Page 91 of The Forbidden Dragon King
“A wicked beast like you will always give in to temptation. It’s destined. An evil Golden Dragon is nothing but wrath and fire. Obey me, or I will direct the Council to give you the same fate as Emperor Hadrian. They will burn you to ash on your own dagger.”
I can’t hold back my gasp.
Plus,wicked beast…evil…?
I’m beginning to understand some of Aurelius’ behavior now. Some of how he talks about himself.
Perhaps, he was never my true enemy, nor Daire’s. Perhaps, the weapon never is, but rather, the one who forges and holds it.
All of a sudden, it goes silent in the study.
“We have a pet who thinks that they’re a spy.” Maximinus sounds amused. “This is treason.”
Fuck.
Adrenaline punches through me, as I push out of the alcove and turn to run.
Two wings of black shadows, however, rush out of the open study door, encircling me in their ashy hold.
“Let go.” I struggle, hyperventilating with panic.
It’s like being touched by death.
The air is pushed out of me, as the shadows wind around me in coils from my ankles to the tops of my arms, dragging me down the corridor.
I frantically look around the corridor, but it’s empty.
I wanted to have my questions answered about how the Shadow Court ran.
Congratulations, Spark.
Now I know more than I should but I can’t find myself regretting it, even if it means having the life wrung out of me by shadow serpent coils.
“Stop,” Aurelius rasps.
Instantly, the chains tighten at his throat, blocking him from even drawing breath.
Pain rushes through me.
I howl, tearing at the shadows. They only reappear, however, even stronger.
I’m dragged past Aurelius, who meets my gaze. His expression is unreadable.
My feet painfully scrape over the colorful mosaic floor inside the study.
Maximinus won’t execute me right here…?
It looks like there has already been a fight in the study. What the fuck has happened?
Ancient scrolls are cast off the shelf onto the floor. Pottery shards of relics and talismans are scattered in front of the desk.
And is that blood on that letter…?
Yet Maximinus is sitting calmly behind his large writing desk, running his hand over his bald head, as if dealing with me is a minor inconvenience.
The shadows surge from him, pulling me forward until I’m just in front of his desk. Then I’m hauled up into the air; my feet dangle beneath me.
My shoes fall off, hitting the floor.
