Page 111 of Wings of Destruction

Indeed, it tracks. The dragons have not been the same since Ragnar the Red died.

It happened back before Lochlain was crowned king, when he was nothing but a prince, and the loss of his dragon came as pure shock. He’d been chosen by a mount early. Specific dragon bloodlines have been tied to the crown for generations. Lochlain and his mount bonded early, only for the dragon to die young.

That kind of loss⁠—

My lungs tighten. I can’t imagine how it feels, and I don’t want to.

“Is there anything we can do now?” I scoot closer to the edge and stare over. “Some move to make?”

Mozi creeps toward my back until his chest plate presses to me. Both of us need it.

What we are doing, Kieran. We stay the course, and we get stronger until we are able to make a move. Patience is not your forte. I understand that but you have to trust me. I know things. When the time is right, I will let you know, and we will adjust.

Patience? Does anyone claim it as a forte?

“It’s a skill I’ve had to cultivate,” I correct him. The note burns my palm and I stuff it inside my leathers, disgusted.

The personal note from Roman warns me not to be too comfortable where I am. If we’re not careful, my “lack” will draw him here, and then we’re all ruined. He’ll hold my feet over the coals and those with us will join me.

It might not be obvious now, but there is a plan. Mozi sounds agitated. Your father growing closer to the king might be something for us to use⁠—

“Use?” I blurt out. “No. It’s dangerous.”

“What’s dangerous?”

Mozi snarls just as Evie slips to my side, far enough away from the edge to keep from seeing the view. She blinks long lashes up at my dragon and smiles like she is the pure maiden capable of taming wild beasts.

If she senses his agitation, his hatred at being surprised this way, she ignores it.

Curse her to the Void. What’s she doing and what does she want? The words are right there, a demand for her to leave and take a hint. What good are they?

Evie will never listen. Insulting her will only make worse problems for me. She’s close enough for the breeze to trail haunting fingers of her perfume right under my nose. I choke on the sugary-sweet scent and my stomach churns.

I say none of those things to her.

“Nothing for you to worry about, E.” I don’t move. “What are you doing?”

She tilts her head to the side in an obvious gesture. “I came looking for you.” She shudders. “I just don’t know how you can stand to be out here, Kieran. Doesn’t it make you nervous to dangle yourself over the edge this way?”

And there goes the peace.

Mozi snaps his jaws lightly at Evie, who ignores the click of his fangs.

I flash her a bitter smile. “I’m a thrill seeker, I guess.”

Wrong thing to say, Mozi says.

Rather than dissuading Evie, the words stoke something inside her, and she presses closer to my side. She moves past the literal dragon like she’s going to steal his treasure, and drapes herself over my spine.

“We never got a chance to speak after you pushed me out of your room,” Evie whispers against my ear. “I’m a fan of playing hard to get but you know I always get what I want.”

I just can’t deal with her advances. I’m sick and tired of hearing about how we will be together, how our union will join our families…

Given time, she’ll launch into the same spiel as usual. I can almost predict word for word what will come out of her mouth.

If she feels the way I shudder in revulsion, she says nothing about it.

I hate it, mostly because I already know it will happen exactly the way Evie describes. That’s the kicker for me. No matter how badly I rage against it, the inevitable has a way of crashing down on your head and mocking your preparation.