Page 95 of Prince of Storms
I recalled the size of the ledge as we landed. That was alotof marble. Trying to imagine how it stayed in place was an exercise in futility.
“Come. This way,” Tor said, taking my hand and leading me to the mountain.
“Is there a door anyw—”
The mountain shimmered and then faded from view in front of us, revealing a tunnel entrance as wide as the platform on which we’d landed. Tor’s entire dragon could have fit through if he wanted.
“I guess we go in,” he said.
“You’ve never been here before, have you?”
“No,” he admitted. “And those who have taken the Test and passed don’t talk about it. It’s a private rite for every couple. This is the only time people return from seeing the God-King. It’s not a temple people can worship at, so this is as new to me as it is to you.”
The mountain tunnel encased us, and the light behind us disappeared as the rock appeared out of thin air, as solid looking as it had been from the outside. Another ten steps and we found ourselves on a mirrored platform inside the mountain. It jutted away from the sides of the massive cavern without any sort of barrier along the sides.
It may have been fifty or sixty feet wide, but I was still tentative about walking out along it. But I did. While holding Tor’s hand extremely tightly.
“Do we address him?” I whispered. “Is there a ritual?”
“No. I think we just wait. He is the God-King. He’ll know we’re here.”
Even as Tor spoke, something moved in the darkness ahead of us. I could see courtesy of a light that glowed from somewhere behind us, though I didn’t pick out any light sources. It just sort of …was.
But past the edge of the platform was a darkened abyss. Whatever was out there, the sounds of it stirring dug deep into my very bones. It was big. Really big. The mountain groaned in response, and the movement continued into the distance.
Air rushed past us, then a portal opened at the edge of the platform. Surrounded by white, it yawned open to reveal a silvery-white oval that slowly changed color to a yellow until—
“It’s an eye,” I whispered with a gulp, suddenly taking everything into perspective.
The eye belonged to a truly tremendous dragon. His single eye was easily three times as wide as Tor’s entire body, from nose to tail. It defied comprehension even as I tried to imagine the rest of the body disappearing into the dark.
“God-King,” I said as the eye stared at us. Hopefully, he found my form of address respectful.
Something stirred in my mind, digging deep into it, taking hold, looking around casually while it waited, building.
Like someone taking in a breath before speaking, only on a monumental scale. In my head.
Torrent of Storms.
Mia of Earth.
You come for judgment. As Eternal Mates.
The God-King spoke in my mind. Judging from Tor’s jerk, he was receiving the same message.
“We do,” he said.
I hesitated a moment before nodding. “Yes.”
The eye blinked, a stomach-churning experience to watch given its size.
Very well. The judgment shall begin.
Darkness descended over the eye, and the dragon disappeared out of sight, taking the light with us.
“Mia?” Tor’s voice was strained.
“Yes?” I asked, reaching out for him in the dark. “What is it?”
