The Guardian They Left for Dead

Chapter 4: When the Dragon Bowed

“Daddy, be careful!”

Nia’s frightened cry followed the Voss warriors as they rushed forward. Tears poured from her swollen eyes, and her small fingers twisted tightly into the back of Jayden’s cloak.

Jayden glanced over his shoulder and gave her a faint smile.

“Stay behind me, little moon. It will be over in a moment.”

The first sword came down.

Jayden stepped aside, caught the warrior’s wrist and drove his palm into the man’s chest. The impact threw him backward, taking two others down with him.

A spear came from Jayden’s left.

He seized the shaft without looking and pulled. The warrior stumbled forward, and Jayden’s knee met his stomach before the spear snapped between his hands.

The rest attacked together.

Steel flashed from every side, but none of it touched him. Jayden moved through them without hurry, breaking a sword with his elbow, knocking one man into the wall and sweeping another off his feet. A warrior gathered flames around his fist and aimed for Jayden’s back, but Jayden turned and closed his hand around the burning punch.

The flames went out and before the man could understand what had happened, Jayden tossed him across the courtyard.

The fight ended almost as soon as it began.

Broken weapons covered the ground, and the elite warriors of House Voss lay scattered among them. Some groaned weakly while the rest had already lost consciousness.

Jayden had not even drawn a weapon.

Sera stared at the fallen men. Her expression shifted for a moment, but she quickly hid it beneath a sneer.

“So you learned how to throw a few guards around,” she said. “Is that supposed to impress me?”

Jayden walked toward her but Sera held her ground and pulled Liam closer to her side.

“These men are nothing compared to the true strength of House Voss,” she continued. “You disappeared as a useless coward and returned with a little strength. Do not confuse that with power.”

She raised her hand to strike him but Jayden caught her wrist before it reached his face.

Sera pulled against his grip. “Release me.”

He tightened his fingers and pain shot through her arm, but she refused to cry out.

“Jayden Jian, this is Voss Manor,” she warned. “You may have defeated a few servants, but you are still standing in my family’s territory.”

Slap!

Her head snapped to the side and the sound travelled across the courtyard.

Jayden released her wrist and looked at her coldly.

“That was for my daughter.”

Sera slowly turned back, one hand rising to her cheek.

“You dare slap me?”

Slap!

Blood appeared at the corner of her mouth.

“That was for calling her filthy.”

Jayden struck her again before she could recover.

“And that was for Mira.”

Sera staggered, her hair falling loose around her face. Both cheeks burned, but instead of shrinking away, she wiped the blood from her lip and laughed.

“You really think this means you have won?”

The dark ring on her finger began to glow.

“You have no idea what protects this manor.”

She crushed the ring and the ground shook beneath their feet.

A heavy roar rose from somewhere beneath Voss Manor, rattling the windows and forcing the servants to cover their ears. Heat rolled through the courtyard as a massive bronze dragon climbed over the estate wall.

Its claws crushed the stone beneath them. Glowing chains of magic circled its neck and chest, marking the covenant that bound it to House Voss, while smoke poured from its nostrils.

The Guardian Covenant Dragon had awakened.

The servants immediately dropped to their knees.

Even the fallen warriors forced their heads down as the beast spread its enormous wings over the courtyard.

Sera’s confidence returned fully.

She stepped away from Jayden and straightened her clothes, smiling through her swollen face.

“Do you understand now?” she asked. “You may be stronger than those guards, but you are still human.”

The dragon lowered its burning eyes toward Jayden.

Sera pointed at him.

“No man can stand before a covenant dragon. Not you, not your dead father, and certainly not that ruined Jian bloodline you still carry so proudly.”

Nia pressed herself against Jayden’s back.

“Daddy…”

Sera heard her and laughed.

“Keep holding him, little brat. You can burn together.”

Jayden did not react.

Sera looked up at the dragon. “Kill him.”

The dragon opened its jaws.

Flames gathered between its teeth, growing brighter until the heat forced the servants farther back.

Sera’s smile widened.

“Go on, Jayden. Show me that strength you are so proud of. Let us see how long it lasts against a dragon.”

Jayden finally raised his head and golden light passed through his eyes, his pupils narrowed into sharp vertical slits and the dragon stiffened.

The fire inside its mouth flickered once, then vanished.

Sera’s smile faltered.

“Attack!” she shouted.

The beast did not move.

Its wings slowly folded against its body. Its burning eyes lowered, and beneath the stunned gaze of everyone in the courtyard, the Guardian Covenant Dragon bent its front legs.

Then it bowed.

Its massive head touched the ground before Jayden and silence swallowed Voss Manor.

Sera stared at the dragon.

“What are you doing?”

The dragon remained still.

“I ordered you to kill him!” she screamed. “Get up!”

The beast lowered its head even farther.

Jayden walked past Sera as though she no longer existed and stopped before the dragon.

“Where is Mira Voss?”

The dragon answered in a low rumble, its voice ancient and rough, carrying words only those touched by dragon authority could understand.

Jayden’s face turned colder.

Sera stared at him like she was looking at a ghost.

“What did you do? What trick did you use?” Her voice rose into a scream.

“Aside from the family leader, only the Protector of the Realm can suppress a covenant bond. Only the Protector can make a bound dragon kneel!”

Jayden tired of her shouting finally turned to her and seeing his cold penetrative gaze, the little color left in Sera’s face vanished and she dropped to her knees at once without even meaning to

“Wait. Wait, I’ll tell you. I know where Mira is. I’ll tell you everything, just spare me. Don't kill me please, spare me.”

Jayden walked back to her.

Sera shook harder and her son clutching her and crying wet his pants immediately

“Please, Jayden. I was wrong. I didn’t know you...”

“Too late.”

His hand struck the back of her neck and Sera collapsed unconscious on the ground, her son crying and shaking her to wake up

Nia watched silently from where Jayden had left her. She was still frightened, but something had changed in her eyes.

For once, the people who hurt her were not laughing.

They were the ones lying on the ground and not her

She ran forward and wrapped both hands around Jayden’s fingers.

“Daddy…”

Jayden looked down, and the coldness in his face eased.

He lifted her into his arms.

“Don’t be afraid, little moon. Daddy is strong now.”

Nia held his neck tightly. “Stronger than that dragon?”

A faint smile touched his lips.

“Much stronger.”

He brushed his thumb carefully over her swollen cheek.

“Now let's go get mommy.”

The covenant dragon lowered its body before them.

Jayden climbed onto its back with Nia held securely against his chest. Its wings opened, sending dust and broken leaves across the courtyard.

Every servant lowered their head as no one dared stand in his way.

With one powerful roar, the dragon launched into the sky.

Jayden stood firmly on its back, his cloak snapping behind him while Nia rested safely in his arms.

Ahead of them lay Skyreach and the colosseum where Mira had been taken.