“Kane is a beast. Ravenna is trapped in a horrible situation, and I should have felt for her, not resented her.”
“It’s easier said than done when your body and blood are making you half mad with love and longing.” Isavelle gives me a gentle smile. “You’re like me, aren’t you, Zenevieve? An Omega. I’ve noticed something in your scent.”
“I’m not a proper Omega. If I was, you wouldn’t have to ask. I’ve never been in heat. I don’t think I ever will be.” Frustrated tears crowd onto my lashes, and I swipe them away. “Why can’t one thing just be easy? I always thought that Alphas and Omegas had it easy. They’re meant for each other. They fit together. One breath of the other’s scent, and everything is meant to be certain. Stesha and I did nothing but cause each other pain for years and years.”
“If it’s any comfort, it wasn’t easy for Zabriel and me either, but we got there. I didn’t recognize Zabriel as my mate, but he was so patient with me. Has Stesha been patient with you?” she asks with a concerned wrinkle of her brow. “I hope he has been. The dragonmaster isn’t known for those qualities.”
“Stesha has always been patient and understanding with me. He said he doesn’t care what my designation is. He just wantshis mate.” I watch a little hatchling frisk around my fingers. “But he did hurt me. Back in Old Maledin, every time we were drawn to each other, he panicked and felt like he was betraying some unknown woman. Have you heard of lavish sickness?”
Isavelle shakes her head, and I explain what it is and what it did to me as her eyes grow wider and wider.
“How terrible,” she exclaims when I’m done. “The two of you have had such an awful time. I had no idea.”
“It’s been torture, but I don’t blame Stesha. It was Emmeric’s fault. Somehow,” I add with a mutter. I wish I knew how he poisoned me, for it must have been him.
Queen Isavelle thinks for a moment. “It would be tempting to blame Stesha for what happened. He was the one who gave in to his desires and then pushed you away so forcefully.”
“He hurt me, but he was in a rut. Alphas can do foolish things when they are in their ruts.”
“They can indeed,” Isavelle agrees dryly.
“I only want him and no one else. That part is easy. It’s the rest that continues to be a torment.”
There has been no sign of Emmeric since the attack on his southern stronghold. No word of a dark sorcerer or undead roaming the land. Everything feels oddly quiet. Too quiet. I don’t believe that we’ve seen the last of Emmeric, the so-called Shadow King.
And I’m right, but when the news comes, there is not the great battle with much blood and death that I was anticipating.
Zabriel and Isavelle send for Stesha and me, and we meet with them in one of the royal sitting rooms. Sunshine is playing on the dragon banners, which are stirring in a gentle breeze.
The king sits forward, his red eyes darting between the two of us. “I have something to tell you both. I wanted you to hear this from myself and the queen.” He looks hard at us for a moment, and then says bluntly, “Emmeric is dead.”
A shocked silence follows his statement. I look at Stesha, wondering if he had any idea about this, but his face is serious and somber, and his brows are drawn together.
“How?” Stesha asks.
“When?” I say at the same time.
Zabriel takes a deep breath. “A group of former witchfinders located Emmeric, and they proposed a plan to kill him. A quiet, dragonless plan, using wingrunners to help them draw close to him, and magic to contain him. The plan was a success. We were able to kill him.”
“He’s… He’s dead?” I ask faintly.
“He is,” Isavelle says, looking between me and Stesha with worry in her eyes, but mainly at me. “I’m sorry that we weren’t able to tell you beforehand, but we needed secrecy, and we didn’t know if the plan would work. How do you feel?”
Stesha reaches out and seizes my hand. I gaze at our intertwined fingers. “I don’t know,” I say truthfully.
Isavelle nods. “I only briefly knew the man who was once Zabriel’s brother, but you both flew with him. Fought beside him. Were betrayed by him. This must be difficult news for you to hear.”
I shake my head. “It’s just so sudden.”
Stesha’s reply is harsh and blunt. “Emmeric made it impossible for anyone to like him. He was cruel toward my mate when they were trainee dragonriders, long before he crossed paths with the lich. If we have few words to offer, it is because we are shocked by this news.”
“I apologize that we were so clandestine about this,” Zabriel says. “The warlocks of Maledin urged us to approach him quietly, without the aid of the dragon army.”
“He is dead by whose hand?” Stesha asks.
“Mine,” Zabriel says.
My mate turns to me, examining my face. I give him a small nod, telling him I’m all right, and I’m glad that Zabriel was the one to do it. The king understands better than anyone what Emmeric has put us all through.
