“I’m glad that you kissed me. Because even though this situation is totally fucked, I want you. I know how wrong it is, and still, I want you so badly it’s driving me insane.”
He stares at me unblinking as I drop to my knees, bringing us to eye level.
“We’re fooling ourselves if we think Sorscha won’t find out somehow and that she’ll be forgiving.” His fingers reach out to graze my cheek, but the touch is over far too soon. He tosses the limp deer over his shoulder, and we make our way back toward the cave where Prophyria is waking.
I feel her grow more alert as we enter the lightless tunnel. Irecall how Jace took my hand as he led us through the darkness last night. My heart sinks a bit when he doesn’t offer the same comfort this time around.
I feel awful. I feel lousy for what we did and what we were about to do, knowing that Sorscha is involved. I try to push the racing thoughts and warring emotions from my head. Try to focus on the reason I’m here. The reason I will be coveted among kingdoms. The reason why the king values me enough for a seat on his council.
The reason I have a purpose and a mission for the first time in my life: the majestic purple dragon before me.
She is curled up like a harmless kitten in the center of the sparkling cave. Her large tail begins to curl and thump when she sees me, the lethal spikes kicking up loose dust and diamond.
Blackblood.
Her voice is bright and clear as a bell in my mind. She is happy to see me.
Seeing her again makes it even more real. Last night, as I tossed and turned, I had to keep reminding myself it wasn’t all a dream. That I actually did it. That I, Serena Avery, from Beacon, New York, am now a full-blown Blackblood Dragon Rider.
I’m filled with a sense of pride. Iearnedthis. I worked hard. I worked through literal blood, sweat, and tears. And as my dragon scrambles to her feet and barrels toward me, bowing her head for me to stroke, I think to myself,yes,I deserve this.
“We brought breakfast, Furi.” I present her with the deer Jace is sliding from his shoulder. The pupils of her wide green eyes become slits as she scans Jace wearily. A hiss works its way up her throat, and I rush to throw myself in front of him.
“No, no, no—Jace isnice. WelikeJace.” Taking in my words, her arched back eases into a neutral position, and she sits, her flared wings settling against her. She sniffs at the dead deer.
I take a step back, pulling Jace with me as Prophyria nudges the carcass with her massive snout. In one swift movement, she opens her jaw to reveal long dagger-like fangs and chomps down hard on the deer. Blood splatters everywhere, dotting our faces and chests and turning the diamonds beneath us into rubies. She tosses the mangled deer high into the air as she opens her throat and catches it in her mouth. She swallows him in one gulp before her forked pink tongue pokes out to lick her lips. I groan in disgust.
“Someone’s a messy eater,” Jace mutters.
Porphyria lowers her eyes to me.
More,she purrs softly.
I turn to Jace. “She’s still hungry.”
He rolls his eyes. “Well, she could have had three more helpings if you hadn’t missed every shot you took this morning.”
“I have a lot on my mind!” I say defensively.
“Don’t we all.” He sighs, hands on his hips. “Come on.”
He starts toward the tunnel and waves for me to follow. I turn to my dragon, who waits patiently for another treat.
“Good girl.” I reach up to pat her thick leg. “I’ll be right back. Mommy’s going to get you some more.”
“Mommy?” Jace says, his voice dripping with disdain.
“Shut the fuck up,” I grumble and follow him.
We hunt down two more deer and a few rabbits, tossing them into a game bag and heading back toward my hungry pet. I try not to vomit at the sight of the dead animals, never having really hunted a day in my life.
When we arrive back at the cave, Happy Meal in tow, we find it empty.
My heart plummets.
“Where is she?” I panic.
“She’s probably in the lower caves, exploring.”
