Page 108 of The Heart of the Dragon

Another smile worked across my face, this time much larger. "I've accounted for that possibility. But for that, I need a donation from you."

His right eyebrow lifted. "I knew there had to be a catch. What kind of donation?"

Chapter

Forty-One

Rose

"I can't believeI let you talk me into this." Magnus hesitated before he approached the guards blocking the entrance into the castle.

"It was the only way. Trust me. If we portal inside, that will be seen as an act of aggression, and he will have a full regiment waiting for us. We've already proven we can't get to him like that. With this plan we will kill him with kindness."

Magnus looked up at the towering building, a frown slashed across his scarred face. I was sure he would hate every second of this right up to the point it worked. At least that's what I hoped. I'd followed everything my mother had ever taught me about these spells and I had to believe that was enough. I'd never proven this in a lab, and there'd been no time for a trial run. It was now or never according to Magnus.

"I could burn the building and everyone in it now. That would save us a lot of trouble and risk."

I violently shook my head. "You know he thought of that. That's why the castle is filled with all those innocents from the village. I don't think even you could live with that much blood on your hands."

"You think too highly of me," he whisper snapped before making his final approach.

I swallowed thickly. I didn't care what he said. His actions spoke far louder than his words. If he truly thought he could live with all those deaths on his conscience, then that building would already be alight.

"I am here to see my uncle. Open the gate."

The guard shook his head. "We have strict orders against it. The only place we are to escort you is the dungeon."

"Fuc—"

"Magnus," I started, making my own approach. "Maybe we should do what they say. I'm sure the king will see reason." I lifted the basket of homemade honey buns in front of me, jostling them just enough to allow the aroma to make its way to the guards blocking our way. And if they were hostile towards Magnus, we were to switch to a bad guy, good guy routine.

"This is no way to treat me," he snarled. "I could release the dragon and you'd be helpless against him. It would take no effort at all to reduce you to a pile of smoldering ash."

I placed my hand on his arm in a gesture that would show how I soothed him. "If the king doesn't want to receive us today, we could try again another day."

Magnus snarled, still looking the guard who'd spoken in the eye. "You tell my uncle that I'm going to remember this. Andwhen word gets around about how he treated the first omega in his kingdom in decades, there are going to be a lot of angry villagers."

The guard’s eyes widened. "She is an omega?"

Magnus leaned closer to the guard, and I prayed he stayed on script. He really did look like he was about to rip the guy's throat out. "I'd invite you to inhale deeply, and see for yourself, but you aren't worthy. Just pass on the message, and if the king changes his mind, then he knows where to find me. Otherwise, we are leaving tomorrow."

"But—"

"No buts," Magnus roared, his dragon clearly just beneath his skin as he practically glowed with the fire he kept barely contained. Not to mention the heat nearly scorching my hand. "Unless, of course, it is your wish to become that pile of burnt ash.”

The guard took two steps back and raised his hands. "Just go. If you come any closer, we'll be forced to?—"

Before the guard could finish, the gate swung open and someone boomed, "Let them in. And bring them to the throne room."

I gasped. "What the hell? Who was that? And I thought you didn't use electricity here?"

"We don't, that gate is warded and operated by magic. The king's magic," Magnus muttered. "You don't become king of one of the four realms without power and my uncle is one of the most powerful ever born. He can telegraph his voice for miles."

"Great. Just what the world needs. Someone yelling at you from miles away."

Magnus didn't say more, but he did grab my hand before he moved to follow the guard. Something about him had changed, although I didn't know how to explain it. His posture had gone rigid, and his movements were jerky and unnatural.

With that information in the back of my mind, I turned my attention to the castle looming before us. Its ornate grandeur a stark contrast to the humble village. As we wound our way through the maze of gardens and then the cavernous halls inside, my footsteps echoed against the marble floors.

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