Rayna's Sacrifice (The Katori Chronicles Book 3) by A. Lombardo (intellectual books to read .TXT) 📗

I shunned you. Fear of what you might become kept me locked in battle with you all these years. The more I gave into my fear and anger, the more it took over. There was no room in my life for anything else.”

Listening to his grandfather, Kai watched the man change. His demeanor softened; his shoulders relaxed. He released a deep breath and his burden with it. “When I learned you plan to recover Mariana, I knew I had to stop you. When she was forced out of her dragon form when you lit up the world, her first instinct was to select another creature, the manta ray. Her connection to life as a person was gone.”

The road to forgiveness went both ways. For years Kai wrestled with angry emotions, but this new clarity helped Kai see he had been just as stubborn. “Forgiveness will heal us both. My own pride kept me from seeking you out when I reached Katori. I am sorry, grandfather.” Kai extended his hand.

Lucca pulled them together. “Grandson.”

“What about my mother?” Kai asked, stepping back.

“There is no use now.” Lucca shook his head low. “The manta rays are gone. Mariana is gone. I am sorry, but that is how it must be.”

Something nagged at Kai. He did not come all this way to give up. He was meant to save her; he knew it with all his heart.

Over Lucca’s shoulder, Kai saw Liam and the others return. “Liam, you made it.” He shouted. Their reunion brought them closer. In Kai’s mind, they were forever friends. This man had risked his life twice for someone he hardly knew. That said a lot about Liam’s character.

Liam looked relieved. “They had no Stonekings.” A smirk tugged at his lip. “And—I can walk through mountains and leave no way to follow. The only thing is, I could not find the others after I managed to lose the Caroco warriors. I did, however, manage to trap a fair amount of them in stone.” He motioned to an unknown prison.

The rest of his friend’s story faded into the background as Kai thought of his mother. Although Lucca wanted to give up, Kai refused to let his mother go. He knew Keegan was still out there. The man would never give up. And now he also knew Mariana was alive. Kai pulled the necklace from his pocket and secured it around his neck beside his own chain.

Lucca looked at Kai. “You must destroy her crystal to prevent Keegan from finding her.”

“I am going to save my mother,” Kai countered. “You can either come with me or be left behind.” Kai approached the others. “I mean to save my mother tonight. I feel Alenga in the air, she pulls at my soul. The sea calls my name. Who is with me?”

The white crystal around Kai’s neck bloomed bright enough to cause the others to shield their eyes. Confidence filled his soul and he took hold of his stone. The golden thread of creation floated in his mind and he felt his Beastmaster magic flow through his veins. With ease, he transformed into his silver dragon.

Ryker and Rayna stepped up first, climbing his wing. Lucca stepped forward but paused. “I disagree with this, but I do not want to be left behind.”

He can come. Kai spoke to Ryker.

“Kai said you can come. But know this, chief or not, I will not allow you to stop him.”

Lucca nodded in agreement.

Yulia waved them on. “You cannot carry all of us, and you will need a ship to get Mariana home. We will bring Lucca’s boat to Dragon Spine Island.”

In agreement, Basil and Liam stepped next to her.

Kai flew into the starry night.

Chapter 30

Mariana

Dawn’s early rays burned across the horizon. The majestic red and yellow pushed back the night and filled the sky with promise. Ripples of light floated over the ocean. Dragon Spine Island curved out before Kai, beckoning him. Gliding over the sea, he sailed lower and skimmed the water with his claws before landing in the wet sand.

Ryker, Rayna, and Lucca slipped from his back. The thought of changing did not worry Kai; he felt a peace in the balance between his Beastmaster form and his natural body. Letting go of the golden thread, he reached for the light and eased out of his dragon. The change felt natural and did not drain him of his strength. Instead, he let the energy around him feed his change.

Nobody said a word as they peered over shallow waters. Dark forms fluttered in the shallow water around the beach. The manta rays were still here. Kai touched his mother’s stone hanging from his neck. The blue crystal glowed in his hand. He called to her with his soul. It warmed in his palm. Again, he reached out to his mother. The gem glowed through his fingers.

Ryker shouted. “I thought they would be gone already.”

Thankful, Kai clenched the crystal tighter and begged. Mother come back to me. I need you. The school of manta rays turned away from the rocks. Ryker’s finger followed them around the shallow water. “They are coming. Are you ready?”

“Please, Kai,” Lucca shouted. “Don’t do this. Consider what she might want. Her mind is gone. You will only bring back a hollow shell.”

Kai squeezed his crystal against his mothers. The ocean called to him. His heart swelled with magic and he dove into the sea. Below the surface, he swam into the deeper water. He stretched out his hand and touched the wing of one of the passing manta rays. Peace and intelligence reverberated through his arm. In his mind, he searched for the golden braid that would allow him to change his form. A spark illuminated his soul. The sequence coalesced into a chain. He understood their structure—he felt their grace.

Arms outstretched, he stopped kicking his legs. Light burst from both crystals around his neck. Enveloped in the glow, his body morphed. His skin darkened. Wing-like