It was Ferrah. The white dragon she’d met in El’Ara. Cora couldn’t help but remember the heat of Ferrah’s flames as she’d chased Cora in a rage.
Even more chilling was her next realization: this was irrefutable proof that Cora had been right, that Noah was indeed the true Morkara. If dragons were in her world, the Veil was torn.
Teryn placed a comforting hand on her lower back, but she could feel the tension radiating from his palm. The same tension etched the lines of his face. His jaw was slack, eyes haunted, as he stared at the creature. He hardly seemed to notice Berol flapping frantically over his shoulder, unable to land for the absence of the leather pad he normally wore when outdoors. Finding no good perch, she flew to the Godskeep roof instead. Teryn let out a shaky breath ending with, “Seven devils.”
The sentiment was echoed by those around them, muttered in gasps, whimpers, and startled cries. After the piercing screech had sounded, she, Teryn, and Larylis had left the Godskeep with a handful of guards and ordered their guests to remain inside. But when the second screech had rumbled the entire building, the others came rushing out. Master Arther had tried to calm the guests down, but he now stood silent, his eyes turned to the heavens as Ferrah swooped across the overcast sky and disappeared into the heavy clouds.
“Mareleau,” Larylis said, his voice strangled. “Noah.” As he rushed into the castle, Cora had her next revelation. Not only was the Veil torn, but Ferrah was here for the same reason she’d chased unicorns through the Veil and into the human world.
She was here for Ailan’s heir. The true Morkara. Mareleau and Noah.
The question was, what did she want with them? Was it enough to merely find them? She couldn’t imagine the dragon sought to harm them. Dragons were supposedly connected to the Morkara’s bloodline. Cora had drawn Ferrah’s wrath when Fanon had forced her to try to bond with the dragon, but…she had to believe Ferrah would react far less violently to El’Ara’s promised savior.
That was her hope, at least.
“You’ve got to be godsdamned kidding me,” came Lex’s voice. He and Lily came up beside them. “Was that a bloody dragon?”
Teryn gave a tight nod.
Lily turned pale as she glanced at her husband. “I thought your tale of unicorns and wraiths was strange enough.”
Captain Alden approached her queen with a bow. “Orders, Majesty?” Her voice held no quaver, but her composure was betrayed by her ashen face, the haunted look in her blue eyes. Cora had appointed Captain Alden to her royal guard for her battle experience. She’d fought for King Arlous at Centerpointe Rock and bore the scar on her cheek to prove it. She’d witnessed the horrors on that battlefield, beheld wraiths, the Roizan, and deadly vines wielded by magic. When Cora had taken the crown and worked with Larylis, Teryn, and Mareleau to staff her castle, Alden had been one of the first to gain a position. Yet even after all the captain had seen, she was clearly shaken.
Cora opened her mouth, but she didn’t know what to say.
“Shall I post archers?” Alden asked.
Archers. What the hell could archers do against a dragon? Arrows couldn’t combat fire, and she suspected they couldn’t pierce dragon scales either. Besides, Ferrah hadn’t attacked. Not yet, at least.
Memories of the dragon’s searing flames chasing her heels flooded her mind.
“Post them,” Cora said, and her voice wasn’t nearly as steady as Alden’s. “Defensive positions only. Shoot only if she attacks. Do not provoke her.”
Alden bowed, then rushed into the castle.
Cora wanted to feel comforted by the protection of the royal guards who remained behind, as well as the archers Alden would post, but her stomach only sank further. Dread filled every inch of her, blaring a warning.
Her mind went to her unicorn friend.
Valorre!She mentally reached out to him. He’d been out of range all morning. She suspected he was sore about being excluded from her wedding and had chosen to entertain himself far away. Still, she had to ensure he was all right. She remembered how frightened he’d been of Ferrah in El’Ara.Valorre, are you near?
Fornication! Yes, I’m near.
His mental reply brought her equal parts relief and confusion. The first word was entirely out of place.Are you all right? Are you safe from her?
I’m safe. They aren’t paying attention to me.
Cora’s blood went cold.They? There’s more than one?
I saw two. Excrement, this is bad.
She frowned at yet another out-of-place word. Fornication. Excrement. Since when did he randomly state such crass words?Valorre, are you trying to curse?
I would never place a curse on someone, even if I knew how.
No, I mean…is that your attempt at using expletives?
His only reply was a ripple of puzzlement.
