Page 71 of Wrath of the Dragons (Fear the Flames #2)
An emerald-scaled body slams into the earth, visible through one of the archways.
Sorin is her protector, as all the dragons are, but him most of all.
Elowen once told me their imprisonment began the day Sorin bit off Garrick’s pinkie finger after he raised his hand to her.
Venatrix follows a second later, crushing the perfectly sculpted rows of flowers beneath her claws.
The pair of them shove their heads through the two openings behind Elowen, roaring loud enough to wake a sleeping god.
Several Galakin soldiers drop their weapons and mutter a prayer.
In the silence, Elowen speaks, “I suggest you all sheathe your steel. My dragons will not stand down until they know you mean me no harm, and though they listen to me, I do not control them. I ride them, but I don’t stand in the way of their prey.”
Erix’s eyes flash to Elowen, who sips her wine, looking entirely relaxed as she lounges in the chair.
“Stand down,” he orders, and the dragons cease growling as everyone stows their weapons and takes their seats again.
The guards step back. The beasts remain in the garden, forever watchful of Elowen.
She gives me a subtle nod, and I sheathe my sword before yanking her chair closer to mine and taking my place again.
To my surprise, it’s Zarius who speaks first. “Galakin is a godly kingdom, same as Thirwen. King Cayden and Queen Elowen were declared a divine union when the God of Death, Water, and the Moon showed his favor on their wedding day by overtaking the sun. It is evidenced by their markings. This is the strongest sign we’ve received from the gods in centuries.
I’m aware of the bad blood between our kingdoms, and how much has been spilled into the sea, but animosity must give way to peace if we want to move forward. ”
“Move forward?” Cordelia echoes incredulously. Erix places a hand on his wife’s shoulder, but she shrugs it off. “My sister is lost to me forever. I cannot move forward when a piece of me lives within her corpse.”
“Then avenge her,” Elowen states. “Instead of blaming Prince Zarius for events that transpired before he was born, face your enemy on the battlefield with us and win.”
Silence hangs heavy in the air and Elowen stands from the table.
It’s clear none of us can sit down for a meal after all that’s occurred; the tension is too high.
Our party follows suit, waiting for Elowen’s command.
“We can discuss your decision after you’ve had time to speak among yourselves, but I will not sit here and listen to you insult my king and marriage.
Cayden has proven that the life of one bastard is worth a thousand kings, and he deserves respect.
Most rulers wouldn’t be on their thrones if they had to fight for them instead of being granted a crown at birth. ”
Elowen takes my arm, and I start to lead her out of the banquet hall, looking over my shoulder to regard the king and queen one final time. “We’ve come for your alliance but speak to my queen again in that manner and you won’t have time to make peace with your gods.”
The guards don’t protest as we move through the castle and down the staggering hill leading to the docks.
There’s not a chance we’re sleeping in the castle.
Dark ships rock in the harbor all around ours as we step onto the deck and Elowen releases me to walk toward the bow.
I pull my eyes away from her retreating form to face the prince of Thirwen.
“You stood by us.”
“We’re allies,” he responds, his crimson eyes made brighter by the night. “I have something to gain from the success of this war, and I may not like Galakin, but their navy is necessary.”
“You’re much easier to deal with when you’re sober,” I remark before striding toward Elowen, who stares at the Galakin castle like she wants to burn it down.
“I need to ride,” she says once I’m close enough, and I cut off a probably ill-timed innuendo when she sticks her hand out to me and Basilius perches on a rock. He’s so massive that he’s taller than the masts of the ship.
I don’t remember much of what occurred with Elowen between the ritual at Port Celestria and waking up at the inn, but as she releases me to climb up the dragon’s lavender wing and settles herself on his back, excitement rises within me as she beckons me up.
I’d never ask her to let me ride a dragon—she’s had so little to keep to herself in life—but if she’s willing to share then I won’t deny myself.
She tucks her legs to one side, and the beast growls as I climb up behind her, wrapping my arms around her as she coos and strokes his scales.
It doesn’t take her long to calm him, and he kicks off the rock.
His wings spread wide and he glides along the surface of the ocean, dipping his back claws into the breaking waves before tipping up and bringing us closer to the stars painting the sky.
My heart pounds as if I’m charging into battle yet my mind quiets as he careens to the side, swooping through mossy cliffs speckled with tropical flowers.
Elowen’s head falls back against my chest, and she lets out a long sigh, her lips curling up.
It’s as if being in the sky lifts the burdens from her shoulders, and I can understand why.
Flying is a feeling I’d never be able to describe to anyone who hasn’t experienced it.
It’s…it’s…liberating. Elowen peeks an eye open, and the moment is only made sweeter by her laugh.
I grasp her chin, tilting it up and dropping my lips to hers. It’s a slow kiss, and she deepens it, tangling her hand in my hair and sliding her tongue into my mouth. I move my hand, gliding my knuckles down her cheek and pulling her closer, breaking apart only to press my forehead into hers.
She smiles up at me with stars in her eyes and kisses me again.