Page 99 of The Dragon Queen

Iscrubahandovermyface,tryingtoshakeoffthelastremnantsofwhateverthehellthatdreamwas.Exhalingdeeply,Iopenmyeyes.

Funny,beingsorattledbyabaddream.

Whentherealnightmareistherealityofmynormal,everydaylifeasadefectivedragon,righthereinWynrathCrest.

Chapter

Twenty-Nine

EMBER

“Comeon,Ember."MycousinBrynnispullingatmyhand,urgingmetomovefaster.We'rewalkingthroughdowntownWynrathCrest,theskyabovegloomyandthepavementgray,and--

HowexactlydidIgethere?

Iscrunchupmybrows,suddenlyconfused.

Thiswholemorninghaspassedinablur,andthat'snotentirelyunusual.IzoneoutalotwhenI'mlettingAuntHelenabossmearound.It'sacopingstrategy.

Butthisisdifferent.

Brynnlaughs,pullingmeoutofmydaze. "Seriously,what'sgottenintoyoutoday?"

Iblinkafewtimes,tryingtoshakeitoff--withlimitedsuccess. "Idon'tknow.Just...didn'tsleepwell,Iguess.Weirddreams."

ShadowDragons,purplelightning,blackrock.

Shuddering,Ipushtheremnantsofmynightmareaside,butthetraumaticlittleflashesarepersistentlittlebuggers.

"Soundslikeyou."Brynnrollshereyes,andIfrown.

"Whatdoyoumeanbythat?"

"Oh,youknow.Youalwaysletstufflikethatgettoyou.Makingabigdealoutofnothing."

"Wait--"That's...notentirelyuntrue.AndconsideringBrynn'smyonlyfriend,Idobitchaboutmylifetoheralot.

She'snevercomplainedaboutitbefore,though.She'snevermademefeellikeIwasbeingoverlydramatic.Mystomachdrops.Isthathowshereallyfeels?

"Oh,nevermind."She'swalkingfasteragainnow. "We'regonnabelate."

Latetowhat?

Therearemoreflashes--onlythey'renotflashesofnightmares.Brynnbustledmeoutofthehouse,sayingwehadtogo...Hadtoget...somewhere...

Everything'sfuzzy.Myheadhurts.

Iopenmymouthtoaskwherewe'regoing,butmyvisionblursforasecond,andsuddenlywe'reapproachingthetownhall.Forgetmystomachsinking.It'splummetingclearthroughtheground.

There'saflashofsomethinginthedistance.Anoldwomaninatatteredblackdress,andIknowher,Irecognizeher--

ButIblink,andthenshe'sgone,andIcan'tevenrememberwhatIsaw.

PrinceFurystepsoutfrombehindoneofthecolumnsframingthedoorwayofthetownhall. "Ohlook,it'sourfavoritereject,"hetaunts,andeverythinginmeisgoingtoice.

"Moveitalong,whelp,"hisfriendSebastiansnarls,andhe'snotalone.

Fury'swholecohortofassholesisthere,materializedfromthinair,andtherearetoomanyofthem.

---