Page 69 of Veiled Flames (Destiny of Dragons #1)

Fifty

Rosomon

A s we soar through the air, I sense Zogar’s hunger as strongly as if it were my own. My belly requires no food. I ate some of last night’s sup, before leaving my room this morn.

The fields of livestock come into detailed focus. Zogar’s vision—our combined vision—is astounding. Atop him, I have no need for a looking tube. Cattle are scattered over a vast area of grassland, grazing in groups of twenty or more, and a few strays stand out on their own.

Zogar dives toward a stray—turning so sharply and descending so quickly I’m convinced we’ll smash into the ground.

Have faith, little one.

His talons grab the cow, tearing into her skin, and then we soar back up, carrying the poor animal. Even though all this happened below him, and technically out of my sight, our vision is so connected, it’s as if I aimed for the beast and grabbed it myself.

Zogar chuckles. I’d like to see you try.

As we fly toward the barrier mountains, he tosses the cow high into the air and ahead of us.

Then he catches the animal between his large jaws, chewing it so quickly he nearly swallows it whole.

Blood and bits of hide fly past me, and I try to keep from gagging.

This is how dragons eat, I remind myself.

Kindly curb your disgust, little one. I require another.

He swoops down, chooses a bull this time, and spits out the horns once he’s done.

What does he do with the bones?

Bones are easily digested. Horns are not worth the trouble.

Zogar flies west along the edge of the barrier mountains, and I pray to Othrix he’s changed his mind about crossing the veil. He swerves, and our vision sharply shifts back to the east.

Two dragons are flying toward us. My heart rate accelerates.

Xendus and Surath.

I’m not certain whether Zogar thought this or whether I did. He doesn’t respond to my unspoken question, but I likely would have thought of the riders’ names before their dragons’. Zogar circles the field we’re above and selects a place to land.

Given his size, he touches down far more gently than I expect, and yet I feel the impact deep inside me. Not far away, Saxon’s and Tynan’s dragons land too.

Zogar’s knot contracts most of the way, leaving me feeling empty, even though his pommel is still inside me. I glance to the side, feeling precarious up so high.

“How will I get down?” I ask. “I have no mounting rope.”

Mounting rope? What is this?

I’m glad he can still hear me. “Riders use ropes to climb up and down from their dragons’ backs. They fasten a loop around one of the spikes on their dragon’s neck.”

Zogar snorts, clearly irritated. More evidence of my people’s enslavement.

Fine, I think. He doesn’t want a rope attached to him. But his back is at least thirty spans above the ground, and I have no idea how to get down. If, in fact, Zogar will allow it.

You may do as you wish, he says. As long as you remount me shortly. At this moment, I have business that does not involve you.

“How do I get down?”

Move along my back toward my wing. I will prepare it so you can slide down.

He shifts, and the large, claw-like spike at the end of his wing bores into the earth. It looks dangerous—I’m so high—but he could be right. Given the stability and angle he created, his wing might provide a slide of sorts. But I have no idea how I’d ever get back up.

Zogar, if he can still hear my question, with his knot partially contracted, doesn’t answer.

Saxon has dismounted and is striding toward us, his sword drawn as if he plans to use it against Zogar.

“Rosomon.” Saxon stops as he shouts. “Get down from that monster. You’re not safe!”

Anger builds inside me again. My own anger this time. If I dismount, Saxon will force me back to camp and I’ll never be atop Zogar again.

Zogar blasts a long stream of fire into the air. And then he angles the flames downward. They barely clear Saxon’s head. Saxon stops but doesn’t retreat.

You harbor great anger toward this man. I will slay your enemy!

“No!” I shout. “Please, Zogar, don’t kill him.”

A chasm cracks open inside me. Anger aside, I care about Saxon.

I wouldn’t want to see any human die, but especially not Saxon.

Memories of our time in his tent flash through my mind.

Of how kind and patient he was when he taught me about my body, about sex, about pleasure.

I remember how he looks at me with so much admiration and longing in his eyes.

You love this human.

“No.” Do I? I’m uncertain about that, but certain I don’t want him to die.

As you wish, Zogar says. Surath also wishes this man to live. Tell your lover: if he retreats now, I will spare his life.

I gasp. At least two more of my questions have been answered. Not only do the dragons recognize each other, they can communicate. How?

That is not for you to know, little one. Not yet. And my mercy has limits. If that man does not lay down his sword, I will slay him.

“He can’t hurt you with a sword, can he? The riders carry swords to kill demons.”

Surath tells me that your lover knows where to thrust his sword. She says he will slay me to save you, even if it means his own death. If he comes any closer, this man will die.

Tynan dismounts and runs to stand next to Saxon. He argues with Saxon, also urging him to lay down his sword. Did Xendus warn Tynan that Zogar plans to kill Saxon?

I am sorry, my queen, but both your lovers must die. Xendus says both wish to stop me. And we can’t stay here much longer. There are humans at their prison with the means to hobble dragons and keep us aground. My quest is too important. I cannot risk death, or injury—not even for my queen.

He breathes a long stream of fire, which comes far too close to Saxon and Tynan for comfort, and leaves a long scorch mark on the ground.

Desperation and heartbreak rise inside me. If these men die, I will die of sorrow.

“Please, Zogar. Please let them live. If you let them live, I’ll take you across the veil.” My heart is racing so quickly it’s hard to breathe.

I do what I wish. I go where I wish.

“You can’t fly without me. You can’t fly anywhere your rider refuses to take you.” I’m not certain of this second part anymore, but I can sense the impact of my words on him. “If you kill those men, I’ll dismount and never mount you again.” I do know he needs me to fly.

Pushing down on my feet, I rise to free my body from his pommel, but it pushes back in, even though I didn’t drop back. His pommel can grow even longer. Quickly, the knot expands inside me before I can pull further forward.

You will not abandon me. We will fly across the veil, and you will be my queen.

My body shudders with a mix of anger and fear. His anger. My fear.

“I have no desire to marry. And I will never be your queen.”

Zogar shoots a long blast of fire into the air.

Saxon steps forward, blade at the ready, and Zogar angles his stream of fire down, crisscrossing the earth. The streams of flames get closer and closer to both Tynan and Saxon.

Saxon is willing to die in his attempt to save me, and standing next to him, Tynan will die too. Panic and heartbreak rise inside me. I can barely breathe. I can’t let them die. Especially not to save me. Not if I can do anything to stop it.

“I’ll take you across the veil!” I shout. “I’ll even marry you. Please Zogar, please don’t kill them.”

If I spare your lovers, do you vow to become my queen?

“Yes! I swear it!” I’d agree to anything right now to save their lives.

The fire disappears, and with a strong flap of his wings, Zogar lifts us into the air.

The pommel lowers, letting me rest upon his saddle again, and his knot rapidly expands, seeming to grow even larger this time.

I pant against the sudden extreme fullness, and my entire body pulses inside.

He’s angry with me. I don’t like Zogar’s anger, not when it’s directed toward me.

Obey me, if you do not like my anger.

We fly so quickly that the wind steals my breath and stings my eyes. Leaning forward into the shelter of his neck, I close my eyes against the intense wind, but somehow, I can still see. Our vision is so connected; my eyes need not be open.

We cross through the mountains quickly, and renewed terror fills me as the veil comes into view.

Have no fear, my queen. You are with Zogar. No creature would dare threaten the King of Dragons.