“How?Howcould he have taken on so many?”
Ifelt my claws extend from my fingertips, ripping into the stone beneath them. “Treachery.Hecame, claiming peace, wanting to negotiate a truce.Somany dragons had already been killed, but still, we had not learned the wickedness of the fae.Hewas welcomed in.Myfather begged them not to, but they wouldn’t listen.Theythought that logic and the greater good would prevail.Thosefools.”Ishook my head.
“Ihad always heard there was a great battle and the valor ofKingObion.Butthere was no way he could have taken on a force of dragons like that.Whathappened?”
“Idon’t know.Theyordered my father away, saying he was too volatile.Bythe time we heard of the betrayal, it was too late.Meand him were now the last dragons in existence.”
Herface was grim. “That’swhy your father invitedHadeoninto the city that day.Retribution.”
“Ibelieve he saw it that way.Butthe cost was too high.”
“Wewill not repeat the mistakes of the past.”
“Ihave lived long enough to know that is never true, little bird.IknowIwill sacrifice whoever stands in my way to destroy him.”
“Abraxas.”Sheheld my cheek in her hand, stroking gently with her thumb, “I’veseen you choose your people time and time again.Whydo you doubt that now?”
“Yes, my people.DuringtheWarofFlames, the people of the dragon kingdom remained loyal.Evenhumans with lives so short, were willing to sacrifice themselves to save my people.Itwas the same in theRiverKingdomto the south.Thisis why we have always remained allies.Therest of the continent, however, can burn for allIcare.”
“Abraxas, you said so yourself.Thehumans and small folk of this world don’t care about war.Theycare about their own daily survival.Youcannot blame them for the crimes of generationspast.”Hereyes hardened. “Letus focus on the destruction of our true enemy.”
“Wisewords from one so young.Butwhat will happen to this world onceHadeonis gone,Iwonder?”
Sheshrugged. “Whatalways happens when the hydra loses a head?Anothergrows back in its place.”
“Youmake it sound like killingHadeonhas no merit, my love.”
“Oh, it has merit.Itwill feel damn good to squeeze the life out of him with my own hands.However,Iwon’t pretend it will solve all that ails with this world.”Shelet out a long sigh, then squeezed my hand. “Iunderstand why going to theTorrwill be painful for you, my king.ButPallasis right; there is no better place for us to go.It’sprotected, so we can figure out what needs to be done and how to destroy the node.Besides…”Shelooked out over the balcony to the west. “I’vebeen dreaming of it.”
Iraised an eyebrow at her. “Whatsort of dreams?”
Sheshook her head. “Allthe mushroomsIhave been taking muddled it, butIcan feel it.Itfeels like…”Shepointed to the barren land outside the city, the cursed place where my father had been slain.
“So, you do know it.Thecurse that theTorrwill hold.Youfelt how it seemed to suck the life from you.Itis worse for me.AttheTorr, the curse is tenfold.Noone can enter and survive.”
Shelooked thoughtful, and then a mischievous smirk entered her eyes. “Nofae can enter and survive.”Sheleaned into me and planted a soft kiss on my cheek. “Leavethis to me.”
Shemoved to hop down whenIsnagged her around the waist, pulling her body against mine and pressing my tongue into her mouth.Shesurrendered immediately, running her fingers through my hair.Ifelt her grip down, trying to take control as she claimed my mouth with her own.Ifought back, and she bit down on my lip hard.Ihissed andpulled away.
Sheflashed me that wicked grin. “Notinterested in playing a little rough?”
“Princess, it’s timeIreminded you who the god is here.”Iwrapped my arms around her waist tightly and shifted our weight over the edge of the balcony.
“Abraxas, what are y—”Buther eyes widened, and she screamed asIpushed our weight over the edge, and we plummeted towards the city below.
Fora moment longer,Iheld her in my arms, reveling in her panic as she clung to me, arms around my neck.ThenIfound that power through her that had been kept away from me for so long.Inthe space of two heart beats,Ichanged, my wings stretching out behind me, slowing our descent.Shestill clung to my neck, but now she rested between my wings, her warm skin pressed against the scales of my back.Istretched my neck and tail asIsoared over the city.
Herbreathing started to regulate.Don’tyou ever fucking do that again!Shescreamed at me while she still clung to me with all her strength.
Ilaughed.Youhad it coming, little bird.
Domineeringreptile.
Icould still feel her rage, but it slowly faded, and her grip relaxed.Sheheld me with her thighs and released her hands, arms spread wide.Thewind surrounded her, andIknew she felt the same joy that the sky brought me.
I’vegot something to show you, little bird.
Chapter 49
