He put a hand to his forehead. “Please consider this, if only for your safety. I’m a conqueror dragon. Not some hired help. I’m a king, descended from kings. This human battle is beneath me, and you’re the only human I don’t hate. Stay here and let me keep you safe. Watch the world burn with me—”

  “I can’t,” she said, sounding broken.

  “Fine,” he said. “Then we will call Troy and Jack. You’ll watch your world burn anyway, and you may well be killed.”

  She swallowed. “Fine.” She walked to the door, presumably to go get her phone. “I get that you’re angry, Konar. But I can’t believe you would be this coldhearted. To watch people die—”

  “I can’t believe you would put me in the position of making nice with my captors or losing you. I can’t believe I found a mate who can’t see everything I have to offer and would choose this sad world over me.”

  Her expression turned furious. “It’s not some sad world. It’s my world. And if you don’t care about it, you don’t care about me.”

  He didn’t agree, so he just stayed silent.

  “Fine, Konar. Stay in this castle and rot with hate for all I care. I can’t save you.”

  “Save me?” He laughed. “You’re the one who needs to be saved. Mark my words, you’ll regret leaving.”

  She shook her head. “That may be, but at least I’ll keep my heart intact.” Her hand went to her chest. “As much as possible, since every day with you seems to entwine my feelings with you more and more.” She sent him a look over her shoulder as she turned to go. “I hope your vengeance feels as good as you think it will, because after getting to know you, Konar, I really doubt you could enjoy it as much as you think.”

  He folded his arms stubbornly, still stinging from rejection and betrayal. Whichever part of him had thought she was his mate must have been wrong.

  Even if something in him felt like it was going to crack apart upon her leaving.

  But if she hated everything he was, if she couldn’t accept him, if it hurt her to be with him now that she knew she couldn’t change him, then he would never keep her here against her will.

  “I’m going to go call Troy and Jack.”

  “I think that would be best,” he said solemnly.

  Sadness filled her eyes, but she nodded and left, shutting the door behind her.

  What had Konar just done?

  The urge to chase her made his spine go rigid, his entire body tense, but he forced himself to go sit behind his desk at the back of the room.

  He had revenge to plan. After he defeated Mara’s monster, the rest of the world would be next.

  23

  It had been three days since Mara left.

  Konar had forced the double dragons to bring him a human TV set when they picked her up so he could at least keep track of any chaos breaking out in the world.

  He’d also told her and them, without any hesitation, that if she were in danger, he should be called immediately.

  The double dragons had given him disappointed looks when they showed up, but it wasn’t his fault everybody wanted him to be something he wasn’t.

  They’d left him a phone, though, so he could be called as needed. But only for Mara.

  Konar turned on the TV in his study, leaning back in a huge, red velvet-covered chair with a high back made of pure gold, and was shocked to see some kind of attack happening in downtown Dallas.

  He turned up the volume, listening to the newscaster (he’d learned many new human terms while watching TV the past few days).

  “Utter panic in downtown Dallas, which is under immediate evacuation orders due to an unidentified flying object that we have been informed is potentially hostile.”

  Konar’s heart thudded as he leaned in, watching the small video the newscaster was playing on a small screen within the screen.

  A large dark shape was in the clouds over the city, flying back and forth.

  Chaos elder dragon. He was sure of it.

  But if it was the one that marked Mara, was it coming for her?

  He stared at the buildings below the dragon, relieved that it wasn’t over the remote hills where Troy and Jack lived.

  So this wasn’t her monster. She was safe. That was good.

  Laughing, he pulled out some human popcorn he’d made and got ready to watch the show.

  As long as Mara wasn’t hurt, he didn’t care at all.

  In the streets, he saw tiny flashing vehicles leading a convoy out of the city.

  So many vehicles. So many humans flooding along the sidewalk.

  Well, at least they were being evacuated, so that was good.

  He didn’t love seeing civilians killed. Probably one of the things his father had hated about him.

  He tried to tell himself the stupid world deserved what they were getting as he watched that giant shape circle over the large buildings of downtown Dallas.

  What did it want?

  Probably just to create and feed on chaos, like the chaos below from the fleeing crowds.

  The monster was probably up there getting larger and more powerful.

  He let out a snort. The humans wouldn’t stand a chance, even with the double dragons.

  Troy and Jack would be there soon probably, if they weren’t already ushering away civilians.

  Stupid dragons. The oracle could probably turn on them and lock them up at any moment.

  Konar watched the shadow circling over the crowds, frowning.

  He could imagine Mara’s face if she was watching this same news.

  He heard a loud thud from the center of his fortress and immediately left his study to run out and see what had happened.

  Was someone attacking him too?

  He let out a breath of relief when he saw it was merely Karnal and Drokar landing, changing into their human forms and striding his way, axes over their shoulders.

  “Join us, brother,” Karnal said. “It is the perfect time to get revenge on the humans. They’re in danger. Did you see that monster coming after them?”

  Drokar laughed. “We can take advantage of the chaos.”

  They both stopped, eyes sparkling with mirth that was quickly fading as they looked into Konar’s face.

  “You aren’t… feeling sad for the humans, are you? They imprisoned us,” Karnal said, a sneer twisting his face, his long hair pulled back with a battle headband, his two-handed ax in one hand.

  Drokar just glared at Konar, looking a mix of disgusted and confused. “You don’t want to conquer the humans? No wonder your father thought you were a failure.”

  Konar snarled. “You knew about that?”

  “I haven’t lost my memory,” Drokar said shortly, his green eyes blazing. “I will not be helping these humans.”

  Karnal laughed. “I want to fly in and get a better look at them being killed. I want to see their dragons fall. Then we can swoop in on the ruins and—”

  Konar frowned. Was this how he sounded? Cruel and obsessed?

  For the past three days, all he’d wanted was to see Mara’s eyes again.

  To hold her close and find joy in the softness of her heart.

  A heart he should have been better to. He should have tried harder to understand her love for her world.

  “I’m watching the attack inside,” he said. “If you want to join me.”

  At least he could delay the other dragons from making a bad situation worse.

  Dammit, was he actually going to help the humans?

  He tried to hold on to his anger, but in the face of what was happening, and thinking of how Mara would be feeling, it was nearly impossible.

  Something else was rising in him, something that made him feel like throwing up it was so new.

  He wanted to… protect. People he had no reason to care about.

  Just the thought made his inner barbarian want to gag.

  The others followed him quietly into the fortress, and he led them to the study where he was watching the news.

  “You have fancy human things,” Karnal said. “You are working with them.”

  “Because of the female he was protecting,” Drokar said. He lifted his nose to the air. “Where is she by the way?”

  “She left,” Konar said.

  “All the better,” Drokar said, folding massive arms. “You were never meant to bond with a human. Not when we’re here to take over their world.”

  Karnal leaned in, watching the TV with an evil grin. “Which should be easier after that thing finds a crystal heart and can nuke half the city.”

  That jogged Konar’s memory instantly. “That’s right. The fae told us about this. They feed on crystal energy.” Was that the gentle but overwhelming power that Mara exuded?

  All he knew was he missed her. So much that it hurt all the time.

  “Oh look, dragons flying in to save the humans.” Karnal snorted. “No way they can save everyone.” He looked smug about it.

  Konar folded his arms, nervous as he saw Troy and Jack join the battle with their sparkling blue and black dragon forms.

  They glittered like gemstones.

  No wonder Mara liked them, he thought darkly.

  They’d probably already taken her as a mate, he thought, his mood getting even worse.

  But he had to focus. He still wasn’t sure what to do now that an attack was taking place.

  Perhaps Troy and Jack had lured out this dragon using Mara’s energy, so they could fight it while leaving her safe in the mansion.

  Or perhaps the thing just had a bad sense of direction.

  Why was he attacking a town instead of trying to take a crystal heart? It didn’t make sense.

  Jack and Troy moved into the clouds, disappearing and becoming just dark shapes along with the mystery creature up there.

  The next second, black fire filled with green shards spewed through the clouds, and he saw a black tail whip out.

  Then he saw Jack fall from the sky, his blue dragon unconscious, as his partner flew down to catch him with his own body.

  Damn, this wasn’t going well.

  The thing above them was easily three times their size. Bigger than Konar.

  Feeding on the chaos.

  Perhaps he was strengthening himself on kills before he went to take Mara.

  Konar should go wait at the mansion, to protect her.

  He should go there now, he thought, tearing his eyes away from the screen.

  After all, it wasn’t his problem what was happening in the human world.

  It wasn’t his fault if people died. If the double dragons failed.

  But when he swallowed, guilt stuck in his throat like a too-big bite of food.

  “You aren’t seriously considering helping them?” Karnal asked, disbelieving as he got up in Konar’s face. “You’re getting soft, Konar.”

  Konar shoved him back, not knowing what was going on with himself. “I do what I want. That’s what I know.”

  “You would turn on your people, your past, for people who would see you dead or lost to time forever?” Karnal folded his arms. “You can’t be serious.”

  But Konar was, turning back to the TV.

  After all, if he took care of the dragon in the city, then it would never get to Mara. That was as good an excuse as any, right?

  But really, it was just thinking of her face. How worried she would be right now with her gentle, kind heart.

  How much pain she would be in if people were hurt.

  If the other dragons who protected the world were killed, there would be even more hurt in the world.

  A world she lived in. A world she loved.

  His heart squeezed painfully, and he felt something shatter inside him.

  Warmth moved through him, unfamiliar and bright, and he instantly knew the right thing to do.

  “I’m going to fight it,” he said. “If the two of you are too weak and scared, then stay here.”

  Karnal tossed his hair, unimpressed. “If you think you can trick us into helping so easily—”

  “We aren’t scared,” Drokar said, cracking his knuckles.

  “Don’t fall for it,” Karnal muttered, pushing Drokar back. “He’s baiting you.”

  “Come on,” Konar said, knowing he didn’t have much time to convince them. “The world won’t be any fun to conquer if that thing kills everyone.”

  Karnal and Drokar just stared at him, unconvinced. He didn’t exactly blame them. They had all lost so much.

  But Konar was going either way. Finally, he understood love.

  He loved Mara, and he would protect her world for her just because of his love.

  If that made him weak, so be it.

  He was too weak to see her hurt by this event.

  “We will watch the attack,” Karnal said, sneering. “We will enjoy the terror of those who betrayed us.”

  Drokar nodded darkly, expression partially hidden by his dark beard.

  Then the two dragons turned on their heels and walked out of the fortress.

  Dammit, it was only him for now.

  Still, if it was for Mara, he could take on anything.

  He strode out into the courtyard and focused, growing up and into his dragon form. He flew up and up, letting his body continue to grow past his mid-form until he was huge, covered in smoke, and his full size as a shade dragon.

  Which was twice as big as the double dragons and only slightly smaller than that chaos monster who must have woken up from somewhere very deep to be that large.

  Something almost primordial.

  And Konar got to fight it, which was a benefit at least.

  As he flew through the clouds, flying over arid land, forests, and then into the city, he narrowed his eyes, looking ahead.

  In the distance, he could see Jack and Troy still fighting.

  This was it. If he helped them, he would be betraying everything he grew up to do. Everything he was supposed to be.

  But as he flew on, thinking only of Mara’s eyes, how proud she would be to see him fight, he remembered something new he hadn’t before.

  The memory washed over him like warm rain as he flew on, and he smiled, something he’d missed for a long time filling him as he remembered.

  It was his mother, hugging him before he’d left on his journey, banished from his home planet.

  She’d kept him close, holding him with all her might, and whispered something in his ear.

  Memories came back, of her kindness, of her warmth, whenever she could get Konar away from his father’s harsh training.

  But this memory stuck out most of all because it had really meant something to him in that dark moment.

  She’d kept her mouth to his ear, letting no one else hear. “I hope this doesn’t work out,” she’d said quietly. “I hope you find something more important out there. Like a mate who can awaken your gem heart, because it’s strong too and could make you far more powerful, and good, than the things your father trained you to do.”

  He hadn’t been able to understand what she meant then, he was so wrapped up in barbarian training. In getting his ancestral ax.

  But he understood now as he flew high above long lines of traffic fleeing tragedy, as he saw children fleeing with their parents.

  He understood that there was power in saving too.

  Once you had love in your heart.

  Ahead in the clouds, he could see Jack and Troy still fighting the huge monster.

  Konar flew upward, breaking into the clouds and drawing the monster’s attention just as it was about to attack Troy and Jack.

  The huge beast was covered in black and white scales, hideous and marbled, and covered in dark smoke that smelled fetid and made Konar instantly sick.

  It opened its mouth and blew black flame, and Konar shot to the side to dodge, looking over at Troy and Jack, who seemed grateful but surprised to see him.

  Konar dodged the flame and then swung his huge, powerful tail into the chaos monster’s face, knocking him backward in the sky.

  The creature rolled and recovered, and its malevolent yellow dragon eyes glared at Konar.

  Then it looked at the city beneath and began building fire in its throat, an evil look in its eye as it looked at the buildings below.

  Konar flew as fast as he could, and just as the chaos dragon unleashed his barrage, Konar blocked the attack with his body. The chaos flame seared him like acid, but he built fire in his throat and sent it in a wave at the chaos dragon.

  To his horror, the chaos dragon roared, and sound waves emanating from the powerful monster sent the fire blazing back Konar’s way, down toward the buildings.

  Konar looked down in panic, relieved when the attack didn’t hit anything but some trees down below.

  As he heard human sirens coming, presumably to put out the fire, he realized this fight was truly going to be dangerous.

  He looked over at the other dragons, who were beating their wings, looking worse for the wear.

  “He reflects attacks!” Troy yelled. “We have to be careful of civilians.”

  Konar nodded. Now that he was playing hero, there was nothing for it but to commit completely.

  If any of them died that way, he at least knew he would die with his heart in the right place.

  And his mate safe and proud of him.

  Hopefully she could see that her love hadn’t been for nothing. Hopefully she could see his love in this moment because he had no time to find her and tell her.

  Hopefully showing up was enough.

  He sent the other dragons a look that they returned, and he knew they were all on the same page.

  They would fight and die for the humans if needed.

  He was a gemstone dragon, after all.

  24

  Mara watched the TV nervously from Troy and Jack’s mansion, hoping and praying this deadly attack wasn’t her fault.

  Ever since she’d seen the double dragons go off to battle, she’d thought about calling him.

  But she couldn’t make herself do it yet.

  Besides, he was probably enjoying this.

  She’d been despondent without him, despite her bravado in leaving.

  She knew it was the right thing, though. They were too different in their view of the world, and it would only hurt to get closer.