The Dragon Legion Collection(14)

“Who?” Cetos shook her. “Who came from Sparta?”

Katina pulled her arm from his grip and took a step backward, unable to explain his attitude. “A man named Pelias. He came to collect Lysander for the agoge.”

Cetos exhaled mightily, as if mastering his fury. Katina was perplexed. Cetos didn’t usually like to have Lysander around. It made no sense that her son’s absence was making him angrier than she’d ever seen him.

On one wall of the courtyard were a number of shelves, upon which were displayed Katina’s pots and bowls. Cetos went to the display, picking up a pitcher and acting as if he intended to make a purchase. She thought his mood improved. Maybe his journey had been arduous. “And you let the boy go with him? A stranger?”

The thrum of anger underscored his words, against all expectation. “He said he’d known Alexander. He told me several stories to prove it. I had no reason to doubt him.”

“He might have lied!” Cetos snapped.

“I thought you would be glad Lysander was gone.” Katina realized she was still holding Cetos’ cloak.

Cetos turned her pitcher with such deliberate care that his move drew Katina’s eye. He’d never looked so closely at her work, and she doubted that particular piece deserved such scrutiny. “When was this?”

“Three days ago.”

“Three days. And they went to Sparta?”

“I believe so.”

Cetos abruptly spun and flung the pitcher across the courtyard. It smashed against the opposite wall, near the doorway to the bedroom. Zeta appeared in the arched opening to the kitchen, her eyes wide, but Katina dismissed her with a curt gesture. The girl fled with obvious relief.

“Worthless bitch!” Cetos roared to Katina’s shock. “How dare you send the boy away without consulting me first?”

This was ridiculous. “Lysander isn’t your son,” Katina retorted. “His fate was mine to decide, and I always believed he should follow in the tradition of his father. It’s what Alexander would have wanted for him...”

Cetos seized the shelves and pulled hard, sending the entire structure cascading to the ground. Katina’s pots shattered with a deafening noise as she watched in astonishment and dismay.

She took a step toward the shattered ceramics, then halted when she saw the rage in Cetos’ eyes. She backed away from him warily, knowing that something critical had changed between them.

She wondered if she would live to tell of it.

“You think yourself so clever, don’t you?” he snarled, stalking her across the courtyard with steady steps. “But the only time the boy might have been of use to me, you sent him away.”

“I don’t understand what you mean.” Katina backed away.

“I found him a paid position! I found him employment in the retinue of a man as wealthy as a king, a man with a son the same age as Lysander. I found him a future.” Cetos dropped his voice. “Now I must go and beg forgiveness of this man of influence, and admit to him that I am not in command of my own household.”

Katina couldn’t stop herself. “You are not in command of my son...”

“You dare to defy me, when I have done so much for you?” Cetos roared, then back-handed Katina across the face. His heavy blow sent her reeling against the wall.

She hit her head. Her hand rose to her cheek and she tasted blood.

He had struck her.

She eyed his angry expression and knew he would kill her, without remorse. She didn’t know what had happened to Cetos or why he had changed, but she wouldn’t cower before him.

“I thought a wise man never left a visible mark,” she whispered.

“Oh, I will leave you black and blue,” Cetos snarled. “I will beat you until you learn your place.” He spat at her. “And then I will toss what’s left of you out into the dirt.” Cetos seized Katina, tugging her back into the middle of the courtyard as she struggled. He flung her to the ground, wound one hand into her hair to hold her captive, then raised the other hand.


But instead of him striking a blow, Katina saw a flash of brilliant light and heat. She heard Cetos swear in astonishment. A massive dragon leapt into the courtyard, teeth bared and talons outstretched.

For a heartbeat, she and Cetos stared at the creature in astonishment. Cetos’ grip in her hair loosened at his surprise, and Katina pulled herself away from him.

The dragon’s scales were the hue of ebony and gleamed as if polished individually by a hundred slaves. The scales on its chest looked to be silver but with proximity, Katina saw they were the color of smoky amethysts. Its teeth were enormous and sharp, and its wings stretched nearly the entire width of the courtyard. It appeared as if conjured out of nowhere, but attacked Cetos with savage force.

The dragon roared and breathed a torrent of fire at Cetos, then struck him down with a fierce blow from its front claw. Cetos fell to his knees and cowered, folding his arms over his head. Katina scurried toward the wall, uncertain of the creature’s intent.

She cowered against the wall and watched. The dragon turned its gaze upon her, its expression both hungry and knowing. She caught her breath, wondering if there was any escape from this beast.

She was fiercely glad that Lysander was gone and safe.

In that instant, Cetos seized a shard of pottery and flung it at the dragon, apparently aiming for the creature’s face. The dragon roared and thrashed its tail, sending Cetos flying into the opposite wall. The dragon’s eyes flashed, then it arched its neck and breathed a stream of fire at Cetos. Katina smelled burning cloth and singed flesh. She heard Cetos scream in agony and turned her face away to avoid seeing his fate.