Page 75 of Song of the Dragon Rider
I frowned as I repeated his words in my head until the truth of them hit me like a physical blow and dread settled in my stomach. I glanced at Uncle Bai, searching his face for some sign of denial, but his expression was grave, his eyes avoiding mine.
I wasn’t the emperor’s biological son. He was never my father. And Uncle Bai was never my uncle.
“No matter what, Damien,” Uncle Bai started, “I will always be your uncle. Blood doesn’t matter. Sometimes we choose our own family instead of the family into which we were born.” He shot the emperor a heated glare. His words provided a bit of solace, knowing that my uncle stayed by my side not out of duty, but because he actually considered me family.
I offered him a brief nod and turned to the emperor, who looked at us with a mocking expression. “Why am I even a prince, then?” What I really wanted to ask was,Why have you tormented me my whole life?Anger and desperation clawed at my throat.
The emperor's laugh was a harsh, grating sound that filled the cavern. “Because ofher,” he spat bitterly. “Your mother, the late empress. She died giving birth to you, a death I hold you personally responsible for. She begged me with her last breath to protect you and give you a title forhersake, not mine.”
“Who is my father?” I looked between the emperor and Uncle Bai
The emperor scoffed. “As if I know. She took that secret to her grave by refusing to tell a soul.”
Each word was laden with accusation. His gaze was piercing, and in it, I saw not only disdain, but a deep-seated resentment that had festered over the decades.
“And you think a phony title absolves you of your hateful nature?” I countered, my voice low, trying to keep my composure under the burden of his revelations.
“Nature, destiny, it matters little,” he sneered. “You are here because of a promise I made to a dying woman and nothing more. Do not presume it grants you any favor in my eyes.”
Uncle Bai finally spoke, his voice a calm counter to the emperor's hostile cruelty. “He has lived as you demanded, in isolation, away from the machinations of your court. Enough is enough, Valenor. This isn’t what Seraphina wanted you to do for her son.”
The emperor dismissed his older brother with a wave of his hand. “Isolation or not, he remains a threat. A shadow prince, perhaps, but even shadows can stretch far in the right light.”
I shook my head. I couldn’t think about this now. None of this mattered. I needed to protect Cat. Cat was the only thing that mattered. “You can’t marry her to Thorne,” I argued. “She won’t accept, and neither with Thorne.”
The emperor snorted and turned to leave. “That’s where you’re wrong, Damien. Thorne himself sent the betrothal gifts. He is fully aware who he is proposing to. Did you think your brotherly bond would stop him?”
I froze. Thorne knew? No. He must have a plan in place. He would never betray me.
“Malachar, let’s go. I’m tired of this dreadful space.” The emperor curled his lip in disgust and spread his wings.
The seer bowed. “Yes, Your Majesty.” He passed Uncle Bai and started by me, then paused and leaned in close. “Your Highness, I’ll give you the same advice I gave Lady Arya…” He looked at me knowingly. “Be careful who you trust.”
21
ARYA
Astrange shift had occurred over the past few days between Angie and me. What started as tense exchanges had gradually morphed into an odd sense of familiarity. After my failed attempt to return to Elaria by visiting the film studio, we spent hours—no, days—arguing, debating, and ultimately deciding that retracing my steps was the only logical course of action. If I had fallen into this world through the lake, then it stood to reason that the lake was my way back.
At first Angie was hesitant, repeatedly reminding me that jumping into a body of water without a clear plan was, as she so eloquently put it, 'a terrible, life-threatening idea.' I dismissed her concerns, of course. What was life without a little risk? But as we stood at the edge of the lake and cold air whipped through my damp clothes, the burden of uncertainty settled over me.
I stood at the edge of the lake with my arms crossed, watching the dark water with narrowed eyes. Its surface was eerily still, untouched by the chaos of the world around it. The once-busy film set had long since been abandoned, leaving only remnants of forgotten productions—a broken dock, rusting scaffolding, and a few discarded props scattered along the shore.The quiet was unsettling, a polarizing contrast to the relentless noise of the city I had been forced to endure.
“This is a terrible idea,” Angie muttered beside me as she assessed the lake with blatant skepticism.
“This is theonlyidea,” I corrected, tilting my chin up. “Unless you have an alternative? Perhaps some hidden magical knowledge you have neglected to share?”
Angie sighed and rubbed her temples. “I just don't think nearly drowning is the best way to figure this out.”
“Nearly drowning is a risk I’m willing to take!” I shot back.
She stared at me with her lips pressed into a thin line. “You are the most stubborn person I have ever met.”
I smirked. “A noblewoman must be decisive.”
Angie rolled her eyes but said nothing more. I turned back to the water. If I was going to return to Elaria, it had to be here. This was the last place I had seen my world—the last place I had seen Cat. I had no choice but to try.
Without another word, I took a breath and leapt.
