L J Andrews [Andrews - The Prince of Night

Dragon Mage

The Prince of Night

LJ Andrews

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Table of Contents

Chapter 1

The Queen

He glared at me from across the table, his eyes like silver snow.

I enjoyed snowfall, it was beautiful, but there was nothing beautiful about his eyes. I didnt falter beneath his snarling gaze, though I desperately wanted to rush from the dining hall. No, I wouldnt cower beneath the ultimate coward himself. I wasnt a fool. He hated everything about my presence, but it wasnt exactly easy dining with the man responsible for the slaughter of my family. Elder Aldwin sat next to the dark High Priest. His cowardly face contorted in disgust as though everyone seated at the table made him ill. Goodhe should suffer for the crimes hed committed against his own people. I looked forward to the day I would wipe his energy from the earth.

Prince Ced, my future mate, by all pretenses, cleared his throat and gulped back a long drink from the silver goblet. I couldnt blame the prince. Every time Bron, the dark High Priest, was near me, the room was instantly clouded in tension. Sometimes, in my darker moments, I imagined the day when the jade mages would wipe Brons black heart from the earth.

Bron bit slowly into a piece of fruit, keeping his untrusting eyes on me until finally his smooth voice broke through the suffocating silence. Why have you not united with the prince?

Why is it any of your business? I grumbled without a pause. I had few retorts I would ever speak to the man who tried to tear everything I had left from my life. I kept each one on the tip of my tongueready should he ever speak to me.

Bron leaned across the table; the ebony mage markings along his jaw and skull seemed to blacken like coal when his anger flared. Bron was once coated in the color jadehe was bonded to protect my family. But when he allowed the lindworms and King Nag to slaughter my people, the mage armor turned black. The fact that the dark High Priest always dressed in black didnt help his dim soul.

It is my business as mage to the prince. Frankly, Your Highness , he spat the word, I dont trust you. Youre up to something, and when I find out what it is, you know who the ones will be to pay.

Are you threatening me with Teagan again? I snarled. I sipped some of the bitter tea Ced had offered us and sneered over my goblet. Because last I heard, he freed the High Priestessfrom your prison. Sounds to me like you should be the one worried about him .

Teagan Ward was Brons favorite thing to hold over my head. Though I made the truth about sealing to Teagan known with pride, Bron often used my love for the jade mage against me.

Bron had murder in his eyes. If Prince Ced wasnt sitting at the table, I was certain the man would slash his cursed dagger across my throat. He was not the one who freed Gaia, Bron hissed.

Wasnt he? I scoffed, cocking my head. If thats what comforts you, by all means, keep speaking lies. We all know the truth, though. I wonder what angers you most, Bron: that Teagan isnt your son, or that hes stronger than you because he is not.

Bron sent the silver plates flying in his burst of rage. Ced rolled his eyes and took another long drink. Aldwin muttered under his breath before glancing out the windowutterly bored with our company. My fellow royal wyvern, Amber, startled, but I only crossed my arms over my chest. Chuckling arrogantly, I met Brons deadly gaze before the dark mage shoved his pale face close to mine. He will never reach his full potentialI killed his father long ago. Without the entire family, he will fall to me. I hope youre there to watch.

I swallowed hard. Ced actually agreed with Bron on this point. If it was trueif Teagan had lost the power of the mage line of his father, it would be a weak spot Bron would surely exploit. As it was explained to me, Bron quite possibly absorbed his fathers energy as he died. Mages could do that, Id learned after coming to the lindworms manor. So Bron would have a piece of Teagans lineage he could use to weaken him. I fought hard not to let my fear show, but Bron grinned wickedly when he pulled away.

There it is. You hide behind your smug arrogance, Bron whispered darkly. But I see it in your eyes. Youre afraid. Afraid that your dear mage will fail. He will, Queen Jade. I promise it.

Bron straightened the black vest over his strong shoulders and stalked quickly out of the dining room. Aldwin must have taken it as a cue he could finally leave as well, and soon the room was abandoned to deafening silence between the three of us.

Finally, Ced offered an exasperated expression and leaned forward on his elbows. Must you aggravate him? I thought we agreed we would keep our heads down leading up to tonight, he whispered, soft enough I had to lean forward to hear.

Im sorry, I insisted. How do you expect me to act cordial to the man who has killed so many of my peoplemy family? He threatens Teagan daily. I dont know how much more I can take.

We just need a little more time, Jade, Amber muttered.

Ced nodded. Im very close.

Ced, I whispered, leaning my face closer to the lindworm prince. Your father gave us one more week before he forces us to mate.

Ced sighed, his dark eyes taking in the enormous piles of food on the table. It was more than we could ever eat. Ced was a lindworm, and Id always thought the serpent dragons were ugly, with black or yellow eyes. Ced had dark eyes, to be sure, but they were unique in that they brightened as though the moonlight breathed behind his irises. Ced wasnt ugly eitherhis face was defined and quite handsome. Not Teagan handsome, but Id caught Amber staring a few moments too long at the prince before.

I know, he finally sighed. But without the plans and the man power behind us, Im afraid we wouldnt stand a chance convincing my father to surrender.

I rubbed a hand across my face. Ced, even if we succeed, do you really believe your father will surrender? Cant you feel the hatred thats within Bron? Ive felt the same emotion in your father.

Ced flicked a single tree nut off his plate and scowled at the table. I know, Jade. I really do. But what would you have me do? I have the ability to help your warriors have a better chance, if they will take it. Do you want them to have a good chance at winning this fight? Or the best chance?

Jade, already the elementals are uprising, or some even joining the lindworms because they believe you have joined them in your heart, Amber said cautiously.

I covered my face with my burning palms. My blood hadnt cooled since Id come to King Nags manor. I was always on edge and biting at the bit to be free of it all. Amber wasnt wrong. The energy shift of the elemental wyverns was nauseating. I was overwhelmed with betrayal from those around the globe that believed I abandoned them when I went with Prince Ced, and othersperhaps even worse than betrayalhad surrendered to the lindworms. Nag ordered them all to be imprisoned and their loyalty tested. I could only imagine what they were suffering.