Page 113 of Exquisite Monster

As one, we pushed harder and faster, until the clouds stung our skin, difficult as it was. Until we had to fly so high, it was nearly too cold for the humans.

The sun sank, and there it was. A sprawling metropolis at thebase of a mountain, the palace itself carved into it. Beautiful. The structures reminded me of Doro Eche and the few other dragon cities. Like this one had been built before we were enemies.

Maybe it could be that way once more.

First, we had to succeed.

We tucked our wings and dove.

CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO

________

KATALENA

The clouds turned the night so dark it felt tangible. Something it was easy to move through unnoticed. Even for dragons.

I slid off Zovai’s back onto the roof of the Avimont palace. Where we landed was hardly large enough for the size of each dragon, but we would take it. This was where draygs had landed for years, and on the off chance someone saw us landing, they would hopefully think it was a very large drayg instead of a true dragon.

Keeping out of sight was ideal, but in the end it didn’t matter. We had ripped the veil from the human eyes and revealed that dragons had a human form. Everyone on the continent knew war was coming. Whether we were seen or not, we had to do this.

All of us simply hoped we would be able to get through this without any bloodshed.

Leaning against him, I pressed my hand to the tip of Zovai’s nose, just like I had the day of the wedding. “We’ll be fast.”

I do not like this.

There had already been more than one conversation about my going with the royals alone. We needed them in the air to keep watch. In case something went wrong, it would be faster if they could meet us anywhere instead of being trapped with us on the ground. Dalas was a familiar sight around Princess Isaelle, and I wouldn’t raise suspicion. Three large men who were not her guards would likely be attacked immediately.

“Go,” I said. “The sooner we go, the sooner I can come back to you.”

A low growl rumbled through his chest, vibrating the stone beneath me. But he pushed his nose into my hand and readied his wings to fly.I love you.

“I love you too.”

The force of his wings nearly made me stumble, but I didn’t fall, moving to the side to wait for the Isaelle and Dalas to dismount.

Here in the shadows, the dark clothes Someny provided rendered me nearly invisible. Not only that, they were stiff with some kind of protection. I couldn’t say what, but these were some of the garments meant for battle, and Zovai had nodded in approval when he saw them.

Belleo and Mesene landed in quick succession, leaving their charges.

Move quickly, mate, Endre said.

He couldn’t hear me, but I sent understanding through our bond.

Isaelle led the way. Down a set of exposed stairs to the top of the palace. As soon as we were there, I lowered my hand into the bag, and a dart slid into it.Varíknew which kinds of darts we were using right now. Ones coated withdormeo—a potion that put one into a sleep so deep they would not wake until someone else woke them.

One prick of the dart would be enough, but I hoped we wouldn’t have to use them.

We clung to the shadows, easily avoiding the single pair of guards patrolling this piece of rooftop before going inside.

“Remember,” Isaelle said. “If we’re seen, I was visiting Dalas, and you are a friend from Zastea.”

I nodded once.

One good thing about it being the middle of the night, very few people wandered the halls. Then again, it made our presence obvious. This was still preferable.

We made our way through back passages and I grinned. I wasn’t the only princess who knew her way around the areas of a castle she was never meant to see.