Page 72 of Exquisite Monster

“But,” Zovai grinned. “I might have burned as much of their scalefire as I could before we left.”

There had been an explosion as we flew away, but I hadn’t realized what.

“Between that and the crops, Andaros will be scrambling for a while. Which is why we believe we have some time. Even if Andaros wanted to tell the Elders, it would take days for the humans to travel, even with draygs. You saw that the Elders do not respect anything but power. A human king admitting he is unable to keep three dragons in check will only prove to them he is not worthy. Admitting to our escape is more likely to end with him run through by their claws than get their assistance.”

That was all true, but they still hadn’t told me what Andaros had done to them.

“Tell me,” I begged. They didn’t need me to explain further when they could feel why.

“Something Gleym taught you,” Endre whispered. “The potion that can heal almost anything, as long as it still breathes.”

“Yes?”

He cleared his throat. “That was used after he finished with us. Aided by their human mage.” Slowly, he pulled me even closer, until our bodies were nearly flush.Painflowed through our bond. Sharp. White-hot. Brutal. Different sensations. Tearing and stabbing. Friction. A low, deep, impact.

It cut off so suddenly, I gasped because I could suddenly breathe again.

“What—”

Endre’s arms tightened. “His intent wasn’t to kill us, but to breakus. That’s how he meant to gain control. Break us so thoroughly that we would simply obey like the draygs. But he thought he had killed you, and he’d banked on our broken bond doing the work for him. His advisor was the one who figured out the bond wasn’t broken, though we tried to pretend.”

“He tortured you,” I whispered.

Sirrus brushed his mouth over my skin again. “Yes.”

Tears flooded my eyes. “I’m sorry.”

They eased me down onto the bed, Zovai taking his turn to wrap me in his arms. Endre kept speaking quietly, telling the rest. The dragon Andaros already had captive. Their side of the escape. Their own longing for me and how thinking of me had helped carry them through that torture.

“As much as I wish we could have felt you,” Sirrus said, “I’m glad you couldn’t. Your feeling my sickness was more than enough. Having to feel our pain, and it ringing back and forth between all of us, would have been…”

Catastrophic.

We all rested in silence, and sleep began to make me drift. Terror hit me all at once. The same terror that had plagued me underground. Reliving the fear that I wouldn’t make it in time. The fear of them being taken from me again. It jerked me back awake, and I wrapped myself around Z, not stopping until all four limbs clung to him.

A soft purr began in his chest, and the soothing sound relaxed my muscles slowly. They were here. I was here. I could hear his heart beating. It didn’t erase that fear. I wasn’t sure what would.

I didn’t know how to move on and return to something easier when all I could do was hold on to them just to reassure my soul they were with me. It made a different worry spring to life. “I want you,” I said softly. “But I don’t know how to breathe yet. It still feels like you’re going to disappear.”

“I love you,” Zovai said just as softly. “And we understand. I don’t speak for them, but I’m merely happy to feel your skin on mine.”

This time, when I sank back into sleep, I still felt that fear. But I felt them too. Their love. “I love you too.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

________

KATALENA

When I opened my eyes again they still slept. I didn’t want to leave them, but my stomach made it clear I needed to eat something, and I wasn’t willing to disturb their rest.

I slipped out from beneath Sirrus’s arm and found some clothes that were clearly meant for them. Far too large, but I didn’t care. I wasn’t putting the court dress back on, and I would likely end up back in bed.

Based on the shadows, it was nearing midday. No wonder I was hungry.

Stairs curled around the edges of the tower rooms, taking me all the way down to the ground. Unlike Skalisméra, the layout was easy to figure out, and before long I found the kitchen with a fire burning merrily and Erryn making some kind of food.

“Oh,” she said when I appeared. “I didn’t expect to see you so soon.”