Page 29 of The Dragon Queen

Rookhuffsoutabreath,andRhiannonrollshereyes.

Firmly,Rhiannonassuresme, "Nothing."

"TheShadowQueen'sBracerislost,"Rookpronounceswithfinality. "Youarenotherheir,butyouarestilltheheir.ThisonlymakesitmorecriticalthatwelocatetheCrownOfCinders."

Ablackpitthreatenstoopeninmychest. "Andhowarewesupposedtodothat?"IdartmygazefromRooktoRhiannontoAmyandbackagain. "It'slikeyousaid.Thebracerislost.Mymagicislost."

Amylooksatmewithrealempathyinhereyes,andIcan'thandlethekindnessIfindthere. "It'sreallyallgone?"sheasks.

"Imean."Irakemyhandthroughmyhair. "I'mstilladragon.I--"Iswallow,pushingasidemymostvisceralmemoriesofflyingwithmymatesthismorning.Thepossessiveheatandtherushofdesire. "Itriedoutmydragonformearliertoday,andIhavesomebasiclevelofShadowDragonabilities."

IrecountwhatIwasabletodo--summoningcloudsofdarknessandvioletsmoke.

"Withmymates,"Icontinue, "IcouldfeelsomeoftheotherElementalpowers."Ishakemyhead,myeyesstingingatthecorners.Unconsciously,Irubatmywrist. "Butit'snothinglikeitwasbefore."

"Andonlyinyourdragonform,"Rhiannonprobes.

Inod. "OnceIreturnedtohuman,Icould..."Itrailoff,mycheeksflashinghot.HowdoIputthiswithoutgettingX-rated? "Icouldchannelsomeelementalmagicinmomentsofintenseconnectionwithmymates."

Amychucklesandmutters, "Bow-chicka-bow-wow,"underherbreath,imitatingthesoundtrackfromadultfilmsfromthe70s,andseriously,thatisnothelping.

Myfacestillburns,butforbetterorworse,thepowerIwasabletosummonwhileintimatewithmypartnersisrelevanttothisconversation.

Gently,Rhiannontellsme, "That'sgood."ShesharesanotheroneofthoseglanceswithRookbeforereturninghergazetomine. "It'sastart."

"Butnothingelse?"Rookasks.

Shamemakesmyinsidesclench. "Nothing."

Inmyhumanform,I'mcurrentlyuseless.

Ibracemyself,readyforthemtotellmeasmuch.Toberatemeforbeingsuchafailureafterraisingeveryone'shopes.

Butinstead,Rook'sexpressiongoesresolute. "Sowetrain."

"What?"Rhiannon,AmyandIallaskatonce.

Bristling,Rookwavesadismissivehandatus. "Wetrainyou.RhiannonandI."

"Oh,dowenow?"Rhiannonasks.

"IttakesyearsforanewlyEmergeddragontofullycontrolherpowers,"Amyrecites.

"Well,wehaveatalentedpupilinmyniece,"Rooksays,puffinguphischest. "She'stastedpowerbefore.Shecanfindawaytochannelitagain."

Andoh,butthedark,calculatinggleamtohiseyesispureShadowDragon.

Butthatdoesn'thavetobeabadthing.

Rhiannongazesatmeinappraisal. "It'srisky.WemightnotbeabletoteachyouenoughforyoutoovercometheShadowKing."

"Butyoudon'thaveto,"Iinsist,suddenlystartingtofeelhopeagain. "JustenoughformetobeabletoclaimtheCrown--ifwecanfindit."

"Andreally,"Amyinterjects, "ifyou'regoingtobetrainingher..."

"Youcansitin."Rhiannonrollshereyes.

"Youcanobserve,"Rookcorrects,andreally,that'smorethanIeverwouldhaveexpectedhimtoallow.

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