Page 159 of Crown of Slumber

His voice fell silent, just before he exploded with delight.

Aurelia! Is it really you? Have you done it? I knew you could! You were always so capable, so strong. Iknewyou had it in you. This is wonderful! The kingdom is saved! Now we can?—

Jorey,I said, cutting him off.I need your help. Can you gather some dragons and meet me in the Autumn Court?

Yes, of course, my queen. Right away. I will do this for you immediately. You can count on me. I will?—

I tuned out his eager voice, relief and amusement coursing through me.

I could speak to the dragons. We couldcommunicate.

Gods, it was almost too much for me to process. All these abilities, all this power…

But no. I could focus on it later. For now, Fenn needed me.

I pumped my wings again and took off toward the hills. With ease, I burst through the strange mist surrounding the Star Court. A stream of sunlight burned against my eyes, but I put on more speed, my wings beating even faster.

A tingle of awareness shivered past me, and I slowed, my eyes surveying the skies. Something else was here. Was it one of my dragons? Had they already reached me?

But this presence felt different. Foreign. It was not a form of dragon magic, that much I knew.

A blast of power shot toward me, and I spun, narrowly avoiding getting struck. I growled and flew lower, my clawed feet brushing against the treetops. More magic flashed, and I ducked and dodged, weaving my way through the trees and using the branches as cover for whatever magic was after me.

I had just flown past the Autumn Palace when I caught sight of the massive army heading toward my kingdom. A snarl built up in my throat when I spotted Mal and Fenn, standing amidst a crowd of soldiers, swords swinging. Mal leapt on one soldier, tearing out his throat before moving on to another. Next to him, Fenn struck with lithe grace, but his ashen complexion and hooded eyes betrayed his exhaustion.

He wouldn’t last much longer.

A roar burst from me, and the fighting halted as everyone froze to stare at my mighty form approaching. The ground shook when I landed next to Fenn and Mal. Several soldiers dived out of the way, afraid of being crushed by my landing.

I could hardly blame them. In my dragon form, I was more than twice Mal’s size, and I towered over the army easily. It wouldn’t take much to wipe them out. My blue fire alone could melt the flesh off their bones.

The soldiers withdrew, swords still raised, but fear apparent on their faces.

And there was Callan, cowering behind his horse. His wide eyes flicked from Fenn to me and back again. “Fennick, what is this?”

“A reminder of who you’re facing,” Fenn panted, wiping sweat from his brow. Despite his fatigue, he offered a cruel smile. “May I present, Aurelia Perdis, sovereign of the Summer Court, and the Dragon Queen of the Realm of Valora.”

My chin lifted at the pride in his voice, and I fixed a steely stare on Callan, who had gone paler than death.

“Dragon Queen?” he repeated weakly. “Aurelia? You—You cannot be serious.”

I pulled on the power within me and shifted to my mortal form, appearing in the same blue dress I had worn in the dreamscape. Callan stumbled backward, practically falling over in his shock.

I offered him a simpering smile. “You’re lucky I haven’t turned you into ash, Callan. I have control over the dragons, and I have already summoned them here. You know you cannot win this. Turn back now. Before I end you.”

He swallowed, his throat bobbing as he glanced over my shoulder as if expecting my army of dragons to descend at any moment. He then looked at the rows of soldiers behind him The horses were still rearing, pawing at the ground in agitation. The few riders who had been thrown from their mounts were scrambling backward, away from me and Mal.

Callan had lost the courage of his men. He had lost their respect. There was nothing left for him now.

“The Dream Mage is dead,” I said firmly. “You do not need to fear her retribution.”

Callan’s head swung to face me. “How can you be sure?”

“Because I killed her,” I said icily. “And I will kill you, too, if you bring your armies onto my soil.”

Callan’s jaw went rigid, and he rubbed the back of his neck. “Aurelia… I had no choice.”

“Save it, Callan.”

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