Page 109 of Wrath of the Dragons
And that’s why he stayed with him in exile. Not as a knight, but as a father protecting the one thing left in this world that connects him to his lover. I doubt Zarius knows; if he did he probably wouldn’t be so eager to take the throne, especially considering King Fallon has other children.
“You don’t have to reassure me of anything. The blood that runs through his veins is of no concern to me as long as it doesn’t complicate my plans.” I knew I’d never beat the game until I cheated all the players who stood against me. Zarius needs to figure out how to do that in Thirwen. There’s nothing that threatens someone who inherited power more than someone who won it. “Ready the prince to leave.”
I’m halfway down the hall when Rhys speaks again, “We both know what it is to suffer for wanting a woman who never should’ve been ours.”
I look over my shoulder, waiting for the man to finish.
“Hold on to yours. From one bastard to another, I pray you never know the pain of fate when it comes to take what you’ve stolen.”
Chapter
Fifty-three
Elowen
The café Zale invited usto is right on the water. A server leads us to a veranda overlooking the white sand and sea between pillars covered in orange and light pink blossoms. In the distance, a pod of dolphins flips through the crystalline waters, disappearing only when my dragons’ shadows overtake them. It seems Zale was true to his word; no guards are either inside or on the road.
Zale stands beside a table with his hands clasped behind his back, his posture stiff though he tries to draw attention away from his nerves by smiling at us. He’s in a similar outfit to last night, the red linen complementing his deep brown complexion and hair.
I take a seat across from the crown prince, and though the table is circular it’s clear Zarius and Cayden deliberately sit closer to me. Zarius doesn’t do so out of loyalty, and he has a hard time hiding his sneer when regarding Zale. A woman sets a pitcher of orange juice at the center of the table along with a coffee tray filled with sweeteners, milk, and a small bowl of chocolate.
Zale clears his throat, placing one of the chocolates in his cup and dousing it in coffee. He notes my intrigue, and says, “It’s the preferred way of having coffee in Galakin since chocolate and coffee are the crops we take most pride in.” He flips a cup up. “Try it.”
I blankly stare at him, lifting a brow and waiting for him to speak.If he thinks I’ll entertain him before acknowledging how he sat by while his mother practically called me a set of open legs and threw the wordbastardaround like a curse, then he’s mistaken.
His throat bobs, and he looks down briefly before straightening his shoulders. “As I stated in my letter, I wished to apologize for how my mother and father conducted themselves last night. It was entirely inappropriate, and I’d never come between your marriage.”
Oh, sweet gods.
I exchange a glance with Cayden, who makes no attempt to hide his thinning patience as he says, “Does the wind whistle through the empty space between your ears like an abandoned temple?” Zarius chokes on his orange juice, and I press my lips together to keep from laughing. “Tell us why you wanted to meet because I’m assuming it wasn’t to inform us of how you take your coffee.”
As a peace offering, I lean forward. The markings on my arms shimmer as I grab one of the chocolates. Steaming coffee melts it, and I stir with the small spoon looped through the handle to ensure no bits are left. The scent alone is enough to make my mouth water, and the taste is even better.
He seems pleased by my reaction and speaks with a newfound confidence. “I want to train you.”
“Me?” I laugh again. “I didn’t have tutors who used dulled swords, prince. I learned to fight to survive.”
“In magic.”
I set the cup back on the saucer and rest my folded hands on the table. “To wield fire?”
“I cannot wield dragonfire but teaching you how to wield earthly fire may help you hone your abilities. You wielded your fire in a moment riddled with emotion. You need to be able to call the fire to you as you sit here.” He does exactly that, pulling the flame from somewhere in the restaurant. “You need to sense it even when you can’t see it and let it become part of you.”
“What do you get in return?” I ask, knowing everything comes at aprice, but the offer is so tempting I’d be willing to pay just about anything. Fire floods my veins but has nowhere to go. It lives within me like an eternal flame, and I can either burn from the inside or conquer it.
He looks between all three of us as another server places a three-tiered tray of savory and sweet breakfast options on the table. “I’m going to convince my parents to join your war. It’s not your fight alone.” His gaze settles on Zarius who looks incredibly impassive, picking an invisible piece of lint off his shirt. “Our people fought before we were born and still hold on to their hatred, but it won’t solve anything. All it will do is inspire that same malice in future generations, and countless lives will be lost because rulers could not find a way to lead their people into a better world.”
“I’m not sure your parents will have such a progressive perspective on the events that began the war between our people,” Zarius says. “Need I remind you that it was never proven my uncle stole your aunt away. She may have left of her own volition.”
Zale sighs. “And we may never know that answer, but…”
“We cannot create a better future if we live in the past,” I finish for him. “Leaders should aim to alleviate suffering, not perpetuate it.”
“Yes.” Zale nods. “Exactly that.”
“This is all very heartwarming,” Cayden flatly states, drumming his fingers on the table and draping his other arm over my chair. “But I want to know how many ships you can promise.”
“Five hundred.”
