Page 76 of The Dragon King

“You’re determined to carry all the blame, aren’t you?” A slight smile moved on to her face.

“I just understand General Ezra’s perspective. While I appreciate your offer more than you’ll ever know, it feels selfish to accept it.” A different version of me would have accepted the aid without further thought, only concerned with my triumph. But I’d come to care for the people I’d once hated. “If you were to withdraw your decision, I would completely understand.”

She stared at me with those sharp eyes. “The only thing that will make Macabre feel obligated to fight is if I fight as well. You andCalista have both shared your poor opinion of his character, but he’s more than he seems.”

I had yet to see it.

“There is no other way.”

“Even with an ironclad plan, many of you will die.” I didn’t want to misguide her expectations. “You know the dark elves are cunning. Even with my command of the dead, we almost lost the battle of the Great Tree. I don’t know what to expect across the sea, but I suspect it will be deadly. Your population has already been decimated…”

“It has.”

“Not to mention, Bahamut will collect payment immediately.” My eyes shifted away at the realization. I’d never wanted something to pass and not pass simultaneously. I’d never felt both relief and disappointment at once. When Macabre denied my request, a weight was lifted off my shoulders but then twenty knives pierced my ribs. “My peace will be very short-lived.”

Pity entered her gaze. “You said there are a hundred dragons enslaved in the Southern Isles.”

“Yes.”

“That’s too many. Creatures so beautiful and intelligent should not be treated as such. I risked my life to save Macabre and the others. I consider it one of my greatest accomplishments as Queen of Riviana Star. I would like to save more—if I can.”

I gave a slight nod. “But you face more than men. You face dark elves and dragons.”

“I know what I face,” she said calmly. “You can waste this beautiful night trying to dismiss my help, or you can accept it.”

I bowed my head and gave a sigh.

“This is exactly what you wanted, Death King. I expected to feel your gratitude, not your disappointment.”

“I’m not ungrateful,” I said quickly. “I just care for you.”

Her eyes softened as a gentle smile moved over her lips. “You continue to surprise me, Talon. You possess more love and compassion than any human I’ve ever met—except my husband.”

“I wish there were another way.”

“But there is none.”

“Could the others fight while you remain in Riviana Star?”

Her smile changed into a sad one. “I’m not the kind of monarch that sends her army to do her bidding. I’ll fight alongside my army. I’ll die alongside my army. Just like you. I know I have more to lose since I have a nearly immortal life-span, but if my life is claimed in the battle, I know the God of Caelum will accept me with open arms of love—because you saved it.” She stared at me for a while. “And I know Macabre will look after me like a hatchling. He’ll look after my husband as well since he knows our love is true.”

It was hard to accept her words when I felt so much guilt. When I’d first met Queen Eldinar, her company had felt like the tips of a thousand knives against my skin. Now I saw someone I would take a blade for.

“I will speak to Macabre in the morning. After he accepts, we’ll make the return journey and finalize our plans. You’ll need to prepare your army to set sail. I’ll prepare mine for the same.”

Now that this felt real, my heart started to race. My future was set in stone, an eternity as a pawn to the God of the Underworld. But the other details remained unclear. If I lost the battle and forfeited the lives of other free dragons, lost other people I cared about, it would all be for nothing. I wouldn’t get revenge for Vivian and Lena—and I would have to suffer for eternity anyway.

“You’re afraid.”

My eyes found hers again. She could read my expression as well as Khazmuda could feel my emotions. “Yes. Decades have been spent preparing for this moment, and now that it’s here…I feel unprepared.”

She stared at me for a while, her eyes possessing depths so vast, the light didn’t reach the bottom. “You command the kingdom of men to the north, command the dead, have allies in both elves and dragons. You’re as prepared as you can be, Talon Rothschild, King of the Southern Isles.”

“I will never be King of the Southern Isles…”

“You will, for a moment, and you will savor that moment with everyone you cherish most.”

When I returned to the cabin, Calista wore one of my shirts with nothing underneath, sitting on the couch in front of the fire she’d built without my help. She looked at me when I walked inside, green flames in her eyes.

---