Page 188 of Cursed Evermore

What mage could hear the dragons' song, hear them speak, and fly one?

There was none that I'd known of through all the ages.

Only the Fae from certain bloodlines had the ability to bond with dragons.

And only the Nightblade family could harness their magic. That was the whole reason why we'd been chosen to rule Galaythia.

Elariya hadn't even bonded with Hedion. It was not known for a dragon to speak with you telepathically or otherwise until you'd gone through the sealing ritual, yet she'd done it.

How?

And... the dragons had turned on me. Both of them. When I'd unleashed on her, the dragons, who'd been my companions all my life,turnedon me, all teeth and claws, ready to incinerate me. What a fucking cruel joke. The universe was definitely a trickster.

I was their master. They answered to me, but they'd switched on me when they thoughtsheneeded protection.

What laws of gods and immortals made such a thing possible?

What magic did the half-mage/half-human possess?

I didn't know, but I was damn certain going to find out. Starting with the dragons.

To overpower them and restore loyalty, I'd had to summon my death magic, then remind them of their bonded oath. Thatwas the only way to tame a dragon when it turned on you, then I'd sent them away so they'd know they'd been punished.

There was no question now that my dragons were part of this mystery. So what was the ring trying to tell me?

I took one last look at the door Elariya had gone through and tried not to think about her. Then I phased to the caves, right into the dragons' cavern, where the familiar heat and earthy scent hit me, along with the dragons' groans.

They bowed with the deepest respect when they saw me, remorse for their disloyalty prevalent in their eyes.

I acknowledged them and walked over to Hedion. Hedion flinched as I stepped closer.

“Show me what happened when Elariya came into the caves,” I commanded.

His pupils dilated before he closed his eyes, then a stream of flickering images rushed into my mind. I saw Elariya walk into the cavern. She looked as curious as I'd imagined, venturing into the dark path of the unknown. That curiosity quickly morphed into fascination when she found Hedion, then fear when he frightened her and she ran from him.

My brain fractured as I watched her fall off the fucking cliff. That would have been the moment I'd felt the burn of the shackles and her terror. That was the danger.

Hedion had caught her, then secured her to him with his magic when he'd flipped her onto his back. I saw and felt her joy as he flew with her. Although it reminded me of the thrill I'd felt when I first flew, I was still mad at the situation.

I dragged my hand down my face when the images stopped. “Fuck. Hedion, why did you let her ride you?”

“Because she is yours, your Grace.” He spoke out loud, and the words hit harder than they should have.

Mine.I'd been calling her mine all this time. Toying with the word like a piece in a game. Now it bore some significance I wasn't prepared to acknowledge.

But the answer couldn't be so simple. Claiming Elariya wouldn't suddenly break down laws of magic that were older than time. What we were witnessing went deeper, entrenched in rules that went above my head.

“She shouldn't have been able to ride you, or hear you sing, or command your loyalty.”

“Her powers were different today, Your Grace.”

“Different?Different how?” I held his gaze, searching those molten eyes.

“Her powers were stronger. More distinct. I could feel them.”

Gods be good. Arielle’s analysis was right. Being in the mortal realm had kept Elariya’s magic locked away. Here, in Galaythia, it was awakening like new life breaking through stone.

“What powers does she have?”