Page 19 of Tortured

You are deserving of the honor, Seren says. You are noble and brave, Kenrik. Don’t ever undermine your worth.

Court attendants flock to the courtyard as Seren lands. My heart swells to see Kelyn here with Mother and Father.

Arms greet me. Mother’s tears wet my cheek as we embrace. Father grips my arms hard as if he doesn’t want to let go.

Kelyn claps me on the back. “He’s returned. We feared the worst.”

I squeeze him until he gasps.

Whoa. I need to watch my strength.

“I’m alive, at least,” I say. “I’m sorry I made you worry. I’m sorry I left the way I did.”

“What happened to you?” Kelyn asks. “We searched the kingdom.”

A lot. So much.

“Tiwlip left,” Mother says through her tears. “She was so worried.”

I frown. Hurting Tiwlip is something I never wanted to do. “I have a long story to tell, but first we must say farewell to Seren.”

She patiently waits as my family swarms me. Several children have snuck up to her and are stroking her tail, but Seren doesn’t seem to mind.

Kelyn turns to her. “You must leave us?”

“Yes, Prince Kelyn,” Seren says. A lump forms in my throat with her gentle words. “My place is in Gorlassar. Niawen is safe, so I can return without worry.”

“Safe?” Kelyn asks. The concern I hear and feel from him is strong. I must not forget that he is wrestling with a broken heart as well.

I put my hand on Kelyn’s shoulder. “I’ll fill you in.” I turn to Seren. She dips her head, and I wrap my arms around her long neck. Thank you for coming for me.

I will not cry in front of my family. My stomach clenches, trying to hold my emotions back.

I swear Seren’s toothy dragon mouth smiles. You know what to do with my dragon stone?

I swallow. I’ll see that it gets to its rightful owner.

Thank you. Seren rams her head into my chest in what I take as an affectionate nuzzle. I curl around her and smooth my hands over her scales.

She is so warm, so warm that I wish I could send her to Niawen to protect her from the winter chill.

Niawen is strong and brave, and she will not be cold forever, Seren says.

After farewells, Seren flies into the sky, shrinking into a dot. My family and I watch her from the courtyard until we can see her no more.

The last time I saw her do that, she was carrying Niawen away from me.

I never want to see another dragon fly off.

My shoulders droop as my family and I make our way to the palace. “Though I fear my visit will be short-lived, I have much to tell you.”

“She found you, then,” Kelyn says. “Seren told me Niawen would look for you when you were missing.”

“Yeah, Niawen found me.”

Chapter 10

I exhale a breath as Kelyn drags his hands down his face. “There you have it. My harrowing tale.”

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