Page 228 of A Dance of Water

The rumbling in his chest grew louder.

Even as the sun broke through the thick clouds above and filled the cavern with precious rays of golden light, the dragon did not sleep. Not once. He guarded something much more precious. More valuable than all the jewels in his hoard.

His mate.

71

LOVE AND ITS FOOLISH TENDENCIES

VALE

When the moon fell, the dragon shifted.

Onyx scales rippled in the dim light of the cavern as the beast shrank. Skin replaced his scaled armor, but the fire within remained.

And the King of Serpentis knelt, nude, on the stone floor of the caves of the Temples of Aedis, one knee bent as his head bowed, golden hair hanging around his face. His fist was braced on the ground to keep himself upright, chest heaving as droplets of sweat trickled down his spine, dotting his golden tanned skin.

A battle.

It had been abattleto gain control of his dragon.

And Vale had nearly lost.

For the first time in centuries, his dragon did not want to let him win—the beast had something to fight for.

And that was more terrifying than anything.

Vale felt the dragon simmering, just under the surface of his skin, talons scraping against his ribs, smoke filling his lungs, forced from his nose and mouth.

Tendrils of grey filled the room, and Vale raised his head, still kneeling on the ground.

His green eyes fell to Luella, where she sagged against the stone pillar at her back.

The King rose.

His steps were sure, smoke drifting from his mouth with each breath.

Mine,the dragon grumbled.

Let me?—

Have her.

He stumbled, holding a fist against his mouth and squeezing his eyes shut.

No!Vale hissed.Stay back.

The dragon prowled, searching for weak spots.Let me out. Claim her.

He had to reason with the beast, it was the only way to get him to stop. But a part of Vale desired to give in—wanted desperately to let his dragon take control, whisk her away to his den, and keep her locked away from anyone and everything.

He had to be rational.

Still frozen, battling inside his mind, he steeled himself with a strength he did not currently feel.

If you shift and take her, she will be protected for some time, Vale thought,but what happens with the Tenebrae finds her? Finds us? Even we cannot win against him. Would you risk her safety just so you can be selfish?

The dragon scoffed, but remained silent. Listening.

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