Page 101 of Blood of Dragons

“He left my employ many months ago. But I decided not to tell you so you wouldn’t worry. I ordered my men to find him and kill him, but he evaded capture. And then when you left me, I was so preoccupied with that that I forgot about him. He must have seen your dragon cross the mountains and followed you.”

The information settled like a stone on my shoulders. “I wish you had told me.”

“Would it have made a difference?”

“Maybe, maybe not.”

We fell into silence, the fire crackling between us.

“I’ll ask my uncle to arrange a meeting with the queen on the border. Now that the dust has settled, it’s a better time to proposition her. We’ll talk to her and see what we can accomplish.”

He gave a nod in agreement. “Thank you.”

“You know I’m with you.”

11

CALISTA

When I returned to the forest, my uncle had improved.

He was on his feet again, carrying the weight of his armor and sword, the side of his skull still visible because the hair grew back slowly. His eyes lit up when I approached, just the way my father’s used to. “I’m happy to see you’ve returned.”

Now I was divided in two, living in two different lands, my heart in two different places. “I came to speak with you. I need help with something.”

“I’m listening.” He stood outside the palace near the statues. The queen must be inside or stationed somewhere else in the forest.

“Would it be possible for you to arrange a meeting with us and Queen Eldinar?”

The light started to fade in his eyes. “Specifyus.”

“Talon and me.”

“Talon?”

“The Death King.” I hadn’t referred to him in that way in a very long time. Despite his unquestionable powers, that wasn’t how I viewed him. I saw a handsome man with a broken soul, no different from me.

“I think everything’s been said, Calista.”

“Not for us.”

He drew in a slow breath and released it as a frustrated sigh. “Queen Eldinar will never reveal the location of the dragons—let alone to him. This is a fruitless endeavor. And I certainly won’t betray my queen and my people—not even for you.”

“I appreciate everything you’ve done for the dragons. I think it’s noble and heroic. But I think the dragons deserve to know what’s happened across the sea, that their kin have been enslaved by dark magic, and their minds and bodies are no longer their own. It’s wrong to hide this from them.”

“I understand, Calista. But once people know where these dragons are, they’ll try to enslave them too. If the Death King propositions them and they refuse, he’ll just take them by force?—”

“He would never do that.”

“Have you already forgotten what he’s taken from you?” he asked coldly. “I know you’re young, but I didn’t think you were this naïve.”

I stumbled for a moment, memories flashing across my mind. “I know he would never do that to the dragons. I’ve witnessed his kindness firsthand. Khazmuda is fused with him because that’s what he wishes. Talon already found Inferno in the wild oncebefore, and when he didn’t get the answer he wanted, he let him be. He wouldn’t enslave the creatures he’s vowed to free.”

My uncle watched me with judgment in his eyes.

“I’d stake my life on it.”

He gave another heavy sigh. “And I thought my love didn’t make sense…”

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