Page 8 of The Dragon Queen

Icouldwakethemupwithmyhandsandlips.Witheverythingthat'shappened,we'vehadsolittletimetojustbetogether.

Atwitchyrestlessnessatthebackofmymindpullsmeupshort.

Despitethesoothingauraofmymates'presence,Ican'tquitedismisstheworriesricochetingaroundmyhead.Malikpromisedthatwewouldbesafe,hereinthedesertedcitythattheWaterDragonsabandonedsolongago.It'sallbutbeenforgottenbytime,preservedandobscuredbypowerfulmagic.

Nothingaboutmysituationfeelssafe,though.

Tobeclear--I'mnotdoubtingMalik'sassessmentoftheoldWaterKingdomcapital.

I'mdoubtingmyself.

Hunchingovermyknees,Icradlemynakedwristtomychest.Theskinisachinglytender,thelossofthebracerseepingallthewayintomybones.Istillfeelasifapartofmyverysoulhasbeensevered.There'sdeadspacewheremagicusedtoshimmer,myawarenessoftheenergyintheroomandintheairandinthestonebeneathmyfeetjust...gone.

WithRhiannon'slocketallbutdepletednow,too,I'vebeenleftshatteredandempty.

Myeyessting,asingletearescapingdownmycheek,andahollow,hiccuppingnoiseleakspastmythroat.

Atthesound,Stormshifts,andJianyuturnsover,hisbeautifulbrowcreasinginhissleep.Noneofmymateswake,though,andIpressmyknuckletomymouth,willingmyselftobesilent.

Theyneedtheirrest;thegodsaloneknowwhatthey'vebeenthroughwhileI'vebeendeadtotheworldforthelastday.IglanceatMalik,who'sjawistight,hiseyestwitchingbehindtheirlids.Guilttugsatmyinsides.He'scertainlyhadhishandsfull,preparingthisabandonedcityforhundredsoftemporaryguests.

Ican'twakethemforsex,andIrefusetowakethemwithmygrief--butIcan'tkeepmyanxious,mournfulenergycontained.

Ineedtothink.

Maybemorethanthat,Ineedtoconnectwithmyself.Feelouttheblunt,brokenedgesofmymagicandseeifthebranchesareasdecimatedastheyfeel.

MovingasquicklyandquietlyasIcan,Ishiftdownthebed.Rafeflopsahandinmydirection,brushinghisfingertipsovermyleg,butit'sareflex.Hedoesn'tstopmeasIgentlyextricatemyself.

Thecarpetisthickbeneathmyfeet.Iglancearoundthroughthedarkness,makingoutwhat'sclearlyatastefullyiflavishlydecoratedbedroom.Whiletheairisalittlestagnant,despitethepreservationspell,Malik'sscentlingers.

Ilongtotakeitallin--toexplorethisartifactofwhomymatewas,beforethewar.AndIwill,Iremindmyself.Later.

I'mstilldressedinthesameclothesIwaswearingyesterday,butIdon'tdaretakethetimetochangeorwashup.Instead,Imakeabeelineforthedoor.Icloseitcarefullybehindme,steppingoutintoasilent,dimlylithall.

"'Night,miss,"someonesays,andIjustaboutjumpoutofmyskin.Iturntofindawomansittingafewfeetdownthehall,abookinherhands,andacontriteexpressiononherface. "Sorry.Didn'tmeantostartleyou."

"It'sokay."Iputahandtomychest.

Thewomanisfamiliar--amemberofFreya'steamfromUnity,I'msure.Shetipsherheadtowardtheroomwheretherestofmymatesaresleeping. "Justkeepingalookout,"sheassuresme.

"Makessense."Iglancearound. "Ijust--needsomeair."

Shenodsandclosesherbookaroundherfinger.Withherotherhand,shegesturesdownthehall,behindme. "There'sastairwayleadinguptotheroofordowntothegardensoverthere."

Realgratitudefloodsmychest. "Thankyou."

Smiling,shereturnstoherbook,butshe'sclearlyawareofhersurroundings,andIrestsafeintheknowledgethatsomeoneiswatchingovermymates.

Withthat,Ifollowthecorridorinthedirectionshepointed.WhenIhitthestairs,Ihesitate.Thepromiseofthecoolbreezeoutontheroofistempting,butIshudderatthememoryofstandingatopthetoweroftheShadowKing'sCitadel,corneredandterrified.

Andthenplummetingdownintotheicywatersbelow.

Yeah--IthinkI'llstickwiththegardensfornow.

Ipickmywaydownaspiralingflightofwhite,marblesteps.AnotherofFreya'sguardsstandssentryatthedoor,andInodatherbeforespillingoutintothenight.

It'scooloutside,butcomfortablyso.Theaircarriesafamiliarscentofgreen,livingthingsandflowers,andIbreatheitinwithrelish.Above,themoonisnearlyfull,anditcaststhewholeplaceinasoft,silveryglow.

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