Page 139 of Fate and Flame
Again, we turned.
“Do you fear the king of the Wind Court?”
I considered that question, though I didn’t want to at all.
I fear what he will do to the world. Or what I will.
The dragon was silent for a long time. I sat up, holding tight to Cal, and looked down. Twelve. We had twelve dragons patrolling our border, and still, his males had gotten through. Fen was right the whole time, and I’d been so very wrong. And the only thing I’d felt aside from complete sorrow was absolute rage. There was no in between unless I became numb.
“The world will be what it will be. Even one such as I cannot change that.”
We are not the same. You don’t know what I am.
“Tell me, little liar. What are you?”
Death.
“We are all death, if motivated.”
What motivates a dragon?I asked, pushing Cal to the side so I could look into the slits of his clever eyes as he soared beside us.
“Many things. Anger, curiosity, loyalty, revenge.”
Why would a dragon ever need revenge?
“You’ve held my name in your mind. I cannot think of another time a faerie has released the name of a dragon. Bloodshed is usually how those situations end.”
The dragon flew around us in circles. No matter the great size of the cetani, the dragons made them look trivial in comparison, though Cal never cowered.
“I’ve grown quite fond of you, little liar.”
I have that effect on people.
“Again, you lie.”
I’ll try not to take offense to that.
I watched as he jerked to the side, observing the line of dragons, even the ones I couldn’t see in the far distance. He closed his eyes and his golden yellow scales rippled like a drop of water in the sea.
“I have a gift for you, little liar. Call your mate.”
Fen met us on the ground. “What is it?” he asked, barreling through his soldiers.
We watched as another from the dragon’s hoard flew in. The blood red color of his massive body filled the sky. The soldiers moved away as the crimson dragon landed beside his leader, opened his two front paws, and deposited his gift to the ground. The yellow beast made a guttural noise, and the crimson dragon snorted and took to the sky once more.
“I believe this is a human,” the dragon said out loud. “He was traveling with two others that didn’t make it.”
“Can you read his mind? Where was he going?”
“His mind is quite weak. Your enemy has sent him ahead to deliver a message.”
The human stood tall and puffed his chest out. As if he was the higher species here in this world.
“What is your message?” Fen asked, his voice dangerous.
He raised his chin to the faerie king. Such bravery in humans.“I can only speak to the Promised One.”
Fen’s eyes were cold and unwavering. “I am the Promised One.”
