Page 235 of The Forbidden Dragon King
Wraith.
Wraith’s head is bowed, allowing her white blond hair to cover her fragile face and jade eyes.
To my surprise, she is wearing the immaculate jade robes of the Guild of Spies.
She alone has cleaned up and changed.
Why?
As always, she silently follows the others in the shadows.
War and Lucius stop in front of Aurelius like bodyguards. All of War’s attention is fixed on Aurelius, who is staring at the three dragons, as if they’ve just been resurrected in front of him.
Suddenly, my stomach sinks.
Three dragons.
Three.
Where is the fourth? Where is Vicious?
Aurelius peers around Wraith, as if expecting to discover Vicious there at her side like she always is.
Except, she’s missing.
The absence of her is as loud as a scream.
“Vic…?” He whispers.
War doesn’t reply.
“Relius, we tried,” Lucius starts. His eyes gleam with tears. “We didn’t abandon her. We carried her back to the palace, but the healers couldn’t… You know how stubborn she is — was — she battled and clung on for more than a day.”
Lucius’ voice wavers. War wraps her arm around him.
“No.” Aurelius slams his sword cracking against the floor. “No.”
Wraith finally lifts her head; I’m shocked by how swollen her eyes are. They look like the life has faded out of them, as it must have faded out of Vicious.
“Yes,” Wraith simply says. “She died fighting. She’d be pleased about that. Vic is with the Shadow Gods now. Will you m-m-make m-me a s-shrine…?”
Finally her voice breaks, and she collapses to the floor, crawling to wrap her arms around Aurelius. She cries as silently as she spies.
Her shoulders shake.
“I will carve her a grand shrine.” Aurelius rests hishead on Wraith’s shoulder, as she tightly hugs him. “I’m sorry, Wraith. I’m so sorry.”
When he looks up at War, grief and despair blasts through the bond.
The golden collar sears with Aurelius’ pain.
Daire jolts at the same time as I do. We both must be feeling it.
Aurelius is being torn apart.
“I’m sorry,” Aurelius repeats. “Sorry, sorry, sorry.”
“You don’t need to apologize to any of us.” Wraith manages to get out, wiping her cheeks. “Vic died protecting you. She would be proud of that.”
