“I heard you.” I want to reach out and grab the rainbow, the golden strands of it floating on a phantom breeze. Why does his rainbow have gold in it? I’ve never seen it in the skies over Raingreen.
He sighs. “Don’t do it again.”
I don’t answer, my mind churning over my scant memories of rainbows.
“If I think you’ll try it, I’ll tie you to the bed, pet. Is that what you want?” His voice is lower, gruffer.
“I’m not a pet.” My tongue is thick in my mouth, like it’s made of cotton.
“The windows are locked. There’s no way out of here unless it’s past me, my brothers, or the Firefolk. None of them will allow you to harm yourself.”
“Why did you bring me here?” I turn my head again when he offers another spoon of broth.
He growls under his breath. “The Bargain.”
“You could’ve already killed me. That wouldn’t change the Bargain. You get me. My life. Everything I am. I was traded. Sold like a beast at market. Meant for slaughter.” My own voice sounds far away. “I shouldn’t be here. You should’ve gutted me. That’s what Kanelden wanted. He said… He said you would. That my blood would fall all around like rain. He said …” I can’t see Kanelden in my mind, but I hear his voice. The hate in it.
Suddenly, I’m cold. The sweat coating me turning icy. I groan at the sudden pulse of pain from my leg.
“Rest.” The bed shifts. “The only thing you need worry about is your fever. But Lenka has brought many creatures back from the brink of death. You will be no different.”
“DragonKin are death.” I hum a song we’re taught from infancy, my thoughts floating away into dreams of smoke and flame. “Dragons rage and dragons roam. Dragons set fire to our homes. Dragons hate and dragons kill. Dragons never get their fill. On suffering they surely feast. For naught but death can sate the beast.”
Chapter
Nine
VANDER
Iwatch Larellin sleep. She’s been out for two days now, her small body wracked with fever.
Her breathing is low and even, only rasping dryly at intervals. She still burns. Lenka tends her wound, wiping it clean and packing it with more herbs and charred flowers.
“The fever must break soon.” Lenka rewraps her leg and pulls the blankets over her. “If it doesn’t, I don’t know if she’ll ever wake.”
“She’ll survive.” I rub a hand along my jaw, the hair there scruffy and thick.
Lenka gives me a kind look. “Of course, Sire.”
“Brother.” Faraday leans into the room. “We need to talk.”
I glance at Larellin, her pale skin and bright pink cheeks. She dreams. I can sense her in the fevered fog, her eyes moving, her mouth sometimes making silent words. As for me, I keep hearing her cracking voice singing about me, about my people. The lies the mortals tell themselves shouldn’t surprise meanymore, but hearing those words from her lips was a potent poison, one that’s been festering inside me ever since.
“It’s about Sela,” Rivon calls from the hallway.
I stand and stretch. How long have I been sitting here?
“I’ll keep watch.” Lenka takes my seat, a book in her hand as she settles in. “Go on, Sire. You’ve done all you can.”
I don’t know if that’s true. Larellin was nothing but terrified from the moment I rescued her from that black stone. Maybe I should’ve been different toward her. Maybe I should’ve … I don’t know. The fact is I don’t know how to treat a mortal, especially not a female mortal.
With one last look at her, I follow Fyan into the hall and down to the den.
“What’s this about Sela?” I walk to the fire and toss another log on, sparks rising up the chimney.
“I heard whispers, plenty of them.” Rivon sits on the couch, a pipe between his lips as he puffs lightly. “The DaySilver Clan knows about our Bargain. They’ve been sniffing around in the local villages, asking plenty of questions.”
“Lucky for us no one knows anything about our Bargain.” Faraday kicks his feet up on the coffee table.
