Elisa sighed as she fell into her throne, her thoughts calculating. Just a couple of days ago all but two of the followers of light had appeared on her doorstep pledging their allegiance to her. Raphael had been missing from the group, and so was his sidekick Eric. Surely the sorcerer wouldn’t be dumb enough to go against her, but even as she considered the idea, she realized she should’ve been more observant. Raphael had tricked her, and that was a tough to swallow. Her eyes narrowed as a new idea started to take form. She would not let him get away with his treachery.
“If I may ask, your majesty, what has you so troubled?” Aspen asked as he crossed the room.
The queen inspected her nails, her expression still oddly thoughtful before she turned her attention to the dragon lord. “Raphael, the leader of the followers of light, has not made an appearance. I believe it’s because he has chosen to betray me against my warnings.”
Aspen stopped a few feet away from the throne, crossing his arms over his chest. “He’s but one sorcerer, Elisa. Give the word, and I will have him taken care of.”
A grin lit up Elisa’s features. “You know, Aspen, this is exactly why I keep you around. You know exactly what to say.”
The dragon lord responded by giving the queen a sly smirk. “I aim to please.”
“Okay, that is revolting to hear from one’s father,” a new voice said as she walked into the throne room with highly raised eyebrows.
Aspen turned to the voice, still amused. “Roxanna, I was not expecting you to arrive so soon.”
His daughter rolled her eyes, twirling a knife in her hand as she crossed the distance. “Please stop calling me Roxanna, you know I prefer Roxi.”
Elisa sat up straighter in her throne, curiously regarding the new arrival. She scrutinized the girl with an edge of distain. Aspen had a daughter, a daughter roughly her age that she hadn’t even known about. There went Elisa’s ideas of having another kind of relationship with the dragon lord. It was disappointing to say the least.
“Aspen, you had not informed me you had a daughter.”
Roxi scoffed. “That’s because he wished he had a son instead, isn’t that right, father?” Her expression was challenging as she regarded her father.
Aspens’ smile was stiff and cold. “I didn’t inform you about her, your highness, because I didn’t feel it was relevant until now. I had sent for her after first learning of your proposition and I wasn’t expecting her to arrive until at least a couple more weeks.”
“Aska was getting antsy. She wanted to fly here,” Roxi provided with a shrug, her wavy black hair falling into her eyes. She blew the strand away as she crossed put the knife away and crossed her arms over her chest.
“Aska?” Elisa inquired, her question directed at Aspen.
“My daughter took to naming her dragon.”
Roxi glared at her father, her distaste quite clear.
“Your daughter is a dragon lord as well?”
“You can ask me questions directly, just so you know. I’m capable of speaking for myself,” Roxi answered before Aspen could. He sent a warning glance in her direction, but she ignored him and continued speaking before Elisa got a chance to reply. “I much prefer the term dragon lady, but yes. I am connected with a dragon also.”
Elisa smiled, but there was a sinister edge to it. “Female dragon lords are quite rare, this is a fact I’m not unaware of, and you could be of use, girl. But make no mistake, I will not allow you to get away with speaking to me in such a disrespectful manner. You have been warned.”
Roxi snorted. “Unlike my father, I share a certain loyalty with my dragon, and whatever you will try to do with me because you don’t like my attitude, she will intercept. You will find there are no limits to what those who are loyal to you will do.”
“Do not test me, Roxanna. I have several dragon lords at my disposal; it would be fairly easy to get rid of you should you prove to be more of a bother than your worth. And then, my dear, not even your father will be able to protect you.”
“My queen,” Aspen interjected as Roxi started to reply, “I assure you that won’t be necessary. I will make sure that my daughter behaves, starting with the siege on Raphael. She will prove her worth, to you and to me.”
Roxi’s eyes popped. “Siege? You want me to join you on a siege?”
Aspen sent another warning glance in her direction, willing her to stop talking. “We will get rid of your sorcerer problem,” he said, addressing the queen. “In fact, we are leaving right now to sort out this complication as soon as possible.”
“Get on with it then,” Elisa said, waving her hand dismissively.
Roxi started to protest, but Aspen already grabbed her by her arm and started pulling her from the room. She tried to pull free, but his grip tightened until they were out of the room.
“Aska is not going to be involved in killing sorcerers! And neither am I!” Roxi hissed as they made their way down the hall outside the throne room.
“You will do as I say, Roxanna, or suffer the consequences. We are loyal to the queen and will do as she asks. Do not give me another reason to be disappointed in you.”
Roxi’s mouth fell open and she finally managed to rip herself from his grip. “Fine, I will join you on your siege, but don’t expect me to like it.” She started walking away, but paused and turned back to him. “All these years I wondered why mom had left, and you know what? Now I’m finally able to see it. It’s not because of me, it’s because of you. And if I were her, I’d have left too.”
YOU ARE READING
Haunting Shadows (Book 2)
Fantasy"What if my sins are all I've become? Will you still love me if the Andreas you once knew is too far gone to ever get back?" Lana had survived burning on the stake, but at what cost? Every time she closes her eyes, she revisits the horror of burning...
