Page 68 of Dynasty of the Wicked

Zhi Ruo’s heart raced as she noticed the animal bones at his feet. They were licked clean, and it appeared like he had chewed on them recently, saliva clinging to the brittle white pieces. Most were cracked and broken, with shards littering the ground. Some had turned to ash.

Her head swam and the creature continued rumbling at her. They were clearly animal bones, judging by the size of them, but she couldn’t help but think of something more sinister—like humans. This was a dragon after all. A …dragon.

Shock reverberated over every part of her body, making her tremble, her knees nearly giving out. Dragons were known tobe arrogant, territorial, angry beasts. And they were powerful. Long, winged, serpentine … not like this. Not humanoid.

“I-it’s okay,” she found herself saying, her voice cracking through the quiet room.

The growls lowered. The creature flexed his hands.

“I’m …” She didn’t even know what to say. Her mouth was dry. What was she doing here in the first place? Or, maybe the better question was, why was this dragon child here? “Are you … lost?”

The chains told her everything she needed to, but she couldn’t wrap her mind around it. Who could capture a dragon and keep it prisoner? She had never heard of anyone controlling a dragon. Her mind couldn’t make sense of the situation.

“I’m sorry,” she continued. “I didn’t mean to … intrude?”

The child leaped forward, claws outstretched. Zhi Ruo stumbled back, but not before the creature sliced through her forearm with ease, ripping the fabric of her sleeve. She yelped, falling onto her bottom and scurrying backward. The chains were pulled taut around the dragon-child’s neck as he swung forward, his long, black-tipped claws swinging a few inches away from her face. Hot, slick blood slid down her arm.

He howled, louder this time, retreating back to the pole. Her blood slipped down his sharpened nails and spotted the ground. He lowered himself onto his pile of bones, never taking his eyes off her, and licked his fingertips.

Zhi Ruo released a shuddered breath. She slowly glanced down at her arm. Three long gashes covered her arm and scarlet bloomed along the shredded material of her sleeve. Unfortunately, it was the one the ghoul hadn’t attacked, so now both her arms were injured.

The dragon narrowed his vertical-slit eyes. Even in the dim lighting, she could make out the threads of amber intertwined with the deep red.

“I’m … I’m sorry,” she breathed, unsure of what to say or do. Clearly, the child was terrified of her. She had no idea why she was drawn to him, but she had a feeling that it was him who had been trying to reach out to her. “Do you need help?” She hugged her arm to her chest, hissing in pain at the deep cuts. “It was you that was calling out for me, right?”

The child stared at her, unblinking.

“I could feel your pain.” She swallowed, feeling a tad bit ridiculous and a bit … terrified. She pushed her fear down, certain that this being could smell it on her. “You need my help.”

He didn’t speak.

The wind howled.

She shivered. “You … you are like me.”

He was imprisoned like her. Left alone here. Maybe even abandoned.

“Are you hungry?” Zhi Ruo eyed the bones he sat on and noticed that the broken pieces were digging into his feet, which were uncovered. Even his toenails were long, black, and dangerously sharp. Black scales covered most of the pale skin on his feet.

He flexed his fingers. Manacles were bound around his wrists.

“Perhaps …” She rose to her feet, wincing with every motion from both of her arms. One arm felt heavy and numb, and the other throbbed from the fresh gashes. There was no way for her to help the dragon-child. What was she going to do? Set him free? She had no idea who he was or why he was kept here. What if she found a way to release him, and he killed everyone here? Herself included? She couldn’t trust him. Not after he’d attacked her.

“Perhaps you are cold?” She unfastened the clasp on her cloak and pulled it off her body. Her fingers were stiff and themotions rigid, painful, and awkward as she folded the cloth. The dragon watched her distrustingly.

She placed the cloak on the cold, dirt floor and pushed it forward with her toes until it was within the child’s reach.

“This will keep you warm.”

He glared at her, his lips curled back to reveal sharp teeth.

“I will … try to help when I can,” she continued. “I don’t know what I can do, but I will see if there is any way to free you from those shackles. It must not be easy … I imagine. I, too, was imprisoned by my enemies.”

When he didn’t respond, she walked backward, sparing him one last look before she slipped out of the tent. She wove through the clusters of tents and then paused. She had no idea where Feng Mian’s tent was.

She had only walked a few steps when she heard his voice.

“Zhi! Zhi? Where are you?”

---