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“Our mates are our treasures, and we hoard and covet them above all else.”
“Some would say that is a form of love,” I offer.
“It is… different. Our obsession with our mates is all-consuming and powerful, bordering on madness, even.” He arches a brow. “Many would argue that love is not a strong enough word for what a Dragon feels for their mate.”
“Then, why would he use it?” I frown. “Why would he say this word as he is leaving?”
“Because, as his advisor, I may have pointed out to him that it is a term familiar to your kind.” A smile curves his mouth. “One you cannot mistake for anything else in regard to his feelings for you. And one he should learn to use from now on.”
CHAPTER40
AURDYN
Cursed sky and seven hells! Why have I been cursed to love such a stubbornly, infuriating female! I release a stream of flame into the air, bellowing out another roar of frustration as I descend through the clouds.
Freyja will be the end of me. I just know it.
I do not understand why she refuses to become my mate. I saw our son in the vision gifted to me by the heart tree spirit. Surely she must have seen this as well.
My heart stops. Perhaps she did and that is why she refuses me now. Maybe the idea of becoming my mate and bearing my child are not something she wants. And yet… if that were true, why did she allow me to touch her after our visit to the temple?
I must have done something to upset her. But what? That is the only explanation that makes sense.
She has often referred to me as arrogant, and has never had issue speaking her mind to me before, so why does she not simply tell me what is wrong now? What it is about me that has somehow offended her.
My thoughts are interrupted by movement in the distance. Swooping down lower, I make my way toward it to investigate. As I dip in and out of the clouds, the image comes into sharper focus.
It is an army of men, carrying the banner of the Kingdom of Kolstrad. They march along the main road toward Florin—the Kingdom where Freyja’s cousin, King Edmynd reigns.
With my superior vision, I am able to stay far enough away that their pitiful human eyes cannot see me and yet close enough that I can study them further, and perhaps even determine their intent.
I’ve seen armies march to the aid of neighboring kingdoms, and perhaps that is what this is. Maybe the Dark Elves have finally decided to invade Florin and take it for themselves, and Florin has called upon the other human kingdoms to help defend their lands.
Kolstrad is the logical choice for this, since their kingdom is so close to Florin. If Florin were to fall to the Elves, it would be only a matter of time before they entered Kolstrad as well.
King Varys is a young king, like me, but I’d thought him more evenly tempered. If he is indeed behind a Dark Elf invasion, the humans must have done something truly unforgiving to warrant his invasion of their lands.
As I draw closer, something darts off to one side, drawing my attention. My gaze zeroes in and worry tightens my chest when I notice over a dozen Wraiths trailing behind Kolstrad’s army.
I blink several times, concerned that my eyes are deceiving me. The twisted, grotesque forms covered by dark hooded capes that blow in the wind as they hove above the ground. Their glowing red eyes glow like sinister beacons behind the soldiers.
Brovyn informed me there had been sightings of Wraiths, and so had the Dwarves, but I’ll admit I did not think it was this serious. Until now.
This does not make any sense. Wraith are a cursed form of life—a deadly and dangerous foe for any they encounter. As far as I know, they are more animalistic in nature than they are sentient; they cannot be controlled.
A booming voice echoes through the throng of footsteps, and the Wraiths line up in straight formation behind the army. Off to the side, I notice a Mage. The sickly gray pallor that marks his species, visible beneath his black robes. Judging by the decorative metal armor of the male on the horse beside him, he rides next to a human of importance. The standard draped across the back of his horse marking him as one of the royal family of Kolstrad. A closer look revealing it to be the Prince Aegryn.
Worry tightens my chest. Whatever this is, it is ominous. That the Mages are behind it, only confirms what I’ve always suspected of them. They are power hungry creatures, and their beneficent claim that they defend and protect the human realms is merely a way for them to take control and grab more power.
It occurs to me that I could warn Florin, if they are not already aware of this. But I am Dragon and my people have not had any dealings with their kingdom for many years. If I showed up, they would be likely to think I am there to attack their kingdom, and I’d rather avoid any black arrows for now.
I make a wide arc around the army to avoid detection and continue on toward Ithylian. As their kingdom comes into view, I notice the banner of the King flying high over the old ruins of Elysarin castle. It seems King Varys is not in the capital of Cyridil beneath his mountain, and I wonder why.
The Dark Elves suffered devastating losses, just as we did, in the last Great War. They abandoned their castle in Elysarin and made their home deep in the mountains, creating a new capital city for their people.
As I fly toward the banner, I wonder if, perhaps, they have decided to rebuild the ruined castle and move the capital back to Elysarin.
I drop down low, scanning the overgrown castle gardens and spot King Varys and his entourage waiting below. The blue-gray of their skin standing out in sharp contrast to the greenery that surrounds them. I narrow my eyes as I notice a female with long blond hair and pale skin standing beside Varys, wondering who she is and why she is here. Perhaps he has taken a High Elf as his mate.
