Page 130 of Crown of Slumber

I struggled against the men holding me, desperation flooding my veins. I had to do something. I couldn’t let them take her.

Digging deep within myself, I summoned my power, drawing up every last drop of strength within me. I held nothing back as I bellowed, “You will release her!” The words sounded deep and animalistic and not at all like my own voice. The sound of my shout echoed around us, piercing the air. “Step away from Aurelia and the dragon.”

The soldiers went completely still. Even Mother froze, staring at me.

Then, slowly, the guards lowered their arms, releasing Aurelia and Mal. They took several steps away from them. Mal was still tied up and muzzled. Aurelia was gaping for breath, her eyes rimmed in red and tears staining her cheeks. She stared at me with disbelief.

“Aurelia, run!” I urged. “Get Mal out of here!”

“No!” Mother roared. “Guards, stop them!”

“Do nothing!” I bellowed, infusing more power into my words. My vision swam, and my head swayed as fatigue overtook me, but I would not let her win. I refused. “Let her go!”

“Gag my son,now,” Mother ordered, her face twisted with rage as she stormed toward me.

“Do not—” Before I could finish speaking, a filthy piece of cloth was shoved into my mouth. I choked, trying to spit it out, but the guard shoved it hard, blocking my voice completely. I wriggled against his grip, but my limbs were weak. I had overexerted myself.

I looked at Aurelia, who had hurried to Mal’s side, fumbling with his restraints. My eyes burned as I mentally pleaded with her to go, torun.

“Seize her,” Mother said, pointing to Aurelia.

I screamed against the gag in my mouth, thrashing and fighting, but the soldiers held me back, keeping me from running to Aurelia’s side.

Aurelia had managed to untie Mal’s legs when two soldiers approached. I was powerful, but my command couldn’t span the entire squadron of soldiers, especially if none of them were inclined to obey. Judging by the sour looks of these two soldiers, they were on my mother’s side. I would never have been able to persuade them anyway.

“Mal, get out of here!” Aurelia sobbed as the soldiers pinned her arms in place. “Please! You have to leave.”

Mal’s legs were free. He could take off into the forest. He could be free. But the dragon let out a muffled whimper, shaking his head slowly.

He would not leave Aurelia. Even I knew that much.

Aurelia sobbed harder, her legs giving out. Were it not for the soldiers’ hold on her, she would have collapsed to the ground.

“Don’t worry, my dear,” Mother said with a savage smile. “He won’t be alone. He can keep the blue one company.”

Aurelia sucked in a sharp gasp, her gaze sliding to the queen. “What are you talking about?”

“We have one of your dragons already. Or didn’t you know?” Mother’s catlike smile widened. “She was weak after giving birth. Snatching her was so easy… No one even noticed. Not even her little hatchling.”

Oh gods, no.My chest seized, tightening until I couldn’t breathe.

“A shame, really,” Mother said. “The beast was too injured when we captured her. She doesn’t produce any fire at all. So it’s a goodthing you struck this bargain, Fennick, otherwise we would have still had no Dragonfire.”

My eyes closed. I was going to be sick.

“I’m surprised you didn’t tell her, darling,” she went on. “You seemed so taken with her, I thought for certain the first thing you would do was free that dragon.”

No.No! Aurelia looked at me, her eyes full of that darkness, that wretched, haunting agony. “Fenn,” she said slowly. “Tell me it isn’t true. Tell me you didn’t know about this.”

I shouted against the gag, but I couldn’t form any words. And even if I could, what would I say? I couldn’t lie to her. Ihadknown about it. And I hadn’t told her.

But now I knew for certain that it was the Blue Amethyst. The mother of the dying dragon that could save Aurelia’s people.

“You bastard.” Aurelia shook her head, her eyes full of rage. “You—You—” She broke off with another cry of anguish as she wept.

I moaned, trying to speak her name, but the gag stifled my words.

“Lock her up,” Mother ordered. “And if my son resists, tie him up in his rooms.” Her eyes were cold as she surveyed me. “You could not do what was necessary to protect our people, so I will.Do not stand in my way. I will not hesitate to cut you down.”

---