Page 41 of Of Flames and Fallacies

I quickly grabbed the black one. A magical energy hummed beneath my hands at the mere closeness of the egg, and I held down a shiver. I glanced at the others. Guilt swarmed me that I didn’t have enough arms to carry them all.

It dawned on me as we exited, and the guard locked the door behind us.

I had told the guard I needed to retrieve the egg.

One.

And there were multiple.

How did he not question me which one?

It confirmed the black dragon egg must have had some significance.

As I broke away from the guard on the main floor and toward the King’s quarters, I fumbled through a plan. If I got caught, there was no way I’d get out alive.

They’d find my journal, and what information they didn’t already know would be confiscated.

I contemplated destroying this journal before they had the chance to read it. I considered the fireplaces in almost every room in the castle. A special unit was assigned to keep them all going—day and night—no matter the weather.

It would only take minutes before the journal was ash.

My thoughts swim as I recount the fateful day I found Daeja by the river. A black dragon egg buried underneath my father’s cross.

It must have been Daeja.

sixteen

DINNER TALKS

At dinner, I convince Archie I’m capable of getting my own plate, much to his dismay. He mentions using my elbows to get through the line. Something about him makes me laugh nearly every time he speaks. Not the obligated laugh, but the kind that starts off as a genuine smile and cracks into something greater.

As Archie and I settle into our seats, Darian slides in next to Archie. Archie looks at me with an excited waggle of his eyebrows.

Cole clears his throat from beside me. “Darian, this is my sister, Kat—

“We’ve already exchangedpleasantries.” Darian unscrews the lid to his flask, not bothering to look at any of us.

“How’s your leg?” I ask not so innocently.

“Just fine, Kateena.” He takes a swig from his flask.

“Do you think we’ll get to fight rebels any time soon?” Archie asks as he slurps into his soup.

Cole’s jaw tightens. “I’d say it’s inevitable. I’ve received word from the General to move our east wing squad south to cover Spillburg who was attacked three nights ago. Which means we may need to spread ourselves thin here.”

Archie sits up straighter, his eyes sparkling. “I would love to be a lead. You could even pair me with Darian, if you’re worried about him?” Archie elbows Darian.

The sudden movement jerks Darian’s grip, and the flask spills its contents onto the table. Darian whips a daggered glare toward Archie.

“Right?” Archie asks him again, the smile on his face fading.

Darian clenches his teeth. “I stopped listening once you started talking.”

“Can you sayanythingremotely nice?” I blurt.

Darian drags his heated stare toward me and tilts his head to the side, his brown hair sweeping down into his eyes. “Excuse me?”

Cole knocks his knee into mine. A silent warning.

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