Page 1 of The Dragon Queen

Chapter

One

EMBER

Foraminute,allIcandoissitthere,numbandmute.PanicracesthroughmeasIstareinshockatthebrokenpiecesoftheShadowBracer.Myhandgoestomywrist,wherethefleshispainfultothetouch.Myheartisgoinghaywireinsidemychest.

TheShadowQueen'sBracer.Thesourceofmymagic.Theenchanted,cursedobjectthatsetalloftheseeventsintomotion,gatheringmymatestome,givingmethepowertoprotectmyselfandreachthroughtheveryfabricofspace.

TheartifactthatfirstputmeintheShadowKing'ssights,andgavemereasontobelievethatIhadaclaimtotheGrandThrone.ThatIcouldreallybetheQueenofalldragons.

Withoutit,whatamI?

Nothing,avoicewhispersinmyhead.

Andthatisn'ttrue.It'sjustmyinsecuritytalking.

Butwhatifit'snot?

Ireachouttopickuptheshatteredpiecesofthebracer,butmyhandsareshakingtoobadly.Mynervesarelikelivewiresthathaveallbeenseveredatonce,thebrokentendrilsofmymagicjangling,everythinginsideofmethrowingoffsparks.I'mweakandelectrified,elatedandreelingwithdevastation.

Theadrenalineofthelastfiveminutesdesertsmeallatonce,butitdoesn'terasewhathappened.

Ifoundmydragon.Justwhenallhopeseemedlost,thepathaheadofmesuddenlybecameclear.Unconflictedanduncomplicated.AmyconjuredBlackFlames,andIsteppedintothem.MydragonEmerged,darkandbrilliantandmajestic.Mywingswereapartofme,andIsoared.Iraineddownmagicandfire,smitingmyenemiesandtearingthemfromthesky.

AndthenIfell.

Aviolentshudderrollsthroughme,andIhugmyselftightly.Theshockistoomuch,andIneed--Ineed...

"Mates,"Ibreathethroughtheshivers.

Ilookup,andJianyu'sdragonisdescendingfromtheair,hisgleaming,silveryhidedisappearingtoleavegoldenskinandoh-so-humaneyes.Malik'saquamarinedragonswoopsinclosebeforedivingtowardmetoland.Rafeisacrimsonstreakintheskyasheapproaches,too.Storm'slandingislessgraceful,hiswingstatteredandhisscalesbloodyandsinged.Whenhishumanformhitstheground,he'slimping,hisfacebearinganuglybruise,andhe'scradlingoneofhisarms.

Myconnectionstoallfourofthemsing,andIcouldcryfromtherelief.

It'spossiblethebracerwaswhatdrewthemtomeinthefirstplace,butitslosshasn'trippedthemoutofmyheart.

Notyet,atleast.

"Ember,"Malikintones,droppingtohiskneesinfrontofme.Hishandonmyarmsendswavesofwarmthrushingacrossmyskin,reassurancepouringintomewiththecertaintyofthetides. "Thatwas--"

Pridepoursoutinhistone,wonderandawemixingtogether,andmydragonpreenswithinmychest,revelingintheattentionofhermate.

"Fuckingawesome,"Rafeagreesfrommyotherside.Hisdragonisstillclosetothesurfaceofhisconsciousness,hiseyesfulloffireashetakesmein.

Skittersofdesireracethroughme,mydragonandhumanmindsbothonthesamepagewhenitcomestoourneedforourmates.

"Magnificent,"Stormagrees,hisvoicerough.Butthere'sasoftnesstohisgaze. "JustlikeIalwaysknewyou'dbe."

ButasStormstaggerstowardme,sympatheticpainflaresitswayupmyside,andthegenuineachelingeringinmyleftwristgivesasharptwinge.Thenakedfleshwherethebracerusedtobeisraw.

Jianyustepscloser. "What'swrong?"heasks.

Everythreadofconnectioninmymatingbonddrawstaut.

Andit'snotasifmyothermateswereunawareofmydistress.Butthewonderandtheexhilarationofourdragonsfinallymeetingdrowneditout.

Untilnow.

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