Page 106 of Dragon Blood

“Vision?” Zadora gaped at Astred.

Seeing another of their own in trouble, Odson took off at a run, shifted and dove into the fight. The others followed to join the fight, leaving only Kai behind with Astred.

“Tell me how to activate it, Zadora.”

The older woman paled. “You would have asked Kolina to sacrifice herself?”

“No. I would have asked Kolina to lend her strength to help us defeat the enemy. But now that I’m here, I see that the situation is too dire, and far too late for that.”

“You’re too important to take that on, Astred. The survivors will need you,” Kai murmured to Astred. “Let me do it. I can use the shadow magic to protect myself from the stone’s influence.”

“As long as my mother still breathes, the people will look to her. This is my task. I was never cut out to be an oracle. But I will defend her with my life.”

“The stone will not do what you ask without absolute submission to it. No protection,” Zadora said to Kai. She turned her stare to Astred. “You have to give yourself to it, wholly and completely. Heart and soul.” Her gaze slid back to Kai. “Seems you’ve already given both to another, if, as you say, you’re bonded. The only way to break that kind of bond is through death.”

Kai would have to die for Astred to commit to the mission.

Or, Astred would have to die for Kai to commit to the mission.

Either way, Kai’s life was the price.

Astred’s heart pounded. Princess and council matron—no, Aeleftherian legend—stared at one another.

A flicker of understanding reached Astred.

She knows the pain of that kind of death.

Is that what made her this way? The loss of her bonded mate?

It was hard to imagine, and Astred refused to allow the thought to soften her as she held this traitor’s gaze.

“Why?”

Zadora’s brow rose, though she understood the question. “Because I should have been the one to guide Aeleftheria and protect the Dragon Mother all this time. It was my destiny.”

“You played straight into the Consortium’s hands with your underhanded guidance.”

Zadora stiffened but accepted this. “I did.”

Screams continued around them.

“You hear the stone’s call, therefore you understand what it demands. As I do. Give it to me, your Highness.”

“You cannot be trusted.”

“I was the legendary Dragon Star. Let me be her, one last time. For the sake of Aeleftheria and the Dragon Mother.” She searched Astred’s face. “Before the seal arrives and destroys us all, on their terms. Because have no doubt, after seeing their tactics here, they will weaponize it and collect what, and who, remains after the fallout.”

Astred had already come to that conclusion.

“Let me ignite the sky, onourterms.”

Chapter 36

Zadora’sheartslammedagainsther breastbone as she held the Heir’s unflinching gaze.

The Star Stone.

Every cell in her body tensed with anticipation.

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