Page 34 of The Dragon King

I stood in the clearing outside the royal palace and looked at the visible tree line. The tops were burned, exposing the dead branches where the leaves had withered to ash. The elves were still burying the fallen. The sensation of knives against my skin was still present, but not as sharp.

Calista left the palace and came to my side. “Let me get my things, and we’ll walk to the border.”

I stared at the trees for another moment before I looked at her.

She must have felt the unease in my stare because she addressed it. “What?”

“I wish to go alone.”

“Oh.” The hurt washed over her face like an incoming tide.

“Not because I don’t want you there.”

“Then…why?”

“Khazmuda is upset with me. Ever since you and I have been reunited, he feels abandoned.”

She crossed her arms over her chest, and her eyes looked slightly less pained.

She’d just told me how much our separation had hurt her, how much she needed me always, so I felt like an asshole saying all this. I saw past her tears to the trauma carved into her heart. She accepted me into her heart fully, without an ounce of doubt, and she allowed herself to need me. “I don’t want to be apart from you.”

“I know.” She composed herself, hid the hurt my words provoked.

“It’s been just Khazmuda and me for so long.”

“I didn’t mean to steal you,” she said. “I don’t want him to be angry at me.”

“I wanted you to steal me, baby.” Truth be told, I wanted to stay. I wanted to return to that tree house and spend the remainder of our time together in bed making love, feeling each other’s heartbeat. Soon, we would leave the forest, and it would be all business from that moment forward. These quiet moments would be gone. And then I would die trying to avenge my family…or I would die after I avenged them.

Her eyes softened.

“And he’s not angry at you. His ire is reserved for me.”

“You don’t deserve it either.”

I moved into her and cupped her face, my fingers reaching into her hair. “I’ll see you in a few days.”

Her fingers gripped my wrist. “Okay.”

I hugged her tightly and kissed her hard.

She melted at my touch, like she always did. I could feel the way she’d given herself to me, fully open and vulnerable, forgiving me for every horrible thing I’d done. The slate had been wiped clean, and I was fully redeemed in her eyes.

I pulled away and let her go.

She couldn’t hide the sadness in her eyes, couldn’t pretend she was okay, not even to make me feel better.

I turned around and walked away, knowing I couldn’t take it.

It was nightfall when I reached the border. None of the elves stationed there intervened with my progress or tried to detain me. As far as I could tell, I was free to come and go as I pleased.

Khazmuda wasn’t there.I’m here.

Nothing.

I could feel his mind, so I knew he was nearby, just choosing to ignore me.

I built a fire out of fallen branches and set it ablaze with matches. The heat immediately drove off the chill. I pulled out my tent and constructed it while I waited for Khazmuda to stop the cold shoulder.

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