Page 30 of Court of Embers (Dragonesse #2)

Myst’s lips curled up over her teeth. “No. But I fear the latter.”

“So…what do you know of dragonblood worshippers of her kind? We need to know if Yura is working alone, or if her entire eyrie has fallen to this. She raised the living dead, Myst.”

“Indeed.” My Ascendant gazed into the middle distance.

“The work of the Other, to bring a semblance of hungering life to the dead. It only supports my fears. As for worshippers, I have raised a fine House in my image, Serafina. None of my children ever went astray. The last time I heard of such a thing was many millennia ago, when the Outsider still walked the earth. The Daughters hunted them mercilessly upon her death.”

Aurae, Nakasha, and Sunya had once been in this world, flesh and blood. I desperately wanted to ask what they had been like, but other things took precedence.

“So our best chance is still with the Historians.”

Myst nodded. “They possess the collective knowledge of this age. If anyone has an intimate understanding of those who follow the Other, they will. I must admit, it is a mindset beyond me, but then…I saw firsthand what the Other wrought. Why one would worship such a thing, I do not know.”

Rhylan rubbed his face with one hand, and scrubbed a hand through his hair. “I’ll get the bags packed. I have half a mind to leave now.”

I sent him a wave of affection via the bond, feeling the same frustration. I knew the Ascendants knew more than they were saying, but I couldn’t ascribe it to any sort of malice. They spent decades, even centuries, in the Dreamlands. It was the only way to live an eternal life without going mad.

But it also meant huge gaps in knowledge and experience. Myst may have battled Ustrael…and spent the next thousand years asleep. There was every chance both Ascendants were frustrated with themselves, their lack of omniscience.

“You’ve fought Primoris,” I said quietly. “Was it similar?”

Myst shrugged. “In a manner of speaking. But Serafina, when a Primoris rises, no Ascendant would stand apart from the fight. Were they in the Dreamlands, they would still awaken to answer the call for vengeance.”

I gazed at her, the wheels churning in my head. “The Ascendants haven’t come together?”

“No.” She was almost inaudible. “No, they haven’t.

Erebos and I stand guard. Caru has sent word that he is ready.

Rannas and Nereus are waiting for orders.

I have felt Illiae’s disturbance, though she hasn’t answered my call.

Akiva ignores me, but then, she was always a bit of a self-obsessed ass.

But Sturm and Emei and Dynyr…they do not respond, no matter how loudly I scream into the wind. ”

They were the Ascendants of the Houses allied with Yura. Her own Ascendant, Dynyr, was as stubborn as my sister. Perhaps he was ignoring Myst on principle.

But as I looked into the deep pools of Myst’s eyes, I saw her fear.

“Be careful, Serafina,” she added. “Isandoral has not answered, either.”

I relayed the conversation to Rhylan as I walked to our room, resisting the urge to gnaw my fingernails from sheer stress.

And when I walked in the door, he grabbed me, clutching me tight, his lips warm and hungry on mine.

Sera, just stay here , he thought desperately, slamming the door behind us.

I can’t. You know I can’t.

But I submitted to his mouth all the same, wrapping my arms around his neck and holding him to me.

Rhylan pushed me backwards to the bed, desperation in every movement. I had worn a simple dress; in seconds it was drifting to the floor, and my hands were tugging at his trousers before we even made it to the mattress.

I can’t risk you . If anything happens to you, I couldn’t live .

I pushed him onto the bed, taking the upper hand. As I climbed into his lap, kissing him so hard my lips ached, he grabbed my hips and pulled me forward.

You can risk me, and you will. I’m here as your equal, Rhylan, not as your servant. And if you love me, you’ll wish me only good luck when I do what needs to be done .

I sank onto his iron length, gasping as his hips drove upward with a powerful thrust. Heat filled my core, and I drove myself down, meeting him with my own eagerness.

I am your Dragonesse, not your ward .

I kissed him hard, tangling our tongues, burying my hands in his hair and running sharp nails over his back. He filled me, groaning as I took his length with every roll of my hips.

I will be on the battlefield beside you, not hiding behind you .

Rhylan’s mind was lost to a haze of lust and desire, and I felt when the dragon in him bent to my will.

I would never run or hide while he went forth alone. We were bonded, two made one, and no danger would prevent me from being with him.

Because I love you, and we’re stronger together than apart .

I sank down slowly, my core clenching, and when Rhylan’s mind shattered into stars I went with him, my steady motions dissolving into wild bucking, biting at his lip, my nails clawing at him.

He spent himself, breathing hard, and rested his forehead against mine.

I love you , he said softly. More than flame and wind, more than earth and sky.

You love me because I refuse to stay behind . I kissed him again, and Rhylan’s arms held me close. You love me because I’ll stand beside you. You love me because I’ll do what must be done, and I won’t balk nor hide.

He opened his eyes, staring at me with those drowning blue flames.

Yes , he said.