Page 79 of Draekora

Realising that she’d stuffed up,big time, Alex swiftly backpedalled. “Not, like,kill them, kill them. I just meant…” She scrambled to find a valid response. “If Meya ceases trade with the humans, it means you’ll—we’ll—stop giving them aid, right? Essentially we’ll be cutting off our support and, well, some of them will likely die as a result.”

Roka thankfully seemed to accept her lame reasoning. Either that, or he was too distracted by his own thoughts to realise she’d hardly put forth a stellar argument.

“Be that as it may,” he said, “any mortal fatalities would be unintentional on our part.”

“Death is death,” Alex said in a hard voice. “Whether at the hand of a weapon or by old age, accident or disease, it can’t be undone. If the cost to save innocent lives is so insignificant to Meya, then what reasoning can you possibly offer to rationalise your negligence?”

Roka stared at Alex for a moment before his mouth quirked up into a grin. “You really do love those mortals of yours, don’t you?”

“There’s a lot to love,” Alex returned, thinking of her friends, her family.

A pause, and then Roka quietly said, “Thank you, Aeylia.”

Uncertain, she asked, “For what?”

“For reminding me that there is always a larger picture, a grander perspective. A single pebble dropped into tranquil waters can ripple out into waves of change for the whole pond.” His gaze turned inward as he finished, “We are the pebble; we mustn’t forget to consider the pond.”

A surge of affection rushed through Alex. He may have experienced a moment of doubt, but this was the Roka she knew. The prince she trusted.

“I’m sorry you were abandoned as a babe, Aeylia,” he told her tenderly. “No one deserves that. But if nothing else came of it, I’m glad you had the chance to get to know mortals well enough to fight for them. Stars above, they’ll need all the help they can get if Aven continues his campaign against them. They’re fortunate to have a Meyarin with a heart as strong as yours on their side.”

Alex wasn’t able to look at him when she quietly admitted, “Sometimes I feel I’m more human than Meyarin, Roka.”

Instead of rebuking her, the prince smiled, not taking her honest moment seriously. “Sometimes I feel the same.”

He rose to his feet then, stepping forward to offer his hand.

“The hour grows late,” he said. “Allow me to see you back to your quarters.”

After they parted ways outside her room and she crawled into bed for the second time that evening, Alex stared unseeingly out at the glowing view of the city over her balcony.

Xira, you there?she called.

Always, Alex, he returned almost instantly.What troubles you?

Suddenly overcome with emotion, she asked,How long until I can go home?

There was a reluctant pause.Soon, Alex. But not yet. I’m sorry.

Alex already knew that was the answer. She asked him almost every day, but still, she could hope. Not for the first time, she wondered if she should have just stepped through the Library when she’d had the chance.

Why are you upset? You felt joyous earlier, but now you’re…distressed?

Alex let out a bitter laugh. ‘Distressed’ was the perfect word for how she was feeling.I just had a rough night, she answered.I’ll be okay after I’ve had some sleep.

Do you want me to help?

Alex was about to ask what he meant when suddenly her mind was awash with images. She felt her body relax as, from Xiraxus’s view, she soared through the air as his own memories played out before her eyes.

Before long, she was so lulled by the swooping feeling of the wind brushing against her scales and the power of her wings capturing the air currents that she drifted off into a peaceful sleep, still soaring through the skies as she slumbered through the dreamscape of her mind.

Twenty-Four

After her breakfast with the queen thenext morning, Alex slowly made her way to the palace library, wondering how she might get out of whatever history lesson was in store for her. It wasn’t that the lessons weren’t interesting, it was just that what she learned wasn’t exactly relevant to her immediate— or future—troubles. It also didn’t help that her mind was elsewhere today—specifically the upcoming end-of-summer banquet Niida had been excitedly talking about.

When Alex entered the library, she was surprised to find the grand room empty. Usually her tutors, Roka or Kyia depending on the day, beat her there.

Glancing around warily, she approached her usual study table to find a note written on silvery parchment.

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