Page 128 of Only Flames Remain

“Very well.” Queen Dyata gathered her elaborate skirts and turned toward the door.

“Wait—”

She raised her brow at me as she stopped in her tracks.

“How long are you going to keep me down here? You surely can’t hold me prisoner forever…”

She laughed at this, a flush rising to color her pale cheeks. “Oh, child. You will agree to my terms one way or another. That is the only way for you to get out of this cell. Kallias has agreed, and he will not be visiting you until you have accepted the terms.”

“How do I know you aren’t lying? That you didn’t make something up to placate him, to keep him away. Like you did when you sent me to Gothryn?” I asked, gripping the iron bars so hard my knuckles turned white.

Queen Dyata chewed her lip thoughtfully before returning her gaze to mine. “It’s like you said, dear. He is an awful lot like his mother.”

With that, she gathered her skirts and left. The wooden door groaned as it shut behind her.

There was nothing left to be said.

I would remain in this cell until I agreed to marry Prince Kallias.

It was a good thing I knew more about poisons than anyone else in this godsforsaken kingdom.

When the guards came to administer my next dose…I had a plan.

CHAPTER 39

Sorin

They always said if dragons flew to war…everything would burn.

They were right.

Myros wanted to paint me the villain, and I would give them one.

I was driven by ancient magic to fly across the sea.

Rensford had tried to stop me, but I was sky bound before he could even draw his sword. With King Mavros too weak to shift forms, the only ones who had any hope of catching me were Emrys, Valerian, or a member of the Shadowed Order.

And the order was too far away, still nestled safely in the Veil of Shadows.

Valerian had no hope of catching me. His shifted form was too small, his wings too compact. He didn’t have the stamina.

Emrys had held my tail for a distance, but even he was no match for the bond thrumming though my veins, drawing me toward Myros to claim my mate.

Greer had one last vision before I had taken flight—and it was up to me to put a stop to it. Before it was too late.

Aveline, standing before Kallias in front of the Myrosian throne. Her slight body adorned in a beaded white gown. Kallias in a matching white suit beside her. Their hands were clasped together as they performed the ceremony of joining from the old gods.

The ceremony that would join not only their lives but their magic.

Whatever power Aveline had running in her veins, the Ashbourne royals wanted it. Whether it was to further their own kingdom or protect them in the war to come—it didn’t matter. They would not use her and cast her aside as if she were merely chattel.

Kallias Ashbourne was not her destiny…the old gods made sure of that.

I needed to put a stop to the vision before it came to fruition. The sun had only just descended beyond the horizon in Greer’s vision, nightfall blanketing the lands as autumn swept in. As I soared toward Myros, the sun had already begun its descent in the sky.

The clock was ticking down.

I should have fed before leaving—to be at my full strength as I descended upon Myros. But there had been no time to spare.