Page 180 of I Dream of Dragons

“Has the king bitten you?”

I shake my head. “It’s not that. But you’re right, something has changed, for fucking sure. It feels as though my power is growing. Being with Rae… it’s shattered some kind of seal inside me, freeing my magic.”

His eyes widen. “The prophecy?—”

“This isn’t about the prophecy. It’s about her being my fated mate. My beloved. If anything were to happen to her…”

He takes a step back and his face goes positively gray. “Fuck, Jai. I didn’t know. I swear on all the sleeping Gods. I thought she had taken the king’s side. Let him mark her. Control her. Ithought the finnfolk had a hold on her and were trying to off you.”

“What are you talking about?” I narrow my eyes at him. “Tru. What thefuckare you saying?”

He’s still backtracking. “I didn’t mean to harm her, hells, Jai, but I thought she worked for the finnfolk and you know what they did to my family. I thought she wanted tokillyou. You’re like a brother to me. What would you have done in my place?”

“You…?” Pieces are falling into place, forming a dark picture. “Youwere the one who pushed her off the balcony? Who tried to fucking kill her? Tru… My mate. You tried to kill mymate.”

“I didn’t know that.” He’s shaking his head convulsively. “Please, Jai, believe me.”

A roar leaves my chest, shredding the inside of my throat. “You dared!” My shadows erupt, wrapping around him, around his neck as I start after him. “You motherfucker.”

Suddenly, hands are on my shoulders, shaking me. “Stop it, Jai,” Arkin shouts. “Stop! He’s your friend. He only did it to protect you.”

I whirl on him. “Did you fucking know? Were you in on this?”

“No, I wasn’t, but he’s right. I’d have done the same if I thought she was trying to kill you. You didn’t tell us who she was. How were we supposed to know?”

Disgusted, I step back. “You two make me fucking sick. I trusted you. I told you she was the woman I love, Ark. And you…” I jab my finger at Tru. “You almost killed her. I almost lost her again because of your fucked-up move. Instead of talking to me first. Instead ofaskingme.”

“You’re so love-struck,” Arkin interjects. “You don’t see clearly.”

I seethe. “No, you are the ones who don’t see clearly.”

“You told us that killing the king is off the table! That she is more important to you than the world!”

“And it’s the truth.” I gather my shadows back. They come slowly, jerking and spiking. “She’s the idealist, not me. If I lose her… my mind will snap right the hell through. I’ve tried to imagine it but I fucking can’t. This game is lost.”

“So you’re telling us you’re about to ally yourself to the king and Phaethon? Help them do what we’ve been trying to stop? This is about the future of the worlds, Jai!”

“I can’t lose her. I’m not about to betray the world, so calm down. But we have to find another way. That’s my end decision.” I glare at him. “And if you ever touch her again, I’ll end you. I swear it.”

Turning my back on them, I drag my heavy feet, my heavy heart and my scorching fury down the corridor, heading to my room.

“Welcome into the fold,”Phaethon whispers inside my mind.

“Fuck you and your kind,” I mutter, kicking my door open and storming inside. “I’m not on your side because I put her first. I haven’t given up yet.”

“But you will,”he says, smug.“Because the only other way, as you said, is sacrificing the Little Human and for you, that would be the final blow.”

CHAPTER FORTY-NINE

RAE

“My lady!” Daria says, hurrying into my room. “Where have you been? There’s almost no time…” She stops, stares at me. Then obviously decides to not comment on my appearance. “Gods below, it’s late, we have to rush. Your gown. We need to call for the seamstress to adjust it, we need to decide on your shoes, your jewelry, your hair… And you need a bath.”

I laugh at her wrinkled nose. I bet I smell of blood, sweat, and sex. A bath sounds marvelous, especially now that my magic is finally awake. It’s bittersweet. I’d been hoping to get my powers back since I arrived here and now…

The look on his face when I said I was a dragon.

It bludgeoned me.