Page 68 of Dragon Blood

The sleeping Mother. Their Goddess, who would rise in time to bring fire back to the dragons to burn the infiltrators of the other world when they came.

Zadora had been meant to lead all of dragonkind, not just Aeleftheria.

But the fall of the meteor had severed that destiny and almost severed that thread—that most fragile link to their deity.

Her own mother had seen that star fall from the heavens, transform the heir anew, and saw it as a sign that Zadora’s destiny led elsewhere.

She would give anything to feel that connection again, as she had during her youth.

Pure and powerful. A connection so deep, to a being so divine, it was indescribable. She’d longed for it. That sense of wholeness. That knowing her destiny was defined. Zadora swallowed the resentment of the stars’ interference. She’d never wanted to be the protector of the oracle.

Her life, her duty, was tobethe oracle.

To bathe in the knowledge of the Mother’s light and love.

To be her voice and her will.

To wield her power and steer dragonkind’s destiny.

Her sister hadn’t been able to withstand the strain of such a soul bond. Her niece hadn’t been able to resist the illusion of peace.

Too easy. Peace was a compromise that Zadora would never give in to. She couldn’t repair the exposure, but she could ensure their solidity. The Great Mother deserved nothing less.

The wards gave way under the drop of Zadora’s blood, deep inside the lock’s finger holes.

Breath held, she turned, then turned again, heart racing.

Perhaps the celestial stone is hidden here too?

Zadora shivered at the thought of the power of the artifact, combined with her access to the Great Mother.

A faint click as the door released and hushed open, revealing the antechamber.

“Finally,” she whispered on an exhale, loud in the silence of the chamber deep below the citadel.

She just wanted to see it. The seal, secreted away for so very long.

Body quivering, the ancient dragoness stepped forward.

Spelled lamps flickered to life, illuminating the narrow room housing nothing but the next thick door bearing… nothing.

Zadora’s heart threatened to pound out of her chest and up her throat as her stomach dropped.

No.

She surged forward, palms flat on the door as she struck it.

“No!” she wailed.

Her hands slid over the vacant casement that normally cradled the Aeleftherian seal to the Mother’s chamber.

“Astred.” She seethed. “Fool!”

No one else could have taken it.

Chapter 22

Kai’sheadreeledwitheverything that he’d learned during that video call and the implications attached to that information overload.

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