I felt him change. He stopped dreaming of being chosen and started making demands of the wizard, all while seeking the Cor.
The book guided him to where it lay beneath a fallen shrine, its shape as pristine as the day it was forged. He poured magic into it, greedy and harsh. He bent the object to his will, hoping it would bend her in return.
I saw Prager, too. Kind-hearted. Gentle-eyed. Magic flared beneath her skin like comets. She smiled when unsure,stayed quiet when boldness might hurt. She loved each prince differently and might have chosen one of them.
Aricor could not wait, could not risk losing her to one of the others.
I flew low overhead the day it happened, scenting the magic before he cast it, rusted metal soaked in rain. At his command, the coil of the object’s power streaked between them.
Prager cried out, one hand going to her head, the other pushing toward him in protest. Her voice trembled. She recoiled.
He’d poisoned love.
Now, her eyes filled with sorrow and fear.
He said her name, over and over. Begged her to say she loved him, that she chose him. But every word he spoke wrapped around her like a noose.
And that’s when I knew that the thing he created should never have been allowed to exist. It would undo everything the dragons had protected.
I launched into the sky, fury blistering my scales.
His hand grazed her shoulder.
She screamed.
And I shattered.
Gasping, I wrenched my hand away from the scale, unable to meet Reyla's eyes, though I could feel her gaze locked on me again.
“What did you see?” Dorion asked. He glanced around nervously. “This place reminds me of…” He shook his head. “Never mind.”
The labyrinth haunted us all.
Laphira stood by his side, gazing up at him with concern. “We're not there. I promise.”
He leaned over to kiss her brow.
Tell me,Reyla said.I can tell it was horrifying.
I shook my head, not wanting to admit what Aricor had done. But I had to, right? Without honesty between us, we had nothing.
I told her and waited with my jaw clenched and my chest an aching pit.
She gazed at me with sympathy.
“The dragon queen,” I said, pieces it together. “She's the key. The memories aren't just showing me the past, they're showing me what I need to know. The dragon who tried to stop Aricor might be the only one who knows how to fix this.” Dread snapped tight inside me. “I’m so sorry.”
She came over and stroked my arm. “Aricor did it, not you. His sin is not your own, and we're here to right it. We’ll find a way to repair it, because it's wrong for you to pay for the horrible mistake he made.”
Cupping her face, I kissed her, sending every bit of love I felt for this precious woman into my touch.
She moaned and clung to me.
Lifting my head, I pushed for a smile. “Thank you.”
Biting down on her lower lip, she nodded. “Don't blame yourself again.”
I won't if you don't,I said in her mind.
