Page 34 of Microburst

I immediately found Benson, glad when it was obvious he was off shift. I told my guards I was in for the night and I was with him so it was fine.

He frowned but nodded to them that he would cover me until I was back in my suite so to not worry. It might seem crazy that I would even need guards in my own castle—and a lot of times I didn’t—but with the amount of threats I’d dealt withinmy castle, I would have a death wish not to have people watching my back.

“I need you to get me to Darren,” I told him quietly. I watched as an array of emotions played over his face starting with confusion because he thought at first I didn’t know he had already flown out.

Yeah, of course I knew that. Why else would I approach apilot?

I fisted the front of his sweater when he opened his mouth to argue. “Listen to me clearly. Get me there and make it quiet or I will get there myself and it will be a mess that cannot be cleaned up, savvy?”

He swallowed loudly, fully understanding I would use Eloise to do it. He studied my eyes for a minute. “How bad?”

I let him go. “I don’t know but…” I frowned. I felt off. Almost like that charge of magic I had experienced after my parentshad died that seemed to come from the castle itself if I had to pinpoint it. “I need to get to him before—please?”

He shocked me by leaning in and brushing his lips over my temple. “Don’t make me regret it. Slip out and get to the second hanger. I’ll tell them I want to test the updates myself on a night flight.”

“Thank you,” I breathed, ignoring how my body reacted to the intimate gesture. I raced off to change and then told the guards at my door I was just going to work in my father’s study and a detail wasn’t needed. That was right by the security room, so they didn’t think anything of it which was perfect.

But they were also kind of dense because I never went there and that should have clued them in.

“They shouldn’t question their queen and you're allowed to have your space,”Iris defended.“You gave them cover for their jobs. They’re not your babysitters or keepers.”

Fair enough.

I shouldn’t have been surprised when Belinda was waiting for me where I was sneaking out, but there was another ancient with her… One I hadn’t even had the chance to meet yet.

“It’s really getting embarrassing that I haven’t met any of them yet, Belinda,” I said, dipping my head to the ancient.

“I apologize you’ve felt that way, but it’s been atourrequest, child,” the ancient said.

I shot him a look and let him feel my power. “You are in my home, addressing the leader of the nation you are a citizen of. I love and defer to Belinda and she knew me as a child. You haven’t even shown me the basic manners of giving me your name. Do not refer to me as that again, savvy?”

He chuckled and extended his hand to me. “Modren, Your Majesty. My name is Modren.”

I raised an eyebrow and accepted it, frowning when I felt something odd and like a tingle almost when his skin touchedmine. It made me want to pull away, but I realized it was some sort of test. “Why are you letting a spirit dragon test me somehow?”

“Truly a gift from the gods,” he breathed, shock covering him like a blanket almost.

“I told you,” Belinda chuckled. “You will stay and help?”

“Yes, and the boy. He needs guidance. I have not seen one with such raw potential in many centuries. He—he carries a great burden and has no idea he is different. It breaks my heart.”

“Hello?” I growled and yanked my hand away.

Belinda gave me a look but then sighed when I tried to walk away. “You’re right, I’m sorry. Now—we’re coming to help.” She fell in step with me when I didn’t say anything. “We can take the time to work on things and I will explain. I didn’t mean to poke when you have things bothering you.”

“Thank you,” I accepted.

Plus, there was no need to sneak anywhere with her magic. It would make everything easier. She covered us and we walked right to the plane without anyone seeing us.

Once we were on it though, I gave them a look to start talking.

She licked her lips. “Your aunt told you that the royal family used to have mystic dragon advisors, yes?” She waited until I nodded. “Do you know why?”

“No, the writings I saw were vague,” I answered honestly.

“Saw or were allowed to look at?” she checked.

Something weird raced through me. Not fear, but… I wasn’t sure. “Father kept more secrets from me? Shocker.”