Page 29 of Upon Buried Embers (Upon Buried Embers #1)

“I know that, and I would get rid of her in a moment’s notice if I could.”

My stomach plummets, heart racing as I stumble back, the cup falling from my hand.

“You have to know Karag may tell others there’s an elf among us. We’re not safe.”

“I know that too, and I reminded him personally before he left The Graveyard that if he were to break his vow, I would break his neck.”

“It may not be enough.”

“It may not,” Rohan replies. “I will always put the safety of the clan above all. She’s an elf, Rhett, a means to an end who will likely go back to where she came from.”

I’m just a means to an end.

An object.

An item.

Not a person with feelings.

Before I know what I’m doing, I’m running blindly out the back door and down the steps.

I don’t know where I’m going, but I’m not being sold again, not going back to the city. Not to another master. I can’t do it anymore.

Not even for Effy.

Heat hits me, and I realize I’ve run to the dragon’s den. Drogonah lifts his head as I pass, but I don’t stop until I’m all the way at the very back of the cave.

As soon as I hit the wall there, my palms slap against it, and I slide down, wanting to curl up and be as tiny as possible so no one finds me. So they can’t take me back there.

My fingers curl into fists as my breathing comes in short and fast gasps, and I whimper, not knowing what to do.

A chuffing sound penetrates my ears, and I turn my head. Escor is in front of me, head tilted in confusion.

I cry, laying my head against the rock as he comes closer.

He can eat me, burn me, anything is better than another Master. Or the same one.

I can’t, I can’t, I can’t.

Escor’s snout nudges my head softly, the scales rough, but he does it again and again.

When I don’t respond, he makes a low sound, almost a whine. He lays down, his front paws going to either side of me, and he rests his head on the floor, eyes, focused on me.

He stares at me, his dark eyes look like glittering stars within, blinking slowly at me. He makes a purring sound and after a short while, I feel myself relaxing a little, my breathing slowly evening out.

“I’m scared,” I whisper to him, and his ears flicker beneath his horns. “I don’t want to go back. I don’t want to be here either, but I would take being here over being there. I don’t get hurt as much here, but my heart hurts very much right now.”

He comes a little closer, ears flicking as his claws scrape against the stone floor, but I’m not scared. Just numb.

He’s smaller than all the other dragons here. I would still only come up to his chest when I’m at full height, but he’s no doubt still a predator.

Yet right now, with his big body in front of me, it’s like he’s hiding me.

“Do you want to hide too?” I wonder aloud, and I reach a hand out slowly to his snout. His eyes flick to my hand, but he doesn’t do anything else.

Warm air spreads over my hand, the rumble hasn’t stopped and I’m inches from him now, so close that—

“Elf!” I pull my hand back, curling up into a ball as Escor growls, spinning quicker than expected at the sharp sound of Rohan’s voice. His tail curls around me at his back, and I look down in surprise.

A roar comes from someone, Drogonah, and I watch as Escor stands taller, growling, the spikes on his back sticking straight up.

“Escor, move, now,” Rohan barks.

He doesn’t, he growls deeper, and it must be enough of a threat because Drogonah rises from his bed and stalks over, his own growl rattling the cave.

Oh no, he’s going to hurt him.

“Last chance Escor, move!” Rohan demands, and I scramble to my feet when I spot Drogonah bracing on his black legs to lunge.

“Stop,” I say, coming around Escor and standing in front of him, arms stretched out wide, tears spilling over. “Don’t hurt him.”

To my surprise, Drogonah stops, though his growl doesn’t lessen.

Rohan looks me over, brows furrowing as he takes me in, and no doubt noticing my red-rimmed eyes, the tears.

“Why have you been crying?” he demands furiously, taking a step toward me then stopping when I take one back, bumping into Escor’s chest. “Who made you cry, what happened? Tell me, now.” Escor snaps his teeth at him.

He eyes us, the position of me and the dragon, then concern bleeds into his eyes.

“Elf… Why are you crying?”

Escor releases a furious growl when Rohan takes a step toward me, and pushes at my back a little, like he will meet him head on. He could crush me if he continues, but I don’t want Rohan to hurt him.

So I stay, and Rohan notices Escor nudging me the closer he gets, so he stops.

“Escor is young, Elf,” he warns. “He does not yet know his manners and is unpredictable, I told you that. Come to me.” He holds out his hand, but I make no move to take it.

A means to an end.

I knew it, that’s why he took me. Told me as much because he needs me to speak to dragons to help him.

That is the only reason I’m here.

Yet why does it hurt so much?

Rohan scowls. “Now, Elf.” Every bone in my body wants to obey like it’s been trained to, like I’ve been doing since he took me, but… I can’t.

“Rather the dragon than the man,” I whisper, my voice shaky.

Rohan drops his hand, something akin to shock crossing his features at my words.

“I will not be sold again. I will not go back to the city that hurt me. I… I don’t want another Master.

I would rather the teeth of a dragon come for me or the blade of your axe. ”

Realization hits, and his jaw tics. “You were at the cabin.” He nods like it makes sense. “One of my men was concerned as our supplies are not at their best this winter, however, I will tell you the same thing I told him.”

“I heard what you told him.” My voice wobbles. “You will always put the safety of the clan above all. I’m an elf, a means to an end who will likely go back to where she came from. I will end up back with Master!”

He takes a step toward me, uncaring of how Escor snarls.

“You will never go back to him.”

“If I can speak with your dragons,” I remind him.

“You will never go back to him because you’re mine, and I told Rhett that,” he says, eyes fierce as he keeps coming. “I took you, you belong to me no matter the circumstances. No matter the situation.”

Escor snaps his jaws at him.

“A means to an end,” he murmurs. “You will help me with the dragons.”

Another step.

“Go back where you came from,” he growls. “To the Elven lands.”

Another step, and my heart beats faster.

“You are here to do a task, and then you will probably leave the clan behind.”

“To a Master?”

He shakes his head and stops in front of me, reaching up and puts a hand under Escor’s chin, holding him up. The dragon doesn’t fight anymore, and I feel like he knows something I don’t.

“I may be Dragorie, I may have to do terrible things to keep my clan safe. But in the end, I will take care of you in any way I can.” My breath hitches. “I’ll make sure of it.”

I blink at him, not sure I can trust his words.

“But why?”

“You are mine.”

“It isn’t that simple.”

“It is to a man like me.”

My breathing comes out ragged, and my fingers twitch at my sides.

He’s fed me, bathed me and clothed me. I sleep in his home and keep warm. I do chores like everyone else and so far… he hasn’t hurt me, not really.

And he doesn’t beat me.

“I…”

“Come to me, Little Whisperer.” He eyes me. “You’ll be safe with me.”

“I’m safe here,” I say, unsure what to do, what to believe. Escor rumbles, and comfort washes over me.

Drogonah makes a sound, and Escor replies, but all he does is sit on his hind legs, his front ones bracketing me on either side.

“I knew you would be interesting,” Rohan looks between us.

He comes closer, a breath away from me now as he raises a hand to stroke the back of my cheek.

“You are far more than you have ever been given a chance to be, but you will have that chance as mine.” He strokes the top of my ears.

“You just need a safe place to explore it, and I will create that place for you. Even if right now you don’t feel like I could.

” He takes a step back. “When you’re ready, come back to the cabin, but make sure it’s before dark.

Tonight is going to be especially cold.”

He turns, running a hand over Drogonah, murmuring to him before he leaves us.

My legs give out, and I steady myself against Escor. Drogonah snarls his way one last time before he goes back to his bed, tail high and swishing.

Sliding down Escor’s leg, I lean against it as thoughts rattle through me.

Do I go back to him, back to this safe space he said he will create?

Or do I run and never look back?

Could I even make it in the winter on my own, hiding as an elf?

Do I try to sneak past the king’s army at the boundary to get to the Elven lands?

More importantly, do I trust myself to even make this decision when everything has always been decided for me in my life?

The other dragons look at me, and for once, I don’t feel scared of them. If anything, I feel safe in their presence right now.

Something wet suddenly slides down my cheek.

“Eww,” I groan, looking up at Escor, he’s watching me, black tongue out. “Gods, you’re like an unruly child.” He tilts his head to the side, and his tail bounces up and down. I smile despite it all, and walk to the center of the cave and lay down, looking up at Escor as he follows me.

“Hi Escor,” I whisper to him as he curls around me. “Can…can I tell you a secret?”