Page 49 of The Forsaken Vampire

“No. But she believes her life would be over if she lost me.”

“I’m not worried about it. They’re powerless against the two of you and armored dragons.”

“Walking into battle with arrogance is the same as walking in without a sword.”

She rolled her eyes. “You always have something wiseass to say.”

We stopped in front of the dragons, and that was when we noticed the tightness of the armor around their arms and bodies. It was too tight, but not tight enough to restrict their movements.

Storm lowered his gaze and looked at me.I already have mighty scales.

We have to be cautious.

But these scales are too tight.

You’ll wear them a short while.

He released a plume of angry smoke from his nostrils.

“Doesn’t like it, huh?” Elora asked.

I regarded my sister. “I’ll return to Delacroix once my business has concluded. I’ll see you next time.”

“I barely got to see you.”

“I’ll return with Ivory shortly. I know she’ll wish to speak with Avice herself.”

She wrapped her arms around me as she rose on her tiptoes. “Well, I look forward to seeing you then. Perhaps we can get a beer and a hot stew—like old times.”

I clapped her on the back before I pulled away. “I look forward to it. Give Bastian my best.”

“I will.”

I turned to my mother next, reading the unease in her intelligent eyes.

“Be careful, Huntley.”

“Always.”

“The scales of dragons and the blade of a king can’t save you from deception.”

I gave a nod.

“It would be unwise to provoke us after the mercy we granted, but perhaps we’re the fools for granting mercy in the first place.”

“We’ll see you soon enough.” I embraced my mother, feeling her thin frame that used to be covered with muscles. Time had ravaged the strength of her body, but it seemed like eternity was the only thing strong enough to ravage her mind. I pulled away and approached Storm.

Ian said goodbye to both of them before he mounted his dragon. “Ready?”

I nodded before Storm pushed off the ground and opened his powerful wings. With a single flap, he was hoisted high into the sky, above the city of HeartHolme. It was a sunny day despite the bitter cold, and his scales glimmered in the light.

Pyre appeared beside me, my brother mounted in the saddle Elora had made. We both turned to the north and made our journey to the Teeth, our mighty dragons carrying us with the speed of the wind.

* * *

We dropped beneath the clouds and spotted their kingdom inserted between the mountains, snow on the peaks and the ground. The green pines were white with snow, and the world was a stark blanket of paleness.

The dragons landed on the earth with a distinct thud like an avalanche that had just halted at the bottom of the mountain. We both climbed off and hit the snow, the drifts reaching our ankles.