Page 75 of Wings of Frost and Fury
The tonic is working, but holding onto Ashvelon takes more effort than usual, even though he’s flying as smoothly and carefully as he can. We head toward Kyreagan, who is vomiting streams of agonized fire across the sky. Varex is with him, as well as another dragon with bronze scales.
Kyreagan starts talking rapidly, his words barely distinguishable. The gist of it is that he must leave at once, or Rahzien will do something to Serylla.
Rahzien? What has the damn King of Vohrain done now?
“Explain, Prince.” I speak clearly and loudly, demanding Kyreagan’s attention. “I’m a friend to your Princess, and if something has happened to her, I may be able to help.”
Kyreagan stumbles through his tale. The King of Vohrain already tried to bribe him to give up Serylla, and Kyreagan denied him. Fortunix was present for that exchange. After the storm ended, while the Prince was out checking on the other dragons, Fortunix went directly to Kyreagan’s cave and tookSerylla, presumably to deliver her to the enemy king in exchange for treasure.
That motherfucking asshole dragon. First he kills Verda, and now he steals my friend? Fuck no. Not while I’m still breathing. I may not have recovered enough to go save her myself, but I will help Kyreagan get her back. Volatile he may be, but I have no doubt that he genuinely loves her. His anxiety doesn’t stem from the wounded pride of a treasure taken. He’s terrified about what Serylla might endure at the hands of the enemy king.
This should have been a glad day, a time to celebrate the departure of the Mordvorren. Leave it to fucking Fortunix to ruin things.
“I’m not surprised he’s a bad seed,” I say. “I never liked that one. Varex, how old was Fortunix’s scent? How long ago did he visit Kyreagan’s cave?”
“A few hours, maybe,” Varex replies.
“A few hours… So Fortunix has already reached the mainland with the Princess.”
The dragons begin arguing about the best way to retrieve her safely. Kyreagan wants to go to war, but I’m inclined to agree with Varex, who protests that the clan cannot survive an all-out conflict with Vohrain, not after the deprivation they suffered during the storm. The Vohrainians have better weaponry than Elekstan did, and if they turn those weapons against the dragons, their former allies, the result could be catastrophic.
Kyreagan looks exhausted, certainly not prepared to do battle with an entire army. And there’s something odd about Varex—not that I know him well enough to read him properly, but his aura feels disjointed.
Open warfare is a terrible idea. I’m not about to let these dragons die right after I devised the perfect spell to save them.
Come to think of it… perhaps that spell could be the solution.
“I’m having a thought,” I announce.
“Shit, we’re in trouble now,” mutters Ashvelon.
“Hush, you.” I smack his neck reproachfully. “The King of Vohrain may not know that dragons can take human form now. Fortunix might not have passed along that bit of information. And whether Rahzien knows about it or not, he won’t recognize you in human form. That’s your angle. Your human face is the perfect disguise. With it, you can stroll right into the Elekstan capital… or approach the King’s fortress in Vohrain, depending on where Fortunix took the Princess. You said he wants to use her to subdue the people, right? So I’m guessing he’ll keep her in Elekstan. He might try to impregnate her quickly, to legitimize his claim on the kingdom.”
It’s the obvious truth, based on my personal knowledge of how courts and their rulers tend to function, but Kyreagan reacts as if it’s a personal insult. He bellows, releasing a cascade of fire toward me and Ashvelon, who dodges quickly.
I manage to stay seated on Ashvelon’s back, but I’m shaken.
“Avoid that topic,” Varex tells me.
“Right.” I take the flask of strength tonic and swallow a little more of it.
Kyreagan is visibly struggling, his control frayed to a thread by long confinement, lack of food, and fear for the woman he loves.
“You’re forgetting one thing,” he says thickly. “I have horns, claws, and a forked tongue when I’m in human form. Won’t they give me away?”
I arch a brow. “Your horns stay with you when you change? Interesting. There have been a few such cases among the others, too. I suppose even the best-planned spells can go slightly awry. While I can’t alter the spell itself, I can add a charm that allowsyou to dispel your horns and modify your tongue and claws when you’re in human form.”
The bronze dragon inserts himself into the conversation, offering to accompany Kyreagan to the mainland. While he’s talking with the Prince, Ashvelon speaks to me in a low tone. “Is it wise for you to perform magic so soon? You’re still recovering.”
“It’s only a small spell, and it needs to be done. It’s for Serylla. I consider her a friend.”
He sighs. “Very well.”
As the dragons conclude their conversation, I address Kyreagan again. “Ashvelon and I will fetch the supplies for the charm. We’ll meet you at your cave.”
“And my Prince—” Ashvelon’s tone is both sympathetic and determined. “If this scheme fails, and you need the clan, we will fight for you and the Princess. Love is worth starting a war.”
Delight floods my heart at his words. Affectionately, I smack his neck again. “So dramatic. Come on, pet.”
