Edwin watched Azian pace up and down in the kitchen worriedly, his frame was rigid and his jaw was clenched, worry lines all over his face.
He had tried to speak before but Alpha had made it clear they didn't want to talk. He was seemingly still mad at him for not telling him about Legion.
"Will you stop worrying? Kaya will be alright. You know Abigail knows what she's doing right?" He asked him.
He only received a growl from Alpha completely shutting him up, his fiery golden eyes daring him to say another word. Edwin looked down at the counter, holding his tongue as Azian went back to pacing but it was only a few minutes later when he spoke again, "Seriously, you're giving me a headache, stop with the pacing, try to relax. " he tried again this time instantly regretting it.
"DO NOT ASK ME TO BE CALM!" Alpha barked, his eyes glowing brightly.
"Okay, okay, okay," Edwin replied quickly. Alpha pausing for a second before Azians tired blue eyes came into view as he kept pacing.
"Azian" Abigail said appearing before them, soon followed by Ena, Maria, and Alessia.
He moved to her with concern, "What? Is she alright? Is she in pain? What's happening?!" He half yelled.
"Relax, she's fine," Abigail tried to ease.
He looked at her as if the previous statement she had uttered was meaningless.
"But she is still rejecting your bond," she added lowly, causing his eyes to shoot back up at her.
"What?" he shook his head, "that's impossible, I need to see her," he huffed turning around but Abigail stopped him, "No, you don't, you'll only make her worse,” she tried to reason with him, blocking his path.
Azian looked down at her, searching her eyes only discovering the truth. He clenched his jaw, nodding slightly, his voice tight, "why?"
Abigail shook her head. She couldn't understand it either.
"Maybe, maybe she doesn't belong to you," Ena replied trying her best to ease it in softly. She was waiting for his anger or wrath but he looked at her in an expression she couldn’t decipher, his breathing low before suddenly shaking his head, “that’s not possible,” he firmly denied, “ I know how I feel when I’m around her, and how I feel when she’s away. You can’t understand the pain,” he growled back, causing Ena to freeze studying his expression, “The thought that she might not belong to me is unbearable.”
"W-why don't you ask her?" Abigail suddenly asked, searching Alpha’s golden eyes when they locked to her.
"How do you suggest she answer that?” Alpha scoffed, "She hardly knows anything about the supernatural," Azian faded in the reply with a defeated chuckle, the thought had not made sense.
"Not Kaya,” Abigail replied taking a step closer to him, “Erania."
Everybody's eyes snapped up to meet Abigail’s. Azians looked more alarmed, and his heart seemed to beat faster within him at the name.
Abigail took his hand in hers, prodding on, "it can be done, I know it,” she added, “you just need to talk to her. According to history, Golden dragons talked to the Queen of gods like a friend. She helped them solve their problems and she was close to them, never once leaving their side. You are the last of her children, I would think she had a special place in her heart for you,” she eased in.
Azian watched her for a moment, the thought sounding foreign to him shaking his head slowly, "I've never, I’ve never tried to-" he trailed off, fighting the strange thought. He had always wondered about her, the one who had fashioned him, and called him her last, the one he should really call ‘mother.’
He wanted to know, why, why all this was happening and only she could have the answers. But was it all true? Would the Queen of gods even care? Yes, legend had it she cared for her golden but would she truly care for him? One who couldn't even shift?
He doubted it, he seriously doubted it.
"Erania, Queen of gods," Ena echoed in awe her eyes shining, "could it-could it work?" she asked sounding intrigued but unconvinced.
Abigail shrugged, "Only Azian can prove it," she said.
Azian shook his head, "I don't even know how."
"Just-just call her as you called me today," Abigail replied moving closer to him, "Like she was a good friend like she was someone you could trust."
Azian looked directly into her eyes, before chuckling darkly, “Abi, a god isn't going to just stop everything and come-"
"She isn't just any god, she's the queen of gods and your patriot mother," Abigail replied searching his eyes for reason, “Alpha Knows, let him try.”
Azian gazed into her hopeful eyes, trailing around to see the others only to catch their hopeful faces. He felt overwhelmed and pressured, “and what if it doesn’t work?" He growled, surprised they were even hopeful about such a thing.
"Azian.” Abigail began softly, “I know you're scared, you're scared that you're not good enough but it's okay,” she eased.
"None of us are," Alessia whispered softly.
He looked at her momentarily before shaking his head, Alpha resurfacing, "I'm not scared, why would I be scared?" he asked stepping back, "scared that if I say 'Erania please say something, do something.' She won't come? Scared that maybe she doesn’t care, that maybe I'm not all they prophesied to be, all she wanted for her last," he breathed out harshly eyes a shimmering gold.
"Azian-"
"A Dragon King who can't even shi-" he was interrupted by a sudden knock on the door, stopping him halfway
"uh- I’ll get it," Ena offered, glancing among them for a second before walking toward the front door, she opened it wide, her eyes freezing, unable to say a word.
"Ena?! Who is it?" Abigail called out. There was a silence in the air, causing Abigail to worry for a moment wanting to go check herself but Ena soon walked back in with an unrecognizable expression on her face.
Abigail was about to ask on behalf of all of them when Ally walked in, but it wasn't her. No
She was pretty sure Ally’s hair wasn't a raging fire floating over her head, and her eyes were not red and gold in color.
Ally walked into their midst with a straightened posture, her flame of a hair floating freely like it had no gravity, an ethereal smile on her face, as her gaze traveled over each one ending on Azians surprised face, "I was called" she said softly, her voice was not Ally’s.
It sounded more posh and well, old English. She had an air of authority around her as she stood in their midst.
"Ally?" Alessia was first to question, causing whatever it was that looked like Ally to turn to her with a kind grin, a certain sparkle erupting from her red and golden volcanic eyes, her skin littered with symbols till it touched her bare feet, "no, Erania," she replied before laughing softly, a melodic piece of enchantment, "well a part of her," she said finally with a shake of her head.
There was a pregnant pause as each of them tried to wrap their minds around it, wondering if this was a trick of some sort, "y-you're Erania?" Edwin asked failing to believe it himself.
"Yes Edwin, Son of Tar, the beast of the fire dragons,” she began watching his face turn into shock, "I quite well believe I am" she replied with a slight smirk.
She turned to the others her smile falling, "oh dear, you don't believe me," she said eyeing them all in one sweep ending at Alessia who shook her head,
"Sorry guys, I know I'm not buying it" she replied after blinking a few times. The Queen of gods could not be standing in their presence.
Erania by Ally’s face frowned, a lost look appearing, "really? The fiery hair and accent usually used to do it, huh" she scoffed, seemingly surprised, "humans have evolved" she said shrugging, "agh well," she continued spinning around so fast it happened in a blink of an eye, she was standing before Azian with a twinkle in her eye, "you called for me little one" she said softly her fiery red eyes staring directly at him with a smile Azian could only describe as Beauty in its prime definition.
His heart was thudding loudly and Alpha was low, and insignificant at that moment. He almost seemed shy and nervous his heart racing from deep inside him.
Her eyes were studying his face in satisfaction, "oh you are so brilliant. I created every inch of you, designed you to be everything,” she whispered her fiery hair trailing behind her as she leaned into him, "ask little one, the last of mine creation" she said softly,
Azian failed to find his voice, feeling disappointed in himself. Maybe he just had doubts, maybe he was unconvinced or maybe he just thought of himself as unworthy, but either way, when she stepped away from him he felt like he had disappointed her as her gaze swept away from him landing on Abigail.
 "Mother witch" she acclaimed, slowly approaching Abigail. It was then they all noticed that she would skip a step, instead of touching the ground she seemed to rather float finding herself before Abigail who held her gaze before gasping, "I am not worthy" she said staring at the ground.
Erania laughed, "nonsense, I declare who's worthy and if I have let you watch over my littlest it is because I find you worthy, " she replied causing Abigail to look up at her, almost gasping when the goddess smiled, she chuckled, "I was beginning to think you wouldn't remind him of me. My littlest believes he is not worthy of me," she said as if it had been the joke of the day, she spun around and in a second she was before Azian again, this time she let herself freely float in the air.
"Walking is not your specialty is it?" Alessia asked half-heartedly, not expecting the goddess to laugh as much as she did, “True, I forget sometimes. Gravity is not my favorite element," she replied winking at Alessia whose cheeks heated up
She turned to Azian, tilting her head to the side, her eyes entranced with his, "You have a question little one?" She asked one more time, her face was kind and patient, different from the other gods Azian had heard about, the ones who cared nothing of their children. Erania’s eyes sparkled with love and care, "ask me" she said softly, her voice was persuasive but gentle.
"Kaya," Azian replied only able to say one word.
"Yes?" She prodded her long eyelashes kissing her skin, in such a beautiful motion Azian felt so much at ease, "I-Is-" He trailed off suddenly afraid of the answer, he cleared his throat glancing at Abigail for a second time before staring at Erania, "does she belong to me?" He asked his voice a low whisper, so low, no one heard it but Erania who smiled softly, her smile sending a warm feeling through Azian, "what do you feel little one?"
Azian swallowed harshly his eyes trailing to the ground, trying not to notice her levitating bare feet. He felt little sparks at the tip of his chin that sent delicious currents through him, Alpha purring softly as Erania lifted his chin up to meet her eyes so very gently, "what do you feel?" She asked yet again.
Azian stared right into her volcanic eyes, silence and peace flowing through him, “I feel that she belongs to me," he replied finally, his fists unclenching
Erania took a step away from him, standing in their midst, her tone louder and more firm, "Kaya Renée Joston, The little human girl" she said with a sparkle in her eye. She turned to him with a grin, “I thought she was perfect for you, really," she said turning to the rest, "but apparently not for any of you,” her eyes were a gentle stern as she glanced at Ena to Abigail, Alessia and Lastly Edwin.
"S-so Kaya i-is his mate?" Abigail asked her eyebrows furrowing, then this didn’t make any sense, not to her, "then why-"
"Questions will be answered," Erania replied, sighing before she turned to Azian, "I am yet to answer the first," she finished quietly.
Azians eyes widened at this, wondering what she meant. Hadn’t she already answered?
"Kaya is your mate, but if she belongs to you is something only fate can decide," she replied with a sense of sadness in the air, she breathed out, lowly, tone defeated, "there is something’s not even gods can change, " she said lowly, she turned around with a swiftness standing before Ena, "you were not wrong Defender when you said Dragons don't share. It is an unspoken rule I had engraved into every heart of my children and their descendants. MY CHILDREN ARE BORN TO LEAD, SUPERIOR, FOR I AM SUPERIOR, but a Dark witch backed by the realms of darkness threaten to break that should not be broken," her voice was hard and her fiery hair hardened till it lay behind her like a river of lava.
"How?" Azian found himself asking, a deep sort of rage suddenly finding itself within him, beginning as a fire.
Erania suddenly smiled, breaking out of her fury, "forgive me my littlest, my rage seems to have sparked yours, no use melting the house," she said softly
Azian's eyebrows furrowed when he spotted some of the metal in the house had curved.
"I cannot meddle in things of the world, but I can speak to that I share a connection with," she began her soft eyes resting on Azian, "Stephania has stolen a soul, a soul she has given to another, she has grieved a god, and my sister Selene has not forgiven her."
"Selene? Goddess of the moon, second minor goddess, " Edwin suddenly recited causing Erania to look at him with a bright smile, "Very good my little guardian, Tar taught you well,” she began, "Selene might be a minor god, but she loved her children just as much as I love mine, and this war that is to begin between them is not something we particularly enjoy. The moon creatures were my gift to her and she has loved them with devotion. She wept over Celeste," she replied softly her eyes downcast.
"Celeste?" Azian echoed,
"Legions mate."
At this, all of them held their breaths, "there is a story of a king who promised more than he could give, who sparked a hatred so deep, it turned a soul rotten to the core,"
Erania shook her head, her lava hair sticking down her intricate back where all sort of markings were spread, "there is a magic that began at the beginning of time, Magic so dark even gods have no say,"
"Soul magic," Maria stated.
The goddess in Ally’s form nodded, "It cursed his only son, so his lust for blood would not be quenched, and he ran havoc against the masses, littered blood against the earth, but Selene never lost hope for her moon kissed son, not even when he smote the one who gave him life," she shook her head the lava on her hair hardening into granite.
"So the King sought a cure, but in pride and foolishness turned to that of a certain Dark witch, and she tricked him, gave him a solution that was temporary. With the access the king had granted to heal her son, she looked into his stars, his alignment and saw his savior, sent him away to the other realm, then she hunted Celeste," her voice shook as if in anger, "death did not come in secret to the young one." she said lowly.
No one needed an interpretation for that to know that Celeste did not die well.
"But she took from her, her soul trapping it away," Erania continued turning to look directly at Azian, "this certain witch left the borders of the realm to another, finding upon herself a young man, who was set in life, with all to meet her needs. A young man with a daughter and a wife,"
Kaya’s name flashed into his mind as he gazed on, "a perfection I built, a one she destroyed," she paused tilting her head, "Kaya would have died long ago had I not made her, her father’s Prayer."
"What is a prayer?" Alessia asked very intrigued with the tale.
Erania chuckled, "A prayer is what humans have to stead a mate. Unlike the beings in our realms where one finds his mate, every human has a prayer. Not necessarily a soul mate, it could be a son, a grandchild, a lover, an orphan, a passion, or a mere dog that they love above all else. Some have it already, some are yet to find it. It was this that refrained the witch from destroying her, for her father would not have existed without his Prayer."
 Her face suddenly fell, "however, this did not stop her from doing all she could to destroy her, make her life miserable,” she paused, "it was then she gave her Celeste- knowing that the Alpha King would come to collect and take her from all she held dear. Her last punishment."
"H-how? How did she give her Celeste?" Maria asked?
Erania glanced at her, "a spell-like a potion, a mixture of something dearest. A dip of a soul, combine one to another-"
"I got nothing from that," Alessia replied feeling disappointed after having had focused.
Erania chuckled, "I forget to speak in normal, sometimes. Her soul was mixed in a potion and fed to the girl, this combined the souls, and now part of Celeste lives on"
Abigail's eyes widened at this, "can it be undone?!" She asked.
Erania’s hair began to become undone as it floated up in a fiery mess, "my time in the finders body, is almost up, I was lucky to have found her near, she is as blessed as they come. Finders are the best mediums to carry," she replied gently, "yes, it can be undone, though I cannot say, fate decides this decision. Harken to my words, remember ALL I have said, even as the war comes," she said softly leaving Abigail speechless as she turned back to Azian.
“Celeste is the reason as to why your claim is being rejected.”
Azian rapidly moved to Erania at this, "she can't push me away, what can I do to stop her?" he said in a panic.
Her eyes softened,  “Dragons don't share my littlest, let the Dragon she carries fight for you," she said softly, her finger trailing down his cheek gently,  her intricate drawings fading slowly, "I wish you would talk to me more my littlest, I may not have more finders, but I will be sure to speak, " she whispered softly.
He nodded feeling the warm burn of her hand as it slid down to his chest, "it's going to hurt, little one." she whispered as her hair burned dimmer.
"What?" He whispered lowly back
"When Alpha comes out," she said with a smile before her eyes shut, Ally completely passing out in Azians arms.
Ally's eyes fluttered open not a minute later, opening her eyes wide as she gazed upon the group of women who had surrounded her witch concerned faces, blushing dramatically when she found herself in Azians arms, as Abigail helped her up, "are you, okay child?" She asked very concernedly.
After harboring such a deity for that long, she wouldn't be surprised if Ally was left with some side effects, then again Erania was the supreme goddess, if she wanted Ally unharmed that she would be.
Ally nodded surprised at their concern, "I'm fine, j-just a little hot,” she realized slowly blushing, "I don't remember getting here, I just left to come to tell you that Kaya is awake," she began wanting to proceed when she was interrupted.
"Kaya?" Azian echoed slowly, before suddenly his eyes turned glowing gold, “Kaya!” he yelled.
"Azian?" Abigail asked worried, but before she could say anything, the boy had wrecked the roof, his large wings tearing through the material in a second as they appeared.
"Something’s wrong with Kaya" she whispered to herself her hand still on Ally’s when she transported both of them, the others following soon after,
What they met with was a disaster, the house was littered everywhere, and nothing was left in one place, finding Liam, Lilian, and Anna unconscious on the floor. Azian stood in their midst his wings still in place, the wide hole in the roof and ceiling bits on the floor indicating his rough landing. He leaned down to Anna, and Abigail moved to Liam and Lillian.
"What happened?" Abigail asked as all three of them came to. Liam groaning, a nasty cut at the side of his head. He managed to stagger up,  his eyes searching frantically moving past  Abigail he moved toward the bed, "Gabrielle!" he called, panic in his voice.
It was only then when they realized there was another woman lying on the floor, half-hidden by the side of the bed.
Gabrielle coughed, her eyes fluttering open.
"What happened?" Azian repeated, Gabrielle’s eyes widening at the sight of a boy with Golden eyes and huge golden wings, breathing harshly as she stared at him unable to say a word.
Lillian shook her head trying to stabilize herself, "I-I don't remember, they just came in so fast, in a second, I-" She trailed off suddenly looking at the empty bed, her throat dry, her tone in a panic, "They took her! They took Kaya!" She yelled as Anna tried to focus herself, drunkenly.
"Who? Who took Kaya?" Abigail asked impatiently.
Anna swayed as she pulled herself up, "Lycans and-" She fell Edwin catching her as Alessia screamed for her. Abigail quickly moved to her, inspecting her, "She's been bitten"
"A Lycan?" Ena asked.
"Vampire,” Abigail replied eyeing the two sharp fangs marked, “Anna’s not a vampire mate, if sharp fangs marked, “Anna’s not a vampire mate, if she's bitten she'll turn," she winced as she felt herself begin to panic, sweat dropping off her in roles.
Sweat?
She turned to Azian, still with Anna in her arms, "what's wrong with him?" Lilian yelled as the house began to shake, Azian eyes had turned into a solid block of gold, and scales began to form on his skin.
"H-He's about to shift," she said mostly to herself first in realization and shock, before repeating it, this time more urgently, looking up at him with wide eyes, “He’s about to shift!” she huffed. But he couldn't shift here, he would flatten everyone into pancakes and his huge body would wreck the neighborhood. She focused all her energy on him as the house began to shake more vigorously trying to teleport him away but her power feeling useless as the ceiling bits began to fall, Lillian huddled nearer to both Gabrielle and Liam knowing if this was their last day she would be fine with dying with them.
Ena came to the rescue grabbing Abigail’s hand, channeling her power to her, Alessia moving to her other side focusing her power as they all screamed with everything they got.
The last they felt was an agonizing blast sending each of them hurtling across the fields sprawled in every direction. Minutes passed by the passed-out figures, the feeling of the sun beating up against their bare backs as they lay unconscious.
Ena was first to come too, her hands gripping onto the bare grass, trying to get her footing as her head spun, a low ringing in her ear. She stood up staring across the large field of the Pocket Abigail had managed to take them to at the last minute, Abigail standing soon after, "Alessia!" She yelled over the field in a panic, "I'm here! I found mom!" She yelled staggering with Anna leaning against her, causing Abigail to make her way to them hurriedly, just as another person yelled, "Gabrielle?" Liam called as Ally stood up in the field, her head ringing.
"Oh, my head hurts" Lilian groaned as she stood up from right beside Gabrielle who staggered trying to gain her footing.
"Uh, guys-" Maria began stuck as a statue.
They all turned to face where she was facing, their mouths hang open when they saw what she was seeing. The forest before them that started past the field had been taken down, its large tall trees were sprawled on the ground for miles as if something large just bulldozed itself down them.
"Whatever did that was large," Lillian began holding on to Gabrielle and Liam joined them.
Then suddenly the ground shook, causing them to lean sideways, "and whatever did that is bigger," Liam added.
The Shake came again causing a high flock of birds to suddenly take flight in the distance from among the tall trees.
Another shake and Edwin cowered, "I don't like this," Alessia muttered glancing at him and Ally.
The ground shook for the last time as something monstrous emerged out from the trees, the beast before them shook its large horned head, its golden scales glimmering in the sun, enough to make anyone blind as it raised its head to the sky, releasing a mighty roar that shook the heavens with its fury, a rage whispered of in the heavens and rumored in the sea, a rage only that of a Dragon King god could possess.
A roar heard across the realms,
A roar that made every beast cower, every winged man rise, every human fear, every immortal scare, and every witch burn with knowledge of a warning of what is to come.
************
The Dragon army stood still, each and everyone dropping whatever it was they were doing. Those fighting in the pits paused, and those patrolling the border froze. The King stood. His body trembling as the sound reached his ears turning to his general, Tar, and the Hydra men before him, his dark eyes shifting to his royal purple as his dragon cowered, a tremble to his voice.
He had to give reverence to his Alpha
"The KING has arrived."
---------
THE END OF AZIAN (PRINCE OF DRAGONS) BOOK 2.
A/N] Thanks so much for reading guys! Book 2 is officially over! Woo! I hoped to finish it before I head off to school and I did. Book 3 you say? Mmmm. I’ll cut you a deal, I will release the first chapter of book 3 once we get this book to 50 reviews! Disclaimer, book 2 largely bases on the plot of both books 1 and 2. Therefore before we begin that journey as you wait, it would be wise to read book 1 entitled Azian prince of Dragons to book 1. Thanks so much for reading guys! Love you to the end of the earth and back. If Erania permits I’ll see you in book 3- and yes, it will be separate. ]