Sacred Fire: Twins of Aurora

Dedication

For my supporters. There is so much to say, but I will keep it short by saying thank you! If not for all of you this series would still be sitting on my computer hidden among many files that may never see the light of day.

Acknowledgements

Shannon Dearing, I adore you lady, thank you so much for all your help throughout this project. All my Beta’s, you are amazing ladies and you truly helped to tighten up this story. To Cynthia my incredible  Editor and finally to Rene Folsom of Phycel Design for the amazing cover, that I cannot stop staring at!

Synopsis

Magic runs deep in a world of mystery and mythological creatures, but even with the twins back in control of their birthright, Valder’s darkness still shadows parts of Aurora.

While the leaders of the lands try to settle their corners of Aurora, the dragons and their riders are still finding their way from the sanctuary of the caves, and are fighting to rebuild their once-thriving villages, but new enemies make their presence known, destroying their efforts at every turn.

Follow Thea, Nick, and Aiden as they try to secure the future of the dragons, while Devlin, Ava, Araios, and her warriors try to take down Isis, who is leading the rogue riders and their dragons, on a path of destruction through the eastern lands.

Table of Contents

Dedication

Acknowledgements

Synopsis

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter Twenty-Four

Chapter Twenty-Five

Chapter Twenty-Six

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Epilogue

Also by the Author

Copyright

About the Author

Chapter One

Aiden

We’d heard some weird requests in the past couple of months, but our easily riled dragon rider had really taken the cake. Actually, she’d taken and eaten it, and I was pretty sure the sugar had overloaded her brain.

Most people who came requesting help from Ava and me wanted and needed our assistance to heal the lands. They needed help rebuilding the parts of Aurora that had suffered under Valder’s rule, help finding loved ones who had disappeared, or they came to plead for the lives of the few who were now living in the dungeon. It was a new and odd experience.

I had called the dungeon home when I first came to the world. Ava hated the need for it, but as we quickly learned, not all of Aurora’s people opposed Valder’s rule. A few of the more outspoken ones were finding their loyalty tested as they lived out their days in the dark confines of the castle’s damp dungeon. However, today, when Thea stormed the throne room and her request came, everyone was at a loss for words

She was such a damn spitfire with little time or patience...

So you want to take a group of our warriors and go after Isis? I was certain I’d heard her right, but still needed to make sure. Another thing she had little patience for... repeating herself.

I will admit that from day one, I loved to push her buttons. The girl needed to relax and find the fun that she was long missing.

No, I’m sorry. Your Majesties, please excuse my daughter and try to forget she asked. Devlin stepped next to Thea, giving her the fiercest look a father could bestow on his daughter.

Wait, Devlin. Ava stopped him as he started to drag Thea from the room. This is something that needs to be dealt with. She’s not wrong to want this, but Thea, why do you want to do it?

Thea had burst through the throne room door, ranting about the dragons. The riders were finally out of the caves, and were rebuilding their villages.

While Aurora was free of Valder, it was in no way free of the lasting effects. Everyone had to admit the dragons were the biggest problem we were facing.

After the battle was over and the losses were totaled, the numbers just didn’t add up. Valder hadn’t only had Shadow Guards on his side; he had a following of Aurorians. Among them were a few of the riders who had been captured with their dragons. They had turned on their own people and willingly fought for Valder. The most important of those riders was a very notable woman rider named Isis. For whatever reason, Isis was now waging war against the riders. Every time they made progress towards rebuilding the eastern lands, Isis and her crew would swoop in—literally—and they would raid the village. Once finished, they would set the place ablaze.

I’m tired of it! Somebody needs to do something. Thea was impassioned. They hit Skye early this morning.

Ava and I exchanged quick glances. Skye was the most prominent of the dragon villages. It provided most of the food for the surrounding area. It would be what you would consider the capitol.

Devlin sighed at Thea’s tone. Thankfully, Hedeon has posted some of his more powerful healers at the dragon villages for this exact reason.

Why are we just hearing about this? I asked, narrowing my gaze on Devlin. He was the leader of the riders and the ambassador for his people.

That’s why we’re here, Your Majesty. He was apologetic, and I knew right off that this was hard on him. He lived and fought for his people. Every time we turned around, something was falling upon them.

How many were injured? asked Ava.

Devlin eyed Thea briefly before speaking.They got Leo and another dragon, as well as half the village.

I watched as my little sister sighed and rubbed the bridge of her nose. She had taken on the majority of the responsibilities the two of us now carried, patiently waiting as I adjusted and struggled with the magic that she had conquered. I could admit that I was nowhere near as powerful as she was, and we both accepted that I never would be. I would never be able to heal like she could, but I was quickly following in our father’s footsteps and excelling with fire magic. I also found that I had an affinity for water. Leave it to me to find the combative elements to be the two that I could control, but Ava... she was a queen, taking her role as leader and protector very seriously.

We both knew we were lucky to have so many people to help guide us. The politics were not lost in this world, and I could see it wearing on Ava. It would have been nice to have a break, but it wasn’t working out that way.

As soon as Ava defeated Valder, and we took on our roles as leaders, things began to compile on us as Aurora’s people viewed us with expectation.

No more than a week into our rule, Ava was attacked. An Aurorian who had worked as part of Valder’s council made an attempt on her life. He was the first person to call the dungeon home since we’d released all those imprisoned under Valder’s reign. He was also lucky that there were now bars that separated him from Aro.

So the dragons were just the beginning of the problems we were facing. I knew at some point, I was going to have to step in and help. We had already decided to split the lands. Ava would be responsible for the north and west lands. The Nature Nymphs and the Wind Fairies were the source of her strongest magic. I would be responsible for the east and south, meaning what happened with the dragon riders and the mermaids was my responsibility. We would rule together, taking each other’s council on all major decisions, and would stay together, ruling from the Royal City that sat dead center between the four lands.

Okay, you think we should go after Isis, you think defense is no longer sufficient, you want to take the offense, that’s fine. However, we need a plan and, from what I gather, Devlin does not want you to be part of it, I told Thea.

She scowled at me, but as always, it just made me grin at her. The truth was, I’d gotten used to her scowling at me. It was just part of our day-to-day interactions, and I found it more adorable than anything, which I think she knew and that pissed her off. The girl was determined to be seen as tough.

No offense, Your Majesty, but it’s bullshit. I’m a rider, and this is what I’ve been training for! I think I’ve proven myself throughout the whole process of yours and the queen’s return.

Devlin was shaking his head, as he often did when Thea chose not to bite her tongue, but Ava and I were hardly insulted by her. She was one of us now; she had more than proven herself as a valuable asset and easily folded into our group as a friend. Even her using our titles was ridiculous. That was more out of spite than anything else. She was frustrated and pissed. While we were all friends now, in a sense, Ava and I were responsible for what was happening. Calling us Majesty was a jab, and I figured it was probably a well-deserved one. Her people had been attacked again and her dragon, Leo, was among the injured. I needed to step up and do something... I just wasn’t sure what exactly.

You’re right, Thea. You have more than proven yourself, but we have to respect what your father asks of us and we aren’t ready to just attack Isis. We can’t go out there half-cocked. Ava tried to calm her, but it wasn’t going to get us anywhere. Not with Thea.

Steam was about ready to blow out of her ears, much like the good, old cartoons from home would depict.

Fine, Thea muttered.

She turned and left the room, with a low curse slipping from her full lips.

She’s upset... Devlin began, stating the obvious.

She has every right to be. Everyone turned to me. We can’t continue to treat her like a child. She’s fought for us and has done a good job. The most important thing to her is her people, and we’re not allowing her to defend them. Now, don’t get me wrong, I know we need a plan and I know you worry about her, Devlin, but either we all believe she is strong and capable enough to be a rider, or we don’t. It’s not right to pick and choose the times we allow her to fight for what she believes is right.

Aiden, the eastern lands are yours, what do you want to do? Ava asked as she sat down and stared at me levelly.

I want to guard the villages as they rebuild, and I think we need to consider following Isis next time she attacks and find out what she’s up to. There has to be a reason she keeps attacking. She’s after something.

What do you think she’s after? Ava queried.

I don’t know, but it feels like she’s looking for something.

Devlin shifted uncomfortably, catching our attention.

What is it, Devlin? Ava asked, her eyes telling him she had caught the uneasy move.

I believe I know what she’s after. That’s the other reason I came here.

What is she after?

I believe she’s looking for this. Devlin pulled out a piece of parchment and handed it to me. It was old and faded, but it was clearly part of a map.

What is this? Ava asked as she peered over at the paper.

It’s the magic needed for the birth of the next generation of dragons.

Ava’s eyes became very wide. We may have agreed that the dragons’ land was mine to rule, but she loved her dragon, Scarlet, with a fierceness I didn’t know she was capable of. Well, until I saw her with Aro. She had told me about how there hadn’t been a dragon born since the death of our father. She worried what that meant for the survival of the eastern lands, and about what that meant for the future of the dragons and their riders.

I don’t understand. Ava shook her head and looked to Devlin.

No, I don’t suppose you would, so let me tell you a story about the first dragons.

Devlin smiled at us, Aro and Nick choosing then to join the group. Aro was sporting his all-too-familiar, lovesick grin as he took Ava in his arms.

So, what did you do to Thea? Nick asked with a chuckle.

She’s mad about the dragons. Now, be quiet. Devlin’s about to tell us a story...

Chapter Two

Aurora was split between five magical founding families, the royal family—the Hanford’s, where Ava and Aiden had gotten their surname. They kept the royal name, taking after their mother. The royal family settled in the center of the lands and built the Royal City.

The Lamar family, who wielded water, took the South Shores. The Zephyr family, who controlled the winds, settled the western lands. The Lockhart family took the north. They were the nature users and healers of the settlers. Finally, the Blaise family, who wielded fire, settled the eastern lands.

The Blaise family’s youngest son, Drake, was unable to control his magic and it ran out of control, threatening the people around him as well as the lands. His parents asked Vulcan, the God of fire, to help them save their land and their son. Vulcan sent them on a quest to prove they were worthy of manipulating such a magnificent force as fire.

The couple immediately set out on Vulcan’s quest. Vulcan stripped Drake of his power, promising to return it in a form he could control if they completed their journey.

When they returned to their village with a vial that contained the essence of the sacred fire that fueled their magic, Vulcan rewarded them with four eggs. When the eggs hatched later that night,