Page 80 of Consort's Dragon
The insult rendered Titus speechless.A first.“You will pay?—”
“Oh, do be quiet.You’re not in a position to threaten anything,” Klothi rebuked harshly.“And we no longer need to be nice.We got what we needed from you, and now it is time for us to move on to the next phase of the plan.”
“What are you talking about?”Titus huffed.“You need me.You told me so.”
“We lied,” Kachezi sang.“And you were so eager to believe everything we said.So easy to manipulate.Then again, your brain is probably as small as your cock.”
Titus swayed, dizzied by the confusion their words caused.“I don’t understand.You told me I’d be the last emperor the world knew.”
“Oh, you will be.There will not be another.On that I spoke truly,” Kachezi replied as she tossed what appeared to be a harness over the dragon’s back.It reared and bugled in annoyance.“Hush now.It will only take a moment to secure.”The pendant at its neck glowed and the beast quieted.
A confused Titus went silent, watching as she clipped the harness to the collar and looped straps around its belly.
“You’re going to ride the beast,” Titus stated even as Karoki clambered onto the dragon’s back, a beast forced to comply, its displeasure evident in its tense body and expression.
“It’s been a while since we’ve taken to the skies.”Klothi patted the dragon’s neck.
“You can’t steal my dragons,” Titus huffed.
“Steal?”Klothi snorted as she finished saddling her mount.“The dragons never belonged to you.Even though we’ve chained their will, we cannot lay claim either.”
“Ignore him,” Kachezi stated as she clambered aboard her lizard.“We need to be gone before they arrive.”
“Who arrives?Explain yourselves,” Titus demanded, wishing he didn’t sound so pleading.
“You’ll soon see.”Klothi adjusted her seating and the dragon under her rumbled with discontent.
“You will pay for this.Traitors,” he hissed.
To which a dragon replied,Now, you know how we feel.
“Be quiet.I command you to stay here.”Titus waved a hand at the beasts.
Only the guardians control the collars, little man.
The temerity had Titus shaking.He pulled the sword from the sheath at his hip and ran screaming for the closest dragon and its mounted rider.
“Time to go,” Karoki declared.She tugged the reins and her beast leaped into the air.
With a mighty yell, Titus jumped and swung.
Missed.
He hit the rooftop in an ungraceful heap that bruised more than his body.He rose to his feet and glared as the dragons took flight, the thin cloud cover not enough to hide the glow of the full moon.By its light, he could see them moving swiftly.Moving away from him.Taking away his destiny and glory.Ruining his plans to rule the world.
He waved his sword and screamed at the sky.Screamed at those who’d used him.Screamed in frustration at having been fooled.How had everything unraveled so quickly?
As they disappeared from sight, his anger hardened into cold resolve.The witches might think they’d won, but they’d made a grave mistake.They should have killed him when they had a chance.He’d send his army after them and when he found them, they’d pay.Painfully.
First, though, time to fetch his fleeing consort.After all, if she could walk over hot coals, then, as a blooded, so could he.Once he’d captured Avera—and taught her a lesson—he’d rejoin his army, return to the capital, and plot his revenge.
He rushed down the steps of the shrine, boots clomping loudly.He hesitated only a second before heaving open the door to the outside.The blasting heat made him pause as he wondered if those witches had lied about the blooded ability to withstand heat.
He tested their words, bending down to touch the hot earth.His palm heated but he felt no pain.The next thing he tried took more gut clenching as he intentionally gripped a still-glowing rock.Hot.So very hot.But when he opened his hand, his flesh remained unmarred.
He smiled.Impervious to fire.What an advantage.He began moving, cursing as the soles of his boots melted, leaving him barefoot.While uncomfortable, his feet could handle it.He strode rapidly, unsure which direction Avera had taken, but given the way the channels of lava ran, most likely she’d stayed between the pair that led to the bridge area.
A distant sound caught his attention, and he raised his gaze to the sky in time to see the moon disappear as a shadow covered it.The moon soon reappeared but he frowned as a dark chunk of the sky seemed to move.It headed for the shrine, and he wondered if one of those damnable witches had returned.
