Page 101 of The Dragon Queen

Tens of thousands.

I closed my eyes in defeat.Bahamut must be with them if he raised them from the dead.

I do not see him.

That’s so many…

He knew Talon had earned the allegiance of many dragons. If we don’t stop them from reaching the forest, they’ll burn it to the ground.

Why do you say that?

Because they carry torches—every single one of them.

Shit.

There may be more of them than us, but we will burn them with our fire before they reach you. Bahamut is trying to distract you. Focus on the tree and let us handle the perimeter.

Why are you telling me this and not Talon?

I know he’s asleep. Didn’t want to disturb the last moment of peace he may ever have.

I looked at him beside me, his sword on the ground next to him, a gust of wind blowing through his short hair.I’m scared. I couldn’t confide this to anyone but him. Only he wouldn’t judge me.Just when I felt happiness again, it was snatched from me. It happens every time I feel joy. I know I’m making this about me when it’s about everyone, even those who’ve already died, but…

It’s okay, Calista. I feel the same way. We’ve come so far, but no amount of distance is ever great enough.

Exactly.

But this will be the last trial for a long time—if we survive it. Then we will only know sunsets and peace, endless game to hunt and family feasts, bottomless wine and rosy cheeks.

I hope so.I continued to stare at Talon, not wanting to take this last moment away from him.

Wake him. I must speak to Constantine.His mind faded away.

I continued to stare at Talon, memorizing every detail of his face, seeing how different it looked when it was soft and relaxed, compared to his waking moments when he was tense and mad as hell.

My stare must have disturbed his dreams because he opened his eyes and immediately looked at me. He stared for several seconds before he sat up and looked at the soldiers gathered in the clearing. Another moment passed before he looked at me again. “What is it?”

I thought of what I would say and realized less was more. “It has begun.”

He glanced away, all those soft features I loved hardening to stone. “I can’t let the tree fall, even if it claims my life. And that means I can’t protect you. Barron was in my grasp, but I left him to save you from Astaroth, a decision I don’t regret. But I don’t have such liberties with his battle.”

“I understand, Talon.”

“Then you should stay with Khazmuda. Upon the back of a dragon is the safest place for you.”

“And leave you here?” I whispered, hating the thought of him taking this last stand by himself.

He didn’t look at me when he spoke. “You can’t help me with this, Calista. So, you either watch me prevail…or watch me die. All the while risking yourself in the process.”

I could hear the defeat in his voice, the defeat he didn’t show to anyone else like Queen Eldinar and General Ezra. He showed me his full honesty, which meant a lot…but hurt just as much. “You don’t have much hope.”

“If this were a mortal man with mortal means, my outlook would be very different. But Bahamut is the embodiment of evil, a dark creature that sustains off the souls of innocents he consumes. He would have consumed mine if Khazmuda’s grip hadn’t been stronger. I do not have much hope, but hope has never fueled any of my battles.” He grabbed his sword and rose to his feet, sheathing the blade across his back, straightening into the king who fought for all people, not just his own. “Go to Khazmuda—and please don’t make me beg.” He finally found the strength to look at me, and his stare was more hopeless than it’d been before, as if the sight of my face made this all real.

I knew there was nothing I could do to battle the behemoth Bahamut. My skill with the blade was amateurish because I didn’t have the years of practice my foes possessed. I would get myself cornered and slaughtered—not come to Talon’s aid if needed me. “I’ll go.”

Disappointment mixed with relief moved into his eyes, wanting me to go but wanting me to stay. “Thank you…” He closed his eyes for a moment and took a slow breath, like my safety was soothing. Then he looked at me again, a sadness so deep it had no bottom. “I’m not afraid to die. But I’m afraid of being apart from you for eternity. That’s what fuels me—and I hope that fear makes me win.”

Chapter 29

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