Page 51 of The Dragon King's Curse
I accepted the small package of smoked meat that she tossed toward me with a nod of thanks. Peeling open the package, I chewed a strip of meat. There wasn’t all that much. It was far from the most savory of food choices. I was tempted to venture deeper into the trees and hunt down something fresh.
“Do you think there’s any hope of our realms ever becoming allies?” Feryn asked suddenly.
I had no choice but to answer honestly. “I can’t see how that might happen. The elves have caused my people too muchpain and suffering. Unless they would be willing to remove this curse, I will never align myself with them.”
Feryn’s face fell. “I understand. I’d thought that since we both share an enemy in Atlas Rein, maybe we might work together one day. We did make a promise to the Fae Queen after all.”
“I intend to keep that promise. I will certainly kill Atlas Rein. I don’t need the elves to help me do it.” My tone grew hard, edged with bitterness.
“I’m sorry,” Feryn said, staring out over the pond. “I shouldn’t have asked.”
The mood had soured. We were both left to our thoughts and feelings. Knowing that if I didn’t get away from her, I was going to get on my knees and pledge myself to her in any way she wanted, I rose quickly.
“I’m going to hunt down something to eat. This shit isn’t hitting the spot.” I tossed what remained of the smoked meat back into the supply bag.
Feryn stiffened, worry in her eyes. “You’re leaving?”
“I won’t go far. I promise to stay close enough to hear if you call me. Stay put. I won’t be long.” I strode away before she could stop me. If she kept giving me those sad eyes, I would never leave her side.
I wasn’t sure if I was truly going to hunt or if I simply needed to clear my head. Being around Feryn made it hard to think. Pushing through the trees, I breathed deeply of the fresh air. Several deep breaths helped me ground myself. Unfortunately, they did nothing to clear the confusion that fogged me.
Her talk of an alliance between our realms had brought back a flood of bad memories. How could she expect me to forgive what her people had done to me? I’d been living in hell because of them.
Muttering a stream of vile obscenities beneath my breath, I turned to keep going deeper into the trees. I’d only taken a step when a circle of mushrooms sprang up to surround me. Immediately, I was frozen in place. Trapped. Inside a motherfucking fae trap.
Seconds later I was surrounded by fae warriors. More than I could count. Atlas had learned his lesson. He made sure we would be greatly outnumbered this time.
Maybe they didn’t know that I was still travelling with Feryn. I’d do my best to make sure they never found her, even if that meant letting them take me instead. I couldn’t do much while trapped in the circle, but that didn’t stop me from releasing a large stream of fire.
The flames burst from my hands, exploding outward. I succeeded in engulfing several warriors with fire. It wasn’t nearly enough. There were too many of them. I drew my sword, ready to go down fighting.
“Your journey ends here, Dragon King. Did you really think you would get away with escaping from our king?” One warrior stepped forward. His long dark hair was tied back into several braids, leaves and vines twisted throughout. A feather tattoo marked the side of his face near his temple.
Atlas had sent his best men after us. I wasn’t sure if I should be offended or satisfied.
“Your king can go fuck himself. I am nobody’s prisoner. You’ll have to kill me before I’ll let you take me back there.” Holding my sword in one hand, flames engulfed my other hand. I only wished that I’d known that was the last time I would see Feryn.
“Not to worry,” the lead warrior said. “We weren’t sent to bring you back. We were sent to kill you.”
Fantastic. Things had just gone from bad to fucking terrible.
One of the fae reached across the barrier of the mushroom ring, seizing hold of me. He pulled me out of the mushroom circle and immediately the rest of them surrounded me. I didn’t hesitate. Swinging my sword, I slashed at any man within reach.
I found it somewhat alarming that they didn’t move to hurt me. Not yet. They merely deflected my blows with their own blades.
“I thought you said you were here to kill me. What’s taking so long?” Antagonizing them would probably not work in my favor. However, I wasn’t the type to go quietly.
The tattooed leader merely grinned. “The king has asked us to bring him your head. He didn’t say we shouldn’t have some fun with you first.”
Several of them grabbed my arms, legs, and wings. My sword hit the ground, left behind as they dragged me away. I didn’t know where they were taking me, but I knew it wouldn’t be good.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
FERYN
Waiting for Noxx to return was making me crazy. As soon as he left, I’d had a sinking sensation. A bad feeling. Splitting up was a mistake. We should stay together.
I watched the sun slowly drop down over the horizon. A faint glow lit up the woodland around me. Unable to sit still, I paced around the pond, trying to distract myself by watching a snail slowly make its way along.
