I had to close my eyes to avoid looking at her.
“Refuse, and you’ll search for her until your bones rot beside mine.”
At her voice, I opened my eyes, taking in the flames in her brazier and how they dimmed, shrinking to guttering embers. Shadows bloomed large on the hovel walls—monstrous things. In the flicker of firelight, I saw shapes… bones. Piled in corners. Scattered beneath the table. The remains of others who had bartered flesh for knowledge—and never left this place to speak of it.
My hand drifted to my sword hilt.
“I am not my father,” I growled. “I do not trade in flesh.”
Blodeuwyn cackled—a sound like dried leaves crumbling underfoot. “Then you trade inignoranceinstead. How fitting—for a king who banned magic while secretly craving its touch.”
Her words landed like a blade. Because they were true.
Had I not come here? Crawling to the very magic I'd condemned?
Because you had to,I argued with myself.Blodeuwyn is the only one who can tame the beast, who can return it to whatever hell it came from.
“There must be another price,” I said, forcing the tremor from my voice. “Gold. Land. A royal pardon. Name it.”
She sneered, gesturing around her with withered arms. “What use have I forbaubles? I live apart from men. I deal in things you cannot mint or decree.”
I thought of her—thewoman. The white-haired beauty who haunted my nights and every waking moment. She lingered like a fever beneath my skin. If I left now, I might never know who she was. Might never see her again.
“Choose,” Blodeuwyn whispered. “Dawn comes. And with it… her fading.”
My pulse thundered. Logic screamed at me to flee. But the hunger to know—to possess—gnawed deeper than fear.
“I...” I began, then stopped. "If I do this, will you take the dragon from me?"
"You expecttwowishes granted?" she asked, studying me. I nodded. She threw her head back, and a cawing laugh sounded from her rotting mouth.
"One wish granted for each of us, boy."
I should have expected as much. "What would you ask in return for the dragon? To remove it from me altogether?"
"You speak as if such a thing is possible."
"If you awakened it, I know you can force it into dormancy once more."
She cocked her head to the side. "Perhaps. And perhaps not."
"What would you ask in return?" I demanded again.
She was quiet for a moment, then she sidled up next to me. The witch's fingers brushed my cheek.
“So warm,” she murmured. Her touch was cold as ice, yet burned like a brand. “So alive. It’s beendecadessince I felt such heat.”
"Name your price. For the dragon."
She smiled. "Queen. I would want to be crowned your queen."
"Queen?" I nearly spat the word.
She shrugged. "Of course, I would not appear as I do now." She pulled away, thank the gods. "In fact, I could appear however you wished me to—as the white-haired woman or as someone else?"
I chuckled without humor. "Do you think me a fool? The moment I crowned you queen, I would find myself with a sword in my belly or poison in my food. You would take whatever chance you could to usurp my control and power for yourself."
"Or perhaps I would ask only for your seed in my belly—to grow an heir."
