Page 45 of Wings of Frost and Fury (Merciless Dragons #4)

“I’m aware,” she retorts. “But who knows what we’ll need while we’re on the mainland? We might have to buy something.”

“Very well.” I prowl toward the back of the cave. “You are my life-mate, after all. My private hoard belongs to you as well.”

“You’re damn right. I’m shocked you haven’t shown it to me before now.”

“We were trying not to die half the time, and the other half we were fucking,” I say dryly, before I realize that she’s smirking, teasing me.

With a claw, I drag out my treasure chest and lift the lid. “These are my favorite pieces. We contribute most of the silver, gold, and gems we find to the clan hoard, but we’re allowed to keep some for ourselves.”

Thelise gasps at the sparkling heap of jewelry and coins. “Where did all of this come from?”

“Shipwrecks, mostly. Things wash up on Ouroskelle because of the way the tides move. Though it is said that the most valuable and dangerous items in the clan hoard were taken from the Southern Kingdoms, ages ago, and given to the dragons for safekeeping.”

“Dangerous items?” Her eyes light up. “Are there magical items in your clan hoard?”

“There may be. Few of us have seen the hoard in person, and its location is a carefully guarded secret.”

“One that you can’t tell me, I suppose, since I’m so bad at secrets.”

I rumble uncomfortably, shifting my feet, and she laughs .

“Don’t work yourself into a state, dear one. We have enough to think about for now. We’ll save the discussion of this fascinating hoard and its location for another day.”

“Maybe another year ,” I mutter.

Thelise doesn’t seem to hear me. She’s elbows-deep in the chest, exclaiming over a particularly large and sparkly pair of earrings. Immediately she discards her own earrings for the new ones, and I can’t help chuckling at her delight.

Leaving her to pack her bag, I head out to notify the other dragons of our imminent departure and to spread the good news that the Middenwold flocks and herds are safe for eating.

The dragons who are headed to war with us against Rahzien begin to gather on Gulls’ Peak, under the supervision of Hinarax.

With that errand completed, I fly back to my cave to pick up Thelise. She stuffs a few more coins into her satchel, which looks full to bursting, and manages to clamber onto my back with it. We glide off the ledge of my cave and bank upward, heading toward the gathered dragons.

Hinarax spots us and takes off from the peak, mounting into the air. With a thunder of wings, the others take to the sky as well.

Thelise and I fly toward the rear, a little distance behind the others.

“We’re going to the mainland,” Thelise says quietly. “But we’re not going to the Capital with them.”

Her announcement surprises me. “And why not?”

“I’m not at my best, Ash. I haven’t been for weeks, what with the transformation spell, the Mordvorren, and all the magic I used while everyone was recovering. I’m not at full strength. I wouldn’t be much help in an all-out conflict. And you’re fucking exhausted.”

“Every dragon in this group is weary,” I growl. “None of them are at full strength. You and I could be useful to them. ”

“They’ll be alright,” she says. “Hinarax has a plan, remember? He’s working with the leader of the Elekstan rebellion against Vohrain.

Besides, Rahzien thinks all the dragons are dead by now.

The arrival of the clan will take him completely by surprise.

And once the people of Elekstan see the dragons turning on Vohrain, they’ll fight back too. ”

“You can’t know that for certain.”

“No, but I have a good sense of these things. Trust me, pet—the errand I have for us is important, too.”

“And you won’t tell me what it is?”

“Not yet,” she replies. “Not until we get closer to the mainland.”

During the next few hours, as we fly over the sea, I keep hoping she will break the silence and tell me her plans. But she doesn’t.

“I’m not an animal,” I snarl at last. “Not a mindless, voiceless beast that you can ride wherever you please, without considering my thoughts or opinions.”

“I never said you were,” she replies.

“I like submitting to you and obeying you. I like it when you call me pet . But sometimes I want to understand why you are making certain choices, and I want to be involved in the decisions. I am more than the beast who carries you and the monster who defends you. I am also the man who fucks you and the dragon who loves you.”

“And I am going to tell you something that I have never told another man—not a single one,” Thelise says, a fierce tenderness in her voice. “Something that I hope will allay your fears and convince you to let me keep our destination a surprise a little longer.”

I wait, a low-burning anger thrumming through every beat of my wings.

“I respect you,” she says simply.

The anger drains out of me slowly as the words register .

“I respect you,” Thelise repeats. “I trust you as I trust no one else. I love you better than I’ve loved anyone in my lifetime. In light of that, my darling, I hope you will believe me when I tell you, we are not needed for this fight. You and I have another job to do.”

Her sincerity rings through her voice—not a trace of levity or lies. And though I still have concerns about my clan and their upcoming battle with Rahzien, I don’t protest her plan any further.

The coastline of Elekstan appears ahead of us, marked by the Resting Cliffs. Hinarax weaves through the group, checking in with the other dragons, reminding them that they’ll be flying inland a little further before they pause to hunt and eat.

When Hinarax nears us, Thelise calls out to him, and he drops back to fly at my side for a moment.

“We can’t go to the Capital with you,” I hear her say. “We’ll part from you once we reach the coast. There’s a separate mission we need to accomplish, an important one.”

I glance sideways at Hinarax, knowing his penchant for questions. But something in Thelise’s expression must warn him not to inquire further, because he only says, “I understand.”

He’s young, and I know he must be nervous about this battle.

Our warriors are going to Kyreagan’s aid without Varex, Vylar, Grimmaw, or the Bone-King…

and now, without me and Thelise as well.

I know Hinarax and the others are capable, but I also know the power of Vohrain’s army.

Even with the element of surprise and assistance from the Elekstan rebels, I’m not sure my clan can win.

Hinarax increases the speed and power of his wingbeats, flying faster, returning to front of the group.

“Fall back,” Thelise tells me, patting my neck. “Let them go ahead.”

I reduce my speed, watching my fellow dragons fly across the surf, past the beach, and onward .

Trust her , I tell myself. She has a reason for doing this.

By the Bone-Builder, I hope this mission isn’t merely to fetch more wine.

“Why are you turning south?” Thelise says. “We need to head northwest.”

“Devil’s Kiss lies to the south.”

“We’re not going to my cottage,” she tells me. “We’re going to Guilhorn, to gather some very important bones.”