Page 92 of Upon Buried Embers
“You will never go back to him because you’re mine, and I told Rhett that,” he says, eyes fierce as he keeps coming. “I took you, you belong to me no matter the circumstances. No matter the situation.”
Escor snaps his jaws at him.
“A means to an end,” he murmurs. “You will help me with the dragons.”
Another step.
“Go back where you came from,” he growls. “To the Elven lands.”
Another step, and my heart beats faster.
“You are here to do a task, and then you will probably leave the clan behind.”
“To a Master?”
He shakes his head and stops in front of me, reaching up and puts a hand under Escor’s chin, holding him up. The dragon doesn’t fight anymore, and I feel like he knows something I don’t.
“I may be Dragorie, I may have to do terrible things to keep my clan safe. But in the end, I will take care of you in any way I can.” My breath hitches. “I’ll make sure of it.”
I blink at him, not sure I can trust his words.
“But why?”
“You are mine.”
“It isn’t that simple.”
“It is to a man like me.”
My breathing comes out ragged, and my fingers twitch at my sides.
He’s fed me, bathed me and clothed me. I sleep in his home and keep warm. I do chores like everyone else and so far… he hasn’t hurt me, not really.
And he doesn’t beat me.
“I…”
“Come to me, Little Whisperer.” He eyes me. “You’ll be safe with me.”
“I’m safe here,” I say, unsure what to do, what to believe. Escor rumbles, and comfort washes over me.
Drogonah makes a sound, and Escor replies, but all he does is sit on his hind legs, his front ones bracketing me on either side.
“I knew you would be interesting,” Rohan looks between us. He comes closer, a breath away from me now as he raises a hand to stroke the back of my cheek. “You are far more than you have ever been given a chance to be, but you will have that chance as mine.” He strokes the top of my ears. “You just need a safe placeto explore it, and I will create that place for you. Even if right now you don’t feel like I could.” He takes a step back. “When you’re ready, come back to the cabin, but make sure it’s before dark. Tonight is going to be especially cold.”
He turns, running a hand over Drogonah, murmuring to him before he leaves us.
My legs give out, and I steady myself against Escor. Drogonah snarls his way one last time before he goes back to his bed, tail high and swishing.
Sliding down Escor’s leg, I lean against it as thoughts rattle through me.
Do I go back to him, back to this safe space he said he will create?
Or do I run and never look back?
Could I even make it in the winter on my own, hiding as an elf?
Do I try to sneak past the king’s army at the boundary to get to the Elven lands?
