Page 132 of Veiled Flames
Surath tells me that your lover knows where to thrust his sword. She says he will slay me to save you, even if it means his own death. If he comes any closer, this man will die.
Tynan dismounts and runs to stand next to Saxon. He argues with Saxon, also urging him to lay down his sword. Did Xendus warn Tynan that Zogar plans to kill Saxon?
I am sorry, my queen, but both your lovers must die. Xendus says both wish to stop me. And we can’t stay here much longer. There are humans at their prison with the means to hobble dragons and keep us aground. My quest is too important. I cannot risk death, or injury—not even for my queen.
He breathes a long stream of fire, which comes far too close to Saxon and Tynan for comfort, and leaves a long scorch mark on the ground.
Desperation and heartbreak rise inside me. If these men die, I will die of sorrow.
“Please, Zogar. Please let them live. If you let them live, I’ll take you across the veil.” My heart is racing so quickly it’s hard to breathe.
I do what I wish. I go where I wish.
“You can’t fly without me. You can’t fly anywhere your rider refuses to take you.” I’m not certain of this second part anymore, but I can sense the impact of my words on him. “If you kill thosemen, I’ll dismount and never mount you again.” I do know he needs me to fly.
Pushing down on my feet, I rise to free my body from his pommel, but it pushes back in, even though I didn’t drop back. His pommel can grow even longer. Quickly, the knot expands inside me before I can pull further forward.
You will not abandon me. We will fly across the veil, and you will be my queen.
My body shudders with a mix of anger and fear. His anger. My fear.
“I have no desire to marry. And I willneverbe your queen.”
Zogar shoots a long blast of fire into the air.
Saxon steps forward, blade at the ready, and Zogar angles his stream of fire down, crisscrossing the earth. The streams of flames get closer and closer to both Tynan and Saxon.
Saxon is willing to die in his attempt to save me, and standing next to him, Tynan will die too. Panic and heartbreak rise inside me. I can barely breathe. I can’t let them die. Especially not to save me. Not if I can do anything to stop it.
“I’ll take you across the veil!” I shout. “I’ll even marry you. Please Zogar, please don’t kill them.”
If I spare your lovers, do you vow to become my queen?
“Yes! I swear it!” I’d agree to anything right now to save their lives.
The fire disappears, and with a strong flap of his wings, Zogar lifts us into the air. The pommel lowers, letting me rest upon his saddle again, and his knot rapidly expands, seeming to groweven larger this time. I pant against the sudden extreme fullness, and my entire body pulses inside. He’s angry with me. I don’t like Zogar’s anger, not when it’s directed toward me.
Obey me, if you do not like my anger.
We fly so quickly that the wind steals my breath and stings my eyes. Leaning forward into the shelter of his neck, I close my eyes against the intense wind, but somehow, I can still see. Our vision is so connected; my eyes need not be open.
We cross through the mountains quickly, and renewed terror fills me as the veil comes into view.
Have no fear, my queen. You are with Zogar. No creature would dare threaten the King of Dragons.
Fifty-One
Tynan
The behemoth lifts into the air, stealing my love. Seeing her taken away from me makes me realize that I truly do love her. I love her so much.
I never thought myself capable of such an emotion. I didn’t even feel the love of a son for his mother, not the way others describe it, and I’ve certainly never felt romantic love for the many wenches I’ve drilled. Not until Rosomon.
It’s difficult to believe, but the terror seizing my heart proves the strength of my feelings.
If she dies, I’ll die too. And just like Master Saxon, I’d kill for Rosomon.
But I’m powerless to save her from the behemoth. I stand, mouth agape, terror filling my heart and freezing my actions as he carries her away.
