Page 94 of Beautiful Beast

Terror gripped me even as the Heirs tensed. I sensed they would have roared if they weren’t waiting for the next words.

Eloith’s tinkling laughter was a balm. And which one of us has not done something reckless in our youth, Beimani? The damage has already been done. I see no harm in letting a mortal live among us for the short time she is alive. Our plans will not be altered.

I blinked. I had a dragon on my side. Only one, as far as I could tell, but it was one more than I had expected.

We cannot trust that she will not turn against us as her ancestors did. As it is, she has already seen too much. Even one human among us could do untold damage.

Other Elders nodded their head in agreement, and the members of the dragon court all agreed too. Nausea swirled in my stomach. I had to do something, and I had to do it now, or all four of us would perish in one way or another.

Dropping Endre’s hand, I stepped forward once again. “I will make you a vow.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

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SIRRUS

My heart stopped as Lena stepped away from me.

“I will make you a vow.”

Every eye locked on her. My fragile little human. And I swore the air grew tight with interest and malice. We had allies, few as they were. I saw them in the crowd with small signs of sympathy on their faces. But they weren’t enough to make a difference, and to voice that opinion could lead to their death.

As much as I wanted to scream at them to speak up, I couldn’t blame them.

Lena lifted her chin, ever the proud princess, and stars, I loved her.

The brand new thought didn’t feel strange. Because of course I loved her. How could I not love her? This brave princess who was willing to marry a monster and die if her people required it. This mortal woman whose death would no doubt destroy me, whether it was now or in fifty years.

“I will make you a vow,” she said again. “However you need me to do it to prove it is the truth and make it binding. I will never intentionally harm a dragon. It is not and has never been my goal. There are many humans who want peace and wish things could go back to the way they were. Those who pass down the stories of what it was like to be allies of the dragons and not enemies. Please.”

Her last word shattered my heart. Softer and just a little broken. Without it, there would be no sign that she was afraid. She stood in front of a host of dragons with nothing but a dagger strapped to her thigh, and she was beautiful.

We could merely command you to do such a thing, human.

“As you have repeatedly reminded me, I am human. My instincts do not bow to yours. You cannot command me as you do your subjects.”

Pride swelled in my chest. A lesser mortal would never dare to defy them or would simply believe Mizyn’s bluff. I couldn’t help but smile.

If dragons could command humans, the war would not have happened. They would have simply bound the humans they gave the magic to with a command to never turn it back on them. None of our history would exist.

Varreo turned his gaze directly on me, dripping with anger and disgust. My sire could feel however he wanted. I didn’t care. The world would be a better place if he had faded long ago.

“But I will vow it.” She looked at Idroal. “Is there a way to make it binding?”

“Not magically, no.”

Lena paled, but straightened her shoulders as she faced the Elders and the crowd. “What will you accept?”

Hissing steam, Varreo lowered his head nearly to the ground, extending his neck way too fucking close to Lena. You speak as if it is a foregone conclusion we will accept this vow. From a species that is weak and disloyal.

“You could have killed me the moment I appeared,” she said quietly. “But you have not.”

I could kill you now.

“If you do so, you will no longer have an Heir,” I snarled.

Blood and flame, Eloith said. I myself will accept a vow of blood and flame.

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