Page 87 of Fire in Stone

“The magic of the Bozyr Peak listens to you,” he muttered, keeping his distance. “Which means you are of my blood. But how? To my knowledge, I have no children, either legitimate or bastards.”

Elex stayed down on his knee. Getting up would require a huge effort at that point.

“You will have a son, Your Majesty. You’ll name him Elex. Many centuries from now, my parents will choose to name me after him.”

The dragon’s eyes narrowed. “You came from the future then, outsider? Did you cross the River of Mists?”

“Yes. I’m your great-great-grandson.”

The dragon king watched him with a calculating expression. “If I’ll have a son, who will be his mother?”

“Your future wife, Lady Amree.”

Suspicion frosted the king’s gaze. “Who told you that? Only a few people know about our marriage arrangement. For the lady’s safety, it has not been announced yet. Her father’s castle is too close to the rebels’ lands.”

Elex blew out a breath. Pushing off the floor, he climbed to his feet, fighting the pain of his injuries. As much as the movement hurt, he refused to kneel in front of any dragon for that long, even if the dragon was the King of Dakath.

“I know because you are a part of my family tree, Your Majesty. I studied my ancestry in detail like every crown prince is required to do. I know my past, which is your future.”

The dragon slid a gaze up Elex’s frame. “You don’t look like one of my bloodline, though. Your hair…” Bringing a claw to Elex’s face, the dragon touched a lock of his dark, wavy hair that dangled over his forehead. The king’s thin lips curled in distaste. “When did the coal get mixed into the fire of the royal blood?”

Elex cringed inside.

“Since when has a man’s hair color become indicative of his worth?”he wished to snap. With an effort, he pushed down the irritation, however, keeping his self-control.

“My grandfather’s hair was red, like yours,” he explained, keeping his voice even. “But his father’s was dark, like mine. A fire is stronger with coal.”

“Right.” The king pursed his lips. He still looked displeased, but the calculating expression overshadowed his displeasure. “So tell me, Elex from the future, this has been a long and bloody war the rebel lords have been waging on me. When does it end? And who will have the victory?”

These questions were easy to answer. He learned all about the War of the Rebel Lords when he was still a boy. Everyone in his time knew.

“What year is it now?” he asked, then made a quick calculation when the king answered. “There is a large battle coming up very soon,” he said. “The Battle at the Bozyr Peak. It will be the last one of the war. And you will win, Your Majesty. Shortly after, you’ll get married, and your queen will give you a son.”

“Named Elex,” the king chimed in.

“Yes.” The queen was going to die shortly after the birth, but this wasn’t the right time to disclose it, he sensed. “Your son will become one of the greatest kings that ever lived. Under him, the Mountains of Dakath will enjoy prosperity and will be respected by all kings of Nerifir—”

“And would any of them lay their crowns at my feet any time soon?” the king interrupted, impatiently.

Elex blinked, confused. “Why would they?”

The king shrugged. “If I win this war soon, why stop at that? There are many kingdoms in Nerifir waiting to be conquered.”

“The War of the Rebel Lords will be the last gargoyle war. There will be no other, not in your lifetime or mine.”

The dragon smirked. “Well, that can always be changed, can’t it? The future isn’t written in stone.”

Elex hoped it was. His family, the life he knew as a child, the future prosperity of Dakath—all of that needed a chance to exist.

The dragon yawned, sucking the air out of the room.

“Well, your magic is strong, Lord Elex. I’d rather have it on my side than risk it falling into the hands of the rebels. Give me a vow of loyalty, and I’ll make you my guard.”

A fae couldn’t break a promise. Giving one to King Edkhar would tie Elex to him for life. But weren’t their lives tied already? If King Edkhar thrived, so would his future family—Elex’s family.

“You don’t need my promise,” Elex stated the truth. “I have no choice but to guard your life as my own.”

“How so?” The dragon scowled.

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