Page 129 of The Dragon Queen

Hadrian’s head jerked up, and so did all the other wild dragons inside the cave. They were like hounds that sensed an intruder on their master’s property. The first muffled sound of cannon fire had him standing up.

“Looks like we’re under attack.” Marcus ran across the hatching sands. “I thought we’d use all those crossbows to arm the people against the king, but it looks like we’ve got another fight to win. Be real glad for your help in it.”

Go.

Cynane’s voice was an echo of Glimmer’s order.

I can’t.Other dragons moved towards the exit, taking flight in an instant, but Hadrian stayed with his mate.I can’t, my love, because…

He couldn’t say it, but Cynane could.

Because this is goodbye.She bunted her head against his.In this world, at least.I will wait for you in this world or the next.My eyes ached as I watched their necks entwine, a gentler version of what happened during their mating flight.You must do this to ensure our daughters have aworld fit for living in, and I…I sucked in a breath at the same time she did.I must fight to bring them into this world.

Tears spattered the stone floor as Glimmer came and pressed herself into my body. My arms went around her like they did when she was still a tiny thing, wanting to protect her from this.

We have to help her,I said.We need to gift Cynane our strength. Just as you healed me?—

I know.

She rubbed her muzzle against my cheek, her scales stone smooth. I pressed my forehead to hers as the others ran over.

“Pippin? Glimmer?”

I heard a dragon’s cry and knew it was Darkspire. Another joined it and another, alerting us to the fact that each one of our dragons was entering the fight.

We will ensure they win now.

Glimmer came to stand before me, her eyes burning into mine.

“The eggs,” I croaked, reaching out blindly, because I couldn’t see them anymore. “Bring me the eggs now. If you want our people to survive, we need the eggs.”

Each one felt heavy as they were deposited in my lap, tying me to the floor. That was needed because my soul was elsewhere. I wiped my fingers along my nose, coating them with blood, and then covered the eggs with my hands.

Chapter 62

I’d spent my life with my two feet on the ground, my consciousness contained in my own head, so to lose both of those things at once was nothing if not disorientating. We flew through the air, far faster than any dragon, but it was the beasts in the air that stopped our progress.

A roar of outrage as claws ripped down our side, our hearts beating faster and faster as we tried to twist free of this fight.We are inside the mind of Stalwart, Glimmer told me. Glacier was the one that had torn into us, Obsidian, his jaws crackling with lightning, reared above us, ready to attack. Stalwart didn’t understand how it’d come to this. He’d dreamed of freedom, of a life with his rider, and somehow that ended with him fighting dragons he considered brothers, friends and now?—

No!I shouted but was then jerked forward.

These idiots didn’t know when to stay down.That was Darkspire as he advanced slowly upon a dragon that thrashed on the ground. It made piteous sounds of pain, both physical and mental. Its rider had been crushed when he fell from the air. He felt the bond sever. His claws raked the earth as he tried to right himself, but Darkspirecontinued to stalk forward, jaws opening, acidic breath bubbling inside him right before?—

No!

I was wrenched forward again.

Cloudy sprayed the parapets with fire as he flew past, the duke’s remaining guards pulling back their bows.

No!

Wraith had guards advancing towards him, thinking they had him against the wall, but he sucked in a breath, the air becoming crisp as the smell of ozone rose, as he?—

NO!

Our will was no longer contained by the weak vessels of our bodies. The duke had stupidly given each of his riders a dragonstone amulet and right now, each one of them lit up, becoming a conduit of our power.

We will not allow them to divide us, not when a queen is in need.

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