Page 30 of Exquisite Monster (Dragons of Viria #2)

The neckline of my stolen dress exposed my shoulders and part of my mating marks.

I gestured to the whorls on my skin. “You want proof? Here it is. I am the mate of the Heirs of the dragons. I have no shame in that. I only hope to help heal the divide between us. Humans will die if we do not. Viria will not heal on its own.”

Every eye in the room was on my marked skin and the words I’d said. That I was a mate to dragons. Plural. More than one.

“The only way to heal the divide is the end of their species,” Andaros said in a scathing tone. “Nothing else. You came here for nothing.”

In my chest, I felt a change from my mates. Hope and determination. Resolve. Movement. They were going to be free. It was working .

“None of what this woman says is true,” Nelis said, striding to stand before the shield. “It is all a lie.”

“And yet that woman just changed into a dragon,” the same princess said. “So, no, not all of it is a lie.”

Hope was an unfamiliar sensation. “History has been altered,” I said. “What we believe happened is not the truth. We began the war, and the dragons have not forgiven us. Nor will they if we continue in the same way.”

Andaros looked smug. “The Elder dragons have made it abundantly clear they will not make peace.”

“And how would you know that, Your Majesty? Unless you had seen and spoken to the Elders yourself?”

He went pale.

“You bargained with the Elders for my mates, telling them you wanted revenge for your father’s death. Another lie. You want to use them to spearhead your war.”

“That’s not true.”

“It is true. You are using them to forge the scalefire you need for your assault. And what is also true? I did not come here solely to share our real history with Viria’s royalty. It is a benefit, but not the cause.”

A younger man in the colors of Trutis spoke. Dark skin and darker eyes, yet they gleamed with curiosity. He sat next to their king. Their prince? “Then why are you here, Your Highness?”

By speaking my title, he gave me standing. Proving to the others that I was worth listening to and believing. I wouldn’t yet call him an ally, but there were open minds here.

I lifted my chin. “To rescue my mates from where Andaros has them imprisoned.”

Andaros laughed once more. So loud and hard that most of the room joined in with him. I noted who didn’t laugh, or who did, but with hesitation.

“More and more, I am glad I did not wed your daughter, Rhole. It seems her mind is not stable. She claims I hold the Heirs of all dragonkind prisoner? You all know me.” An amused smile played on his lips. “If I had such a prize in my possession, would I keep it a secret?”

More laughter.

I leveled my gaze at him. The posture he held on the throne was relaxed, but the fear in his eyes was real.

“Do you truly believe dragons haven’t come for you out of the kindness of their hearts, Andaros?

The Elders are using you. Because they cannot cross the barrier at Evrítha, they are making you come to them.

You will play right into their hands and get every member of every army killed.

Even as arrogant as you are, I don’t believe you want that. ”

“Barrier?”

“We would all have been dead long before now without it. Held in place by the same stones you claim are poison. How does it feel to know that the thing your ancestors slandered, tarnished, and tried to destroy is the same thing that has saved your life?”

Andaros stared at me, rage pulsing just below the surface. His hands flexed. If he could reach me, my neck would have been broken by now.

“Your Majesty.” Clanking metal and running footsteps echoed off stone, soldiers spilling into the room from the main doors. The man was out of breath. “Dragons. They’re attacking the crops. The crops are on fire. It’s spreading. The guards here?—”

The king’s eyes snapped to mine. “What have you done?”

“Nothing.”

He shoved up off his throne and stormed around the table, striding at me until he ran into Karadi’s shield. My power is not compromised , the dragon told me. He will not get through .

So I walked forward until I was within reach, and he still couldn’t touch me.

In order to get out of the room and investigate he’d either have to climb over tables or go through me.

This was the most important moment. Delaying this madman long enough to make sure he couldn’t leave this room and interfere before they were free.

In my chest, I felt my mates’ fear for me, but also joy and realization. Sheer focus followed it. They were getting out.

“You want humans to die?” Andaros asked, low enough that no one but me and my companions could hear. “Is that it?”

I shook my head. “You and I both know this has nothing to do with whether humans die. You don’t care.

If that were truly your goal, you’d investigate every option.

You might be a fool, but you are not ignorant.

You know the truth. All those secrets you have wouldn’t have been passed down otherwise.

You are choosing a path of violence instead of a path of peace. ”

He reared back as if to strike me.

Belleo growled low, heat rising with her flames, and I held out a hand.

My father had stood as well, along with at least twenty other humans.

I pulled the dart out of my sleeve and held it up.

“You cannot reach me,” I said at full volume.

“And I do not have a knife to stop you, as I needed to do the night before our wedding.” I looked directly at my father as I said it.

He needed to know who his ally really was.

“But I can reach you, and you are not immune to poison the way you are immune to fire.”

The Heirs are on their way. We must leave , Belleo said.

“So you let them do more than fuck you,” Andaros snarled into the space between us. “They’ve begun turning you into a beast. A monster. ”

The accusation didn’t surprise me. He would never understand this.

“I will become whatever I need to be for them.” I raised my voice once more to address the room.

“There are dragons who are willing to help humans. We do not have to be enemies. If any of you want to seek the help of dragons, you may.” I didn’t specify how.

None of the gathered royalty would dare admit such a thing in front of Andaros.

But maybe the spark would lead to something later. I could hope.

“Katalena…” My father took a step toward me, and I took a step back.

“I am happy to see you, Father. Be well. And I hope we will meet again in better company.”

We turned and retreated. Turning my back on Andaros made my skin crawl, even though I knew he couldn’t reach me. Chills prickled over me. A second later, metal crashed to the ground.

I looked back and found a knife on the floor, his arm still in the air from throwing it. My father was staring at Andaros with pure fury. I pulled a dart without poison and threw it, praying to the Fallen I’d practiced enough.

The heavy thunk told me it landed in the wood. Right in the center of his throne. Where his head might have been had he remained sitting. Shocked gasps followed us as we left the room, walking as quickly as we could while remaining calm.

As soon as I was outside?—

LENA .

Idroal flew above, and one of my mates rode on their back. They were here. They were free .

Get on , Belleo said. I scrambled onto her back, tears blurring my eyes. Not even a minute later and we were all in flight, and I took what felt like my first full breath in months .

We did it.