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“I need my blood to heal your lip. It’s rune magic.”

“No.” She shook her head. “No, I will not let you hurt yourself to heal me.”

“Katana.”

“No.” Her lavender eyes flicked across his face. That was the firmest he’d ever heard her. “I will heal in a couple of hours. Please, go to your negotiations. I do not want this deal to fall through because of me.”

He sighed and shoved his dagger back in his weapons belt. “That can wait. What if Atlanta isn’t gone and he’s waiting to catch you alone?” Her breathing hitched and he could see in her face she hadn’t thought of that. “I will take you to the room so you can change, and you can come back with me. They will understand our lateness.”

“Alright,” she said softly. “And Thane?”

“Yes?”

“Thank you.”

Thane was usedto being the one seated on the throne, on the dais above those he negotiated with. People from all over Adalon came to him for deals, and when he lived as War, they also came to him for alliances and bargains. He didn’t like being the one who needed something.

Fennan and Leif sat on his left, Piper and Katana on the right. Ronan claimed he would remain neutral and didn’t choose to be seated across from them like the rest of his family. Instead, he sat at the far left, his seat angled center between the two parties. To separate himself further he didn’t wear royal red like his parents and brother but rather a rich blue and there was no crown on his head. In fact, Thane wasn’t sure he’d ever seen him wear one.

The queen’s gown was the color of rubies, and her wrists dripped in diamonds. The gaudy necklace of diamonds and sapphires was as extravagant as any crown. Each finger was adorned with a ring of precious jewels. Bright red lips stood out on her wintery pale skin. The glacial eyes that Ronan inherited watched him with dismay.

Yoren, the dragon prince Thane fought in the arena not long ago, stared him down. His crown was smaller than the king’s towering one, but its peaks and valleys were still larger than Thane’s. Dragons loved their treasure and battle. It had to eat at this Prince that he was bested by a pair of elves in front of his entire kingdom.

Thane stood and placed his hands behind his back. “I think you all know why I’m here, and this time I’m not leaving without an alliance. Soon it won’t just be Palenor under attack.”

“Yes, we’ve heard the Black Mage is back,” Queen Nyrovia said, raising her icy head slightly. “And, therefore, you know what our answer will be. We will not risk being infected by your curse. It’s why we stay in our mountains. The Black Mage and his pale ones do not come here.”

“There is an enemy more powerful than the Black Mage coming.”

“So, says you, the Elf King desperate for an ally,” King Drake stated. His golden crown full of rubies sparkled upon his sleek black hair. The sunlight brought out a warmth in his golden-brown eyes, almost softening the harshness in his tone. “Who is this mysterious enemy?”

Thane pressed his lips together. After overhearing the king’s opinion on other realms and the gods, the truth would sound insane to him. “You will believe it when you see it. And you’ll see it when I call you into battle. I am not going to try to strong-arm you with fear but with an offer, it is not gold or silver, treasure, you have. Nor is it trade or food, you clearly have an abundance of what you need here. I will take you and your people to your homeworld. Dragons hail from a place not of this realm, but a world called Ryvengaard.”

The king and queen exchanged a glance. Prince Yoren narrowed his eyes. “You come offering the one thing our people have always wanted, but have no proof,” King Drake said.

Queen Nyrovia added, “And I suppose you will only take us thereafterwe fight with you.”

“That is typically how negotiations work, Mother,” Ronan said.

“I do not offer charity,” Thane replied. “You get something you want, and I get something I want.”

King Drake stood, shaking his head. “We will not be played for fools by your lavish tales, King Thane.” He stepped out from his chair, threw his crimson cloak behind him and turned to leave.

“Do not turn your back on me,” Thane snarled, his voice carrying with it the persuasion of the gods. It had been a long time since he’d used it, but the power rushed out, nonetheless. “Turn around and face me.”

The king stopped and followed the command. His expression twisted into confusion. “What is this magic?”

Thane strode forward and shoved his finger into the king’s chest. “I will no longer tolerate your disrespect,dragon king. The gods do not pay homage to beasts. Youwillcome with me to the northern stone portal without protest, and I will show you the truth.” Thane softened his voice. “I’m not fooling you. I’m opening your eyes.”

On dragon back,they flew over the tall evergreen forest of the north until Thane felt the portal’s call, like a warm wind swirling around him, pulling him closer. He directed King Drake to take a downward turn, his sleek, bronze dragon tucked his wings and dived. Thane held on tighter as his stomach seemed to leave his body. Wind tore through his hair and whistled in his ears. Ronan followed after with Piper. The silver queen carried Katana, Prince Yoren with Fennan, and Leif took up the rear with Dax.

The stone portal waited in a clearing surrounded by thorn bushes of wild berries and white flowers shaped like tiny bells. Thane slid down the colossal dragon’s body and hit the ground. As commanded, King Drake shifted back into his human form and followed without protest.

Thane pressed his hand to the mossy surface of the stone circle. “Hello, old friend.” These portals were created all over the realms by the gods, and they’d been abandoned for thousands of years.

Creeping vines and other weeds curled around the weathered gray stone, but it hummed to life, warming under his palm. He grabbed some of the most obnoxious weeds and jerked them down. This area had not been touched by people in ages. “Hello,” it hissed, sounding like several voices coming together as one. “Too long, it has been.”

“I know,” Thane said, patting the stone affectionately.