Page 109 of Consort's Dragon
“Kneel,” the monster ordered.
Avera wanted to do anything but.
I do this for the world.
She knelt and shivered as it cackled.
“At last, the source of my nightmare dies,” it whispered.
The arm with the dagger lifted, and Avera couldn’t help but raise her head to stare at the sharp edge glinting in the sun.
Before it began its descent, a dragon dropped abruptly from the sky, muzzle first, rocketing for the tower.Strapped to Argent’s back, looking grim, was Griffon.
“Kill her,” Zhos screamed, seeing the bargain unravel.
But Avera suddenly had hope, and she sprang to her feet and slapped her hand on Benoit’s.His clouded eyes cleared, widened.
“I don’t—” was the last thing the false king said as Griffon vaulted from the swooping dragon, sword out.The swing as he landed decapitated Benoit.
Avera grinned despite the blood that sprayed her.
She hadn’t died.
On the contrary, she was very much alive because Griffon had come to the rescue.
Which made Zhos mad.
The thing screeched, a noise unlike anything she’d ever heard, full of rage and hate.It pulsed from it in a wave and soldiers suddenly poured up the stairs, spilling onto the terrace.Blank-faced men in armor, gripping weapons.
Griffon muttered, “Stay behind me.I’ll handle them.”
He would try, but there were so many.Avera snatched the dagger that had fallen from Benoit’s limp fingers.
Soldiers weren’t the only concern.The air crackled with electricity, zinging against flesh, lifting hair.
Opal shouted, “The portal is opening.”
But Zhos didn’t appear interested in trying to go through.Its eyes glowed brighter than the nimbus surrounding its body.
Griff grunted as he met the first of the charging soldiers, his blade lifting to block before swiping to land a blow as he fought men who didn’t have a choice.Whose minds weren’t their own, stolen by a spell she could break.
Avera reminded her consort, “You don’t have to fight them if you hit them with blood.”She slashed her palm with the dagger.Blood welled immediately in the cut, and she flung her hand in an arc, spraying droplets.Three soldiers stopped dead, confusion replacing their cloudy gazes.
A fresh stream of possessed soldiers pushed past those coming out of their daze.How many more behind them?Probably more than Griff could handle.Would this be how he died?
Griff suddenly yelled, “It’s time to fulfill my mother’s vision.”
“What?”It took Avera a moment to recall the secret he’d shared with her on the voyage to Daerva, the painful admission of his mother’s less than loving words.
The little tiara will stick a knife in you.
When he’d told her, Avera had huffed,I would never hurt you.
As Griff wielded his sword against their foes, through a gritted jaw he grunted, “You have to stab me.”
“No.”Avera shook her head.
“You know you have to.Cut me.Preferably somewhere non-fatal,” he huffed as his blade clanged and he pushed against the man pressing him.
