Page 22 of The Forbidden Dragon King
I can never be claimed by another wolf shifter Alpha, no matter how long I live.
This is my mark of shame.
I really am an outcast now.
When Bard attempts to reach for my arm, I skitter back from him. Barely able to draw in breaths or see where I’m going through the blood caked in my eyelashes, I stumble toward the cave’s exit.
I have to escape from Fang Kingdom, Bard, these feelings.
Myself.
I can hear Bard running after me, and panicked, I limp faster. I break out of the cave onto the ledge.
The fresh, cold air slaps across my face. All at once, everything that has just happened feels frighteningly real.
Then I duck in shock, when a giant shadow swoops over the moon.
What the fuck was that?
I crane my head back and stare in amazement at the most gorgeous and terrifying sight I’ve ever seen: a giant, golden dragon with glowing amber eyes swooping across the nighttime sky toward me.
King Aurelius, of the Draca Kingdom!
He glitters more brightly than the stars, as if he is the awoken sun battling the moon for the control of the sky.
He looks just like the Golden Dragon Emperor of legend from the cave painting, only more fearsome. Horns curve from his head, and the scales down his long tail glint like sunlight. Shadows armor his sinuous back and around his head; they disintegrate from the tips of his wings like ash.
My heart leaps.
Aurelius truly has come on the night of the Mate Huntto save me. I never believed in that tradition. He may be late but he’s here.
I raise my hand to my throbbing forehead.
Or have I hit my head hard enough to be hallucinating? Is this the impact of the broken bond?
Then I jump, when I hear a roar from the far distance, and a second, then a third, ruby dragon with their dragon riders fly through the nighttime sky over the Unseelie Kingdom borders.
Aren’t ruby dragons the warrior members of Aurelius’ army?
They’re readying for war.
I slump to my knees. My hair hangs over my face.
Of course, Aurelius isn’t here as part of the Mate Hunt to save me. Does he even know that it’s happening tonight? Does he care about the rituals of the kingdoms that he conquers?
He must be here because he’s about to fight a battle with the Shadow Fae.
Or launch an invasion…
Is that why Bard is skulking in the caves, spying? But for which side?
My heart speeds up, when I think of my lavender eyed Shadow Fae King. Is he safe? Already caught?
“Spark, get back in here.” Bard yanks on my arm, trying to pull me into the safety of the cave.
I’m not going anywhere with him anymore, however, and I’m definitely not listening to the man who broke his bond with me.
Yet his use of my nickname shocks me. What is he trying to stop me from seeing?
