Page 19 of Merciless Is My Crown

And a dragon…There hadn’t been dragons in the world for centuries. But Darkhold was on the other side of the world. A forbidden, dangerous place.

My gaze landed on Torin, arms folded across her chest, and despite my best efforts, a shiver of dread went through me. Even with her friends, there would only be nine of us. Nine against the Shadow King, an army of ten thousand, and two Old Gods.

The impossibility of what we were up against sent exhaustion crashing through me, wiping away the excitement of discovering dragons still existed.

“I’m going upstairs,” I said to no one in particular.

After my first tentative steps, I found I could walk without pain, and more importantly, my legs were strong enough to carry me up the staircase and away from this pointless argument. And my mother, who I could hardly stand to look at.

I’d only made it halfway down the hall when Raziel caught me by the arm. “I looked up and you were gone.” He peered down at me, two deep lines etched deeply on either side of his mouth. “I don’t blame you for not wanting to listen to that anymore.”

The sounds of their argument drifted down the hall, followed by some heavy thumping.

“Tavion’s fist,” Raz muttered. “I swear to the gods, he has a short temper.”

“I just…” I picked at my filthy clothes. “I have to get out of these. A few hours of sleep wouldn’t hurt, either. I know we can’t delay, but we’re all exhausted, Raz. We’d better rest or we won’t get very far.”

“Exactly what Zor’s explaining to Torin right now.” He steered me toward the room we’d occupied before. “Let’s get the bath filled so you can soak this grime off. I get to go second, though.” He leaned in and the strong smell of male musk overwhelmed his normally crisp scent.

I leaned back. “You are a bit ripe.”

“You don’t exactly smell like a bed of roses, princess.”

“No.” I sighed. “I don’t.” Raz put his back to the door, shutting out the voices, and I closed my eyes, letting the truths that were said downstairs sink in.

Raziel didn’t push. Didn’t ask any of the questions he probably wanted to ask. Just waited for me to speak. Which took a minute, given I had so much to sort through.

“When I first discovered I was from the High Barrens, the only thing that mattered was I could still have family out there, somewhere. That for the first time in my life, I wouldn’t be alone.”

“Keep talking, I’m listening.” Raziel headed for the washroom. There was a splutter, followed by the sound of running water. Freezing water, most likely, but I’d brave the cold to get this blood and sweat off me.

“Freeing Adele from that prison became a big fuck you to my father, who dared lock her away for giving birth to me.” I smiled faintly when he came back and set his hands on my shoulders. “And maybe to Torin, too, because she was so quick to leave Adele there to rot.”

“But now?” I peered up into his face, saw myself reflected in his dark eyes as I traced his neck, so bare without the collar.

“Seeing this other side of my mother…I don’t know what to think. She was so…helpless and fragile. I never wondered what she might have been like…before.” I rubbed my burning eyes. “She’s endured so much, I feel like a total piece of shite being mad at her, but hearing her talk about using me…makes me wonder if she’s no different than anyone else.”

Raziel sighed softly before he began kneading my stiff neck. “Adele was a different person twenty years ago, Anaria. She came from a privileged background and had all the airs that went along with aristocracy. But that’s what made our plan work, because Carex recognized her as an equal.”

“What about the witch blood and this supposed army? Do you think any of that’s real?”

“I would say yes, given the mark on your arm.” He unbuttoned my jacket, and I shrugged it off then slid the iron arm bands down and tossed them onto the bed with a dull clink. Magic hazed the room with a shimmer of stars.

“So careless with these,” Raz chided gently, setting them on the bedside table. “It’s not like we can find another set.”

I let him inspect the delicate branches that stretched up to my shoulder. “We have to know more about what this mark means. I agree with Zor on this, Anaria. I don’t want you walking into the Barrens without us. Wait for us at Nightcairn, then we all go together.”

“You can’t be two places at once. Once we disappear into the tunnels, the Oracle will keep her eyes to the east, watching for us to reappear. You’ll have a better chance of getting this Zephryn out of Darkhold without interference.”

“A dragon,” Raz breathed in wonder, his hands resting on my shoulders. “Do you know what it would be like to have a dragon on our side?”

“He probably eats a lot,” I pointed out, my heart squeezing when Raz’s lips curved up into a smile, the first I’d seen from him all day. I skimmed my fingers over that smile, committing it to memory. “We’ll have to pull a cart of sheep behind us to keep him happy.”

“And he probably snores.” Raz dragged me hard against him, muscles flexing as he tucked me beneath his chin. “Belches out fire.”

“Then he’ll fit right in with the rest of you heathens.” I closed my eyes and flattened my hands against his strong chest, my palm over the mark hidden beneath his shirt.

“You scared me, Anaria.” His shudder transferred every bit of his horror into me. “When you slid out of my arms, when I couldn’t heal those wounds…I was afraid I’d lost you.”

---