor; this one filled with flames.

  “Right this way.” The Emperor strode confidently into the inferno.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Emperor Junjie is a rare Ryū fire dragon; go figure. I suppose the hair and eyes should have been a dead giveaway. The scale suit also revealed its practicality as Junjie strode through the tunnel of fire, extinguishing it as he went. The suit came through as unscathed as the Emperor, and it was a good thing too. It wouldn't do for the Emperor to wind up naked at the end of his walk; that's another story entirely.

  We followed Junjie down the cooling corridor to a thick wall of dragon glass. He moved aside and waved an elegant hand at it.

  “The Dragon God, Firran,” Emperor Junjie announced in a reverent tone.

  I frowned a little and moved forward to peer through the barrier. An empty chamber extended beyond it, the whole of the room lined in glass. Just as I was about to turn and ask the Emperor if his god had already escaped, something moved beyond the wall. I froze—the baby hairs on my arms standing up—and slowly looked back.

  Mist condensed beyond the glass. It swirled and danced into a whirlpool of glittering droplets. Those droplets gathered, forming a furious, humanoid face. My jaw dropped as the face lurched forward, shifting into a roaring dragon skull as it did, and slammed into the glass to disperse back into mist. I fell backward from the impact and the stone around me vibrated. Gage caught me, and I stared up into his hazel eyes with shock. But although Gage clutched me tightly, his own stare was glued to the wall before us; on the Dragon God.

  “Sweet stones,” Torin whispered.

  “Yes; you see why we are concerned,” Junjie said dryly.

  “You vaporized him?” I murmured as I straightened out of Gage's embrace.

  “My ancestors liquefied Firran,” Junjie corrected me. “They trapped him in his weaker magic and then they vaporized it. This chamber keeps him in a suspended form. But, as you can see, he's been regrouping, as it were.”

  “All right, let's get this done quickly,” I said. “Kyanite, you ready?”

  A repeat? Or would you like to go with a traditional lullaby this time?

  “Let's go with what works,” I muttered. “We'll do 'Sleep' again.”

  Very well.

  Yeah! Let's do this! Goodnight, foul beast; my girl has come to sing thee to thy rest! the RS added.

  My men stepped up behind me, and the RS united our power. We didn't need to touch to share it, we'd done so with the Titans instinctively, and I believe those instincts had been guiding us into spreading our power to the other spellsingers. But that was a talent we'd have to explore another time. Right now, it was just my men and me.

  Music filled the small chamber—sweet and gentle—and I began to sing. But the longer I sang, the more agitated Firran became until it was evident that the music wasn't working. I could feel the magic surging through me, seeking the god before me, but I couldn't feel it affecting him. What the hell?

  “This isn't working,” I whispered in shock.

  “Try again,” Odin said urgently.

  Your magic is strong, my love, Kyanite said. It's not your spell.

  “Then what is it?” I asked as I stared at the Dragon God. “I told him to sleep; he should sleep.”