“Arrogant DragonKin.” I want to smile. I can barely breathe. I’m cold.
“Don’t leave me, my treasure.” He cradles my head. I feel his heat, but only from a distance. It doesn’t warm me from the inside. Not the way it should. “I will beg if I must. Gods, please don’t take her. Do not take her when I’ve only just found her. Take me. Take my life. Not hers. Never hers.”
“Give me that!” Brin’s voice echoes.
“The jewel?” Rivon’s voice is reedy and thin, as if it could blow away on a light breeze.
“Stay, my treasure,” Vander orders.
But Death doesn’t listen to commands.
I want to tell him I love him, that I’ll always be with him in one way or another, that I want him to rebuild his homeland, that I’ll be watching and waiting for him on the other side. None of those words reach him. The bond goes silent and cold. And I’m alone. Silent. Untethered.
Epilogue
VANDER
“The princes want a meeting.” Nilufer kicks her boots up on the conference table at the center of the meeting room.
“What doyouwant?” Rivon asks.
“I’ve wanted their heads on my wall for centuries.” She shrugs.
“They’re your cousins.” Rivon wrinkles his nose.
“They’re assholes,” Nilufer deadpans.
“Van?” Rivon looks over at me. “Thoughts?”
“All are welcome in the DragonLands. Especially neighbors.”
Nilufer scowls.
“Even if they’re assholes.”
Her scowl turns into a scoff.
I throw my hands up. “I didn’t say I was going to welcome them with open arms or give them anything they ask for. I simply wantto remind all of Oblivion that the DragonLands are open for trade, for talks, for anything friendly.”
“The princes are well aware of the Golden Horde’s fondness for you,” Rivon adds. “My whispers tell me they were afraid that bynotasking for an audience, Vander would take offense. They’re simply coming to kiss his ass.”
“They can kiss mine while they’re at it.” She crosses her arms over her chest, then smirks. “Hey, can you make them do that? I mean, when they come? Tell them if they want to have open trade with the DragonKin, they have to literally kiss my fine, fine ass?”
I arch a brow at her. “I’ll take that into consideration.”
“As long as I’m considered.” She shrugs.
“Come on. Sun’s down. Let’s go throw.” Fyan tosses a blade at Nilufer’s head.
She catches it and rises. “Best offer I’ve had all day. First one to pin a bat to a tree trunk wins.”
“Don’t murder bats!” Rivon calls after them as they leave. He turns to me, deep disapproval on his face. “They’re going to murder bats.”
“Go ahead.” I wave him away. He melts into the shadows and follows them. No bats will be harmed under his watch.
Faraday scoffs. “Well, what am I supposed to do now? Everyone has their evenings planned and?—”
“Sires,” a high, lilting voice calls. “I apologize for interrupting, but the Shal’Alon of the Black Wings has arrived with herdaughters. They’re early for tomorrow’s council and seek accommodations in the Spire for the evening.”
