Page 12 of The Cursed Queen

"No, we never discussed it. Virgil was too busy trying to talk me out of getting too close to them." I didn't want to think about Virgil using magic to bend the minds of a shifter and willing it to carry him on their back. Virgil knew the truth and seemed just as horrified about it as I was, but did that mean he would surrender his upcoming promotion to Dragon Rider? I needed to see him again to find out where we stood, but I also needed time to regain my strength because it still felt like a mountain was pushing me to the ground.

"I'm sorry, Vivienne, I'm not feeling very well. Do you mind giving me some time to rest a bit more?"

"Are you sick? You took your medicine, right?" Vivienne looked toward the nightstand where the empty bottle fell over, but the proof that I took it was still clear.

"I think it's just from all the excitement of seeing the dragons. Maybe I had a burst of adrenaline and now I'm crashing."

"You did seem strange since coming back from seeing them. I'll see about getting you a special remedy to liven up your strength. Rest until I return."

"Thank you, I appreciate it."

I exhaled as soon as Vivienne left, feeling drained, but I had no time to relax. There was more information I needed to know. Unfortunately, the only person who could give it to me was Andriel. I'd need to see him again.

––––––––

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The sky was consumed by the dark of night when a knock sounded at my door. I hurried over and opened it a crack, relieved to see that it was Virgil. I huffed a breath before opening the door wider and letting him inside.

"This is madness," Virgil loudly whispered as he rushed inside, pacing back and forth with his hands running over his pale hair. "Tell me what we saw this morning actually happened?"

I leaned against the door and crossed my arms. "If what we saw happened? Oh, you mean the part where a dragon bathedin flames before revealing himself to have a human body? Yeah, that was real, unless you and I inhaled a dose of Ubole pollen and we're having the same hallucination."

Virgil froze in his steps to scowl at me. "Really? You think now is a good time for your quips?"

"It's better than thinking about how long this kingdom has been kidnapping and holding shifters captive. Or should we talk about how you've been training to hex and use one of them to do your bidding for the rest of your life?" I asked, my earlier panic and outrage creeping back up with a vengeance.

As he realized his part in this, Virgil looked as if he was going to be sick. At least I wasn't alone in feeling mortified. His disgruntled expression helped to dissolve some of the ire I felt. Plus, it wasn't his fault. Like me, Virgil never knew, and I also wanted to become a dragon rider. Now that dream was burning into a pile of ashes. Forever lost, but for the first time, I wasn't disappointed by it.

"We need a plan."

Virgil quirked a brow. "For what?"

"To set them free, Virgil. We can't continue to allow this to happen."

"Are you daft? You think we can set them all free?"

"We can't just leave them to be used as pawns."

I couldn't bear to let the ordeal continue now that I knew the truth. This wasn't where they belonged. I was sure these shifters had lives that were interrupted and plucked away from them. Their homes, their families, their futures. All were taken by my mother and the very kingdom I called home. I couldn't allow it any longer.

Virgil brought his hands together in front of him as if to pray. "Sera, I understand where you're coming from, but there's no way we could set these dragons free with nobody noticing. They'll be attacked if your mother or the guards see them flyingoff. And we'll likely be caught and punished. Your mother will have my head for certain, and there's no telling what she may do to you."

There was truth in Virgil's words. To set the dragons free, it wouldn't be while trying to conceal our intentions. If I were to do this, I would directly have to go against my mother and the Zeffari Kingdom. I'd be branded a traitor. I'd lose everything—me, not Virgil, as I decided regarding him.

"Then I will do it alone," I declared. "I dare not risk your life in this endeavor."

"No," Virgil barked in protest. "Absolutely not. I will not have you doing this crazy mission alone."

"Then it's a good thing I'm not asking for your permission. I'm setting the dragons free alone and will suffer the consequences should they catch me."

"Your Highness, please. This is not the time to be irrational." Virgil stepped closer to me and took my hands in his, gripping them firmly to express his worry for my safety. I loved knowing how much he cared for me. Aside from Vivienne, he was the only one who did. Someone who saw me as more than the princess, or as someone too weak to learn magic, or to one day assume the throne as queen.

"You know what will happen if you're caught," Virgil spoke softly. "There's no question that your mother would consider it treason, which means the punishment you'll receive is—"

"Execution," I finished for him. "I'm aware, but I don't care. All that matters to me is releasing the shackles imprisoning these shifters."

My fingers interlocked with Virgil's the connection between us, causing my heart to tighten. "It's the right thing to do, Virgil."

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