Niyx by Samantha Kroese (websites to read books for free TXT) 📕

with glowing eyes and he could see the intelligence within their depths. This was a creature that was wise beyond understanding. It was tied to the beginnings of their world and the continued life on the planet. Onyx shuddered as he staggered to his feet and backed away, horrified. “What? Why would they enslave something like that? How?”

“The dragons are the guardians of our world. It is their wisdom and magic that fuels everything. Life itself. It is a great power. The elves of Aderaan lust for power and use whatever powerful creature they can for their own devices,” Kiril spat, her eyes narrowed as she stroked the whelp’s wings comfortingly.

Niyx turned to Onyx, crossing his arms. “I need you to find out if every powerful house has a dragon fueling it. I need to know how many dragons there are that need to be saved.”

Onyx ran a hand through his own hair nervously. “I don’t know how much I can find out now, Niyx. The city is in an uproar. The Templars are patrolling everywhere.”

“You are resourceful. I have faith in you.” Niyx turned and left without another word.

Onyx growled softly, but the sting of the dragon’s memories haunted him all the way back to Aderaan. When he reached Ruel’s manor, he sought out his younger brother.

Ruel stood looking out one of the windows of his estate. The frozen manor could barely be seen in the distance. It looked like it was made of ice and now there were rumors that hoarfrost was slowly spreading from it. The Templars were busy running to and fro like ants, to contain the magic. “Niyx is angry, isn’t he?” Ruel mused as he turned to Onyx.

“Very angry,” Onyx agreed as he stood next to Ruel. “He’s on a mission now to save all the dragons in Aderaan. He wants me to find out which houses have them.”

“I know which houses have them!” Ruel said after a moment, his voice excited. He hurried away from the window to the desk and grabbed paper and a quill and started writing names. He chattered on as he wrote, “House Hrral’tyn is bloodline bound to the dead dragon because it was formed long after the other dragons were enslaved. Rhyhar found out that the remains of a fallen dragon were beneath this manor and he granted the dragon a blood pact in the name of vengeance.” Ruel barely took a breath as he wrote and continued, “Once all the races of Dakaal lived together in harmony. Then the great world war happened and split the races into sides to battle large forces of darkness. The elves joined forces with the dragons and saved the world from complete destruction. The King and the rulers of the ancient noble Houses liked the power the dragons had granted them too much, though. When the war was over they enslaved the dragons.”

“That’s horrible,” Onyx growled, clenching his fists. He leaned over the desk to watch the list of names grow. He knew most of those Houses. Only one of them surprised him. When Ruel stopped writing, Onyx immediately snatched the paper and folded it before he tucked it away in a pocket hidden in his armor. “Thanks, Ruel. Do me a favor and stay in the manor until this is sorted out.”

“Will we be safe, Onyx?” Ruel called after him.

“As long as you stay here!” Onyx called back but kept walking to his bed chambers. Once there he climbed out the window and onto the roof, leaping from one building to another. House R’trayn being on that list surprised him. It was time to have another chat with Lord Isakael.

Onyx entered the manor easily enough since he still had free access to it. But as he searched the normal spots for Isakael, he couldn’t find the Lord. Perhaps Isakael was out on business? Or watching the drama unfold in the city?

Onyx decided to look around then. Isakael’s servants had been ordered to ignore him and he passed them without any acknowledgment of his presence. Most noble manors in Aderaan were built with nearly identical floor plans, especially the older Houses. He hurried down into the basement.

He came to a stop just outside a glowing metal door. The powerful magic emanating from it caused his Night Creature magic to sting like insects beneath his skin, and he backed away from the door with a hiss. A powerful spell, too powerful to be enslaving just a tiny whelpling. The only full-grown living dragon he had ever seen was Ice. He braced himself and crept closer to peer through the barred window at the top of the door.

He heard and felt the attack from behind just before it connected. He managed to duck under the attack and whirled, daggers drawn and in one smooth motion brought up to form an x-shape, protecting himself and trapping the much larger broadsword inches away from his face.

Callistra’s eyes burned with rage and her arms shook with the weight of the sword and the force she was putting into trying to drive it into his face. “I’ve had quite enough of you, Lord Onyx.”

Onyx snarled and bared his fangs at her, before summoning his Night Creature magic. He released the sword, used his heightened speed to dive out of its way, and then shoved her. She fell hard against the wall and slid to the floor, her armor clanging as it struck the stone floor. He whipped around and instead of attacking her, he used all his strength to bring his weapons down on the chains holding the door closed. The chains snapped and swung violently as he threw all his weight into opening the door. The metal screeched as the heavy door swung open.

The colossal dragon chained to the machines in this laboratory was no whelpling. It was a dull copper color with large intelligent eyes that were bigger than he was tall. Onyx snarled at the suffering he found there, and driven much like Niyx