Page 91

Eleven Years Earlier…

Two brawny hands shake me. “Maevriana, wake up,” Papa whispers.

I groan as I roll over, burrowing myself deeper within the covers. “Maeva, sweetheart, wake up,” Papa says, shaking me harder this time.

I rub my eyes, still half asleep. I hear Papa stomping around my room, opening and closing doors without bothering to be quiet. “It’s the middle of the night, Papa,” I grumble. “Can’t training wait until the sun is up?”

“We aren’t training today,” he murmurs.

I open my eyes, my strong father is frantic as he paces, peeking out of windows, as if he’s expecting someone.

My usually stable father is clumsily bumping into articles around the room, knocking things over.

He looks haunted, perhaps even afraid. As my father tugs on the strands of his hair for the hundredth time, I notice that he isn’ t in his usual attire, but rather something peddlers might wear to the market.

I abruptly sit up, throwing the covers off my body. “Where are we going?” I ask.

We have to hide,” he replies. “Saoirse is waiting for us as we speak.”

He tosses a dress and cloak to me that is similar to what the peasant girls in the towns wear. We keep spares just in case we ever have to go into hiding, so whatever this is must be serious.

I stand too quickly, causing the room around me to spin. Grimacing, I ask, “Are we under siege, Papa?”

“No, but we will be soon,” he murmurs. “Those who wish to harm you and steal your gift are coming. We have to go into the countryside and live as the people do until Tiernan comes to his senses.”

Tiernan…

King Tiernan wishes to harm me?

Why?

I’m about to ask as much when Mama and Cahir enter the room, wearing similar clothes to Papa.

Mama throws open the bathing chamber door with her shadows, waving me over. “Hurry and change, Maevriana,” she scolds. “We mustn’t tarry.”

My hands tremble as I quickly enter the bathing chamber. As I’m closing the door, Papa hangs his head, tears streaming down his face as he prays, “May Siorai help us all.”

The enormous Basilisk looms over us as it floats in the dark water within a place Papa calls the Abyss.

We had to sneak here without the Galrosan king detecting us, which meant bribing the spider that guards the door to the Abyss with a newly slain orc carcass.

As terrifying as the spider was, nothing prepared me for the enormous reptile.

Papa holds out a diadem the color of crimson out to the Basilisk.

Papa told me that the artifact was a gift from Siorai himself, and with it one can raise beings of unimaginable power.

So in order to keep it safe, he wards it so that only my blood can access it, securing that Tiernan can’t use it unless I give it willingly.

“You swear that the diadem is safe with you, Serpent?” Papa asks skeptically.

“Yessssss, Ssssirre,” the Basilisk hisses, hooking the diadem on one of its long protruding fangs. “Even the Galrosssssan king won’t be able to ssssteal it from me without firssssst acquiring her blood.”

“And you’re certain that the only way to hide her nature from others is to create this pendant that you speak of?” Mama asks.

A malicious grin forms along its lipless mouth, causing me to shrink behind Mama and Cahir. “It’ssss the only way,” the Basilisk croons.

I grip the arms of the chair, screaming as pain barrels through me.

My hair is damp with perspiration as I clench my jaw so hard I fear breaking a molar.

The process of separating my signet from my body is excruciating as Mama and Papa funnel their abilities, along with Saoirse’s flame, into me.

We hide amongst the rubble of an abandoned city that’s far enough away from any other civilization, so no one will hear my wails of agony.

The plan is to remove my signet and abilities by creating the Dragon’s Flame pendant, and then hide Saoirse here until the time comes when my abilities awaken once more.

I’m not sure which aches worse at the moment, my heart or my body.

I release a strangled cry of frustration as the scorching pain intensifies.

I didn’t wish for any of this.

“This is the only way, my dear,” Saoirse says in my mind.

She and I have been practicing this mode of communication for a few years now, and I must say, it’s greatly improved on both of our parts, helping us to share secrets versus always speaking aloud.

Perhaps that’s the beauty of being chosen by a dragon.

After several more excruciating moments, the fire in my chest dissipates, as does the tingling in my veins from my signet.

I search for that familiar warmth, but I’m met with nothing.

My face heats as I choke back a sob, mourning the loss of my starlight.

I feel so barren and empty. As I desperately gulp down air, I notice a small circular pendant, with the details of my signet, hanging around my neck.

I rub my fingers over the raised details as numbness consumes me. “Are… Are my abilities gone forever?” I cry.

“Only for a time, Maevriana,” Saoirse says out loud. “When you need them most, they’ll come back, and so will I.”

She’s hidden amongst the rubble with enchanted chains that will conceal her whereabouts from others outside of my family.

Saoirse won’t be able to break the chains without my command for her release one day.

But when will that be? Feeling my sorrow, Saoirse gives a low roar.

“I’ll miss you, my dear,” she says, her voice breaking.

“I swear to you that we will be reunited one day, and when that day comes, we will make them pay.”

I sprint to my beautiful dragon, throwing my arms around her neck, and sob.

A low growl rumbles in her chest as her wing wraps around me in an embrace.

As I nuzzle into her warmth, my head is muddled as I mourn each of the things I love being ripped away one by one.

I don’t want this, but I don’t have a choice.

As Saoirse removes her wing from around me, arms grip me by the waist, hauling me away from my dragon.

“No!” I scream. I flail my limbs about like a wild animal, hitting and kicking Papa, but his hold is secure.

“No! I won’t let you! I won’t! I won’t!” Saoirse’s large eyes are covered in a sheen as she releases a mournful cry.

Using my weight as leverage, I force myself to the ground, which allows my father to lose his grip for a moment.

I dig my fingers into the ground, crawling back to Saoirse, but I’m not fast enough.

Papa grabs me once more, cradling my shaking body in his lap, as he soothingly rocks back and forth.

“I’m so sorry, sweetheart,” he croaks. “Riona, it’s time to put Saoirse to sleep.

” Tears well in Papa’s eyes, as his chest moves in a staccato rhythm.

I’ve only seen the King of Malvoria cry a handful of times in my entire life.

Every time, it’s always been for another person or creature because that’s the selfless man that he is.

He cries for me, and mourns the decisions he must make in order to protect us from his best friend that broke his heart.

My father’s sorrow stirs an anger within me, because this is my fault… it’s also Tiernan’s fault.

Clenching my fists, I vow to Siorai that the demon king will pay for what he’s wrought on my family and my kingdom.

Mama kisses Saoirse’s snout. “Sleep well and take care of them when you wake,” she cries.

Cahir stands beside my mother, bowing low to Saoirse. “Don’t forget us,” he whispers.

Saoirse roars a guttural cry of mourning, as this could be the last time we are all together.

Papa tightens his hold because I desperately wish to be with my dragon.

This isn’t fair.

I never should’ve shown Emyr that day in the woods.

“Papa, please,” I scream. “Let me stay with her.”

“I’m sorry,” he cries. “There’s nothing in this realm I wouldn’t do for you, but right now, you have to trust me.”

As my wails fill the skies, my head falls limply against his chest. He cradles my trembling body as he did when I was just a young child. Angling his chin toward Cahir and Mama, he swallows thickly. “Do it,” he whispers. “Before I change my mind.”

Then, Mama and Cahir’s abilities swirl from their palms, cascading over my beautiful Saoirse… putting my companion into a deep slumber.