“Lydel Court is yours, High Lady,” Aunt Vera said. “What would you like to do first?” Her head cocked, and her smile trembled across her lips. “Shall we go out into the courtyard? It’s time.”
Itwastime. I knew this in my heart, though I wasn’t sure what was going to happen next.
Something wonderful.
With joy springing through me, I left the parlor, holding Vexxion’s hand and with everyone else following.
A clamber rang out from the courtyard, but I felt no fear, only excitement tinged with the weight of expectation.
When I reached the big double doors leading to the courtyard, I dropped Vexxion’s hand, though I paused and curled my finger his way, urging him down for a kiss. Everything I was and everything I would ever be was only possible because this man stood by my side.
He kissed me and nudged his head toward the doors. Sunlight shot through, the brightness hiding whatever was happening outside.
I lifted my chin and strode to the doors, thrusting them both wide, my strength shot through with a touch of Lydel Court’s core of power. It flowed through my veins and seeped from my skin, channeling from my fingers to my toes. It was so much a part of me already, I couldn’t imagine existing without it.
Striding outside, I stopped on the platform, humbled and honored by what I saw.
The courtyard overflowed with people—mypeople.
They cheered and chantedHigh Lady. High Lady.
With my heart in my throat, I walked down and strode among them, touching one after another, stopping to welcome them back, to tell them how grateful I was that they were here to support our righteous cause.
At the far end of the courtyard, a line of men and women stood in a line proudly, dressed in black pants and dark green tunics with sparkling gild adorning their shoulders.
As one, they pressed their fists to their chests. One woman stepped forward and dropped her head in a lavish bow. “We’re here for you, High Lady. We’re yours to command.” She smacked her fist on her chest hard enough I could feel the vibration sliding across my ribs. My heart thrummed with power and the belief that with these people supporting me, I could vanquish anyone who sought to do us harm.
“Thank you,” I told them all, wiping away my tears. “I’m grateful to have you here with me.”
A low, fluttering sound grew until the flapping roar of wings blasted across the world from all around us.
“Back,” Aunt Vera shouted. “Everyone, get back. Clear the middle of the courtyard!”
I flitted to stand beside Vexxion and the others on the platform. The sound grew to a cacophony, loud enough I could feel the weighty mass of it stomping across my bones.
Dragons.
A least a thousand dragons passed overhead, an endless stream of power and might and the very will of the fates themselves fused into scales, claws, and furious flames.
Madrood led them all.
The tears in my eyes would not be denied, but they were a thing of joy and promise. My heart thrummed hard enough to burst. How could I take any more?
I would find a way. Not because I had to but because Iwantedto.
This. Was. My. Destiny.
The dragons continued to stream past to the cheers of thecrowd, traveling toward the aeries Airia had prepared at the top of the cliffs on the northern part of Lydel.
Except ten dragons, who peeled away from the rest. They spiraled down.
My fellow Lydel citizens gasped and scrambled into each other along the outer walls of the courtyard, clearing a path in the center.
The flap of their wings made wind gust through the big open area. Drask squawked, and as he fluttered his wings on my shoulder, my skirt whipped my calves in a frenzy.
The glorious beasts pulled up before they reached the ground. They landed lightly in a long row, a gleaming mass of strength and cunning and long claws sinking into the soft soil.
They were led by one wonderful silver dragon who towered above them all.
