My mouth hangs open for a moment, anger at war with surprise. “There was nothing for you to do. It’s my responsibility. Mine alone. I would’ve broken the curse. Larellin would’ve come to me. She would’ve?—”
“Larellin wasn’t the problem.” Her shoulders sag.
My heart goes cold at her implication. For centuries I’ve wanted to end the curse, to lead my people back to their homeland. “I’m the problem, then?” I say evenly, though acid drips from my words.
“You would’ve mated her, but the bond wouldn’t have been enough. Not strong enough. I saw it, Sire.” Her gaze meets mine again as she pulls the bloodied bandage back from Larellin’s cheek and grabs a fresh one. “I saw the DragonLands closed to you forever, the DragonKin dying out. Ilna’s cauldron has never steered me wrong, and I saw it as if it had already come to pass.”
I watch her, the grief etched in her wrinkled cheeks. Larellin stirs in my arms, turning toward me and pressing her uninjured cheek to my chest.
“I cared for your mother, your grandfather. I haven’t held a dragon babe in so long.” Lenka wipes her eyes again. “Not since Fyan was born, just a tiny little thing with a bad temperament.” She smiles sadly. “If I hadn’t done this, there would be no more. Not another babe. Not a single dragon. But her cauldron showed me more. So much more.” She strokes Larellin’s cheek with a fresh bit of gauze. “This beautiful female happy, children playing at her feet. You flying over the spires of the Palace of the Sky, your golden banners blowing in a bright breeze.”
My heart stutters, thumping unevenly. “You saw this?” I know of Ilna, her sorcery has long been legend in Oblivion. The oldest cyclops witch, born with one eye in this world, one in the next.
“I did. But the only way to that beautiful future was the way I chose.” She quiets, fiery tears still flowing. “And I decided that if I had to die to achieve that future, then so be it.” She nods, more to herself than me. “It’s worth it.” Glancing at me, sheasks, “Have you felt anything different since you found her at the Aerie?”
My eyes narrow at the question. At the bond I felt awaken, the one that was just strong enough to allow Larellin and I to communicate while I was in dragon form. Something like that shouldn’t exist until we’ve mated.
“Hmm.” She nods, my silence all the confirmation she needed. “But the work isn’t done. As I said, you have some truths you must face and share with her before you can fully bond.”
Sprite hurries in, a potion in one hand bearing Ilna’s familiar mark, and some fresh bandages in the other.
“Finally!” Lenka takes the bottle, the contents a deep gold.
“What is it?”
She pours a liberal amount on a cloth and presses it to Larellin’s throat.
My mate whimpers and buries her face in my chest.
“You’re hurting her,” I grate.
“No, just watch.” Lenka snatches a small basin from beside the bed and holds it beneath the wound.
Nothing happens.
“Wait.” Lenka stares at the injury.
Larellin whimpers again and turns more towards me. I hold her tightly and kiss her hair. “It’s all right, my treasure. You’ll be all right.”
Something drips into the basin.
“There.” Lenka adjusts her hold on the gold-doused cloth, and a sickly green venom leaks from the bite mark on Larellin’s flesh. “There it is.” The relief in Lenka’s voice has me leaning closer, inspecting the wound as the golden liquid replaces the green, as if chasing the poison from Larellin’s veins. “Only a few more moments.”
Larellin lets out a soft sigh, her body losing its tension. Her color improves slightly, the pale sheen turning warmer. But the wound lingers, still gaping and bloody.
“That’s it.” Lenka pulls the cloth back. The last bit of venom leaks from the bite and into the basin.
“My salve!” She holds a shaking hand out to Sprite.
“Here.” He hands her another bottle, this one filled with a pale pink paste. Muttering a few words under her breath, she gently dabs the pink paste onto the injury. “And where is Kanlon?” She dabs more of her salve as Larellin’s breathing hitches.
“You’re hurting her,” I growl. “What is that?” I jerk my chin toward the potion bottles.
“Ilna didn’t send me in blind. We knew the risk. I was prepared for this, for what Sela might do. I only hope that was the extent of it.” She takes Larellin’s hand between hers. “I’m so sorry, my sweet girl. I hope one day you can forgive me.” She kisses her hand reverently.
I have the impulse to wrench Larellin away from her, to protect her. But it’s just a feeling borne of anger. My instincts tell me Lenka is no threat. In fact, my instincts say the opposite, that she would never want me or Larellin to come to harm. But I can’t untangle her betrayal right now, not when Larellin is in my arms.
“I swear to you, Sire. I’m doing everything I can to help her.” She jerks her chin at Sprite. “Go find Kanlon!”
