Page 66 of Exquisite Monster
SIRRUS
Stretching my wings felt incredible after almost three months without shifting. Not having access to the sky wouldn’t make a dragon go mad, but it wasn’t comfortable. The simple sensation of the sun on my scales was incredible. But not as incredible as the soft weight of my mate between my shoulders.
Lena currently slept, her bond peaceful.
We’d stopped once more briefly, but we were nearing the coast now. Almost home.
Idroal had told us much of what happened after Lena was rescued. But they refused to speak of what had happened to her, as did the others. It was her story to tell, and none of them would take that from her.
You are still prevented from looking for us, then?
They chuckled.I am. But since you are right in front of me, I do not have to look.
Karadi, a dragon I had only met a few times, spoke.Do you have thoughts on where we go from here, Your Highnesses? Your escape will hardly erase the friction between yourselves and your sires.
Endre, who led our flight, rolled his head.You are correct. Our freedom has healed nothing but us. And yes, the three of us do have thoughts about what might happen next. Forgive us if we are not yet ready. We will take a few days to rest with our mate before looking forward.
Do we have that kind of time?Mesene asked.
To your knowledge, Zovai spoke now,were you followed? Do the Elders know of your actions?
Idroal made a noncommittal sound.To our direct knowledge, no. We have not encountered any other dragons and have not been followed closely enough to be noticed.If more dragons had crossed the boundary into human lands, we would know it.
The number of dragons in their group had already been pushing the upper limits of what thesheytenand Endre’s power would let through. And then, only because their intent was good. The Elders would have to order a dragon directly through the boundary to overcome it, and they would have no reason to do so when they had commanded Idroal not to pursue us.
Even if someone from Skalisméra had informed the Elders about Idroal and the others leaving, traveling was not a crime.
In this situation, the odds are with us, I said.But in case, though I know we have no right to ask more of you?—
Ravi answered before I finished.We will keep watch while you rest, Your Highness.
Thank you.
Belleo’s voice was softer than the others, and I felt that she only spoke to the three of us.It may take her some time to tell you everything. She pretends she is all right. She is not.
No, I didn’t imagine so. Not even a day after we mated, and we’d been ripped away from her. Not only had she been alone, she’d bound her soul to ours and then not been able to experience it. She would have felt three times more isolated.
Thank you, Belleo, Endre said.
In the distance I spotted the first sparkling reflections of the water. Almost there. So close.
Do we think they know?Zovai asked privately.I know we hope they don’t, but what’s the truth we won’t say?
I don’t think they know, I said.They wrote us off and took care of the most likely threat to our rescue. Their biggest weakness is their arrogance in their absolute power. If they do know, we’ll deal with it. Because theywillknow at some point. Let’s just pray it’s not yet.
Endre growled in agreement.Andaros will have more to deal with than telling our parents about his failure with the chaos we left. His food source is now gone.
A pang of sadness rolled through me. We all wished we’d been able to save the dragon, whose name we didn’t even know. But her death had been her choice, and I respected that. If things had gone differently, and there was no other escape, none of us could claim we wouldn’t have made the same decision.
It will certainly accelerate the conflict, Endre said.The humans now have every reason to attack. They need living lands.
Belleo and Karadi had briefly told us what Lena had done and what she’d said, though we would want to hear all the details from her.
If any of the kingdoms took her words to heart, maybe there will be a crack in the human forces. But yes, it will accelerate it. Which, in my mind, is better. No one is served by extending a stalemate that’s already lasted centuries and making humans starve to death.
No matter what actions were taken, the world had been hurtling toward this conflict at full speed for a long time. It just so happened to catch up with us. Whether it was now or in another century, this needed to happen. I’d rather it happen now and have a chance to live a life with Lena than spend our lives with her running, hiding, and hoping they would leave us alone.
They wouldn’t.
