Page 103 of The Dragon Queen

Ahandcomesdownonmycheekwithacrack,slappinginthesamespotwhereJasminealreadydrewblood.Ijerkmyheadup,andRafeistoweringoverme,thefireinhiseyesdarkwithdisdain.

"Areweboringyou?"

"No--no..."

WhateverIthoughtIsawisgone,thethroneroomasrealastheearthbeneathmyfeet.ButsoisthetieIfeeltothesemen.

"Thenkneel,"Malikorders,andI'mdroppingtomykneeswithoutevenmeaningto.

Tearsstreamdownmyface. "We're--I'm--Don'tyouremember?"

Jianyuscoffs,onecornerofhismouthcurlingdownward. "Dragonprincesdonotmakeahabitofrememberingcommoners."

"Defectivecommoners,"Stormremindsme,asifIcouldforget. "Orhaveyoufinallymanagedtosummonyourbeast?"

AndIhave---Iseeitsoclearlyinmyvision.Greatblackwingseruptingfrommyback.Ifeelthewindrushingovermyscalesandtherollingpowerofpurpleflamesrisingfrommymaw.

Inthismoment,though,there'sonlyemptinessinmychest.

Mybreathingtightens.Mydragon--she's--

Whereisshe?Eveninmydarkest,mostdespairingmoments,I'vefeltherstirringdeepwithinme.Butrighthere,rightnow,I'mutterlyalone.

"Ididn'tthinkso,"Stormsneers.

"Butwe're..."Andmyvoiceisnearlyawhimpernow.Aplea. "I'm..."

Therearemoreflashes.Malikholdingmyhandinasacredpool,Jianyulayingmeoutonaplatformofstone.Rafegraspingontomeaswejoinforcesandignite.Stormgaspingaswefloatintotheair.

Allfourofthem,connectedtomeviatethersmadeofpurelight.Aroundme,inme,theirmouthsandhands,theultimateunionofourbodiesandhearts,andtheproduct...

Iputahandtomyabdomen.Therewasafaintecho.Apresence.

Alife,bornofourlove.

Youmustremindthem.

Youmustrememberyourself.

"I'myourmate,"Iwhisper.

Andtheentireroomeruptsintolaughter.

Chapter

Thirty

EMBER

It'sawholenewkindofnightmare.MygazeswingswildlyfromRafetoJianyutoMaliktoStorm.EvenBrynn,overinthecornerislosingit.Theirfacesaretwistingingruesomemasksofmockery,theirtauntsechoing.

"Shetrulyisdefectivethen,"Malikcackles.

"Insane,"Jianyuagrees.

"AsifIcouldeverbeconnectedtosomeonesosmall."ThehumorbleedsfromRafe'stone,leavingonlydisgust. "You'repowerless,penniless,magicless.Youdon'tevenhaveadragon."

"But--"Istart.Mythroatcloses,everyinsultpiercingintomychest.

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