Page 69 of Cages and Crowns
“What happened?” I pull away and his hands wrap around my face, his palms hugging my cheeks, a position he has grown comfortable being in. “Talkto me.” His hands are warm, and I feel the urge to cry, to just embrace the warmth. It feels right. It feels normal.
But it’s not.
I hesitate before giving him the truth.
“Your father.” His eyes narrow and I feel his fingers twitch.
“What did he do to you?” He says through gritted teeth.
“He told me that if I didn’t give him my aether, he was going to kill every one of my friends. He was going to kill Enzo. He was going to kill Scarlett. Everyone.” His hands tighten around my face, almost too much, and I lift my hands to wrap my fingers around his wrists.
“How?” He spits, his eyes pupils shrinking.
“He said Enzo can siphon it from me and give it to him.”
Chapter Thirty-Nine
The Caged
His eyes darken completely, his irises black as he stares off, the purplish glow spreading across his skin. The light ripples and I can feel heat radiating off him like a furnace. Likefire.
“Nithe?” I whisper, my voice weak and tired. He exhales long and slow, smoke billowing out of his nose. I take a hesitant step back and his hands drop from my face. My hand hovers over the short sword I don’t know how to use, as fear replaces logic in my mind. “Nithe?” I ask again. His arms shake and I take another step back. The glow spreads and I scream as a dragon—wyvos—bursts out of the spot his body was.
Black scales and horns emerge, purple reflecting off his large, leathery wings. His black eyes snap to mine, and I stumble backwards, my arm catching my fall as I land in the white sand. I stare at the large body, the spikescovering hisback in a long line of short to tall. The tail that is whipping through the water that ends in an even larger spike. A spike that could tear someone’s head clean off their shoulders.
“Nithe!” I repeat for a third time. He lowers his head and then a loud roar echoes around us. I shut my eyes, slamming my hands over my ears as I feel the hot wind flying around me. The roar stops and a shadow falls over my eyelids. I hesitantly open them, blackness obscuring my vision.
Not blackness,Nithe.
He’s standing over me, his large body nearly swallowing me whole as he stares behind. I scramble to my knees and see the crowd that has gathered. Enzo, Kassius, and the king are standing at the edge of the sand. Enzo has a bow in his hand, Kassius palming a dagger. The king just stands, a smirk crossing his face. I can see Scarlett and Erik up at the top of the hill. Scarlett’s eyes are wide, her hand covering her mouth. Erik’s sword is out, ready.
I glance back down at Kassius as holds his hand out for me.
“Nora, come here.” He says slowly, waving me forward. I crawl a few steps but stop when Nithe growls. My hands cover my head, and a squeal escapes my throat as I am frozen with fear. My hands and limbs are shaking, exhausted. My heart is pounding rapidly in my chest as terror runs through my veins. I think I’m going to vomit.
Nithe roars again and I scream. Vomit.
I am definitely going to vomit.
“We aren’t going to hurt her.” Enzo says softly. I look up as he slowly sheathes his arrow and throws his bow over his shoulder. “I am not going to hurt her.” He steps forward, Kassius’s eyes glancing between them. “Elaenor,” he says waving me forward, and I slowly pull myself to my feet. The top of my head brushes Nithe’s underbelly and I crouch down. My steps are quick as I escape Nithe’s reach, Enzo pulling me behind him.
I stare into Nithe’s eyes, the black reflecting the light from the palace. He looks scared, upset. He looks as if he’s terrified something is going to happen. Hebares his teeth as he growls, the sound low and guttural.
“I don’t understand.” I whisper, my nose brushing Enzo’s shoulder blade as he presses me into his back.
“He’s territorial. Dragons are territorial over the things they love if they fear there is danger.” Love? My breath catches and I glance over at Kassius and the king. The king’s smirk is still present, a slight shake to his head. Nithe roars and I slam my hands over my ears again before he shoots into the sky, disappearing into the clouds.
“It appears you have captivated my son in the few hours you have been conscious.” I spin around as the king’s laugh permeates through the air. “You must have a magical fucking pus—”
“Dav, enough.” Kassius snaps, cutting him off.
“I don’t understand what is going on.” I whisper. Enzo turns around, his hand palming my cheek. I jerk away from his touch and step back into Kassius. “I can’t be here. I can’t do what you are asking me to do.” I spin around, directing the last part to the king.
“What are you asking her to do?” Enzo seethes behind me.
“He wants my aether.” I respond and the king grits his teeth, his jaw hardening. “He wants you to take it from me.”
“I offered you freedom! I offered you a life.”
