Page 95 of The Dragon Queen

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.