Page 73 of A Court of Darkness and Dragons

My stomach turned cold, bile clawing up my throat. “But dragons do die. They can live thousands of years, yes, but they do die of old age, eventually. I mean, if there wasn’t a war.”

His expression flickered, just for a moment, and I caught it—a flash of frustration.

I stepped forward, pointing at him as if I could spear him with the truth. “That’s why you didn’t annihilate them. You need them to breed. To produce more dragons. Yours will die eventually, and⁠—”

“Yes,” he cut in, his voice biting. “But dragons are a renewable resource. I have allowed the horde to reproduce, yes. But if you restore the black dragons’ fertility, we could enslave them all.”

My chest tightened, horror pouring through me like ice water. “You can bind another dragon when yours begins to decline from age.”

He smiled thinly, but his eyes glowed with venom. “In truth, our dragons age faster than their colored brethren. My own dragon will reach the end of his life in the next few years.”

My blood chilled, my voice barely a whisper. “You’re consuming them.”

“Of course,” he purred, as though it were expected. “They are a power source. A commodity.”

I felt Kaelith’s rage coil in my mind, a storm barely leashed. He dares.

I lifted my chin, trying to keep my voice steady. “Where should I have Kaelith land?”

The walls around us rippled like smoke before dissolving into mist, leaving us standing in an open courtyard lit only by a false sky. My stomach twisted. “Is any part of this castle real?”

Veralin’s laugh slithered through the air, hollow and cruel. “This castle is a construct of my mind. It is anything I want it to be.”

A roar split the sky, fierce and familiar, vibrating down my bones. Kaelith. She dropped from the storm above, wings snapping wide before she landed with earth-shaking force. Dust and shadow scattered in the wake of her arrival. Hein’s massive form descended beside her, his scales glinting in the muted light.

Veralin’s lips curled into a greedy smile. “I think I have found my next dragon.”

Ice poured through me. “Hein is bonded to Zander.”

Veralin’s red eyes flickered like embers. “Dragon bonds can be unmade… if I wish it.”

No. My heart slammed in my chest. Kaelith—does that mean…?

Her voice rang out in my mind. Yes. He has the power to release every dragon bound to him and his people.

The world tilted beneath me. What do we do? I whispered, my words meant only for her.

We get that key of yours into the throne, Kaelith answered, her tone heavy with urgency. I have no idea what that artifact is—or how to use it, but that is the only way to end his reign.

My fingers brushed the chain around my neck, the key heavy against my chest as if it were burning a hole straight through me. My choice. My bloodline. My doom… and maybe our salvation.

I glanced at the shadow consuming Zander. I couldn’t see him, but I could feel him. He didn’t need to say anything. I already knew.

We had one chance.

My hands trembled, not with fear, but with fury so great I thought it might tear me open.

But my hand slid to the hilt at my thigh, fingers curling around the dagger’s familiar weight. My pulse thundered in my ears, and my eyes never left Kaelith. She was as still as stone, coiled like a predator waiting for my command. Veralin was watching her too, hunger flaring in those terrible red eyes as he stepped closer, his greed so apparent it made my stomach turn.

Now, Kaelith urged, fire threading through her voice.

I didn’t give myself time to think. I barely spared him a glance before I ripped the dagger free and hurled it. The blade spun in a flash of steel, aimed straight at Veralin’s skull.

At the last instant he ducked—but not fast enough. The dagger grazed his temple, carving a crimson streak across pale skin. He snarled, his composure shattering as he stumbled forward, robes tangling around his legs.

That was all I needed.

I bolted, every muscle screaming as I sprinted for the throne. Behind me, Veralin roared, the sound shaking the courtyard like thunder. Shadows writhed around Zander, smothering him, but as I neared the throne, they unraveled in tatters, hissing as though burned by my presence.