Page 59 of The Dragon Queen

They'rekissing,Rook'sarmsaroundher,andherhandsclutchingathisbroadshoulders,andholyshit.

Howlonghasthisbeengoingon?HowdidInotknow?

Myeyesinexplicablysting.RookisoneoftheonlyfamilymembersIhaveleft,andfromsoearlyon,RhiannonmademefeellikeIwasapartofherbrood.AsmuchastheyseemedtohateeachotherwhenRookfirstarrived,thisfeels...right.

AndIreally,reallydon'twanttogetcaughtwatchingthemmakeout.

IhightailitoutoftherebasicallyasfastasIcango.Mymindspins,careeningbetweenexcitedshockoverRhiannonandRook'srelationshipandabsolutedespairaboutthedoubtsthey'vejustconfidedtoeachother.Theurgencyofthecomingfighttightensmychest,andmydragonclawsattheinsidesofmyribs.

Anditsuddenlyoccurstome--there'snoreasonnottoletherout.

Theshiftcomesnaturallyenoughtomebynow.Iopenmychest,andarainofscalesandshadowandsmokepourout.Mybonescrackandpop,myfleshgivingway,andIbeatmyarmsagainstthesky,launchingmyselfupward.

AsIleavethegroundbehind,Ileavemyhumanconcernswithit.

Mydragonvisionisrazorsharp.Allmyfocusnarrowstothebrilliantskyandtherushofthewind,theheatofthesunandtheroaringriverandthevibrationofthestonefarbelow.

AllIfeelisapossessive,ferocious,hungryloveformymates.

Afierce,snarlingneedtoprotectourwhelp.

Andfuryatthedarkspectersonthehorizonofourfuture.

Ican'tliterallyseetheShadowKingdomfromhere--notbyalongshot.Butit'sthere,somewhereinthefar-offdistance.Icanfeelitlikealoomingshadow,tunnelingthroughtheearthanddarkeningtheair.Poisoningthewatersandsendingachillcascadingthoughthefabricofmagicitself.

Blackflamesigniteinmygut.

Theyfuelme,andIsoarhigherbeforeplungingoverthevalley,skimmingmytalonsalongthesurfaceoftheriver.Rocketingupwardoncemore,Iflyandfly,tryingtoexorcisetheragefrommysystem,butitonlygrows.

Allowingmybeasttotakeovermayhavequietedmyanxiety,buttheviolenceinmydragonveinsisalmosttoomuch.

Almost.

Somethingstartstoglowwithinme.

Violetshadowsgatherinthespacebetweenmyclaws.Darksmokeblooms,cracklingwithlightning.Theblackwavesofshadowmagicwanttoconsumemyheart,butthefearIoncefeltformyownnatureisgone.

Iembraceit--justlikeRookhaskepttellingmeto,justlikeIdidinthemomentsbeforetheShadowBracerrejectedme.

Ipullthoseshadowsintomyowncore,myangerabouttheunfairnessofthesituation,myterrorformyunbornchild,myrageatErembourandatmyself--mygriefatmyowninadequacy...

Itallboilsover,andIshudder.

Butthedarknessdoesn'tconsumeme.

Theviolethumradiatingfrommytalonsstutters.

Andthere'sacrackleofenergy.Abreathandalight.

Ifalter,butI'mnotfallingfromthesky.Itwistmid-flight,mydragoneyescatchingonabrilliancegleamingoffmyscales.

Butthenit'sgone.

InitsplaceisWater,Fire,Stone,Air.Myconnectionstomymatespulltightly,gleamingwithlight.

"Hello,gorgeous,"arich,deepdragonvoicespeaksintomymind.

Whateverthehellhadbeenhappeningtomeamomentearlierdisappearsfrommyconsciousness,eclipsedbythepowerofmymates'presence.Malik'sdragonfliesuprightalongsidemine,ourwingsbrushingandsendingashiverofelectricwarmthracingalongmyserpentinespine.

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