“Galin?”
Suddenly, my eyes focused on the present, but the past lingered. The Dragon King stood before me, holding my face in his hands, but I wasn't sure which king it was. I screeched and pulled away from him.
Rian. It was Rian. But my mind and racing heart couldn't hold on to that knowledge. With wide eyes, he reached for me, and I spun. Tripping over my cloak, I shot for the door.
“Galin!” Rian shouted.
In my head, I heard his vow to hunt me. I screamed and put on speed, dashing through the corridor. The knights at the end of the hallway entered the corridor, searching for whatever horror was chasing me. But they, like Rontor and Dhrostan, didn't give a shit about me. They ran past me to check on the King. The three Dragons collided when the King came running after me.
I couldn't stop. I raced through the open doorway and into the lift. Heart slamming against my ribs, I smacked the button to take me down. Then I drew back against the far wall, praying for the panel to shut. It did, just as Rian extricated himself from his guards.
“Galin!” Rian roared.
But then I was falling, sliding down a shaft of stone on a draft of magic. My stomach was still somewhere above me, but it caught up when the lift stopped. My reason was gone by the time that happened. Instead of getting calmer, I grew more upset, more frightened. Even as the panel opened, I dashed through it.
Courtiers gasped and pulled out of my way as I ran through the hallways. I couldn't concentrate, but castles are much the same. My feet knew the way out. I ran and ran,bursting out of the main keep with a slam of one of the massive doors, shocking the attendants. The courtyard was clean and snow-free, as were the streets beyond the castle gate. I ran out into the middle of them, feeling the hot breath of a dragon on the back of my neck.
Hunted. I was hunted. He'd catch me and humiliate me again. He'd steal my pride. I couldn't let that happen. I had promised Rontor I wouldn't. No man would abuse me again, not even a Dragon King.
But all of those thoughts were just an undercurrent to the main one that looped in my mind.Run! Run! Run!
Horses shrieked and pawed at the air to my left. I cringed, arm lifted. I was in the middle of the road.
“What's wrong with you?” someone shouted.
I ran across the street to the sidewalk. Between buildings. Dashed out the other side. Kept going. Running, running, running. The Dragon King had my scent. Where could I go? I had to get somewhere safe. If I could barricade myself into my apartment, maybe he wouldn't get me.
I ran, breath puffing in clouds before me. Startled people jerked out of my way. I kept going, the thought of chains and Dragon Kings driving me on. Never again. No one would make me feel like that ever again. No masters. No kings. I had built a life for myself and I wouldn't sacrifice it to anyone.
I burst into my shop and let the door slam behind me.
“Galin!” Raef cried.
I ran past him.
“Sorry, excuse me a moment,” Raef said to someone.
“Stay away from me!” I shouted and ran upstairs.
I slammed my apartment door shut and locked it. Out of my mind with fear, I raced into my bedroom and shut that door too. Locked it. Pushed a bureau before it. Then I crawled under my bed and huddled against the wall. My wings trembled in their sheath.
I had left my new cloak behind.
Chapter Twenty-One
Mere seconds after I set my back against the wall, a thud came. I heard voices but couldn't make out the words. Wood cracked. I started to sob. He had found me. I couldn't run from him. There was nowhere far enough. I should have remembered that. And now, I was cornered. Literally cornered. Why the fuck had I gotten involved with another Dragon King?
“Galin?” Rian's voice came through my bedroom door.
The knob jostled.
I wept.
My body had gone hot and cold all at once, shivers like burns coasting over my shoulders. I'd never been so afraid. Was this what terror felt like? Great Fulgark protect me.
The door shook. “Galin, what's wrong? What has frightened you? Please, my jewel, open the door.”
“Go away,” I whispered, too afraid to raise my voice.
