Page 152 of Blood of Ancients

Of course it would be!If I thought I had a target on my backnow, I could only imagine what would happen when people saw me stomping around with dragon wings.

Clearly, her mind was elsewhere—like her own impending doom. That didn’t stop the groan of frustration from passing through my lips.

Elayina slowed her walk. By now, we had made it to a set of winding stairs that led up to the second story of the palace. Gold and red swam around everywhere, coating the plates of the guards who stood at the base of the stairs.

They stepped aside when Elayina walked by, with severe nods of their helmeted heads.

As we gained the stairs to the landing above, she said, “You have the answers inside you, child. You always have. I believethe Runesphere will have awoken more than you know—more than you can feel at the moment. You are still in a state of shock, trying to navigate these new, murky waters.”

I sniffed, realizing there was nothing I could do to talk her out of this fateful idea she had. “Which is why I only wish to have someone to guide me. Someone to speak with and commiserate with.”

At the top of the stairs, in a new hall, Elayina stopped and frowned at me. She gestured at the men surrounding us. “You do, Ravinica. They’re all around you, at all times. Worshipping the ground you walk on. Remember what I once said: Stay with your family, keep them close. Only trust those closest to you. They will provideeverythingin the coming conflicts—warmth, wisdom, strength.”

I gulped, feeling tears gnawing at my eyes.

She was right. I could never forget my men, and I would never take them for granted. Anything I went through, they would go through too. Because that’s what family did—they cared for each other.

My men let out various grunts and nods of approval, of understanding, before we began following Lady Elayina past archways, rooms, and halls.

She seemed to be in quite a hurry, marching to her death like it was only valid until midnight, and we were deep into the eleventh hour.

Grim said, “The five of us will always be there to support you, love.”

His words soothed me, as they always did. Low, baritone, a rich hue of love and acceptance.

“And we’ve just been given a boon, too,” Sven added. “The wings will help us make any point we need to get across to others.”

“True,” Arne pointed out. “Not many people are going to deny a fuckingdragonkinwhen we’re seeking assistance. For their own good.”

Corym said, “Iamcurious about what other abilities this new form has awoken,lunis’ai.”

“Can you breathe fire?” Arne asked excitedly. “That would be delightful.”

“That would beterrifying, you fucking fool,” Sven chirped.

We all laughed. It was a sad chorus, a heavy cloud of mourning and grief weighing over us.

Elayina was smiling now, listening to our silly banter. Hearing how my mates worked to take the burden off my shoulders and ease my worries, like they always did.

I was glad she could see it, to know she was utterly correct in her assumption my mates would always be by my side.

Her words lifted something inside me, striking down the doubts and fears I had about Lady Elayina being gone.I got far before meeting her, and I will get far without her again.

We came to a walkway that led outside to ramparts and a ledge overlooking the garden in the courtyard. The wind was cool now, drifting through my hair, my wings, making me take in a deep breath.

Elayina walked up a set of short stairs that led to a small balcony, surrounded by four torches at all corners and an ornate four-poster bed.

“The odyssey-grounds,” Corym choked out, stopping short.

The levity from before died on our lips.

It was a simple outdoor alcove. The scent of starberries, and the sweet waft of wildflowers and roses lilted through the sky, surrounding us.

Undoing the golden broach at her chest, Elayina let her elegant cloak fall to the ground. She let out a sigh of content when she crawled into the bed, on her back, facing up.

We surrounded the sides of her bed.

She stared up with a smile, threading her hands on her belly. She looked so small, frail, and ancient now, as I recognized what I had seen earlier even clearer.

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