Page 96 of The Oracle of Dusk

“I can’t accept that. I won’t.” She shook her head.

“Have you managed to change the outcome of one of your visions before?”

“I…no. But I didn’t understand them before. Are you telling me I shouldn’t try? That you’re willing to accept your death without even trying to stop it?”

“I’m not. But I do know one thing—that you have no place on a battlefield, your magic notwithstanding. I’ve fought monstrosities before. I now know what’s to come and I can protect myself accordingly.”

“You stubborn ass! I’mtryingto save you!”

He smiled.

“A shared trait.”

“You—”

He held up a hand.

“Aurora, what do you suppose would happen if we run now? Do you truly believe I could escape the city, with Flora searching for me? I’m her most coveted prisoner. And you shouldn’t underestimate Orithyia’s network. If she’s as cunning as I believe her to be, you’ll have enough trouble evading her grasp without me drawing the attention of the Viridian crown. My life is my responsibility, and I intend to take that seriously. It’syourcontinued safety that needs addressing.”

Aurora grabbed his hand.

“We don’t have to get away for good to succeed. We just have to stay away long enough not to be there when the monstrosities appear. A few days, at most, would make all the difference.”

“And if we’re caught before then?”

“Then I…I know at least a dozen ways out of here.”

“You assume that all they’d do is slap you on the wrist once you’re caught.”

Given the sadistic natures of the guards here, and the high priestess’ liberal nature in doling out maimings, she’d be lucky if they didn’t cut off her feet just to start. He’d have anyone who touched her killed, naturally, but even he might not be able to prevent her inevitable punishment.

“Whatever they do couldn’t be worse than death, right?”

“There are worse fates than death, Aurora.”

Her green eyes were like chips of ice as she stared him down. Fierce little creature.

“No, there aren’t. As long as you’re alive, there’s a chance. So are you coming with me, or do you plan to die here?”

“You’d leave without me?” he smiled.

“If I could drag you from here, I would. I want you to survive, but if you’re determined to die here, I can’t stop you. And what I need to do is too important. One life isn’t more important than killing Drakon.” She shook her head.

Theron pulled away, walked over to the orb and picked it up. It was time to see what this Drakon really was, and why she was so bound and determined to kill it. If he was to die, he wanted to at least have his curiosity sated. To know why she could so easily toss aside the only ally she had in Trisia.

“Show me your monster.”

Aurora bit her lip, hesitating to touch it. No doubt she feared another vision. She released a shaky breath and took it from him, closing her eyes.

And showed him a nightmare a thousand times more horrifying than her previous vision.

An expanse of desert was shrouded in unnatural darkness. The skies were crimson, choked with black clouds, the air thick with falling ash. Lightning streaked across the skies, painting the scene in vivid detail. Monstrosities bubbled up between every grain of sand and rock, a veritable sea of diabolical ink, every flash drawing their claws closer and closer. Their shrieks rang out across the land, drowned out only by the roaring thunder. He’d never imagined so many could appear at once. In numbers like that, they would devour towns in an instant, no matter how many paladins you threw at them.

The lone, constant light was a man holding his spear high, its magic banishing the darkness and the monstrosities around him. Behind, a small party of riders, their steeds chasing hers at a frightful pace. But her eyes were drawn to the skies. In the centre of the clouds was her beast. Her picture had not done it justice—it was larger than a palace, its red scales glittering in the lightning flashes, yellow eyes full of madness trained on her. A shiver ran down Theron’s spine.

“Did you think I wouldn’t find you?” it asked, its voice unnaturally deep and rumbling. “Did you think I would let you live?”

Its hatred oozed from every syllable, its malice raising the hairs on the back of his neck. The beast could speak!

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