“Yes! She said she was spell bound and she couldn’t say who she was or reveal her true form or leave the castle!” I replied.
His eyes widened in stunned disbelief, the color draining from his face as the weight of it settled in. For a split second, he looked like something inside him had fractured—like the last fragile illusion he’d carried about his father had finally shattered. The realization was deeper than shock; it was devastation, hollow disappointment that there had never been any good left to salvage.
"My father cast a forbidden bind?” His voice dropped dangerously low. “Where are they now?” He asked sharply.
“They left, probably already in the air back to their kingdom. We have to evacuate the kingdom or something!!!” I pleaded with urgency.
He got out of bed and whipped his bedding back in anger. “And where do you suggest we go Princess, please tell me with all your infinite wisdom, who would take us in? The Kingdom of Terrain was our last chance at an alliance, and soon they will be marching in on us for Folliade’s revenge. It doesn’t matter now whether I can convince the council to free the slaves or not before the deadline the other kingdoms gave us, because we will all already be dead!”
His flames erupted, singeing his shirt off in threads. “FUCKKK!” he shouted and threw a wine glass at the wall.
“Don’t you get it? All three kingdoms are coming and they will destroy us, and there is nothing I can do. Fire-kind will die, our dragons will die…I am just like him, worse than him!... I failed...everyone.”
He dropped to his knees and covered his face.
I rushed to my mate’s side and held him. I wrapped my arms around him, and his bare skin was almost too hot to the touch. I couldn’t tell if he was crying—he would never let me see if he was, but I held him anyway and gently stroked his back.
“You are nothing like him, Titus, you tried to be better, there must be something we can do.” I said encouragingly.
“We are far too outnumbered; it will be a slaughter.” He slumped into his hands.
The shame he wore on his face killed me.
“Then we go to mount Orid, let’s get the dagger and free the God Dragon, no one would dare invade you then.” I suggested, but I said it like an order.
He lifted his head and looked at me lovingly. “No, I can’t lose you too.”
Hisvoice was sweet and fragile, almost making me reconsider— but I couldn’t let my friends die. I couldn’t let the dragons be sent to their slaughter by warring Fae. I could do something.
“A month ago, you were practically forcing me to go,” I shouted.
“A month ago, things were different, WE were different!” He scolded, and his words warmed my heart.
Yes, he was different. He was not the complicated Danny/Titus blend that he is now. But I was different too. I was stronger, braver, and more confident. I could communicate with dragons, andI could do this.
“There’s no other way Titus!” I shouted.
“But, my shield…what if I fail at that too?—I won’t be able to live with myself.” He replied with so much emotion that my brain had a tough time registering that his words came from his mouth.
“I believe you, I believeinyou…Titus.” I declared.
He closed the distance between us, and in an instant, he snatched me up in his arms. He pressed his lips firmly on mine, and I held him tightly around his neck.
“Are you sure you want to do this?” he asked.
“I meant what I said, … I would burn for you, Titus.” I whispered lovingly.
He looked at me like he wanted to forbid it, like every instinct in him screamed to lock me away and burn the mountain down himself. His smile was pained with love and regret. I knew he didn’t want this. But this was my choice, my life to risk, and I choose to save them all. With quiet devastation in his voice, he sighed, “Then you need to select a dragon from the keep.”
CHAPTER 36
Friend
DELILAH
The dragon’s keep was never truly silent. Even at night, it breathed. The air of the cavern held low rumbles , the scrape of talons against stone and the slow exhale of smoke through massive lungs. I stepped into the cavern beneath the castle. The moment I crossed the threshold dozens of massive heads lifted in unison, eyes glowing in shades of amber, gold, red, and molten white.
I swallowed. I had no idea if this was going to work. I was operating on instinct alone nowadays.
