“I was sure any son of Brand Axton would be an asset to the corp.”
Compliant, that’s what he really meant. The general sat back, propping his arse against the desk.
“How wrong I was. Tonight, you went to break the silver dragon riders out of the stockade.”
“Kael and Lorien,” I corrected. “Dain wasn’t in there.” A twitch in the muscle of his cheek made me think that had changed. “But I’m guessing he is now.”
“Why did you try to circumvent my order?”
“Answering a question with a question?” I said. “My mother?—”
Rex would never have made it to the rank of general if he countenanced disrespect.
“Answer the question.” His voice was a lash against my skin, leaving a sting in its wake, but he didn’t understand. His displeasure wasn’t the worst I’d been subjected to. “Why would you seek to help those three blaggards? Where is your loyalty? You’re an officer in the corp.”
“A carrot you dangled in front of me every year since me and the boys left the keep.” Gods, it felt good to set aside the mask and let my anger have its head. “You made sweeter and sweeter offers, then tried to cajole and coerce me, and it never appealed. There’s no way you haven’t worked out why it finally did.”
“Lady Fern.”
The set of the man’s jaw made clear what he thought about that.
“Lady Fern.” I leaned forward, leaving my elbows propped up on the chair arms. “And Queen Raina.”
“Raina…?”
Seeing the general befuddled was a glorious thing.
“You think I wasn’t aware that other people thought themselves entitled to my dragon when he was just cracked from the shell?” I continued. “Every common-born cadet was made conscious of their ‘unearned’ privilege by their betters. No rank but that which you earn? You have to know a lot of your riders don’t believe that. But you did, or so I thought. When I was a cadet, I would’ve done anything for you, whatever you asked without thought. You were the man that allowed me to bond with my heartmate.”
It was always going to be you, brother, Viridian told me, a wave of affection washing through me.
“But then that bitch, Raina, stole me from the keep. Not noble-born lads, because she would have to answer to their parents for what she did. No, instead she took four common-born boys as hostages, knowing the consequences would be negligible.”
My eyes bore into his.
“You ensured they were negligible. The first day I was in the cell, I had my face pressed against the bars, waiting for the riders of the corp to come bursting in through the door. I assured Billy and Harley that you would give the order. That you, General, would never allow her to keep us locked up like this. The second day, my faith wavered a little, but I told myself the general wouldn’t allow this to happen. Not on his watch.”
In my mind, I’d played this scenario a million times, yet the way the man went pale was still incredibly satisfying.
“After the third, fourth…” I didn’t need to list the time I was held in captivity. He and I both knew how long that was. “Something in me broke, and it was never repaired. Some would say I’m a simple man. That all I want is something bigger than myself to serve and give meaning to my life. Well, I got that when I walked back into the keep, but it wasn’t you or the other riders.” My insignia was wrenched free of my tunic. “Nor my damn rank.” I tossed the silver badge at his desk. “The thing that made it all make sense was Fern.”
I got to my feet.
“She and Auren want out of here, so I’ll make sure she flies free. You’ve squirrelled away all the books about dragons in your office?” I nodded to his bookshelves. “Well, that means there’s nothing left to keep either one of them here. I went to break the silver riders out of the stockade because we share a common goal. Make Fern happy.” I shook my head slowly. “While they remain committed to that plan of action, they’ll have my support.”
“Is that so?” The general glanced at my discarded badge,then straightened up. “All of you seem to think you can walk in or out of the keep as you please.”
“You might be able to stop Viridian,” I said, then winced as I considered that idea. “Turn his brothers against him, but the silver dragons…?” I watched the general’s face grow redder. “You know you’ll never contain them. Not without decimating the corp. Dragons and riders will die.” I felt some of Dain’s prescient powers as I spoke the words. “Many of them and their blood will be on your hands.”
Getting to my feet, I turned, because as far as I was concerned, this conversation was over. I’d find Fern and?—
“If Auren mates with these dragons, she’ll give birth to monsters.” The general’s tone was flat, terse. “More silver beasts that are as headstrong and unruly as they are wild and?—”
“White-gold queens.” I couldn’t help but snort at his wide-eyed look. “When I first discovered what they were, frankly I was terrified. Massive female dragons that could decimate whole cities in one swoop? Who would want to unleash that on the world?”
The air played across my teeth as I grinned.
“Me. Auren will never submit to your rule, lift her tail to be mated by the males you choose, but her daughters? You won’t even dare to ask it of them. They’ll be ferocious, terrifying, and completely and utterly beyond your control, and that has you lying awake late into the night.”
