Page 6 of I Dream of Dragons

Isn’t he, though?I can almost hear Arkin’s voice in my mind, saying,“Told you he’s crazy.”

I just never realized why. Could it be that it’s not the second soul he carries inside his mind that costs him his sanity—Phaethon, ancient Eosphor, an alien and powerful creature who can control dragons—but the noise?

Well, crazy or not, he’s too powerful a presence to ignore.

With difficulty, much more difficulty than is healthy, I tear my gaze away from him, drawing a deep breath. But as I attempt to fill my lungs, he comes closer and his scent of smoke and leather infuses the air. That hint of bitterness and sweetness underneath the other, musky layers seeps into my airways and awakens my body.

That familiar heat flows through my veins, under my skin. It travels through me, bypassing my rational brain and pooling between my legs.

“I see the festivities have begun,” Jai mutters, his mouth twisting to one side. “Hurray.”

“If you are inebriated,” the telchin says, scowling at Jai’s back, “you may be barred from the second game, and the human you replaced will be thrust back into the trial. Is that your wish?”

“Thrust?” Jai laughs. “Yeah, let’s talk about thrusting.”

“Pull yourself together,” Axwick hisses, grabbing his arm. “You can’t be barred from the games. You are our only hope!”

I almost snort out loud. Though of course, Jai saved some lives in the first trial. They hope he’ll do it again.

But the way Jai’s lips pull back into a snarl isn’t funny or promising. “You…” He shoves the man away, sending him stumbling. “Don’t fucking touch me.”

What’s going on with him?

The telchin marches past me, his feet making no sound on the paved terrace. “Let me look at you, dragon summoner.”

He’s almost as tall as Jai, all seven feet or so of him. In his robes, he had somehow seemed smaller before, but now they’re facing each other, tall like pillars, they see eye-to-eye.

But when the telchin reaches for him, Jai jerks back. “I said… don’t fucking touch me.”

“I wasn’t asking for permission.” The telchin strikes like a snake, grabbing Jai’s chin and sniffing at his mouth, not caring.

“Damn you,” Jai hisses.

“Hm…” The telchin sniffs again right before Jai shoves him off for good and takes a swing at him. He leans back to evade Jai’s fist. “Not drunk. And too late for bloodletting. This isn’t looking good, Athdara. You might lose control. You should have gone to the king. Now you’ll have to deal withhimyourself, won’t you?”

“Fuck you.” A thin crimson line flows from Jai’s left nostril, coating his lips. His fist is still raised, all nonchalance gone from his stance. He’s shaking, and his shadows rise over his head like a spiky crown as he bares his teeth in a feral snarl. “What choice do I have?”

“None.”

What is he talking about? And why is Jai shaking like that?

“Look at me,” the telchin says. “Listen to me.”

“Listento you? Ah,iereus…” Jai gives a mirthless chuckle, shaking his head. “You have no power over us.”

Us.Which means…

“Greetings, Phaethon.” The telchin takes a step back, brow furrowing. “I see the king didn’t exorcise you last night.”

“The king was too busy last night,” Jai drawls, his eyes flashing with gold, “to bother with me. Which was a refreshing change.”

The telchin sighs. “Just… don’t get Athdara killed today. The king won’t like it.”

“Are you jesting?” Jai straightens, his head tilting back, mouth setting into an arrogant smirk. “The king’s purpose and mine align. And for our plans to succeed, I need this body alive.”

“Don’t forget his mind,” the telchin says, and I suddenly become aware of the hush that has fallen over the terrace during this strange exchange.

“And you, gate guardian, don’t forget that I’m not the one throwing myself recklessly at danger. That would be him.”