Page 111 of The Dragon Queen

Takeit,thevoicewhispers.Itismeantforus.

Ireachoutmyhand,andthevisionshifts.

MymatesandIarestandingonthisveryoutcrop--olderandwiser,dressedinfineryIcouldonlyhavedreamedof,backwhenIwaslivinginoutfitsI'dbarelymanagedtoaffordfromathriftstore.We'reimperious,rulingthedragonworld.All-powerful.

"Ember."Storm'scaughtupwithme;he'stuggingatmyarm,butIbrushhimaway.

Glitteringwavesofpowerwashoverme,intoxicating--addicting.ThiswashowitfeltinthemidstofthebattlewithErembour.Mymates'magicflowedintome,andIfeltlikeagoddess.

Theseductivepleasureofthatkindofpoweriswashingovermyskin,reachingintomychest.IbreatheinmagicandIexhaledoubt,andI'mtheDragonQueen.Thisisours.Wedeservethis.

"Ember,"Rafegrowls,louderthanStormbutnolesseasytoignore.

"What--"Jianyugasps.

Someoneiscrying,somewhereinthedistance.

Toolate,Irealize...

It'sme.

TearsstreamdownmyfaceasIdipmyfingertipsintothecauldron.Theliquidwithinbubbles,cascadingupmyarm,andthepowerflowingintomegrowsandgrows,andit'sdelicious.AllIwantismore.

"Beloved,"Malikwhispers.

Asblackwavesofmagicdrivehimaway,hegraspsatmywaist.

Andthat'swhenithitsme.

Thevisioninthesurfaceofthecauldron.It'smeandmymates,sittingonaGrandThrone,untouchableandomnipotent.

Andalone.

Ourchildisnowheretobeseen.Wehavenofriends--onlysubjects.

Thebackgroundofthevisioncomesintofocus,andwe'resurroundedbyspectralphantasms.Witheredhusksofdragons,andno.

No--thatcan'tberight.

Butitis.Iprymygazefromthegleamingsurfaceofthecauldrontolookaround,andtheentirerockwe'restandingonisaswirlingmassofinkyblackmagic.It'sallflowingintome,andofcourse.

Ofcourse.

Erembourstartedhisritualtostealthemagicfromallofdragonkind,butwithouttheCrown,hecouldn'tfinishit.Wemayhavedefeatedhim,hissorceress,andhispuppets,butwedidn'tstopthespellthey'dsetinmotion.

NowhereIam,theheirapparenttotheworldofdragons,thecrowninmygrasp.I'vehadatasteofpowerandawakenedanunquenchablethirst.

Iamadragon,afterall.Weloveourhierarchies.Ourdominion.

Wewouldpursuepoweroverallelse.

IdropmygazetothepileofashwhichisallthatremainsoftheShadowKing.

Hewasawarped,twistedhuskbytheend--awalking,rottencorpseheldtogetherbymagicandspite.Hisonlynodtotheideathathewasanythingshortofimmortalwashisplantobegetanheironabrideheboughtwithpromisesofsafetyandinfluence.

Andeventhen.Allhewantedwasmore.Morepower,moremagic,moreartifactsandrelicsandservants.Hewantedtheentireworldathisfeet.

Hedividedeveryone.Hesowedwarandruineverywherehewent.

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