Page 75 of The Dragon King

When I returned to the cabin, Talon was on the beach, dragging branches and debris into a pile at the center so he could light the bonfire like he did every night. Khazmuda lay on the sand with his head on his claws, his eyes following Talon as he walked around. Once Talon was finished preparing the bonfire, he stepped back and let Khazmuda light it.

A blaze erupted high into the sky then slowly burned down to a reasonable height.

Talon took a seat in the sand, his mood still hopeless and lifeless.

I arrived at the campsite and saw Khazmuda shift his eyes to look at me.

Talon barely acknowledged my presence.

I dropped down to my knees and looked at the side of his face.

He continued to stare at the fire and ignore me.

I waited for him to turn to me.

It took minutes, but it finally happened. His eyes were hostile and guarded, like the last thing he wanted to do was talk.

I didn’t bother with context or an explanation, just blurted it out. “Queen Eldinar has pledged her army to fight with us. And she’s going to ask Macabre to join her.”

He blinked several times as he processed that.

Khazmuda lifted his chin from his talons and straightened.

Talon’s eyes shifted back and forth between mine. “How…? What did you do?”

“I spoke to her but can’t take the credit,” I said honestly. “Because she said she cares for you…and wants to help you find peace.”

Talon remained in silent shock, his dark eyes piercing mine with the sharpness of daggers. The haze of melancholy slowly burned in the heat of the sun, and the determination and ambition were awoken anew. He left the sand and lifted himself to one knee, his hands cradling my cheeks as he regarded me with new eyes. “You are the reason I’ve made it this far. And you’re the reason I’ll make it to the end.”

Chapter 13

Talon

It was evening when I approached the royal chambers. Calista and I had had dinner by the fire on the beach, spending most of our time outside because it was too beautiful to stay indoors. The cabin was only used for sleeping and lovemaking.

The guards let me through, and General Ezra greeted me. He didn’t wear his armor or weapons, dressed casually like he and the queen would retire for bed soon. He regarded me with his eyes that reminded me of Calista.

“I wish to speak to Queen Eldinar, if she’ll have me.”

His stare was hostile. “And I know what you wish to speak of.” He moved away and walked toward the dining table, which was empty with the exception of a few flowers. He nodded to a chair then moved into the other room.

I sat there alone for minutes, candlelight illuminating the corners of the room. A large window showed the deck outside, the mountain that looked like a dark mass. I waited for her, dressed in my uniform and armor as a sign of respect, despite the heat.

She emerged a moment later, barefoot and in a green dress, her blond hair in perfect ringlets down her shoulders. When she came to the head of the table, General Ezra pulled out the chair for her, not as her general, but as her husband.

He looked at me again, his stare angry, and then silently excused himself.

When he was gone, Queen Eldinar addressed me. “Forgive him. He’s upset by my decision.”

“I don’t blame him. You’ve just fought two battles.”

“Peace is merely a pause between conflicts.”

“There’s been a lot of conflict for you—all caused by me and Calista.”

Her hands came together on the table. “The dark elves were always our woodland adversary. They marched on our border so quickly that it’s clear they’d organized that strategy long ago. The battle against General Titan simply rushed it.”

“General Titan wouldn’t have been there?—”

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