Page 91 of The Dragon Queen

Malikshakeshishead,andIfeelsodeeplyseen.Soutterly,completelyknown.

"Itwasthere."Ilaugh,overflowing. "Allalong."

Themagic,thelight,thedarknessthattiethewholeworldtogether.

Ipullthepowerrushingthroughmebacktomyfingertips,andtheShadowBracer--dullanddormantonmyarmforsolong,igniteswithbrilliance,andit'snothinglikeitwasbefore.

It'sbetter.

It'smine.

"Wasthatit?"Rafeasks. "Thelasttest?"

AtestofmyabilitytochannelShadowDragonmagicandharnessthepowerofallfivedragonkingdoms--andIpassed.

Jianyufeelsouttherocksurroundingus,butthere'snosubsequentpassageway,booby-trappedwithtrials.

Malikexhalesslowly. "Itwouldseemso."

"Then..."Stormtouchesmyarm,andasparkshiversfrommyelbowtomyfingertips.Hissilentquestionechoesthroughthespace.

Mythroatbobbing,ItaketheCrowninbothmyhands.Theweightofexpectationwantstopushmeintothefloor,butIkeepmyspinestraight.

Slowly,Irunmyfingertipovertheswirlinglinesofblackmetal.TheCrownOfCindersisstunning--beautifullycraftedindelicatefiligreesthatfeelasstrongasironinmyhands.

"It's...abitmuch,don'tyouthink?"AndwhyamIsayingthat?Evading,whenthemomentwe'vebeenworkingtowardforsolongisfinallyhere.

Drily,Rafequips, "GuesstheMotherOfAllDragonshadextravaganttastes."

"Yes,"Jianyureplies,justasdeadpan. "Becauseourkindareusuallysorestrained."

Mybellyshakeswithamuffledchuckle.

Dragonsdolovetheirtreasure,theirextravagantmansionsandcastlesandcitadels.

Theylovetheirpower.

There'saquietrustlingofwings,deepwithinmylungs,butIexhaledeeply,pushingthestrange,sharpedgeofhungeraway.

Iturnthecrownaroundinmyhandsagain.Stormshiftshisweight,andMalikclearshisthroat.They'renotimpatient--notexactly.Restlessanxietyvibratesthroughallfourofmybond-mateconnections,comingfromthemandfromme,andIshouldputthisthingon.Findoutwhatitcando.

ButbeforeIcan,there'sthatvoice--thedeep,resonantonethatspoketomethroughthecrypticwritingontheoutsideofthetomb.

Yourfriends,itwhispers.

Instinctively,Ireachoutwithmysenses.

Vividvisionsassaultme.Icryoutasthesoft-litdimnessisreplacedbyroaringfireandshattereddragonscales,rainingfromthesky.

IseeAmy,bleeding--Freya'swingtornanddrippingacidfromitstatteredwebbing.

Mariutzaplummetingintoafrozensea.

Asabruptlyastheyappearedthevisionsaregone,butI'mblindtomysurroundings.

"Ember."Storm'sshakingme,shouting.

Iswingmygazearoundwildly,connectingwitheachofmymatesinturn,butallIcanseeisthecarnageIjustwitnessed,andwasitevenreal?

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