Page 57 of The Throne's Undoing

Nyrri tilted her head, leaning in as the queen stroked her snout. A breath of relief echoed down the line of warriors.

"We're not sure exactly," Ellie admitted. "She has some of the features of a wolf, such as her snout and paws. But she also has wings that span past the length of her body and the ruby red eyes of the dragons of old."

"Interesting," Cetia murmured, deep in thought.

"When we were in the tunnels beneath the Frenzian temple," Graeson explained, "we came across several animal and human carcasses inside cells."

"Human?" Cetia repeated, voice pitched in disbelief.

"Yes," Graeson began, but he paused as he scanned the crowd. He shifted on his feet. "We have been traveling a long time, Your Majesty. Perhaps we could discuss this inside?"

Ceita patted Nyrri's nose. "Of course. Where are our manners? Rooms have been prepared for you all, and dinner shall be served in a couple of hours," the queen said, waving Graeson and the others forward.

One of the nearby guards cleared her throat, causing the queen to halt.

"Your Majesty, what shall we do with..." the guard hesitated, her gaze flitting between the princess and the creature. "Nyrri?"

Cetia flicked a dismissive hand in the air. "Lizbeth and Phoenix, take Nyrri to the stables."

"The stables? But what about the horses?" the guard asked incredulously.

"Mother, the stables might not be the best place," Medenia interjected. "She would feel confined. She was held in captivity for who knows how long."

Cetia nodded, pursing her lips. "Very well. Take her to the courtyard then, Lizbeth, and keep watch."

"Keepwatch?" the guard asked, trepidation shadowing her features. But Cetia was already walking up the steps, Medenia at her side.

Graeson stoodnear the windows overseeing the eastern courtyard where Nyrri lounged in the grass. Occasionally, the dragon-wolf would open an eye and let out a menacing growl, frightening the nearby guards. As soon as their faces blanched, Nyrri would close her eyes, and Graeson could have sworn he saw a flicker of amusement twitch at her lips.

When Graeson had attempted to slip away to the healer, Ellie had pulled him back, claiming he would only get in the way. Despite every bone in his body telling him not to, Graeson begrudgingly listened, knowing Ellie was right.

Besides, it would take the healers some time to check on Kallie before they were able to transfer her to a holding cell anyway.

Sylvia and Emmett had opted to retreat to the guest rooms to wash up and rest. Sylvia tried to persuade Dani to see the healer, but she refused, saying she would go later. Still, Dani bounced her knee as she sat, her nervous energy filling the room.

"You wished for privacy, and I have given it to you," Cetia mused, after giving them time to fill their stomachs. "Now, tell me, where exactly did the animal that is now scaring half of my guards come from? The animal feels...other. Explain."

Crossing his arms over his chest, Graeson faced the queen and recounted the creatures they had seen in the temple when they had pursued Domitius. When he described the thin child with horrid wings, his stomach churned in horror.

"Whatever the Frenzians have been doing secretly beneath their kingdom is neither natural nor humane," Graeson said.

On one of the plush couches, Medenia gripped her tea cup firmly. "They are clearly preparing for a war, Mother. Why else would they be partaking in such horrendous experiments?"

The queen's black nails tapped along the timber of the chair's arm. She nodded thoughtfully. "The motives of the other kingdoms will always remain a mystery. However, the Frenzian kingdom has always proved to be a wealth of knowledge; knowledge that they have decided to keep to themselves for centuries. But I do know this, the Dronias line has ruled over Frenzia since before Vaneria split into the seven kingdoms. The family is rumored to have once been dragon tamers."

"Dragon tamers?" Dani repeated over a sip of tea, peering over the rim of her cup.

"Yes," Cetia affirmed. "While dragons became extinct centuries ago, the Frenzians--the ruling line, specifically--believe that dragons came from the skies, ripping through the very stars and carrying the gods upon their backs."

"How does their origin have to do with the experiments?" Medenia asked.

"You call Nyrri a dragon-wolf, do you not?" her mother replied.

"With no other known creature existing, it is the closest comparison."

Cetia folded her delicate hands in her lap. "If I had to guess then, it would seem that the Frenzians are trying to recreate the dragons."

Graeson looked outside, where Nyrri was curled up. Several yards away, a bird circled above her, and she sat eerily still, watching. When the bird swooped down, Nyrri snapped her head out, snatching the small critter with her sharp teeth.

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