Ugh. “That was a good answer,” I grumbled. Then I did something childish and stuck my tongue out at him. “But not good enough.”
“That’s okay. I’ve got more where it came from.” He grinned, and it lit his entire face, giving him a totally unfairadvantage. “I’ve read your history and studied your legends. For all you know, I am the phoenix, and I’ll rise from your flames stronger.”
“I’ve considered that. But I’m still not gonna burn you.”
“Then I suggest you hide.”
Fighting a howl of frustration, I rushed out of the castle and into the garden. With the trio of moons glowing overhead, firebuds bloomed all around, their petals flickering orange and gold, bathing me in light. I crouched behind a dark, shadowy column of charred ivy. Surely he wouldn’t find me here.
But it wasn’t long before Taron’s voice came again. “Seems like someonewantsto be found. You left a trail of smoke.”
I did? Breathless, I spun. He leaned against a pillar, features soft.
My first reason to avoid burning him burst out. “You hate dragons. You don’t want to live among them. Forever is a long time to be surrounded by what you loathe.”
“I hated dragons, past tense,” he corrected. “Then a redheaded beauty flew into my life and made everything else irrelevant. And live with dragons? Fine. As long as I’m with you.”
Things inside me started to crack. “You don’t mean that. You told me I was too weak to fight the lure of the chains.”
He flinched and stepped closer, each footfall deliberate. “I spoke from a place of shame and anger and for that, I apologize from the deepest depths of my being. You are the strongest person I’ve ever known, and it will be my honor and privilege to be the man at your side.”
Heaven help me, I wanted to believe him. To haveeverything he offered. But risk him? “Nein, nein, a thousand times nein. I will not burn you.”
With a wave of his arm, he said, “Then you know what to do.”
Back into the castle I blazed. Where, where, where? Oh! I raced for the war room and ducked under the obsidian table scarred from blades often slammed down in fury. Massive chairs stood ready for warriors too restless to sit for long. The scent of old wood, iron and dried ink filled my lungs. The space itself was carved deep into black stone, its walls etched with battle maps scorched by countless years of strategy and blood.
Mere minutes stretched into an eternity before I heard… “Bold choice,” Taron said, crouching beside me. “But not bold enough.”
Ash and embers! “My people will revolt,” I warned him, my voice low. “They’ll always wonder about your true loyalty. You may have wings and scales, but your soul wasn’t forged in this realm.”
“Then let them revolt, and we’ll handle them together,” he said. “They might question my loyalty at first, but I promise you, they won’t keep such a falsehood for long.” Determination hardened his tone. “I’m very good at facing down dragons.”
How dare he give another excellent answer?! But what if he did, in fact, die with a pure heart and rise from the ashes? There was no better candidate than Taron Locke. He was a warrior to his core. Ja, he’d once done terrible things in the name of revenge, but he was a different man now. He’d taken the punches thrown at him and strengthened. He’d grown, and parts of him had even softened.
“My answer is still nein,” I croaked.
“Then I’ll see you in a few minutes.”
With warm things leaking from those internal, infernal cracks, I dashed off and ended up in the Hall of Memories, an intimidatingly long and solemn stretch, where dragon history was preserved in stone and glass. Along with the occasional claw mark, names, deeds and dates were carved into the dark gray marble. Each strike of the chisel had become a promise of memory. Stained glass panels blazed with scenes of our dragon past, the colors shifting with the sun’s passage, casting the hall in an ever-changing hue of remembrance.
I hid behind a massive battle banner.
It wasn’t long before he found me. “This is my favorite location so far,” he said, tracing his knuckles over my cheekbone.
How, how, how was he doing this so quickly? “I killed your father and grandfather,” I reminded him as I stepped free of the shadows.
“Yes, and I’ve forgiven you.” He followed me out.
See! Pure heart. I didn’t look at him. “I don’t deserve forgiveness,” I whispered.
“Honestly, baby, you might have never even needed it.” He moved before me, and I loved the way his cedar and dreams scent enveloped me. “I understand better now. The power of an ancient bond. The cost of what was demanded of you.” He touched my hand. “The terrible things asked of you.”
His warmth anchored me. I didn’t pull away. “I…can’t, Taron. I just can’t.” If he died… I fisted his shirt. “Please don’t ask me.” The urge was getting stronger. Stronger than it had ever been in the past. And yet, unlike with the others, I continued to resist, as if my will—or my feelings for this man—grew stronger too. But how much longer could I keep myself in check?
Merciless, he said, “In this, I will not relent. You better hide.”
I hesitated several beats but eventually found the strength to release him and leave him behind. Slow and steady, I made my way to the top of the north tower, where mist swirled down in an endless stream. My heartbeat, however, turned erratic.
