“It will be done,” he agreed. “The draft has been pulling soldiers. We’ll be ready.”
A roar split the air. Tsunami dove toward us, Breon and Nakos close behind. The smaller green let out another outraged scream, but the riderless female ignored him.
Horses and riders scrambled to clear the field as Elmo lunged.
Xzaphin cursed, struggling to keep his mount beneath him. “What is going on?!” he hissed.
The red dragon reached us just as Tsunami hit the ground. He whirled on her, tail flying above our heads. My horse spooked, bracing to run, and I hauled back on the reins, keeping my seat.
Tsunami let out a shriek, a wailing cry that pierced the air. Elmo answered with a deep roar that shook the fields. Horses neighed in fright, too close to the bickering beasts.
Where was Ronan—or Nienna? Anyone to explain these actions. Is this what Draconia dealt with all the time?
The blood-red tail slashed through the air again. Elmo tried to advance on Tsunami, pushing her toward the sky. She spread her wings, making herself appear larger. He mimicked her, reminding her that she was smaller. With a defiant scream, she threw a shower of embers, oil glands dripping with threat.
If they set the blasted field on fire, they would burn all of Reem.
I kicked my horse into action, galloping in a wide circle around them. Greaves kept close, putting his mount between me and the beasts. Scanning sky and ground, I didn’t see a black dragon—the missing Draconis Prince.
Tsunami’s gold eye locked on me.
She twisted, inadvertently slapping Elmo’s face with her tail as she honed in on me—a hawk sizing up its prey. Heart lurching into my throat, I pulled my horse to a stop and slid off its back. If there was anything I’d learned from Nienna, it was not to run when she did this.
Head hovering above the long grass, she stalked toward me like a cat. Elmo bellowed, advancing—but she stopped ten paces away and dropped her belly to the ground. Tucking her tail around her, she waited, nostrils flaring with deep, searching sniffs.
“King Kallias!” Mikal’s voice came from across the field.
Greaves stood beside me, glaring at the creature. “What’s her problem?”
I squinted, grinding my teeth as I held her stare. It was almost as if she were expecting something. But what? A snack? She’d had plenty of chances to bond with me, which I was thankful she hadn’t taken.
So why wouldn’t she leave me alone?
Baring her teeth in a yawn, her tongue flicked out to taste the air. She chomped down again with a huff, and let out an imploring series of clicks.
Elmo snapped at her wing. She tucked it closer, eyes narrowing on me.
“She wants something from me,” I murmured, leather reins biting into my palm.
“Aside from dinner?” Greaves grumbled, hand on his hilt, ready to take the beast on for my sake.
“Your Majesty.” Mikal jogged to a halt beside me, then crossed his arms over his chest. “At least she didn’t eat you.”
“She’s had plenty of opportunities. Where’s Prince Ronan?” I refused to take my eyes off her.
“Hunting with Orrin and Erwin. They’ll be back before dark.”
Her pupils flared as she sucked in another breath, sending dust scattering into the air.
“Do you know what she wants?”
“You?” he guessed with a shrug. “Do you sense her? Feel her inside your mind?”
I shot him a reproving glare. “My thoughts are my own.”
They always assumed she bonded me, her attention due to some magical tie I hid. With a sigh, I focused my attention inward, feeling for anything different, any emotions or threads that didn’t feel natural.
Nothing.
