Theragewithinmeboilsover.
EspeciallywhenmyfatherlooksoverattheFireKing,andtheyshareaconspiratorialglance.
Iballmyhandsintofistssotightithurts.
They'reweak,cowardlyfools,allright.Buttheywerebothinonit.TheyallowedtheShadowKingtousemeandRafetostartawarbetweenourkingdomandtheFireDragons,andforwhat?
"Wewereyourchildren,"Ihearmyselfsay. "Thosewereyourpeoplewhodiedonthosebattlefieldsinthatuseless,pointlesswar."
Thewaste.Thegrief.Theyhitmerightinthechest.
"Theyreallydoknownothingofpower,dothey?"KingZephyrsimpers.
"Weknowmorethanyoueverdid."Storm'salivewire,whippingupthewindwithhisownanger.
"Spareusthetheatrics,"KingErembourdrawls.Hewavesahanddismissively. "Youthinkyoucanruledragonswithkindnessandfriendshipandfairnessandlove."
Thewordispoisononhistongue.
"Butreally."Erembour'supperlipcurlsindisdain,hismockingtonemeltingaway,leavingnothingbuttheacidunderneath. "Yourfeelingsmakeyoueveneasiertocontrol.Becauseyou'dgiveanything--"Hisgazecutstotheside,andmyheartiscrushedinavicewhenitlandsonEmber. "--absolutelyanything--foryoursadlittleimpostorofawhore."
Andsomethingbreaksinsideme.
"Whyyou--"Rafestarts.
"Don't,"Emberbegs.
ButI'mmoltenlava,myragealreadysurging.
I'llshowthismonster.I'mdonerepressing,donewaiting.Mylovedoesn'tmakemeweak.Itmakesmestronger.
Theblackstoneoutcropcracksintwo,mymagicracingthroughtheearth.Firefollowsinitswake,thetorrentofflamechargingthroughthewhippingwindandtheviolentsurgeofwaterpouringoutofthesea,andallofitisaimedatErembour--everybitofourrageandlove.Thisiswhatthishasallbeenfor.
Untilourmagicreachesitstarget,andjust...
Disappears.
BillowingblacksmokeeruptsaroundErembour,andthenheandhisSorceress,andthekingsandqueenofdragonkindtogetherarepullingatsomeinvisiblethread,andIcan'tbreathe.
Icroak,myhandsgoingtomythroat,mydragonterrified,andhe'sneverfeltfear.
Never--
ExceptwhenhethoughtEmberwas...
I'mfrozeninplace,blackwebsofpowerrisingupmylegs,andmydragonisstuckinside.Mymagic--mypower--it's--
"Delicious,"KingErembourbreathes,andhe'slightingupfromwithin,puredarknessswirlinginhisblackeyes.
"Theritual."Ember'svoicetrembles.
"It'salreadybegun,"KingErembouragrees,lickinghisfingertips.
Andthenheflickshishandtotheside.
Myentirebodyconvulses,agonylikefirerippingupmyspine.Darkcloudscrashoverme,andI'mhurtlingthroughtheaironlytobedashedagainsttherock,andthere'snothingIcandotostopit.Thestonerefusestoyieldtomycommand.
Blooddripsintomyeyes,andthroughthefogofcrimsonandblack,allIcanseeisEmber.Ourgazesconnect,andit'sclear.