There was a time when I didn’t care. Fae and Nullens meant nothing to me then. Now, they do.
Shock and dismay stabbed me over and over again.
Like when I first arrived at Bledmire and Madrood burned the emissary, I could picture her kneeling before the king and him crooking a finger. Terror suffusing her face as her heart slammed against her ribs.
Even if anger coursed through her veins, she’d still be afraid. She was alone and she knew no one could save her.
Madrood oozing forward. His neck coiling and flames licking through his eyes.
One blast and she was gone, leaving nothing behind but a pile of ashes that were snatched up by the wind and shoved across the big open room.
Ivenrail cackling while Madrood returned to his waiting position.
Did she feel it when it happened or was it so sudden she could barely absorb the shock and pain of that moment? What were her last thoughts, her final wishes?
I could picture the pretty mother in Vera’s vision, the love in her eyes when she gazed at her daughter—me. Her sadness about the loss of her fated mate, and her fear that Ivenrail would find her children, that he’d use them, drain them, and toss them away.
Would you happily burn me like you did her if we weren’t bonded?I croaked.
I won’t burn you,Madrood growled.
What if Ivenrail asks you to do it?
My bond is with you, never him.
For now.
Forever.
Is that how it goes? I don’t know anything about bonds.To think I was excited when it happened. It was a new way to interact with a dragon. And honestly, I’d felt cocky that I could not only bond with the king’s dragon but also steal him out from beneath the king’s thumb. Now I wasn’t sure I wanted this bond.Please don’t tell me I’ll die if you do.
That’s not how this works. Either of us could live on without the other.
Then what use is this bond?I snarled.I don’t need a tutor or someone to chat with. I have Vexxion and my friends for that.
I can give you something no one else can.
What’s that? A blast of fire at my command? If so, I don’t want it. When I feel someone needs to die, I’ll deliver the blow myself, not stand back and make someone else do it for me.
He didn’t say anything.
What is it?I asked again.You can tell me. After all, you shared that you fried my mother.
I can help you kill the king.
You should’ve done it before we left Bledmire.
And kill your mate?he asked.
You don’t care if Vexxion dies.
I care because you do,he snapped.
Thanks for that, I guess.Anger and dismay twisted inside me, so tight the coil would soon snap. Then what would happen?
I’d rage and the world would feel it.
Why did you do it?I whimpered. I dropped to my knees and held my face, not wanting to look at him ever again. My mind screamed in disbelief while my heart bled agony. A thousand knives twisted inside me, gouging through something vital.Why?
