Page 114 of The Sea of Zemira (The Zemiran Chronicles 1)

Queen Cassia’s shoulders slouched. “We have a giant problem.” She gestured with her hand at one of the most ancient trees on their land—one that stood taller than the others.

“The creature has eaten our crops, destroyed our homes, and not even my warriors can tame the beast.”

Her tone sounded exhausted, as if they had been battling that giant for years and had simply given up.

Mazie snickered. “You have thousands of warriors on your land, and you can’t kill a mere giant?” the black-eyed pirate mocked, folding her arms across her chest.

Lincoln was used to Mazie’s arrogant tongue, so he let it slip.

“You believe you are skilled enough to kill a giant?” the queen asked Mazie, searching her face for any sign of doubt.

Mazie puffed out her chest. “With a few flicks of my sword, I can have it dead by sunrise.”

Cassia plastered a smile on her face. “I see.” She fell silent for a couple seconds. “I’ll make you a deal. You kill my giant, Mazie, and you can have that little pixie of mine.”

Mazie’s eyes widened. “Are you serious?” she asked, surprised.

Would the queen honestly give up that pixie so easily?Raven thought. Maybe the queen would, or perhaps once again, Mazie had just gotten herself into an absurd situation.

Enthralled by the queen’s proposal, she held out her hand. “You have yourself a deal, Your Majesty,” Mazie said, bouncing on her toe in anticipation. “I will kill your giant, and then I will leave with your pixie.”

The queen did not shake her hand.

“Done! But not today, pirate, for we have more pressing matters at hand,” the queen said as she turned to her niece. “Nola, you are asking my people to risk their lives for humans. It goes against everything we stand for. And you, being part Fae, it should concern you, too.”

The siren folded her arms stubbornly. “What is the purpose of having Elven warriors if you’re not willing to use them? The Fae have magic, and what about the other creatures on this land?” She looked up, watching the two dragons circling the coastline in the distance. “If we all fight together as one, using magic to destroy him—we will win. My queen, King Matthias killed your brother. That alone should be enough for you to fight!”

The queen flinched at the memory. “I cannot make that decision today. It is not about me, Nola. It is about what my warriors are willing to do for a race that has banished us for two decades—humans are nothing to us. Not anymore.”

She nodded. “I understand.”

“I don’t think you do!” Cassia said curtly.

Nola looked away, reaching out to grab Lincoln’s hand for comfort. She would not give up. Not until the Fae Queen agreed to help her.

“Nola,” the silvery-eyed woman said, modulating her tone, “Please follow me.”

Queen Cassie led the siren and the pirates to the other side of the field where her dragons had returned.

The Fae woman placed her hand on Dergis, running her hands down his dark, scaly skin.

Nola looked over as she felt Lincoln’s hands brush up against her fingers. She smiled. His eyes averted from hers, growing wide as the other dragon stepped in his direction.

“Anaru,” he said, looking into her eyes, his scar pulsated at the memory of what she had done to him.

The red-scaled dragon extended her wings and roared so loudly the ground beneath them shook like a thunderous storm. Her deep-black eyes blazed into his, connected with his soul for a short moment. Then, Lincoln turned, breaking away from the hold he realized the spectacular creature had on him.

“Fascinating,” the queen said, shifting to Lincoln. “She remembers you well, pirate.” Cassia smiled. “Anaru, surprisingly, is very fond of you. She wants you to ride.”

“Ride a dragon?” he asked hastily. “I respectfully decline, Your Majesty.” He took a nervous step back.

I sense your desire to choose me, Anaru. But I am no dragon rider,he said to her mind.

Anaru let out another loud roar, causing Lincoln’s hair to blow wildly in his face.

“Oh, she won’t hurt you, pirate,” the queen assured.

He narrowed his eyes in annoyance. “My scar disagrees.”

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