Page 110 of Blood of the Stars

When he drew close, he had a moment of panic, recognizing that the dragon could easily take him out before he ever reached Daisy. He imagined Enla having seen this potential future, having hoped it wouldn’t happen. He could hear her telling people afterward, explaining how Gaeren’s pride was the thing that had taken him out in the end.

His progeny mentors had always taught him that courage without fear was pride. The only time one wounded Gaeren in a duel was because he was proving that very point.

Which was why Gaeren knew Enla would be wrong in her assessment. It couldn’t be pride rushing him closer to death, because he was terrified.

Durriken’s gaze snapped to Gaeren, the beast’s eyes narrowing. As Gaeren reached Daisy, the beast opened his mouth. Gaeren leaned over, grabbing on to Daisy by the arm and yanking her up over his horse. She screamed in protest, but it sounded like she spoke the name of her companion.

Gaeren felt the heat of Durriken’s breath, the roar of fire erupting behind him. He didn’t look back to see if Daisy’s friend survived.

She twisted on top of the horse, attempting to pull herself upright on the horse.

“You’re an idiot! I can’t believe you interfered like that.”

His mouth swung open, and his fear flipped to irritation. “What? I just saved your life.”

Skunk practically flew through the eastern gate in his rush to escape the dragon.

The woman finally got herself seated as if riding one of Enla’s ridiculous side-saddles, and the brown waves surrounding her face shifted to short black braids, her upturned nose lifted even higher with her disdain. “You probably killed Sylmar. Maybe Aeliana too, not that she really matters.” She muttered the last part, forcing Gaeren to strain to hear her words.

“You’re not…what happened to Dai—Aeliana?”

The woman eyed him strangely. “The dragon probably just ate her. Who are you, anyway?” They reached the forest line, and the woman launched off the horse’s back before Gaeren could answer her question or come to a full stop.

Within moments he was surrounded by half a dozen armed men and women. When arrows trained on his chest, he held his palms up in surrender as Skunk did a nervous dance.

“Well? Who are you?” the woman asked again. “And why are you here?”

“I’m a friend. I’ve come to rescue Daisy, daughter of the priestess Emeris.” He directed his answer to the woman but spoke loud enough for everyone to hear. “I was charged with her safety over fourteen years ago, and I mean to see it through.” Admitting the truth out loud felt good, but it also sounded childish, symbolic of the age he’d been when he’d made such a promise.

“I recognize you,” another woman called out, her voice filled with disdain. “He’s Prince Gaeren of Elanesse.”

The first woman’s eyebrows rose, and Gaeren gave her a sheepish grin. “Doesn’t mean I’m your enemy.”

A man stepped forward, crossing his arms over his vest and nearly bare chest. Fish hooks hung from his ears, and his head looked newly shaven. “Tie him up.”

Two others rushed to do the man’s bidding, pulling Gaeren down off his horse.

“We’ll let Sylmar decide what to do with him,” the man said. “I have five silver notes that say he’ll feed him to Durriken.”

The last thing Gaeren saw before a bag was thrown over his head was the man holding up a webbed hand ready to collect money, and the last thing he heard before losing consciousness was the man’s laughter.

CHAPTER 46

“Run, Aeliana.” Sylmar’s growl forced her head back around to face Durriken, whose flames had barely missed them both. “The dragon will take you to her. Run!”

Aeliana blinked, shaking her head. She still saw the image of the blur of a man on horseback stealing away Kendalyhn, who remained cloaked in Jasperus’ illusion. “He can’t take me. He can’t fly.”

She held out her shaky right hand once more, the ache in her left shoulder throbbing even worse than before. But now that Kendalyhn was no longer posing as Aeliana, Durriken’s wary gaze rested on her. Sylmar inched his way to the side, and the dragon flicked a lazy glance the old man’s way.

“He knows what you’re doing,” she said. “He’s smarter than you think.” After seeing his memories, it was clear he wasn’t the mindless beast bent on destruction that they’d made him out to be.

Sylmar didn’t respond, just crept his way closer to the dragon, who no longer seemed to mind. It was as if he’d given up when his wings were torn.

“Promise me you won’t kill him,” Aeliana begged. Her hand nearly brushed Durriken’s snout once more, and the dragon sniffed again, probably unsure if he could trust his eyes after Jasperus’ trickery. “He’s branded by Mayvus just like my mother. It’s not his fault.”

When Sylmar reached for the dragon’s side, Durriken jerked upright, growling and snapping as he turned toward his right wing.

“No, Durriken!” Aeliana reached for his snout, but the beast had already moved. He inhaled deeply, Aeliana’s only warning for what was to come. She screamed, launching herself at Sylmar, who had dropped to the ground. Her sessions of self-defense, healing, and archery came back to her, all a waste in this moment when none of those things could help. She drew every ounce of energy from her blood, her starlock—even the deep well within her that she was always too afraid to access.

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