Page 131 of Wrath of the Dragons
She says the words like a reminder, like she fears seeing her father’s traits in herself when she takes his throne. “You already have made it better.” Elowen is ruthless, but the difference is that she is so out of survival, Garrick is so out of his hunger for power. If two thieves commit the same crime, their morality can often be found in their motives. I let the curtain slip from my grip, glancing toward the clearing up ahead where the army will camp. “Hope is like a drug. Once you experience it, you’ll search for it in everything and crave it in your most vulnerablemoments. You give these people hope. It’s why they fled. They know a better world is coming and want to live to see the day it dawns.”
“I didn’t think you believed in things like hope.”
“I don’t.” I grab Koa’s reins and walk beside Elowen, leading him beyond the town. General Gryffin transported him from the castle stables so I can ride him into battle. “But I’ve always believed in you.”
The dragons screech, drawing her attention to the sky as I tie Koa off on a post where I’ll pitch our tent. “We should make a fire. Finnian asked me to go on a walk earlier, so we’ll gather some wood.”
“I’ll get Ryder and Saskia,” I answer, watching as she shakes out her hands and walks across the row to Finnian’s tent, threading her arm through his as she erases the anxiety from her features. She’s putting on a brave face for his sake. I catch Braxton’s eye and jut my chin in their direction. He nods and trails them from a safe distance. The pair of them may be warriors, but we’re too deep into enemy territory for me to take any chances.
Crackling flames fill the silence as the five of us gather a few leagues from the merriment of camp, sitting on downed trees as the last rays of the day are snuffed out. We all know what’s to come, and it makes our group more somber. We walked this path to free the dragons, knowing it would lead us back here, but I don’t think any of us anticipated how quickly we would return.
I’ve never had anything to lose, and now it feels like I have everything to lose. I tip my tankard against my lips, twirling one of Elowen’s curls around my finger as she rests between my legs. She moves every few minutes to stir the stew in the pot resting in the embers. I’d offer to take over, but I know completing tasks eases her nerves.
“You’re all acting like we lost the battle before it’s even begun,” she sighs, pouring some food into a dish for Finnian and handing it off to him.
Ryder spoons some into his mouth. “My apologies if the eve of battle is a dull affair, sunshine.”
“Apology accepted.” I don’t know how she manages it, but Ryder’s face cracks into a grin. “There is nothing tragic in this moment, sodon’t borrow tomorrow’s pain for today’s peace. If my world is to end tomorrow, there isn’t anyone else I’d rather spend my last night with.” Sorin and Calithea land in the woods behind us, huffing. “And you too, sweetlings.”
The emerald and silver dragons curl themselves around our small gathering as the other three circle in the air above us. Elowen smiles, broad and beautifully, and it steals my breath before I drop my gaze. The woman with the biggest heart I’ve ever known will be the biggest target on the field. She’s been a target all her life and gods, I know she can handle herself, but I never knew it would be this hard to watch her fulfill the deal we struck. Part of me wishes we had failed and lived in exile together as outlaws.
But she’d never be happy.
She’d never be whole without her dragons.
She loves those beasts more than most mothers love their children.
Finnian looks around at all of us. “This isn’t my worst day, nor is it any of yours, so let’s not sit around with sour moods and regret it in the morning.”
“When I was locked in the dungeon,” Elowen begins, and all of us pause. It feels like the world stops. She never speaks of her time in Imirath. “After the particularly bad beatings, I’d whisper,Just one more day.All I had to do was survive just one more day, and maybe the next I’d see my dragons, I’d find a way to break free. I wouldn’t have the life I do if I gave up while fighting for it.”
I bite my tongue and curl my nails into my palms to keep from charging the Imirath castle this very moment. She deserves so much more from this wretched world, and once the war is won, she’ll haveit.
“No matter what happens”—Ryder shakes his head—“I wouldn’t give up this time with you all for the world.”
Finnian raises his tankard. “To the families we choose.”
“And to one more day with them,” I finish.
I bury my unease and kiss her cheek when she takes her place between my legs again. Then someone lurking beyond the dragons speaks. “Do you have room for one more?”
Elowen’s eyes glow gold and Sorin lifts his tail to let Zale into our small circle. “Always, princey.”
Saskia’s brows rise. “I thought you’d be spending the night with your soldiers.”
“They regard me as a prince, and I care little for formality on tonight of all nights.”
“So you enjoy it when you’re not on the brink of battle?” Finnian asks.
Zale shrugs, taking some stew from the pot and nodding his thanks to Elowen. “I don’t despise it. Would you if you were a prince?”
Finnian purses his lips. “Can’t say I’ve thought much about it, since I’m an orphan-turned-commander.”
“I never thought I’d relate to you on anything,” I mutter.
“Isn’t it amazing?”
“Try annoying.” Elowen pinches me in the thigh with her surprisingly sharp nails. “Gods,” I mutter, snatching her hand. “Yes, Finnian, I’m immensely glad we are both warmongering orphans. Happy now?”
