Page 62 of The Dragon Queen

Icrinklemybrows. "What?"

"Nothing,"Rafesays,hisvoicesurprisinglyrough.

Jianyumovestokneelbesideme,reachingouttorubmyleg. "Donotmistakeus--youlookperfectlyathomeonabattlefield.Butseeingyouhere?Likethis?"Hisdarkeyesareheart-stoppinglysoft. "Itfeelsright."

Mymouthwavers,andIdirectmygazetothebookshelfoncemore. "MyparentsandIusedtoreadtogetherallthetime."

Mymotherespecially.Myminddriftsbacktothosedays,cuddledupbesideherassheindulgedmetimeandtimeagain,re-readingthesamestoriesofmagicandadventure.

Mymemoriesofthatpartofmylifeweretaintedforsolong,ruinedbyherabsence.Therewasanachingholeinmyheart.

ButnowthatIknowshe'sreallygone...Thatshedidn'tabandonme...Thatshediedtryingtorescuemyfather--hertrue,FatedMate--fromalifeofeternalShadow...

Theemptyplaceinsideofmeisfinallybeginningtoheal.

Theveilofgriefandresentmentandoutrightabandonmentliftsfrommymemories.

Mychestsqueezes.Gods,Iwishmymomwerehere.Iwishshecouldreadtohergrandchild.

Myeyesstinging,Istudythespinesagain,tryingtogetmyemotionsundercontrol.Notthatitmatters--mymatescanfeelthepowerwithwhichthey'rewellingupinsideme.

Foramoment,myfeelingsoflossandjoyandfearforthefuturethreatentooverwhelmme.

Butthenmyvisionfocuses.

Istop,myfingercatchingontheedgeofoneofthebooks.

Alilting,dizzyingsenseofdejavusuddenlyhasmespinning.

Itseemslikealifetimeago,butI'mtransportedbacktothatfatefulmorning.RightbeforeIfoundoutabouttheupcomingEmergenceintheAirDragonKingdom.

Thelast "normal"dayofmyoldlife.

IwasworkinginMaude'ssecond-handshopinWynrathCrest,straighteningtheshelves,andIfoundthisbook.Iblink--itcouldn'tbethesamecopy.Itcouldn't.

Evenifitwere--itdoesn'tmatter.Thebookwasacollectionoffairytales.Mythsandlegends.Storiesofpowerfuldragonsandhandsomeknightsonhorsebackrescuinghelplessmaidens.Isawit,anditsentasharppangoflongingthroughme.Ithoughtofmymotherandmyfather.Icouldsmellmymom'swoodfireandorangeblossomscent.Hearhervoice.

Mythroatcatches.

Theoldest,triteststoriesbecomelegendsbecausetheyarebuiltaroundakerneloftruth.

"Ember?"Storm'svoicecomestomefromalong,longwayaway.

Ignoringhim,Ipullthebookfromtheshelf,andstaticroarsinmyears.I'mstillspinningoutinmymind,theworldtiltingonitsaxis.

Therewasanancientmyth,buriedinthesepages.OneIscoffedatasabsurd,whilealsodevouringasaloverofstories.

AboutadragondescendedfromalloftheDragonKingdoms.

OnewhowouldbringlighttoShadow.

Iopenthebook,flippingthroughthepages.Blackandwhiteillustrationsleapoutatme,asvividasiftheywereinfullcolor.Mymatesaretryingtogetmyattention,butmyfocusisundivided.Almostofitsownvolition,thebookopenstothefinalstoryinthevolume.

Andthereitis.

Myheartthunders.Mydragonrecoils.

Barelyabletohearevenmyself,Iwhisper, "IknowwheretheCrownOfCindersis."

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