Page 13 of The Dragon Sacrifice

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Stenton snorted, crossing his arms over his chest. “Let’s not start this again. The ancient stories are false. No human woman can save us. That would be absurd.”

“Would it?” Langdon asked, staring with an intensity the other two didn’t seem capable of. “The prophesy states that a woman of magical blood can break the curse and lift us out of this wretched existence.”

Stenton snorted, but said no more.

All three sets of eyes fell on Seela.

“Now hold on,” Seela said, pushing back in her chair. “I have no idea what you’re suggesting, but I don’t have magic-curse-breaking powers.”

“Didn’t they pick you for a reason?” Jerrard asked.

“Yes,” Langdon added, “part of the bargain that keeps our father from raining fire down on your human king is that we have been promised a woman with magical blood each year. The problem is the bargain didn’t stipulate that the horde would not kill her the moment she set foot in the cave. Only this time, Jerrard, or fate, has stepped in.” Langdon ran his eyes over her face like he was searching for those abilities. “Forces are at work to help us, and you are to be the key to unlocking the shackles.”

Seela thought back, remembering the dark expression on Bishop Danbury’s face. She was chosen for revenge, nothing else. “I don’t know what you mean.”

“Betrayed again,” Stenton said, pushing out of his chair. “Not that it matters.”

Jerrard stood, blocking his brother from leaving. “Wait. I saved her from the horde. How I knew to be there at that time and in that place, I don’t know, but it felt right. Something pulled me there. It has never happened before.”

Langdon clapped Jerrard on the shoulder, a twinkle in his eye. “Magic called you there.”

Stenton scoffed. “Believe what you want, but Jerrard gave up his one transformation. Now we only have two left. If they come for us again, we’re doomed.”

“They can get in here?” Seela asked.

All three brothers looked at the magical door behind them. The rough, wooden door had runes on this side as well as those she’d seen in the hallway.

Stenton was the one to answer. “The monsters want to feast.”

“On you?” Seela asked.

All three brothers nodded.

“Oh, Lords.” Seela put her hand in her head, feeling faint.

“Don’t worry,” Jerrard said, his voice reassuring. “They haven’t been able to breach the door yet.”

But the other two princes’ faces let Seela know they took no comfort in that statement. And she’d been the one who’d weakened them when Jerrard had used his magic to save her.

“There has to be a way out of here,” Seela said, feeling suddenly claustrophobic. Her eyes traced around the small, low-ceilinged room, but the princes shook their heads.

“We’ve had a century to explore the tunnels. There’s no way out that isn’t magicked in some way to keep us in. And only breaking the curse can release us.”

Seela put her head in her hands, gripping it. The throb at her temples pounded in time with her accelerated heartbeat. What was happening to her life? One minute she was about the enjoy Festival, the next she was being spirited off to Lords knew where, and now she was trapped in a cave with magical monsters lurking outside.

“It’s a lot to take in,” Jerrard said behind her.

“You should lay down,” Langdon added. “Let us show you to a bed.”

She nodded, suddenly too tired to do anything but follow their directions. In a daze, she followed behind Jerrard, with Stenton and Langdon in tow. Down a long, dimly lit hallway they went, single file, until Jerrard stopped at a door and opened it.

It was like stepping into another world.

Where the entryway and sitting area were small and cramped, this cave had ceilings that soared to the heavens. It was somehow flooded with light from hundreds of candles, each guttering as they stepped inside. Candles were perched on tables, rocky ledges, and dripping from candelabras that hung from the stalactite-encrusted ceiling.

Even more spectacular were the gems embedded in the walls that reflected the candlelight. Purples, greens, and blues danced on the walls as the light reflected from their multifaceted edges, making the room feel like a fairy tale.

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