Page 207 of The Forbidden Dragon King
This was an important, special night for my people, after three years of my being away from the capital. I wanted to give them this.
I needed them to have peace.
Now, they only have more chaos.
Horror.
Death.
Destroy, Hadrian’s Dagger whispers, sibilant and seductive,blood and beautiful shadowed death.
Let. Me. Out.
My eyes become molten.
I slip my hand to the hilt of my dagger, crouching into a fighting stance in front of Freya.
Freedom is as fleeting as a mayfly’s brief single day of life. I should have expected this.
Still, does the mayfly know they won’t see the night? Don’t we all live in the same dark ignorance? Would I just now have been able to lose myself in such joy, dancing with my mates, if I’d known shadows were about to descend like a cloak over my kingdom?
I watch in horror, as Bael becomes as night.
The dragons above my head roar in outrage, circling helplessly. They can’t breathe flame over the streets without also killing their own citizens.
“What the fuck is going on?” Freya grips onto the back of my black cloak.
Her rose scent becomes sharp in her fear. She’s trembling.
I set my jaw.
Whatever happens, I won’t let Freya be taken. Lanlin thinks that I’m still the boy that he met in the rose garden, with whom he shared his deepest secrets, fears, and pain.
Only, I’m not.
He killed that boy, when he killed my brother in the Silver Tower.
Freya is the pawn who wins this war. The only reason that I’d let Lanlin take her would be to destroy him.
I brush the fingers over my mask. Then my mouth pulls into a fierce grin.
Tonight I’m wearing Daire’s face — the face of a villain.
I don’t need to act like the upright Shadow Dragon King. Tonight, I will be the reckless Raven King for once.
I glance over my shoulder at Daire, who is wearingmygolden mask.
He is standing on the other side of Freya. His large wings are extended like a shield, sheltering her between our two bodies.
“Daire,” I call, and his head snaps around to meet my eyes at the use of his real name, “protect our Omega.”
“You don’t need to ask, Aurelius. I always will.”
I start to move toward War and the palace with Freya clinging to me. Daire continues to flank me, defending Freya.
If I can get Freya inside the palace, since I’m certainthat she’s the target of this attack, then I can rally the army to fight.
Most of the soldiers and academy cadets are off duty attending the festival.
