Page 106 of The Dragon Queen

ButIwasbornforthis.

Iamshadowandlight.IamStone,Fire,WaterandAir.

Iamthemotherofdragons.

Thatsamedeepresonanceinfusesmyvoiceagain. "Youhavenopowerhere."

Andwithaflickofmyhands,IdispelanyremainingshredsofErembour'sdeception.Roaring,hetwistsandshrinks,blackwingsflaringintolifeonhisback,buttheycrumbletoash.Themaskofahandsome,youngmanthathadhiddenhisfacedissolves,leavinghimapileofrottingbonesanddecayingsinew.

Farfrombeingdefeated,hecackles,outstretchinghiswitheredhands,andblackflamesignitewithinhispalms. "Foolishgirl.You'retoolate."

"No,"avoicesaysfrombehindme. "Youare."

Idon'tneedtoglanceovermyshoulder.Myconnectionstomymatesflarebacktolife,morevibrantthaneverbefore.Theheatandpowerofourbondredoublesthebrilliantmagicrisinginsideofme,purereliefmakingmythroattighten.

AllIfeelislove.Theirpridesearsme,andwarmthspreadsallthewayupmychest.

IshatteredErembour'sillusionthroughmyfaithinwhatmymatesandIhavetogether--throughmyfaithinmyself.Myeyessting,butthere'safiercetidepullingatmyheart.

Inevershouldhavedoubtedeither--andIneverwillagain.

Jianyustepsforwardtostandbesideme.He'sscratchedandbruised,butbeforemyeyes,theworstofhisinjuriesfromErembour'sattackfadetonothing.Rafetakesthespotbesidehim,andthetwoexchangealookthatonlymakesthewelloffeelingwithinmegrowmoreprofound.

Thetwomayhavestartedasenemies,butoverthepastfewmonths,they'vecometotrusteachotherdeeply.NowthattheShadowKinghasrevealedhispartinstagingthebetrayalthattorethemapartinthefirstplace,whoknows.Thefriendshipthatheruinedmayendupbecomingstrongerthanever.

Ican'twaittofindout.

Stormtakeshisplaceatmyotherside,absoluteloveandadorationpouringoffofhim.It'shardtobelieveheoncedeniedme;itseemslikeitwasalifetimeago.Anyremainingscarsheleftonmyhearthealoverashetakesmyhand.

IlookupandfindMalikgazingatmewithsofteyesthecoloroftheocean,andawaveofcertaintypassesoverme.

I'mexactlywhereI'msupposedtobe,utterlyunitedwiththemenwhoaremeanttoloveandsupportme.Iacceptthem,andIacceptmyself.I'mwhoI'mmeanttobe.

Finally.

Anelectriccurrentpassesthroughourbond,andasone,welaunchourselvesintotheair.Ourdragonsburstforthinarainofscalesandflame.

Below,Erembour'swingsmanifestandfail,againandagain,inanauseating,jitteringfogofsmoke.He'sfarfromdefenseless,though,hisskeletalhandstwistingintheair.Heconjuresboltsofshadowmagic,hurlingblackpoisonandpurplejagsoflightningatus.

Andhe'snotalone.

KingsZephyr,HaoyuandAedenandQueenDahabofthegreatdragonnationsofAir,Stone,FireandWatereruptintotheirdragonforms.Theysurgeforward,theirwingsslicingthroughtheskyastheylungeatus.

Thepainofbetrayalripplesthroughmybondstomymatesastheirparentstakeuparmsagainstthem,butthehurtisfollowedbygrimdetermination.

Stormandhisfathermeetinadeafeningcrashofwind,asJianyudodgestheboulderhisfatherlaunchesathim,onlytorespondinkindwithahailofjaggedrock.Rafeleadswithballsoffire,hisfather'sgreat,crimsonbeastdeflectingthemwithawallofripplingflame.Malik'sdragonroarsashesendsatidalwaveupfromtheseatoenvelopehismother,butsheshrugsitoff,andthisisallsowrong.

ItonlygrowsworsewhentheShadowKing'sSorceressdrivesherstaffintotheground,sendingtendrilsofinkyblackmagicouttowardmymates.Theropesofevilthornslickattheirscales,curlingaroundtheirhindtalonsanddraggingthembackward--

Rightuntilanotherenormousblackandsilverdragonexplodesfromthesea.

Mariutza'sdragoncackleswithglee. “Ohthereyouare,dearie,”shewhispersintomymind,andIlaugh.

Irememberhernow--floatingintothenightmarishillusionErembournearlymanagedtotrapmein.Shewastheonewhohelpedmeseepasthisveil.

WouldIhaverememberedmymateswithouther?WouldIhaverememberedmyself?

Delaynie'sblackdragondartsawayfromthebattlestillragingontheshore.Sheandhergrandmotherswooptogetherasone,dive-bombingtheSorceress.

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