“Don’t leave on my account,” Rauk calls out. “Unless you’re going to find more scorchmuck to roll around in.”
I spin around. “I didn’t roll around in it.”
“Could’ve fooled me.”
I force a smile to my face. “You’re the one that made me do it.”
His face doesn’t change. “I made you roll around in scorchmuck?”
“I didn’t roll around in it!” I say in exasperation.
“She should have never been in there in the first place, Rauk,” Elowen says, and I want to give her a hug.
“Thank you, Elowen,” I say to her. To him, I give a condescending look.
“Everybody in this kingdom has taken a turn doing what you did today.”
I lift my head. “I don’t believe you.”
He shrugs. “You don’t have to.”
“She’s your mate, Rauk. She doesn’t belong in that place.”
I freeze at her words. That’s the first time anybody has said itdirectly. Rauk and I have danced around the issue, but nobody’s come right out and called us mates. I shake it off and tell myself we’re not. Our dragons are mated, and that’s it. That’s all it will ever be. He can’t stand me, and I definitely can’t stand him. That will never change between us.
“Like I said, every person in our kingdom has to do it. She survived, just like everyone else.”
“Have you done it?” I challenge.
He faces me. “Yes. Many times.”
I scoff. “Somehow I don’t believe that.”
“It doesn’t matter what you believe,” he points out.
I stare at him and shake my head. “You are impossible.”
“And you’re a delight,” he rumbles.
I laugh, despite myself. It reminds me so much of something Lox would say in a teasing manner. A pang fills my chest, and I drop my gaze. Loneliness fills me swiftly, surprising me. I miss the teasing and lightheartedness that was all around Rysden’s house. This castle makes me sad and depressed. Anger flares suddenly, and I don’t want to be here anymore. I turn around, needing to get out of the kitchen. Neither of them stop me, and I head back to my room. I sit on the floor next to my bed and stare at the fire in the fireplace. “What am I doing here?” The question lingers in the silence, but there’s no response. I close my eyes and drop my head back against my bed. I didn’t want to be here, and nobody wants me here. I’m not even sure why I’m here anymore. It was a waste of time thinking I was going to pull Rauk into this war. Whatever hope I’d had of that dissipated when he told me his story. The other kingdoms hadn’t come whenthe Dragon Kingdom needed them, and it hadn’t gone well for the Dragon Kingdom. Now, they wouldn’t go out of their way for those same kingdoms. The sad thing was, I got it. I really did. It was an awful story with an awful outcome, and I know I’d probably feel the same way if those things happened to me. But to just turn your back on the other two kingdoms? That was too much. But the hurt was there, and I didn’t think it was ever going to change. I needed to accept that the Dragon Kingdom would never help. But at least, then I could go home. I wouldn’t have to stay here anymore. Of course, if I even managed to get back to the Wolf Kingdom, I didn’t know if they’d be happy to see me...not when they saw that I failed. When they learned I’d failed to get the help of the Dragon Kingdom, I don’t think I’d be welcome any longer. Not that Rysden or Farrah would get mad, but I can guarantee others in the kingdom would.
I shake my head and groan; this is such a mess. “I should have never come here.” It was a mess from the very beginning. I don’t know why I thought I could do the impossible and convince Rauk to join the fight.
I sit for a while before I finally get up and get ready for bed. It takes me quite a while to drift off to sleep. When I do, it’s not to peaceful dreams. So, I’m not fully asleep when I hear a scream come from somewhere inside the castle.
Chapter 11
Elowen.I throw back my covers and snag my knife from under my pillow. I race out of my room and towards the other end of the castle, to where I think the sound came from. My heart is pounding in my chest, and I can only think of what I’m going to find when I get to her.
What’s wrong?Redara is alert and in my head.
Something happened to Elowen, the housekeeper...I think.
Let me know if you need me.
Yeah.
The hall is dark as I race towards the other end of the castle. I can only assume that’s where her room is. The main part of the castle is dark, and I can barely see where I’m going. I suddenly run into something hard. I stumble backwards in the dark and lift my knife.
