Chapter Fourteen – Isobel

Isobel searched the sky. The balcony felt solid and steady beneath her, but she remembered how easily the ones had broken away during Brant's previous attack. It was almost enough to make her run back inside, but she stayed where she was. The cool mountain air filled her lungs as she watched for any dark spot that might be a dragon.

"I hoped I could find you."

Her face twisted into a scowl as she turned to face her father. "I thought we let you at the Phantom's Cave. What are you doing here? Better yet, why haven't you been kicked out yet?"

Josef held up his hands. "Hear me out. If you want me to leave after I'm done, then I will. Just hear me out."

As if dealing with him wasn't bad enough, Azalea appeared behind him and snorted. "Hear him out, huh? Are you going to?"

She ignored the ghost and nodded briefly at Josef. Her father stuffed his hands into his pockets. He was fatter than when she had last seen him, but it looked more like he had been bulking up than anything else. The muscle definition was clear on his shoulders.

"I wasn't ready to be a father when you were growing up. I did the best I could by giving you to my mother to raise. I knew that she would be able to handle you. I couldn't. I couldn't give you what you needed and earn a living at the same time. And I'm sorry that I didn't spend more time with you—"

"No." Isobel shook her head. "You're only saying that because I'm special now. Before we went to the caves, you weren't going to 'waste your time' on me, remember? You don't get to be my father just because I've proven that I'm worth something. I should have been worth being your daughter just by being me."

"If you would just—"

"No."

Azalea shook her head. "Maybe you should give him a chance."

"Shut up, Azalea," Isobel snapped at her. "Nobody asked you."

Josef paled. "Azalea?"

"The ghost, Dad. The ghost who has been hanging around me ever since Gran died. Actually, it was just after her funeral. You know, the one where you spent the whole time introducing me as your daughter to people you'd known for years that were all surprised that you had a daughter because you never talked about me." She laughed bitterly. "And you think I should—"

"Azalea?"

What was the point of talking to him? He never listened to anything she had to say.

"Isobel, your ghost . . . is she human? With brown hair, gray eyes, and a dimple in the middle of her lower lip?"

Isobel glanced at Azalea and back at him. She nodded once.

Josef sagged against the railing. "Azalea . . . That was what I used to call your mother. We first met when she came to my shop looking for azaleas. She could never keep them alive."

"No. I killed them on purpose so I had an excuse to keep going back."

"What?" Isobel felt like the wind had been knocked out of her. She stared at her father and the ghost, her heart in her throat. "You're my mother?"

Azalea bowed her head and nodded. Her hands twisted and she looked so ashamed that Isobel almost – almost – felt sorry for her. A bitter laugh burst out of her. Great. So the ghost that had been causing her so much trouble was her mother. Of course, her mother wasn't some grand lady forced to give up her illegitimate daughter. She was a self-absorbed, insensitive woman.

"I know what you're thinking, but I didn't leave because I didn't love you, Isobel. I was messed up. I left after I nearly killed you. I put you in the tub and left you there. When I came back you had turned yourself over and I thought you were dead. When you started crying, I knew I couldn't stay. I left because I wanted to protect you. When I died, I found myself drawn to you. I didn't even remember I had a daughter at first."

"Stop." Isobel backed away from both of them. "I don't care about your excuses. I can't deal with this right now. There's a dragon out there who has already tried to kill me once, and he's not going to hesitate to try again. So just go away. I'm not your daughter. Neither of you would bother with me until you wanted something from me."

"That's not true," Azalea started.

"You have caused me nothing but trouble! You sent me into that cave and then abandoned me there. So, no, you don't get to reveal that you’re my mother and then expect me to believe your sob story. Get out of here. Both of you!"

Josef reached for her. "Isobel, there is such thing as forgiveness."

"GET OUT!"

Even as she shouted, Azalea screamed. A haze appeared in the air and a stream of green fire erupted. It moved as though the world was frozen, shooting towards her. She threw herself to one side, but it was like she was stuck in molasses, unable to move beyond a snail's pace. Her mouth dropped open and her lungs filled with air.

Josef threw himself in front of her, both hands moving up. A red shield formed in the air before his fingers. The impact of the fire slammed him backward, toppling him into Isobel. She felt the scorching of the flames against her skin, but the magical shield Josef had summoned deflected it to either side so it didn't burn them to a crisp.

The haze shimmered and became a dragon, crouched on the edge of the balcony. He leaped into the air and surged forward, snapping his jaws at them.

Edan dropped from the sky, landing on Brant's back. He yanked both of Brant's wings back and they fell from the sky, landing hard on the ground below. Isobel scrambled to her feet and rushed to the edge of the balcony. Below her, the two dragons detangled themselves and circled one another.

Where were the guards? Isobel leaned over the railing until she realized that she was putting herself into a vulnerable position. She pulled back and ran for the inside. A howl of pain nearly made her turn back. Josef grabbed her arm and dragged her with him as he headed inside, and Isobel let him pull her along. If he wasn't there, she didn't think she could have the strength to leave not knowing what was happening to Edan.

As soon as she was inside, however, she tore away from him and raced for the main floor. Josef shouted after her and she ignored him. He didn't deserve her attention. Her heart slammed in her chest, the adrenaline surging through her blood. By the time she got back outside, Edan and Brant were in a full-fledged fight. Dozens of the bronze guard stood around, watching.

"What are you doing?" she screamed. "Help him!"

"They're fighting to be king." Azalea stepped in front of her. "They think Clint is dead and the younger brother is trying to take the throne. Nobody can interfere in this now."

"But Clint isn't dead!" Isobel looked around wildly. "Someone, please! Clint isn't dead. We put him in a coma. You have to—"

A howl of pain cut her off. Brant pinned Edan to the ground, the bulk of his body on Edan's head as he tore as his wings. The thin membrane ripped away like tissue paper and Brant snapped the fragile bones. Howls continued as Edan dug into the ground, fighting to free himself. The image of the dragon flickered, replaced by the demon, laughing.

"No!" Isobel screamed. Hands grabbed her, and she elbowed the person in the face. "Leave him alone, you coward!"

The demon's head swiveled towards her and then flickered back to the dragon. Flames flickered between Brant's sharp teeth and his eyes narrowed in on her. He turned, inhaling deeply. Edan threw himself into the air, digging tooth and claw into his brother's side. Brant screamed, his fire shooting straight into the air.

Isobel didn't let herself think. Edan was injured. Even now, he wasn't fighting to kill, but to subdue. The same couldn't be said of Brant. The demon. She charged forward, ignoring the shouts that followed her. The dragons both turned, eyes widening as they watched her come at them. Brant's jaw gaped slightly and Edan pounced on him. His jaws clamped over his brother's muzzle and he clawed at Brant's stomach and sides. Scales and blood fountained into the air as they toppled again.

Her hands were already glowing by the time she reached them. She didn't hesitate as she jumped onto Brant's head and plunged both hands through his skull. She felt the demon, slippery like a snake, and grasped it. Its hold was stronger than the one she pulled from Clint, but she dug in her heels and yanked.