Page 53 of Dance with the Dragon Duke

“Revenge.” Dark’s lip curled. “I will help her get her revenge.”

* * *

Tomorrow

Tomorrow awoke groggily in the grass beside the lagoon and the rushing waterfall. She hadn’t meant to fall asleep there.

Eyes blurry, she rubbed dried blood off her face and from under her nostrils. She was starting to sit up to rinse her nose and mouth in the nearby waters when she felt a small weight on her abdomen and the gentle prick of fairy talons through the linen of her shift.

Ruby stood on her stomach, leathery bat wings flittering behind her, wispy red hair in a tiny knot on the very top of her head. Between her hands, she held the ruddy bit of Tomorrow’s soul.

“Bibka,” Ruby squeaked.

“Oh?” Tomorrow blinked at her. “I don’t know what that means.”

Showing off all her pearly needle-teeth in a wide smile, Ruby raised the rusty stone to her mouth. “Forta Rower.”

“Gods above and below. Do you mean . . .” Tomorrow rasped, throat tightening. “But Ruby, the fairy healers from my home up north told me that if you make a bargain with me, you wouldn’t be a trickster. I’d weaken your magic, and you’d be stuck in your form. You wouldn’t be able to cast incredible spells. You wouldn’t be able to control the minds of others or any of the other wonderous things powerful fairies can do.”

Ruby frowned. “Bibka,” she said sternly, and then she opened her mouth wide and shoved the piece of rock inside. She swallowed it like a snake would, gulping around the stone that bulged in her small throat. When it was down, plunking into her stomach like a rock hitting the surface of a pond, she belched.

Hope swelled, and a sob hitched Tomorrow’s next breath. “My dear Ruby, on my life, for becoming my familiar and for sharing your life force with me, you’ll have my friendship for as long as I live.”

Ruby rubbed her round belly. “Forta bibka. Forta Rower.”

The bargain magic settled around Tomorrow’s ribs, squeezing out her next exhale. The pain from her broken piece of soul sharpened briefly, like a shard of glass had caught in her side. And then it was gone as though it’d never been there.

Tomorrow gave her familiar a watery smile. “Now we never have to say goodbye to each other.”

Bibka, Ruby said, sending her the thought through the new link of their souls.

Ha. I assumed I’d be able to understand you now— Oh wait, Tomorrow thought.I can understand you.The word hadn’t changed, but the meaning was clear as crystal.

Bibka. Family love.

I love you too, Ruby, she said.

Wings a buzzing blur, Ruby flew in, and Tomorrow winced, preparing for the fairy to give her a love bite. Ruby kissed the end of her nose instead.

Tomorrow relaxed, and already she felt her energy rising, strength seeping into her bones, tightening her muscles.

“That was lovely, Ruby,” she said, feeling the phantom of the sweet kiss on her skin.

Then Ruby bit her lovingly on the cheek.

* * *

Dark

The walk along the corridor of Dark’s ancestors felt longer than usual. His feet dragged, and the chest of presents he carried with him did little to raise his spirits. Although the gifts insidewere precious treasures most dragons would be glad to add to their hoards, it wasn’t the one thing he wanted most: a future with his mate.

He often wondered whether, when the end came for him, he’d go to the Night Mother or be given a dragon’s fate, forced to join with the mountains.

Forced to stare up at the stars where Tomorrow walked, forever apart from him.

Dark entered his hoard, feeling like his heart had fallen into his boots. He dropped the chest beside the bureau in the tower and called up the stairs to see if Tomorrow was awake. When she didn’t respond, he climbed the steps, his heart stuttering in his chest, nervous that something was wrong. The tower was much too quiet. He couldn’t hear the steady sounds of her breathing.

His chest squeezed when he found the bed empty, the covers tousled.

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