Page 33 of Crown of Betrayal and Blood

“I’m not sick.” I move farther away so they’ll stop grabbing at me, but they all trail me with sharp concern. “I’m telling you the truth.”

For some reason, the crazy lady insisting that she isn’t crazy doesn’t seem to comfort any of them. Or make them stop trading troubled glances.

With a hefty sigh, I compose myself and try again. “I saw the queen…heard her. She walked around the room packing a bag because she needed to travel in order to find the phoenix tears. I need to get back to the palace and tell Sterling what I’ve learned. And considering I also learned the drachen are still out there, probably preparing for another attack, I’d like to return as soon as possible.”

Spinning on my heel, I march back the way Bastian and I came, searching for a way outside.

There’s a lot of hissing and whispering before Bastian races to catch up with me. “Okay, okay, just tell us everything. Start to finish. You told me you were getting hot, and then you ran off and left me. What happened next?”

Considering how it might look to the others, I go through the whole story, even describing the types of books I found in the room. But I don’t stop moving. The others are forced to walk along with me. I finish recounting recent events as we round the first bend in the road after leaving the palace.

Dry fallen leaves skitter across the road in a gentle breeze, and I wonder how soon we can use our wings. The sun is nearly at its noon peak. If we take fewer breaks on our way back, we could reach home just after dark.

It’s a good thing torches and ever-lights burn around the palace every night. That might be the only thing keeping us safe. We need to ensure that continues until we understand more about what we’re dealing with and how to kill these creatures.

Apparently, we only require some phoenix tears. Then we can set up a trap and…what? What’s next?

Agnar, Bastian, and Blair trail behind, engaged in a hushed conversation. Leesa walks next to me, but she keeps eyeing my wounds like she’s worried I’m not okay. I spin around, not wanting to waste another second on their disbelief.

“I told you. I’m not sick. I’m fine. You saw how the Lost City looked from the sky.” I point to the open air above us. “But from here on the ground, there’s no visible tree canopy. Clearly the ancients who built this town know how to use long-lasting magic to create visions.”

Bastian jogs to catch up with me. “I know. I just can’t help worrying. I went most of my life without a…girlfriend,” he stumbles over the word, “and since you’re her sister, I just don’t want anything to happen to you. Anyway, about the phoenix. I’ve heard the last one supposedly died long ago. And never rose again.”

Agnar nods, solemn agreement etched in the lines of his face. “That’s what I’ve heard too.”

Blair echoes the sentiment, his normally jovial features tight with concern. “If we need phoenix tears to destroy the drachen, then where does that leave us?”

Shit out of luck.

No. I refuse to think like that. There must be another way.

My heart stutters, the weight of their words bearing down on me. “Then we’ll have to continue our research. After all, the drachen were thought dead as well. And yet, here we are. Maybe the man who gave me the map will have an idea of where we should head next.”

“The man who kidnapped you?” Leesa wrinkles her nose in doubt. “You want to go back, so what? He can abduct you again?”

Fair point. When she says it like that, the idea sounds more than a little ridiculous. “Well, he didn’t hurt me. And he gave me the map and told me to come find him again after I’ve found what I’m searching for. I don’t see any other options.”

There’s no further debate, and as we reach the Red River, we find the boat, now turned and facing the dock on the other side, waiting.

We board, and once again the vessel carries us across the still waters with a grace that defies explanation.

The river flows beneath us, silent and secretive, yet the shadows trailing under us leave ripples in their wake.

Kaida’s colossal form sprawls across the bank, his scales a dark shimmer against the sunlight as he basks in the warmth. He’s perfectly content where he’s lying and not entirely happy with our approach or the thought of having to leave his cozy spot on the soft soil.

Yet, as we draw near, a sudden surge of panic grips me, visceral and violent. It claws up from my gut, threatening to spill out in a scream.

“Something’s wrong.” I clutch my throat as if to keep the dread contained. “Kaida’s afraid.”

As apex predators, dragons have little to fear, so I can’t help the chill that creeps into my bones.

Especially since the last time the dragons were scared the drachen were the cause.

Kaida snorts, shaking his head back and forth like a wounded snake. Then he opens his mouth and bugles, not with anger, but with terror. The emotion bursts into me, rendering me frozen for several long moments until I clamp down our connection.

With a powerful beat of his wings, he launches into the sky, abandoning us.

My muscles vibrate with nervous energy. A frightened dragon suddenly hauling ass away is a huge signal to get the hells out.

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