Page 92 of The Dragon King

“I need armor.” I came around the desk then pulled out the key from its hiding spot.

“Do you have an issue with the armor I already provided to you?”

“No.” I unlocked the door to the cabinet built into the wall and pulled out the few black diamonds I’d managed to find. “You will flatten a third of these diamonds and secure them into my armor. Anywhere is fine.” I started to remove the pieces of my outfit and laid them on the table.

“And the rest?”

“You’ll make a new armor set with Calista’s measurements. Include a third.”

“And the remaining third?”

“Make another set similar to Calista’s, but pretend she’s four inches taller.”

It was clear he wanted to ask questions, but he didn’t want to ignite my anger. “It shall be done.”

“I need it as soon as possible.”

“Then I’ll get to work on this now, Your Majesty.” He gathered the pieces on the desk and departed my office.

I sat alone in my royal chambers, nursing a glass of scotch in front of the fire, blocking out Khazmuda because I didn’t want to entertain his questions when I was pissed off and drunk.

“Your actions are admirable, Talon Rothschild.”

My eyes remained on the fire even though I knew he was in the armchair beside me, where he usually appeared during these late-night conversations.

“It’s a lot easier to lose someone if you hate them.”

I didn’t want to look at him. Couldn’t get the last image of him out of my head, a monster eating a bowl of someone’s soul. I had been young and foolish when I’d traveled to his lands and made that agreement. Too lost in my rage, I didn’t care about forfeiting my life and soul…until I found a reason to live again.

“And she definitely hates you.”

I’d hated her in that moment because of the way she’d spat all over me. The way she’d jumped to the most ridiculous conclusions instead of seeing the love I had for her written allover my face. All I had to do was tell her how I felt and correct her… But Bahamut was right. It would be easier for her in the end.

But it wouldn’t be easier for me.

“You’ve found the dragons, as I knew you would. You’ve convinced the elves to come to your aid, something I hadn’t foreseen. And now, with the armies you rule, you’ll sail to the Southern Isles and finally get your wish. How does it feel?”

Empty.

“How does it feel to get everything you’ve ever wanted?”

It was what I’d wanted in the past, but now everything had changed. I loved a dragon the way I loved my brother. I’d fallen for a woman the way I’d fallen for Vivian. I’d finally come to know peace after searching for it on the seas for decades. Now, what I wanted more than anything was to go back in time and undo what couldn’t be undone.

“I thought you would be more excited, Talon. As excited as I am.”

I wanted him to leave but wouldn’t ask him to go. He could take me to the underworld whenever he wished, give me another taste of what waited for me in a black-and-white world below. The last thing I wanted to do was provoke him to take me away from this world for days like he’d done before.

He hadn’t shown me his true colors until the decision was made. Until there was no way to go backward, only forward. I’d have to face an eternity in his company, and I wasn’t sure how I would do that when I couldn’t even look at him now.

“You won’t look at me.”

“I’m afraid of what I’ll see.” Not the handsome man with the blue eyes and shiny armor. But the monster that was eight feet tall with sharp teeth that dripped with his drool. A being unlike any other I’d seen in the flesh.

“You should be afraid, Talon Rothschild.”

Khazmuda pushed into my mind over and over, like a needle against the skin, applying enough pressure until the skin was punctured. Blood flowed as his voice sounded in my head.You’ve ignored me for two days. You will ignore me no longer.

I was just as angry as the moment I left. I didn’t desire company, not even Khazmuda’s.

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