Page 63 of Exquisite Monster
“Your Majesty.” Clanking metal and running footsteps echoed off stone, soldiers spilling into the room from the main doors. The man was out of breath. “Dragons. They’re attacking the crops. The crops are on fire. It’s spreading. The guards here?—”
The king’s eyes snapped to mine. “What have you done?”
“Nothing.”
He shoved up off his throne and stormed around the table, striding at me until he ran into Karadi’s shield.My power is not compromised, the dragon told me.He will not get through.
So I walked forward until I was within reach, and he still couldn’t touch me. In order to get out of the room and investigate he’d either have to climb over tables or go through me. This was the most important moment. Delaying this madman long enough to make sure he couldn’t leave this room and interfere before they were free.
In my chest, I felt my mates’ fear for me, but also joy and realization. Sheer focus followed it. They were getting out.
“You want humans to die?” Andaros asked, low enough that no one but me and my companions could hear. “Is that it?”
I shook my head. “You and I both know this has nothing to do with whether humans die. You don’t care. If that were truly your goal, you’d investigateeveryoption. You might be a fool, but you are not ignorant. You know the truth. All those secrets you have wouldn’t have been passed down otherwise. You arechoosinga path of violence instead of a path of peace.”
He reared back as if to strike me.
Belleo growled low, heat rising with her flames, and I held out a hand. My father had stood as well, along with at least twenty other humans. I pulled the dart out of my sleeve and held it up. “You cannot reach me,” I said at full volume. “And I do not have a knife to stop you, as I needed to do the night before our wedding.” I looked directly at my father as I said it. He needed to know who his ally really was. “But I can reach you, and you are not immune to poison the way you are immune to fire.”
The Heirs are on their way. We must leave, Belleo said.
“So you let them do more than fuck you,” Andaros snarled into the space between us. “They’ve begun turning you into a beast. A monster.”
The accusation didn’t surprise me. He would never understand this. “I will become whatever I need to be for them.” I raised my voice once more to address the room. “There are dragons who are willing to help humans. We do not have to be enemies. If any of you want to seek the help of dragons, you may.” I didn’t specify how. None of the gathered royalty would dare admit such a thing in front of Andaros. But maybe the spark would lead to something later. I could hope.
“Katalena…” My father took a step toward me, and I took a step back.
“I am happy to see you, Father. Be well. And I hope we will meet again in better company.”
We turned and retreated. Turning my back on Andaros made my skin crawl, even though I knew he couldn’t reach me. Chills prickled over me. A second later, metal crashed to the ground.
I looked back and found a knife on the floor, his arm still in the air from throwing it. My father was staring at Andaros with pure fury. I pulled a dart without poison and threw it, praying to the Fallen I’d practiced enough.
The heavythunktold me it landed in the wood. Right in the center of his throne. Where his head might have been had he remained sitting. Shocked gasps followed us as we left the room, walking as quickly as we could while remaining calm.
As soon as I was outside?—
LENA.
Idroal flew above, and one of my mates rode on their back. They were here. They werefree.
Get on, Belleo said. I scrambled onto her back, tears blurring my eyes. Not even a minute later and we were all in flight, and I took what felt like my first full breath inmonths.
We did it.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
________
KATALENA
We flew for more than a day. Back across Viria to the crater where Idroal had first taken me.
My mates had said a few things to me, but not many. There was too much to say, and I couldn’t speak back with my mind. We still might not be able to speak when we landed to rest. I didn’t know our final destination, but I knew we didn’t plan on pausing our journey for long until we’d arrived.
More than anything, I reveled in just feeling them. They touched the bond as only they could, using silent words to wrap me up in love and comfort that wasn’t nearly enough.
We will rest here briefly, Idroal said.The Heirs have rested enough to fly.
