Page 19 of The Dragon King

He rested his forehead against the bar. “I’m right here.”

I did the same, feeling parts of his skin against mine.

“I’m always here.”

I woke up beside him on the hard floor of his cell.

It was morning, the song of the birds more distracting than the sunshine. Our hands were still together through the doors where we’d left them the night before. I stared at him beside me, even more handsome when his guard was down.

I lay there and studied his face, seeing the shadow on his jawline, the little scar on his neck that must be from the tip of a knife. If we were in my tree house, we would be naked under the sheets, and the second he opened his eyes, he would be on me again, smothering me with the same kisses he’d given me the night before.

I hadn’t thought I’d enjoy sex after what happened with General Titan, but I craved it whenever I was with Talon. It was an experience so surreal it felt like a dream. The connection was greater than our bodies, involving our souls. Sex had broken me, but with Talon, it healed me.

I gently pulled my hand from his and left the prison to return to my tree house. I wanted to shower and make him breakfast. After the long journey up the vines of the tree house, I showered then worked in the kitchen, trying to make him something he might like, but all I had was oatmeal with berries. He probably preferred something hearty for breakfast, like eggs and bacon, but that simply wasn’t possible.

I donned my armor once again and headed back down the vines, but when I reached the bottom, I knew something was amiss—because there were at least twelve guards there.

I stepped off the last vine with the bowl of oatmeal in my hand. “Did you need something?”

“Queen Eldinar requests your presence,” one of the guards said.

“And she needed twelve of you to deliver that message?” I asked sarcastically.

The one in the lead gestured to the path. “Leave that here, and let’s go.”

I left the bowl at the bottom of the stairs to be retrieved later and let them escort me to the queen, treating me like a prisoner when I’d done nothing wrong. When I entered the royal chambers, I could feel the tension like humidity on a summer day.

The queen wasn’t seated in her chair. She stood before me, in her armor and weapons like she was ready to march to battle. The look she gave me was as icy as a winter morning full of fog. “The enemy marches for Riviana Star.”

Disappointment was heavy as a stone dropped in my stomach.

“The Death King’s request seems to have fallen upon deaf ears.” The look in her eyes was borderline maniacal, her stare so full of accusation like all of this was entirely my fault. “The dark elves do not march alone. They’ve struck an alliance with the Behemoths who fled the last battle. Our armies are evenly matched, and the outcome of this battle balances on the edge of a knife.”

The sweat on my palms was instant. The fear in my heart was palpable. “Shit.”

“You claim the forest is your home, so you will fight with us.” It wasn’t a request, but a command. “Every able-bodied elf is called to battle. Our army is simply not enough to challenge the foes who seek to destroy not only our kingdom, but the afterlife as well. Many of us will die, but if the Realm of Caelum is protected, we will live on. Can we count on your sword?”

Talon had trained me in the blade and I was a decent swordsman, but I was no soldier. I was also no coward, and leaving Riviana to its fate wasn’t an option. “Of course you can, Queen Eldinar. And I know you can count on the Death King’s as well.”

Her eyes narrowed. “The Death King’s allegiance is uncertain. He’ll remain locked in his prison during the battle. Since the prison is located so far to the east, he’ll remain unaware of the battle until its victory has already been determined.”

My heart had already dropped once, but it managed to drop again. “If you already doubt your ability to triumph, then it makes even less sense to ignore his aid. Let him fight for you.”

“No,” she said. “And to make sure you don’t defy my wishes, you’ll stay at my side.”

“This is a mistake?—”

“Letting him into my forest was the mistake.” She turned to General Ezra. “Equip her with her sword and daggers.”

General Ezra retrieved my weapons and presented them to me.

I looked at the sword that Talon had given me and hesitated before I took it. It was heavier than I remembered, probably because I would need it in battle rather than training, probably because I would need it to protect my own life. I secured it at my hip and slipped my daggers into my greaves.

My uncle stood before me. “I asked her to pardon your participation, but since all elves have been called to fight, it would be a blatant form of nepotism on my part…and she’s right.”

“I understand, Uncle Ezra. I want to fight. I would just prefer to do it with Talon at my side.” It was selfish, my desire for self-preservation, but I knew Talon was the only one who could watch my back and his front at the same time.

All he did was give a nod and step away.

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