Page 52 of Crown and Dragon

“King Durniad!” one of the human’s guards rushed toward Tahlia.

Marius started toward him, fuming.

“Stay,” Durniad ordered.

Marius held himself back as the guard moved Tahlia’s hair away from her ear.

“What is it?” Durniad spat as he studied Marius with a look that said he was deciding how to torture him.

“Her ears. She’s Fae.” The guard lifted his head and eyed Marius. “Him too.”

Durniad stepped forward, getting closer to Tahlia, who lay between him and Marius. “Hmm. Now why would the Fae be involved here? And how is my crown controlling them if their blood isn’t human?” His delighted grin made Marius’s skin crawl. “Perhaps I should rework my grand plan and make it even grander.”

He set his foot on Tahlia’s lower back and she grunted, likely her ribs paining her. Gods, Marius was going to kill Durniad very, very slowly when the right moment came. He savored the thought of it.

“Maybe they’re half-breeds like Syonia,” the guard said.

“Ah.” Durniad clicked his tongue. “That would explain it. Let’s test this out, shall we?”

Marius growled.

“Oooh, you are protective of her. She is your friend? No, I think she is more than that. Don’t Fae mate for life?”

“They mate casually, but they mate in another way for life,” the guard said, his distaste for Fae apparent in his sneer.

The feeling was mutual. Marius felt another growl building in the back of his throat.

“That’s what my Veilbury cousin told me anyway,” the guard said.

Durniad nodded at his knowledgeable guard. He removed his foot from Tahlia’s back. “Stand, half-breed.”

She did so with odd, jerky movements. So she was actually controlled by Durniad. The magic of the crown obviously wasn’t as overpowering on her as it was on the full-blooded humans. Marius weighed his ideas and how that could help them. He had to get her out of here before Durniad did something truly terrible. Marius knew he could take the guards and Durniad, but while Durniad had the crown, Tahlia was in serious danger. He didn’t dare attack. Not yet anyway.

Ragewing, if there is any way you can hear me, please let me know. We are in a tight spot and I might have to throw caution to the wind and ask you to charge in for a rescue.

There was no response. Damn the distance between them.

What could he do? Marius ground his teeth and bared his fangs. Durniad glanced his way and paled slightly as he adjusted his crown.

“Easy now,” Durniad said to Marius. “Don’t go feral on me.” He faced Tahlia.

Marius could only think to stall the madman, to give himself some time to come up with a plan.

“King Durniad,” Marius said, “why do you want this crown? Why this elaborate protection? What do you want of life?”

“Such big questions from an intruder. Listen, no one else has the stones to take what we, the people of Midhampton, need. We were the first human city to have art and high-level architecture on the continent. The first to begin trade with the east and north. We deserve to thrive and use this gift Fate has set in our laps. I do this for my people.” He fisted his hand and pounded it once against his barrel-like chest. “I was born to be their king and to bring them back to the top of the world. There will be no starving in our streets. No mistreated children or people worked to death. We will be as fat as pigs and as wealthy as our kings of old. We will be the center of civilization again and all will come to us for advice and to raise their level of living.”

“No one could fault you for lack of confidence,” Tahlia muttered.

“Do not speak, either of you. Unless I demand it.”

Marius acted at not being able to say another word, opening his mouth and pretending no sound would come.

Durniad eyed Tahlia with a detached look. “Break one of your fingers,” he commanded.

Marius’s stomach dropped. His entire mind focused on murder. He would bleed this man dry.

Tahlia’s lips pressed tightly together. She gripped her left pinkie finger and Marius held his breath.

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