Page 36 of Kingdom of Ashes & Bone
“I need to get my family out of the castle, or talk to them and give them a choice if they’re coming with us or not when the refugees leave,” I said instead, deflecting.
Zion frowned.
About that,Zariah added, gently shaking off the lasting laughing child and sauntering over in his massive dragon form.
I stood, panic racing through my veins. “You’re staying here?” I shrieked, my voice much higher than it should have been. The people closest turned and stared, and I struggled to soften my tone.
“I mean, I guess I’m not surprised,” I said wryly, hysterical laughter bubbling up in my throat. “You can’t even rip a hangnail off without Mommy’s permission. There’s no way you could leave the kingdom.”
I turned on my heel and left them both behind, picking and direction and just walking away from the camp. Once the bright light and warmth of the fire faded into the cold, harsh landscape of the blackened desert around me, I paused. Those stupid little buggy creatures would be out here. I couldn’t even find an escape.
Growling in annoyance, I kicked a rock. The pain was sharp and biting, and exactly what I needed. Hot tears leaked from the corner of my eyes, but it felt good to justfeelsomething.
A dragon soared overhead, perching on a high cliff and looking down on me.
You didn’t let us finish,Zariah chided, tucking his head under one massive wing.You know we can’t leave because of our mother. So we need to stay and fight her. THEN we leave.
You could have knocked me over with a feather. “You … want to take down the queen?” My voice went high again. It was just unbelievable. Zariah and Zion were Momma’s boys, bound to obey the queen. And here they were, plotting her downfall?
Zephyr told us about the etchings in the cave. It’s only confirmed what we’ve suspected all along—this curse is her fault and our family’s fault for enslaving your people. We want to make it right by setting them free. We may have to dethrone our mother to do that. We may have to kill her. But it’s what’s right. Isn’t it?His voice broke on the last question, revealing how torn he was.
I focused my thoughts on him.Come here.
He swooped down from the cliff and landed roughly in front of me, the wind from his wings tossing the fringes of my hair around. I put my hand flat on his snout, the warmth of his body coursing through me.
Just make sure it’s what you want to do for your kingdom and not what you think needs done for me,I cautioned him. What would challenging the queen even look like? We couldn’t do it at the castle; she’d change into her dragon and hundreds would die! Worry clenched my gut thinking of my frail mother cowering before the queen’s mighty silver dragon.
Nausea churned in my gut.
Be careful,I pleaded.
Zariah buried his snout in my neck, nuzzling me gently. The rough fraction of his scales against my skin felt soothing in an odd, visceral way.
A shadow fell over us and Zariah growled, but it was only Ell. I playfully shoved Zariah’s nose away, standing. Awkwardness hung between as I blushed, Ell’s eyes taking me in as if he’d never really had a chance to before.
Which was true.
“I–” I began, only for him to shake his head at me. I fell silent, embarrassed. Hopefully he wasn’t expecting some great declaration of love or something else ridiculous. Yes, he was my father, but he’d never been a true father. There was no anger; he’d done the best he could in the trapped situations we were all in, but we suddenly wouldn’t have a strong relationship simply because he impregnated my mother.
“Just let me look at you,” he said softly.
I crossed my arms over my chest, self-conscious. Zariah’s massive figure next to me was reassuring, but I needed to face Ell on my own.
“There is a lot left unsaid. Everything you could think to say to me would be true. I deserve it,” Ell began.
My mouth opened to protest, but I hesitated. He was right. He’d done a lot for my mother and me, but he’d hurt us as well.
“You’re so strong. So beautiful. Just like her.”
I jerked at that. “Who?”
“Your mother,” Ell admitted sheepishly, staring at the ground. “I’m not proud of what happened. It caused her a lot of pain, but I’ll never regret it because you’re here. And we both wanted it at the time. We … cared for each other, even if it didn’t last. I wanted you to know that.”
Emotion swelled in my chest, but I couldn’t shake the image of the broken down woman that I associated with my mother.
“I don’t think we’re alike,” I protested softly.
He cupped my cheek, lifting my eyes to meet his. Dark gazes connected, a world of pain shared uniquely in a way no one else would know but the two of us.
