Page 96 of Blood of Dragons

“Yes, you said that.”

“Because it is.”

His stare was locked on my face. “My wife didn’t mention any of this.”

“And I have a feeling she didn’t mention that he unleashed an army of the dead to win the war…the dead of the forest…those who had already fallen in battles of the past.” I felt terrible saying it out loud, being the one to deliver this news. But that was what Queen Eldinar wanted—for me to suffer the shame.

Ezra was quiet.

“We would have lost the battle otherwise.”

He was still quiet.

I raised my chin to meet his look, afraid of what he might say.

His stare was exactly as it was before. “Now I understand my wife’s distress.”

“I feel so horrible?—”

“I know you do, Calista. I can see it on your face.”

My eyes dropped down again.

“To disturb the peace of those who have already fallen…is a crime against nature. I see my wife’s stress from a new perspective. But the forest had to be protected at all costs, and if it were me buried in the ground, I would have gladly taken up my sword again to defend it. I don’t defend the Death King’s actions,but I won’t recriminate him either. The Realm of Caelum must be protected at any cost.”

My eyes lifted again to meet his.

“But I don’t have loved ones buried in the cemetery. However, my wife…she has her parents and her grandparents…generations of elves who came before her. For her, this is much more traumatic.”

“I feel so terrible. Your people granted me asylum, and this is how I repay your generosity.”

“You’re not responsible for the decisions of a maniac,” he snapped. “I’ve hated the Death King ever since he came to our lands, but I hate him far less for protecting you. Perhaps he’s not as evil as I thought.”

“He’s…more than he seems.”

A moment later, Queen Eldinar entered the dining hall, wearing dark-green breeches and a brown top, looking like the other elves rather than a queen in pristine white. Perhaps she was too busy serving to rule. She looked at Ezra with a hint of affection in her eyes—and looked at me like I was scum. She leaned down and kissed my uncle as her hand went to his shoulder.

I saw him melt for her, just the way Talon made me melt.

She took the seat beside him, across from me, her eyes vicious again.

I wish I could hold her stare with Talon’s confidence. “I told him everything?—”

“Good.”

I winced at the wrath in her voice. “How is everyone?”

“The healers continue to work on the wounded. The dead have been buried—and the disturbed graves have been made whole. We’re shaken and broken by the attack, but we’ve begun to heal.” Her hand moved to Ezra’s on the table.

His palm turned over to grip her fingers.

“Yourfriendremains on the border of the forest,” she said coldly. “It’s time that he returns to his own lands.”

I didn’t know what was next for Talon and me. Would we go our separate ways again? That seemed crazy after everything that had just happened. “I need to talk to him first. Could he come into the forest?—”

“How dare you ask.” Her hand remained on Ezra’s.

“With all due respect, he did save all of you?—”

---