I bring my goblet up to my lips and sip, letting the bitter liquid burn down into my stomach. "What is it you want?"
"You've got quite the pet, your dragon."
"My drag—" Alarm bells sound in my head as the general cuts me off.
"I'd thought they'd gone extinct. I'm thrilled to discover I was wrong."
Get on with it.I think anxiously.Ask your bleeding fucking request.
"Thatshould suffice, I think."
"What should?" The question comes out slow, my Wield buzzing at my fingertips.
"Your dragon for my alloy."
Your dragon for my alloy.
Of all the things I could have imagined him requesting, Vada was not on the list. I smothered any laughter that bubbled up by downing the rest of my drink, and when that was no longer enough, I left the table, leaving the rest of them to stare at each other and finish their meal in awkward silence.
He wanted her as if she or I would ever let that happen. Unless…
"What are you planning up in that brain of yours?"
I jump at the voice and turn to see Axel falling into step next to me. "What are you doing here?"
He elbows my bicep, knocking me off kilter as I walk. "I told you I was in more places than the horrors of your mind. Didn’t believe me? I’m shocked. And hurt. I’m shocked and hurt."
I roll my eyes at his pitiful pout and elbow him back, "I didn't realize that meant my hallway."
He shrugs. "So where are we headed?"
"A different place of horrors," I grumble as we round the corner. Within a few wide steps, we're outside the doors to Pruella's room.
KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!
"E?"
"Shh."I hiss as the door creaks open.
Pruella peers her head out, her expression falling when she sees me.
"This is unexpected," Axel mutters, and I shove off the urge to roll my eyes again.
"I already toldRorineverything I could about my father's tactics, and I'm not up for repeating. You'll have to get it from him—"
She starts to push her door closed, and my hand flies out, stopping the momentum. "Shut up and follow me."
"E-excuse me?"
"It wasn't a suggestion, let's go."
I lead the two of us out of the castle through the passageways, snapping for her to keep up with me as she trips over every loose rock her feet can find. Her balance got no better the moment we were outside, and as we approached the woods, I worried I might have to drag her the rest of the way.
"I thought you'd have wanted an audience when you brought me out to my death," Pruella calls out.
"Why does everyone think I intend to kill them today?"
"Your reputation precedes you, your Majesty." She snaps.
