Page 33 of The Dragon King

The queen continued to watch him with a heavy look of sorrow. “If you should have died with them, why do you live now?”

“I wasn’t given a choice in the matter.”

She didn’t press for an answer but nudged him with her stare.

“Khazmuda saved me, not realizing I didn’t want to be saved.”

“I see,” she said quietly. “I think I speak for everyone here when I say we’re happy that Khazmuda made that decision.”

His gaze shifted away, the first time he’d broken eye contact.

“Because you were worth saving, Talon Rothschild.”

His eyes never found hers again.

A heavy silence passed.

I watched Talon struggle with his emotions, struggle to destroy them and any trace that they’d ever existed.

He eventually looked at the queen once more. “When do we depart?”

She was quiet as she held his stare. “I need a few more days to recuperate. Then we shall ride together.”

I knew Talon was impatient, that he would have preferred the details of the location so he could go now, but he didn’t want to insult the queen. “I’ll wait for you outside the forest, Your Majesty.”

My eyebrows rose.

“You’re welcome in our forest forever and always, Death King.”

“With all due respect, I need greater sustenance than potatoes and berries, especially after such an arduous battle.”

She gave a slow nod. “I completely understand. But that’s a rule I can’t bend to accommodate you. This forest is a sanctuary to all those who live here.”

“I understand your beliefs,” he said. “Would never expect you to change them for me. But even if you did, I still need to be with Khazmuda. We’ve been apart for some time, and I know he desires my company.”

“That doesn’t surprise me,” she said, “with a bond as strong as the one you share. We’ll meet you at the border when we’re ready.”

“Thank you.” He gave her a slight bow.

For the first time ever, the queen smiled. “Thank you, Death King.”

He turned away and left the royal chambers.

I watched him go before I addressed the queen. “It pleases me to see the two of you get along.”

“It pleases me as well,” she said. “He’s a greater man than I previously assumed.” She stared out the door where he’d disappeared before she looked at me again. “I know your heartbeats for this man. I noticed it before you noticed it yourself. Nothing I say will change what’s to come, but I’m compelled to warn you anyway.”

“Warn me of what?”

“That this love will be brief.” She faced me head on, my uncle still at her side. “Prepare yourself.”

“Why do you assume he’ll perish?”

She stared for a long time, her eyes dropping before they met mine again. “Because he wants to perish.”

Chapter 7

Talon

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