XX

Warm hands covered hers. Perched on the edge of the bed, clad only in sleeping shorts, Kiro’s eyes sparkled with amusement. Before Lyra could protest, he tumbled her back onto the mattress, following her down to capture her lips in a scorching kiss.

To his surprise, and her own dismay, Lyra gasped and pushed him away. She sat up, her voice tight with urgency. "Kiro, we don't have time for this! Arak is attacking. Their soldiers are right outside!"

As if summoned by her words, a sudden, massive surge of magical energy stole the breath from her lungs. She went limp, collapsing against his chest. He shook her gently, a string of curses leaving his lips until her eyes fluttered open.

She sprang from the bed, her voice ringing with newfound resolve. "It's starting! Come on, slowpoke, we have to fight!"

Her urgency jolted Kiro into action. He was already moving, barking orders as he pulled on his clothes, the crimson diamond in his earring glinting in the dim light. "Find Reya. Tell her to organize the instructors into three teams by specialty. Then, get to the Princess's chamber and brief her. I'll meet you there to arrange her escape. Meanwhile, rally any Sentinels ready for battle. Got it?"

Kiro turned to find Lyra, now fully dressed, staring at him with a look of utter confusion. With an exasperated sigh, he hurried past her, pausing at the door to glance over his shoulder. "Just... don't die, okay? I have to get to the Princess. Be careful."

Touched, Lyra closed the distance between them, flinging her arms around his waist as a blush crept up her neck. He returned the embrace, nuzzling the top of her head. She whispered the words against his chest, "I love you," then pulled away and fled down the hall before he could fully process them.

A slow smile spread across his face. She said she loved me, didn't she? They had stolen intimate moments over the past few weeks, but love? Heat flooded his cheeks at the thought. Suddenly, his body went rigid. The jewel in his earring flashed a violent crimson, and his hand flew to it instinctively. The Princess was calling. He broke into a dead run.

Elisia and Haelia jogged to keep pace behind Kara and Reya. The oppressive weight of the Arakian energy had settled over all of them.

Elisia's grin was sharp. "Ready for some real action, Haelia? No more training simulations for us!"

Haelia cracked her knuckles, a feral smile spreading across her face. The Kitsune sniffed the air, her voice tight with anticipation. "Time for fighting, yes?"

Before anyone could move, a shockwave of power tore through the base, carrying with it a binding spell that shackled their magic and dulled their senses.

Unable to summon even the most basic charm, Elisia cried out, "How did they manage a spell of that magnitude?"

Kara reached out with her mind, her Aether abilities still partially intact. Lyra, be quick! We're near the dining hall! Something's coming!

Lyra's faint mental acknowledgement was a small comfort in a dire situation. The Sentinels were warriors, but their magic was their primary weapon. Kara, still clumsy with her own power and a liability in a physical fight, glanced at the frail but determined Reya and the other inexperienced Fated. She met Reya's eyes and attempted a reassuring smile.

Reya managed a weak smile in return. She opened her mouth to speak, but at that moment, Lyra skidded to a halt, colliding with Kara.

"Reya! Kiro said to tell the instructors to—"

"Done," Reya interrupted, her voice steady. "They're already in position. It's standard emergency protocol."

Lyra blinked, trying to recall her other orders as the Princess's voice suddenly echoed from the base's speaker-orb system. "Sentinels, fight hard and survive this battle to see the peace you were meant to bring."

When the announcement ended, Lyra slapped her forehead. "The Princess!" she gasped, and took off down the corridor again.

Kara called after her, "Lyra! Where are you—"

I have to tell her to wait for Kiro! Lyra's thought faded as she rounded a corner.

With a sigh, Kara turned back to her friends. A sudden commotion from the dining hall doors startled them all. Kael burst through, looking feral. His aura pulsed with the raw power of the Dragon, his eyes glowing a brilliant amber, pupils constricted to slits. As they braced for an attack, Kael's human voice whispered in Kara's mind. I don't want to hurt them.

Then, the Dragon within him roared. Kael's human form vanished in a conflagration of purple flame, the towering beast appearing in his place.

From his perch in a nearby tree, Haken heard the roar and swore under his breath. Kael had defied a direct order. Taking command, he dropped silently into the midst of the waiting Arakian soldiers.

Haken's voice was a low growl. "I am entrusting you with Kael's safety. He is to be returned to Arak in one piece. Understood?"

"Sir, yes, sir!" they roared in unison.

Dismissing them with a nod, Haken turned his attention back to the base. With Kael's babysitters in place, he could focus on the girls. They were powerful, but they lacked tactical sense—especially Kara. She never knew when to retreat. A grin touched Haken's lips at the thought of his stubborn charge. He leaped back into the trees, moving swiftly toward the escalating sounds of combat.

Smoke stung Kara's eyes, making them stream. The fight was not going well. This Dragon was stronger, more vicious than she'd anticipated, despite the faint struggle she could sense from Kael within. She faltered, realizing the beast had more control over him than he had let on. Another roar echoed through the crumbling chamber.

Through a break in the smoke, she saw Elisia riding on Haelia's back, the Kitsune darting around the beast's legs with supernatural speed while Elisia pelted its hide with enchanted balls of mud. The sight bolstered Kara's resolve, and she began to gather her Aether.

Irritated by Reya's relentless water magic, the Dragon swatted the brunette into the air. Reya landed in an unconscious heap near Kara. A moment later, the beast's tail whipped around, slamming Elisia and Haelia into a crystalline wall and knocking them out cold.

It was the final push Kara needed. She dashed toward the heart of the conflict. Their magic was useless as long as the Arakian binding spell held. To break it, she would need the other Fated Mages. So intent was she on her goal that she didn't notice one of the Dragon's massive claws slamming down perilously close.

"KARA!"

Lyra's voice cut through the chaos. Kara leaped aside just in time. The impact drowned out Kiro's battle cry as he charged past them. Lyra skidded to a stop beside her sister, helping her to her feet.

"I'm fine!" Kara shouted over the din. Mentally, she added, But if we don't do something soon, this base won't be!

Agreed, Lyra sent back. Meet on the balcony. You get Reya, I'll find Elisia and Haelia.

The sisters exchanged a determined nod and separated, leaving a battle-crazed Kiro to keep the Dragon's attention.

Lyra found a dazed Reya staggering to her feet. "We have to meet the others," Lyra said, helping to steady her. "Kara has a plan to break the binding spell." Reya nodded, a grim smile touching her lips, and followed.

Kara had just reached the balcony when the others arrived. "Let's do this," she said, noting Haelia's nervous expression. "Join hands and clear your minds. Focus on the energy inside you."

As their hands clasped, Kara felt an incredible surge of power. The inner light of each girl shone with a unique hue: Haelia's a pale yellow, Elisia's a deep forest green, Reya's a shimmering teal, and Lyra's a fiery red. Connecting them all was a thread of pure white light tinged with a purple shimmer—Kara's Aether. For a fleeting moment, she felt invincible. Then, she refocused, gathering the energy.

"Keep breathing," Kara said, her voice quiet but firm. "Let the energy flow."

Kara felt the power swell, a rising tide that she knew was attracting the attention of the Arakian mages outside. They were a beacon now, an obvious target. "Alright, girls! On my mark, release your energy into me! Ready?"

A chorus of assent was her answer. The raw power was so intense it nearly seared her as it flooded into her core. Taking a deep breath, she released Lyra's and Reya's hands and thrust her own toward the sky. The combined energy manifested as a massive, pulsating ball of light above them. A glittering violet aura flared around the Aether Mage, pulsing in sync with the power she now wielded. With a final, guttural cry, Kara thrust the energy outward. It shot from her in a vast web of light, shattering the Arakian binding spell.

Instantly, the oppressive atmosphere vanished, the air feeling clean and sharp. Their magic rushed back into them. Breathing heavily, Kara opened her eyes and smiled. Below, Kiro was somehow still holding his own against the Dragon, but the worst was yet to come.

"This won't be another Sovereign City," Reya said softly, her voice filled with grim determination.

"We can fight! We can win! Yeah!" Haelia exclaimed, raising a fist in the air.

Lyra met her sister's gaze and smiled. "Let's go get him."

Kara laughed, a sound of pure relief and defiance, as they all charged back into the fray, their elemental powers roaring to life.

Haken landed on the balcony railing just as Kara shattered the enchantment. The resulting shockwave nearly threw him from his perch. For a moment, he could only stare, captivated by the sight of her, illuminated by the residual energy. The spell broken, he watched the girls leap back into the fight and knew he had to move. He sprang from the railing, landing lightly near the staggering Dragon.

Kiro, though wounded, fought on. The girls immediately formed a line before him. Reya erected barriers of water while Elisia and Haelia attacked with lashing vines and cutting winds. Lyra spared a moment to check on Kiro, shot a frown in Haken's direction, and then rejoined the assault.

Kara remained behind, an island of calm in the swirling chaos.

"Kara," Haken began, moving toward her. "You have to get out of here. It's not—"

"Haken," she said, raising a hand to stop him. "Please." He felt the thrum of Aether from her, stronger now than before. "I won't abandon this base. I can't."

There was an unwavering resolve in those simple words. After a moment, he let out a sigh and flashed his trademark grin. "You and your loyalty will be the death of me. Come on. Let's finish this."

A brilliant smile split Kara's face as she fell into step beside him. Haken turned his focus to the battle, casting swift healing spells on Kiro and the others. His priority was to defend the Fated, which meant he couldn't directly engage Kael. He sighed internally. If he managed to save everyone, surely the Queen couldn't be too angry with him.

Lyra felt the wave of healing energy and glanced back, rolling her eyes as she saw the obnoxious Half-Elf providing support from a safe distance. She turned her attention back to the Dragon. As she gathered a swirling fireball in her palm, a familiar voice echoed in her mind.

This doesn't have to be, lovely one. We could be happy. You and I.

The voice trailed off as the Dragon let out a gargled roar of pain. Lyra's eyes shot upwards. There, high on the beast's shoulder, was Kiro, his blade buried deep in its throat. Black blood hissed as it sprayed through the air. Through the haze of battle, the Dragon's wild, amber eyes found hers.

I dreamed I was flying with you, the voice in her head whispered, filled with sorrow. Free, high above this war-torn land.

As he spoke, the image flooded her mind. Warm, strong arms were wrapped around her waist. They soared over a patchwork of undulating green hills. The scene shifted, the scent of salt filling her senses, the cry of gulls replacing the sounds of battle. They stood on a beach of pure white sand. A profound sense of peace washed over her as she turned to face the man holding her. It was—

"Kael?"

The name escaped her lips as a breathy whisper. The vision shattered. Lyra screamed, her eyes flying open to see the Dragon's enormous form toppling directly toward her. It was the last thing she saw before the world went black, the frantic shouts of her friends mingling with the fading cries of phantom gulls.

Lovely one.