“What do you propose, then?” Frederick turns to her.
She sweeps her soft gray eyes to me. “I know no one has wanted to consider it before, but I think we lose nothing if we go through with it. We should rethink sending a spy to Arterias.”
“Leland Blackwind is one of the most knowledgeable about dragons here in the Dragon Lands. We cannot afford to send him when we are already keeping Lady Bethany,” Devin reminds in a grumble.
But Sheri’s eyes are on me. As are everyone else’s.
She lowers her voice. “He might be our best chance.”
“And if he’s killed?” Devin challenges.
Finally, Sheri looks at him. “But if he’s successful? If he can find the moon dragon egg?”
“Then what, you expect him to steal it?” Devin leans forward in his chair. “He’s a scholar, not a trained thief.”
“He would be best qualified to locate it,” she snaps back. “And you don’t have any better ideas.”
I hold out a hand to her to calm the room before things get out of hand. “Perhaps we save it as an option for later. If everything fails.”
“It’s not going to,” Devin mumbles. “The first trial went well, and the second one is next week. There are plenty of compatible women for King Cyrus?—”
“Is that true?” Edwin asks from down the table. “Have you already sensed any matches?”
I meet his gaze. Heat prickles my skin at what should be a simple question. The beast quivers in the back of my mind before I slam down a wall between us. “Yes, I believe so. Though, it’s too early to tell for certain.”
“We’ve had more women pass the first trial than we originally anticipated,” Devin tacks on, and I try not to glare at him as he continues, “It’s very promising. After the third trial, we should know with absolute certainty which ones will be able to wear and wield the Blood Ring.”
“Yet we aren’t sure if just the Blood Ring on its own will be enough to open the throne room,” Sheri says, her arms now crossed over her chest. “Especially if the wearer hasn’t had years of training, nor enough magic to power the lock without both the Blood and Bone rings.”
“We worry about it one step at a time,” Devin bites back. “Unlocking the throne room and freeing Vue will give us the upper hand much more than trekking across the Dragon Lands, into enemy territory, infiltratingAaric’s castle as a spy, and praying to theGodswe can somehow find the moon dragon egg, steal it, and get it to hatch.”
“Devin,” I snap in warning. He’s always struggled handling his temper. These days, it seems even more so. Anyone in the room can recognize the redness blooming in his cheeks, even outside the elevated pitch in his voice. He turns to me, thick eyebrows bunched, but quiets.
After fixing him with a look, I glance back at Sheri. “If this plan doesn’t work?—”
“You mean if you kill another woman you select as his wife to test your theory on?” Sheri asks.
I’ve worked over the last century to keep myself from flinching every time it’s mentioned. Everyone knows now not to say her name.
I hold Sheri’s gaze. She’s always been a firm woman. Not even my power or position is enough to scare her from her own thoughts and feelings. There’s much to be said about someone of that nature. Part of me admires it. Even if sometimes it’s difficult.
“What I mean is, if any part of this plan fails, then we resort to yours. But I ask that you keep the utmost faith that itwillwork.” I rake my attention across every individual in the council. “And I ask that if you’re one to pray to the Gods, you do so. We’ll need all the help we can get. That said, this meeting is adjourned.” I push my chair back and stand.
Everyone shuffles out of their chairs, bowing before me, before they all disperse. Only Devin and I are left in the room when I turn to him. “While I agree with you, she has a point as well.”
“We don’t even need to consider it. Thiswillwork.” Devin grabs my arm and squeezes. “You have to trust in the process.”
I sigh, shaking my head and looking out the windows at a waterfall cascading down the Serahaven mountains.
Devin drops his grasp from my arm. Quietly adding, “I know you don’t like the trials, but if we don’t test them then more will die trying to wield the Blood Ring. That’ll be much more painful than anything else.”
“I know, I know,” I mumble, not wanting to think about it. “It feels wrong to shift all the responsibility to someone else, though. It should be me. I should be the one having to bear the pressure, pain, and risk of it all.”
“You’re in charge of enough,” he whispers. “You need to learn to share the burden. Maybe then you’ll truly find happiness.”
I turn to look at him. I’ve had glimmers of happiness throughout mylife. Though they’ve been quickly overshadowed by inevitability. The next looming duty. Of death that tends to surround me.
Devin bows, then makes for the door leading out of the dining room. As he reaches for the handle, he pauses, and glances at me over his shoulder. “As a reminder, you haven’t yet chosen a woman for tonight’s private dinner.”
