“Once upon a time,” he says on a soothing tone. I can’t help but smile. He’s never this sweet. I don’t understand it for a second.
But I love it. So fucking much it shivers emotions all through my chest.
“Once upon a time, the most powerful supernaturals in all the realms were offered the crown of Hell in exchange for their fearless protection of our people. Our people are hated, misunderstood, murdered just for being creatures of Hell. And for a long while, that stopped. We were safe because of that exchange that was made centuries ago. Until the marriage between a rare dragon shifter and the queen of Hell was poisoned. The queen became hell-bent on the power her realm possessed. And she took a lover who craved her affection as much as she craved power.”
“Ravar,” I whisper.
His smooth arms wrap tighter around me, his fingers skimming over my stomach for a single second before he halts and simply holds me... like a lover.
“Yes. Ravar loved the queen. And her love destroyed him. He hunted those supernaturals, spread rumors of the terror they would bring our realm, just as they did the others. He killed many of them. His army killed even more. And with time... he slaughtered the queen’s husband. The husband who she loved because of his power. And that ruined what Ravar and his Queen had between them. Because he was wrong to think she loved him. She never loved either of them. She loved power.”
It’s hard to hear the hint of sadness in his tone. He’s more gentle with me since the death of his brother. It’s like he’s finally able to lower his guard just a little. Deep down, he’s loving.
I never knew this beautifully broken man knew anything about love.
Maybe, just maybe, he does.
“After Ravar realized he’d ruined their love, he exiled the queen. TheNight Witchhe deemed her. And accepted the love of his people. His cruelty never ceased. Her hunger for power never stopped—even today. All that came of their toxic love was the destruction of a nearly an entire race of supernaturals.”
My brows pull together hard . . .
“Dragons?”
“Dragons,” Avian echoes on a tired tone. “Ravar made sure they were never seen again.” His voice is still that sweet sound of gentleness.
He isn’t filled with sadness the way his friend is.
They’re different in that way.
“She believes there are still dragons in this world, and she wants them to restore the power she once had,” Roman says, and when he lowers his head, he nuzzles along my neck in the slowest inhale that drives me absolutely insane.
Focus! Focus, Cersia!
“There are tales of dragon’s not far from my land. Not many. But a few. Are there dragons here, in Hell?” I ask, turning in his arms to try to regain my poor stupid attention span.
“I’ve heard there are a few in the Upper Realm. Not here though. The High Hell have hunted their kind through all the realms under Ravar’s rule for centuries. Zilo could tell you about them. But I’ve never seen one.” Roman’s breath kisses my flesh as his long steady fingers trace my lips.
My poor, poor fucking attention span. I mourn the loss of it every time he touches me.
“I haven’t either,” I confess on a weak and wavering sigh.
Why does he do this to me? I’m trying to figure out what kind of danger this psychotic queen is capable of. And all I can think about is how good Roman tasted that one time we gave in to the messy emotions he always gives me.
I’m a mess. This realm is a fucking mess.
Perhaps it is safer than it was when Ravar ruled. But I just want to know for sure.
I have to know! For Nyra’s sake.
“What about?—”
“Shhh,” Roman whispers, his lips so close to mine, I can feel the heat of his mouth against mine. “Get some rest, beautiful.”
I roll my eyes, but the moment he says it, pure exhaustion sinks into me.
I am tired. I’m so fucking tired of all the endless questions and concerns I have about Creatchin.
I thought she was the rightful ruler. But why did she keep me from my sister? Why has she conditioned us to be so leery of one another now?
