Page 11 of Exquisite Monster (Dragons of Viria #2)

My chest ached. “You truly don’t miss anything from up there? The sun? The wind? You are a dragon, do you not miss flying?”

She regarded me coolly. “I am a dragon. With wings. How do you think they threw me down here knowing that I would never be able to fly out?”

I gasped without meaning to. Her wings had been clipped just like Soza’s. “I’m sorry.”

“It was a long time ago. I have made my peace with it.”

“Why did they do it?”

Gleym sighed. “Is it really so important?”

“You were an Elder,” I said. “Which means you are powerful. And though they are cruel, the Elders did not seem like ones who would squander any power they could keep close.”

She took a long breath in and released one just as long. “I am the dragon who gave knowledge of scalefire to the humans. I believed they should have the means to protect themselves. You are such… delicate creatures. And though we were at peace, I sensed how unbalanced the relations were.

“Those I gifted the knowledge to were scholars and scientists. There were limitations placed. I trusted that they would not misuse it. I was clearly wrong, and I have paid for it many times over.”

I swore that my heart stilled in shock. That wasn’t what I had expected her to say. At all.

“And you well know how the Elders feel about that decision. Once the humans betrayed us and we were at war, they felt they could no longer trust me. It was an ambush. Though they could not command me, they could overpower me, and they did. Clipped my wings and cast me into Evrítha. I have been here ever since.”

It explained why she knew so much about the craft of potions. And weaponry. Surely more than she had already taught me. Because teaching had always been her purpose.

“You are teaching me,” I said. “In spite of that.”

She inclined her head. “Yes, I am. But I have not taught you the art of scalefire, or how to protect yourself against a dragon’s flames.” Then she smirked. “Though I suppose you don’t really need that bit.”

“No, but others might.” That must be the secret both Andaros and Craisos kept. Not some magic that clung to the royal family, just a long-guarded secret from before humans hated dragons.

It was an easy way to keep people loyal to you. If you were the only ones who could withstand dragonfire, then of course you should be the ones to rule and protect the people from that same dragonfire .

“Scalefire,” I said slowly. I knew of it, but I didn’t know how it worked . “How does it kill so quickly?”

Gleym didn’t look amused. “Do you really think I will make that mistake again?”

“I took a vow never to intentionally harm a dragon,” I reminded her.

“And as you well know, human vows mean very little when they are not binding. And in this case, I am glad. I don’t think you’ll make it out of this without harming a dragon.

But I will not teach it again. There are other ways to fight my kind without burning them to ash in the space of ten breaths. ”

I swallowed. That was… dire. Though I’d heard of it, I never saw it used. Now I was glad.

“Isn’t there a risk of the knowledge spreading, since those in Craisos already know it?”

Gleym smirked. “The single thing that allows human greed to work in our favor. And a little deception. There is but one human who knows, and when I taught them, I informed them that if it spread, the recipe would no longer work. It would turn on them. They were instructed to pass it on only when their death was imminent.”

“They never experimented anyway?”

She shrugged. “Perhaps. But you humans are so devastatingly fragile. And your desperation for life overcomes all other things, does it not? Or you would not be here. From what I know of the world, the secret has not spread.”

Good. The last thing we needed was every kingdom in Viria producing something that could wipe out the Eastern half of the continent in one go. “Teach me how to neutralize it.”

She looked up sharply. “What?”

“It is said that the royals of Craisos are immune to fire. Am I to believe it is not because you provided that protection as well?”

Golden eyes observed me through narrow slits. I was tempting her beast, and I was unsure how far I could push. But this needed to be said.

“It’s not my goal to kill dragons. Yes, I am angry.

Yes, I want the Elders to pay for what they’ve done and to leave humans alone.

But it is not my goal to exterminate your kind.

If anything, I will be on the dragon side of this conflict.

” She didn’t protest, so I surged forward.

“You’re training me to survive, and I thank you for it.

Why not train me to help save those who might need it? ”

Silence hovered in the air, the only sound the faint roaring of water and Varí’s tail as it whipped back and forth over the table’s surface.

“There is no way to neutralize it. A human protected from dragonfire is one thing. Protecting a dragon from scalefire is different. It isn’t possible.”

“You already made me commit that healing potion to memory.”

She scoffed. “That’s hardly the only one.”

“Then teach me those too. Surely something will work.”

“It won’t.” Gleym stood and made to pour herself another drink.

My hands curled into fists in the fabric of the robe. “Why not? Why create something so deadly to your own kind?”

“Because what good is a gesture of goodwill if it can be overcome?” She turned so quickly, eyes gold, I’d nearly forgotten the ancient beast inside her.

“You are intelligent, Katalena. You can see the imbalance between our species. Unless there is a defense that is both permanent and unbreakable, there could never be any chance of equal standing. Not when dragons can kill you with half a thought.” Smoke puffed toward the ceiling.

“And even if there was a way to combat it, there isn’t enough time.

Scalefire binds to the dragon and tears through it.

You would have mere moments to take action. ”

It bound to the dragon. That was likely more than she wanted to tell me. But it wouldn’t help me solve the problem. I was not arrogant enough to think I could create something she couldn’t. “Then I’ll learn the other healing spells. If I have a chance at saving a life, I want to take it.”

Violet eyes focused harshly on mine. “Why has your attitude changed so quickly?”

“Because you told me the truth,” I said.

Gleym laughed like it was the funniest joke she’d ever heard.

“Because you told me the truth, and now I’m telling you the truth.

I had no idea whether you were merely teaching me to bide your time until you decided to end my life.

Or if you were trying to drag things out until the Heirs were killed.

You warned me you could be worse than the Elders—why would I assume you were trying to help me?

I didn’t go searching to find the sheyten .

I went searching for any way I could use to get out if you decided not to let me go. ”

I placed my palm on my chest. “I am running out of time. There is no way to explain it, because I can’t feel them at this distance, but I know it.

We are halfway across the world from where they are.

I am willing to learn, and now that I know the truth, I will do whatever I can to learn it quickly.

But I can’t simply stay here until I know everything you know. ”

Laughing again, she relaxed. “Don’t worry, girl.

Learning everything I know would likely take longer than you will be alive.

But I do understand.” She paused before standing and setting her now full cup down on the table.

“Rest. I must summon things and think about what knowledge is most important. When you wake, I will not take it easy on you.”

“This has been easy?”

She raised an eyebrow, but said nothing. Varí and I looked at each other after she left, and I couldn’t help but laugh. It felt good to hold on to lightness, even for a moment.

I was still angry and still dreading everything, but I would do this. I would learn what I needed and find them. For the first time since Andaros threw me over the edge, I felt true determination.