Page 93 of Prince of Storms
“What do you mean not yet? What’s left for us to do?”
His smile faltered. “We have to take the Test.”
I put up a hand to forestall the oncoming hugs of Ty and Surge as they sought to sweep us up. “The Test?” I asked. “What’s that? You never mentioned that before.”
“I didn’t really have an opportunity,” he said, throat bobbing up and down as he swallowed.
“What kind of Test? Do I have to study or something?”
“No, not quite,” he said, fidgeting with the ring he always wore, the sapphire with an infused flame at its heart. “We must go before the God-King. He will judge us as to whether or not we are Eternal Mates.”
“Oh. And if he says no? What then? Do I go home?”
Tor shook his head. “No. If we fail, we die.”
“WeWHAT?”I shouted.
Around us, the other dragons pulled back, giving us some room.
Chapter Forty-Three
Mia
Iwaited until we’d been given some space before I spoke again. The dragons slowly, and in many cases almost reluctantly, backed away. I knew they could still hear us, even if we were on the far side of the room, but it gave an impression of privacy, if nothing else.
“Did I hear you right?” I asked, forcing myself to remain calm. There had to be a mistake. “If we fail … wedie?”
Tor nodded once, sharply. “I think.”
His reaction seemed unequivocal. His answer, however, left a whole lot to be desired. He must have read that on my face because he began to elaborate.
“Nobody actuallyknowswhat happens if you fail,” he explained. “It’s assumed that you die because nobody who fails ever returns.”
“And you all do this?” I asked, looking around. “All the dragons?”
“No, not all of us. In fact, most of us don’t.”
“Then why do we have to? I don’t want to risk dying. Didn’t I do that already by putting up with your sister?” I went to point at her body, but at some point, it had been removed along with the Vorgans.
“We do it because a prince is not allowed to sit on the throne unless he has his Eternal Mate.”
“You already told me that’s what I was, this ‘Eternal Mate’,” I pointed out. “So, if you already know, why do we have to risk our lives for your god?”
“Confirmation,” Tor said. “It’s a rite we must pass to ensure we’re ready to sit on the throne.”
“We sit on thrones?”
Tor nodded. “Of course. A prince must have his princess.”
“Princess,” I repeated. “You were serious about that.”
“After we take the Test, yes.”
I looked up at him warily. “You meanifwe pass.”
“You are my Eternal Mate, Mia. I harbor no doubts, no worries, no qualms. In my heart, I believe fully. So I know we will pass the Test. If you are unsure, however …”
“I …”
