Page 7 of Song of the Dragon Rider
“What’s a Heart Scale?” Cat asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.
“It’s like a cage that protects the heart. Extremely valuable and nearly impenetrable. Without it, dragons are incredibly vulnerable. Essentially, without it, it’s the only way to kill a dragon—through their heart.”
Her eyes widened in shock. “So… you’re killable?”
I nodded solemnly. “The fact that I’ve survived seventy-five years is nothing short of a miracle.”
“And your father—the emperor—did this to you?” she whispered, her voice tinged with disbelief and a hint of horror.
“Yes,” I confirmed, the heaviness of the truth settling between us.
“Okay…” she murmured, trying to process the information. “But what does this have to do with the mark?”
“The day my bones and Heart Scale were taken was the day the mark appeared on my arm,” I explained, holding out my arm to show her the intricate twin flame design. “In front of not just my uncle, but also my father and his seer. The seer was the one who recognized the mark. He told my father that the twin flame mark hadn’t been seen in centuries and that, according to prophecy, the next one to have it and find their twin flame would be the one true king.”
Cat stood abruptly, putting distance between us as if the space could shield her from the weight of my revelations. “What? You’re doing all of this because you want to be king?”
I rose too, vigorously shaking my head, my heart racing with the urgency to make her understand. “No, that’snotwhat I want. But because of this mark, I was stripped of my powers and essence as a dragon. Any chance at freedom I once had vanished in that instant. If it wasn’t for my uncle bargaining with my father, I’d have no hope left.”
Her expression turned from shock to a frown, skepticism shadowing her features. “So where do I come into all of this?”
“Marry me,” I blurted. The words hung between us like a sudden clap of thunder. “Go through the mating ceremony with me. Free me from this curse.”
She choked on her breath and coughed. “Excuse me? You want me to dowhat?”
“You heard me,” I persisted, despite the absurdity of how it sounded even to my own ears.
She laughed, a short, disbelieving sound that bounced off the ancient stones of the courtyard. “You’re insane! No way. Obviously, the emperor doesn’t want you to succeed. He’s doneeverything possible to stop you. Why would I put my life on the line to help you?”
“Because if you do,” I leaned closer and lowered my voice to a fervent whisper, “I’ll help you do the one thing you want most.”
She eyed me warily, her body tense. “And what’s that?”
“Go home.” My gaze locked with hers, hoping she could see the sincerity in my eyes and felt the desperation in my voice. Around us, the garden seemed to hold its breath as it waited for her response, as if the very leaves and blossoms leaned in, anticipating her answer.
“Home?” she repeated as if the word was foreign.
“Yes, Cat.Home. To your world.”
3
CAT
The world seemed to pause, the air pulsing around us as if time itself was holding its breath. The notion of home—of my world—hung between us, tangible yet fraught with uncertainty. Could his words be trusted? As doubt clouded my thoughts, the fragrant breeze of the garden now felt like a cold draft.
Seeking stability, I returned to the stone bench, its surface cool and solid beneath me. I sat and took several deep, measured breaths to steady my nerves. “I don’t trust you,” I finally whispered, the words barely audible over the rustling leaves.
“Do you have any other options?” he countered, his tone sharp. “I can prevent you from ever returning. Instead, I’m giving you a chance. If you work with me.”
I frowned, my gaze dropping to my slipper-clad feet. His proposal didn't sit right with me; it seemed too convenient, too simple. “Let me get this straight… I marry you, and then you send me home through the portal right after? I don’t see how that arrangement could possibly be beneficial for you. I’m not that easily fooled, Damien.” Not to mention the fact thatunbeknownst to him, my return depended on a thunderstorm to open the portal in the river.
He cleared his throat and shifted uncomfortably. “Well… it wouldn’t berightafter we were married. Once my father frees me from exile and allows me to leave Elaria, you can go as well.”
I scoffed, the sound harsh in the quiet garden. “So this is all contingent on whether the emperor agrees to follow through on his promise to release you? I could marry you and he could just decide to lock me up on your island with you. Have youmetyour father? The man has more than a few loose screws, Damien.” I grimaced and shook my head.
Damien hovered over me for a moment before leaning down to box me in on the bench, his hands pressing against the stone on either side of my hips. “And here I thought you were a gambling woman,” he murmured, his face mere inches from mine. His breath was warm against my skin, a stark contrast to the chill that had settled in my bones. “What’s wrong, Cat? Are you afraid?”
I rolled my eyes, though I didn’t break his gaze. “Yes, Damien, I am. You think I’m afraid to admit it? Well, I’m not. I’d rather not die in foreign lands.”
