Page 101 of The Dragon Queen

Ipullback,tryingtotugmywristfreefromhergrip,butshe'sstrongerthanshelooks.

"Youmustremindthem,"theoldwomaninstructsme.

"Comeon,"Brynngrouses,andshe'sstandingjustbeyondthisoldwoman,tappinghertoeinimpatience,andwhydoesn'tshejustgoonwithoutme?I'mnotimportant.Ineverknewwhysheputupwithmeinthefirstplace.

Theoldwomandigsherfingersintomyarm,andIlookdown.Graymetalflashesinandoutofmyvision--likethere'ssomethingwrappedaroundmywrist,butno.It'sjustthisweirdlady'sbonyhand.

"Leavemealone,"Ibeg,butdoImeanit?

"Youmustrememberyourself."Hervoiceiscreaking,butshefinallyreleasesme.

"Crank,"Brynnscoffs.

"Yeah."ButI'mnotsosure.

Shakingofftheunsettledfeelinginmychest,Ifollowmycousin.Doubtnagsatme,though,andIturnback.

Buttheoldwomanisgone. "Wait,wheredidshe--"

Theworldwiggles,likestaticonanancienttelevisionset,andmyheadaches,mystomachgoingqueasy,andIclosemyeyes.

WhenIopenthemagain,everything'sshifted.Brynn'sdraggingmeinsideabuilding,andit's--

TheAirDragonKing'smansion.

Allthehairsonthebackofmyneckstanduponend,iceanddreadfloodingmyveins.Ishouldn'tbehere.Noonegoeshere--notunlessthey'reguestsoftheroyalfamilyordignitariesor--

Inmydisorientedstate,Iwalkrightintoabrickwall.Onlyit'swarm,andIstepback.

PrinceStormisglaringdownatmeand--

Athousandmemoriesflashthroughmeinaninstant.Stormholdingme,Storm'sbodywrappedaroundmineinprotection,Stormlaughing.

Storm'sface,intheinstantbeforehefirstkissedme.

Iflushfromheadtotoe,someofthaticyfearfadingaway.

"Storm--"

Hishandsomefaceinstantlygoeshard. "YouwillrefertomeasYourRoyalHighness."

Oh,shit.I'veneverbeentohishomebefore.Wealwaysmetinhisgarage,orwedrovetorandomplaceswherenobodywouldseeus.Theonetimewesomuchastouchedinpublic--

WasattheEmergence.Thatlast,awfulEmergencewhenIdidn'tevenhavethechancetofacetheflames,becausewewerediscovered,andhe--

Herejectedme.HetoldmeIwasnothing.

Irecoil.There'snosoftnesstoStorm'sexpression,andmyheartiscrackingintwo.

"Sorry,"Imumble.

Hesneers,likeI'mamaggot,orworse. "What'syourname?"

Okay,that'slayingitonalittlethick. "I--"

"Yourname,"hespits.

"Sorry,"Brynnsays,steppingbetweenus,pushingmeback,andthat'ssmart,Ishouldn'tbecrowdingtheprince.

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