Page 20 of The Flame King's Queen

Zabriel

The last of my rut’s fever still clings to me two days later when I assemble with my council in the War Room. Isavelle is by my side, and I crave my Omega’s scent so much that I can’t resist dipping my head down to press my nose into the nape of her neck now and then. I wish for nothing more than to take her to bed, but my chest is no longer aching, and my head is clear, and there are things that must be done. If we are to defeat Emmeric, there is no time to lose.

Around the war table are my most trusted allies who proved themselves to me when we liberated the villagers of western Maledin. These are the men and women who followed Isavelle’s orders to the letter while I was recovering. Sundra, Ashton, and Stesha, each representing the guards, the wingrunners, and the dragons. Zenevieve is also here, standing back against one wall. She asked Isavelle permission to be present at the next meeting that concerns the southern barrier, though I’m not sure why.

The four of us talk through the best placement for the army at the southern barrier, and Isavelle relays to everyone what she saw when she fled Emmeric’s castle.

But all of this is mere conjecture if the southern barrier isn’t brought down.

“Someone must speak with the Alpha of the wild flare and let him know the time when we will need his assistance is almost upon us,” I say.

The Alpha of the wild flareis a polite way of sayingKane, the former witchfinder no one likes, trusts, or wishes to see ever again.All the former witchfinders in Maledin have been pardoned for what they were forced to do to witches under the Brethren, and though Kane hates the Brethren, he acts as though he was personally victimized by witches, and he seems to miss torturing and killing them.

“I will go,Ma’len,” Ashton volunteers.

“No, allow me.” Stesha’s voice is casual, but there’s flint in his pale blue eyes.

It would be a wonderful idea to send either of them if I wished for blood to be spilled. Unfortunately, I need Kane in one piece for now. “Thank you for the offer, but I will go myself.”

Sundra looks uncertain. “Ma’len, surely that is too great a compliment to pay the man who attacked our flare. If you wish for someone neutral to speak with Kane, send me. I have no desire to shred scales.”

There’s merit in what she says, but I shake my head. “I don’t like the man, but unless his dragon tears him to pieces, we have to find a way to live alongside him. Kane will have one more chance to prove he can be an ally, or at the least, a neutral presence in the west.”

This time, no one is going to take Ravenna from him, and with his Omega by his side, maybe the man will be able to think rationally. I know I would want nothing but bloodshed if someone stole Isavelle from me, even if I deserved it.

Isavelle touches my sleeve and gazes up at me with worried eyes. “Can I come with you? I wish to see Ravenna.”

My refusal leaps to my tongue. It drives me crazy whenever Isavelle leaves my side or my bed, but automatically refusing her request makes me feel like my tyrant father. I hesitate, and then swallow down my impulse. Besides, Isavelle probably won’t see Ravenna, but Kane will see how another Alpha treats his witch Omega with protection and adoration.

“I doubt you will see her,” I say gently. “A threatened Alpha prefers to hide his precious Omega away.”

Isavelle nods sadly. “You are probably right, but I would like to come all the same. Perhaps she’ll sense that a friend is close, and it will give her comfort.”

“You may come with me, but you must stay atop Scourge. I can’t protect you from Auryn. Scourge is the only one who can do that. Do you swear it?”

She nods. “I swear it, Zabriel.”

The urge to kiss her is strong, and I give in to it, pressing my mouth to hers in a swift kiss. Everyone should know that the king honors and adores his Omega. This is the Maledin I’m building.

“All right,” I murmur, facing the others and turning my thoughts away from bedding Isavelle and back to the business at hand. “Presuming Kane keeps his word—” Stesha makes atchsound. “—we will attack Emmeric’s stronghold in a matter of days.”

“And if he doesn’t?”

I don’t believe in mincing words. “Then we’re fucked. For now. But we’ll by no means be out of options. Kane isn’t the only warlock in Maledin, and we have other powerful allies. Is the army prepared? Are the dragons in good wing? The wyverns?” I look from Sundra to Stesha and then to Ashton. Each of them nods sharply.

“We are ready,Ma’len,” Sundra says.

“Then I want a group of dragons and two units of wingrunners to lead the attack. I will lead the dragons and we will lay fire. The wyverns will swiftly take out the mages before they can begin casting spells on the dragons. Esmeral was incapacitated by a lightning spell once, so we must expect such things again, and more. Once the army has made it through the barrier, we will regroup and push forward. What do we think of the plan?”

Everyone nods in agreement, and we decide which dragons should lead the attack.

Zenevieve has been silent throughout the meeting, but now she speaks up. “Ma’len, I wish to speak with you of Shar, Emmeric’s dragon.” For a moment she seems to flounder and nearly lose her nerve. “My memories are still in pieces, but I think I saw him when I was Emmeric’s prisoner. Isavelle described what she saw when Emmeric kidnapped her, and it hurts every day thinking of Shar locked away in chains and suffering. He’s a prisoner, cut off from the flare, and he needs to come home.”

When Isavelle was kidnapped by Emmeric, she found the beautiful black and midnight blue dragon unconscious but alive in the castle. I agree, it’s abhorrent that a dragon be treated in such a way.

Stesha has his arms folded as he watches Zenevieve speak. “If Lady Isavelle describes to me the place where Shar is imprisoned, I can wait for an opening in the battle, find the dragon, and assess his condition.”

“He is on the south side of the castle beneath a tower, and he’s in chains,” Isavelle tells him. “Magical chains. But even if you managed to unlock them, I didn’t see any way out of that tower for a dragon.”

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