Page 55 of Vathia
By the time I’m finished I’m panting, coursing with adrenaline and relief. She’s dead and I killed her.
“Behind you!” Vasari bellows.
My body spins and with reflexes drilled into me over and over again by Kill, I deflect the blade held by none other than Bracken.
“We could have been great together!” he seethes, his eye burning with fury. “You mated one of those bastards?”
My eyes grow large as I realize he overheard my last words to the dead bitch behind me. He doesn’t know fated mates are back so he assumes we went through a ceremony. Fuck it, let him believe what he wants to. “I never wanted you. You were never my destiny, and you’re fighting for the wrong team.”
He laughs, lowering his blade, and I see Aemon and Jesper arrive behind him. With a small shake of my head I tell them I have this handled. They stop, glowering at the pathetic male before me.
“How could I be fighting on the wrong team with an unbeatable army? The Lords of Damorleia are ending the Choosing. They found a way to gift everyone dragons. That’s how I was given Skullcrusher. He was called to me while you distracted everyone with your spectacle. The Lords have an amazing plan for a brilliant new Damorleia. They would accept you with open arms as long as you bow to them. Come. Leave this ridiculous quest behind. Fuck, you can even bring your mate as long as he lets me have my turn.” His gaze leers over me and I shiver, nearly gagging with disgust.
With speed I didn’t know I possessed, I’m at his throat with my blade, Cresida’s blood still dripping off it. “Never. I should kill you where you stand. But instead. I want you to deliver a message.”
“Ravina, I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Aemon states.
I silence him with a look. “Tell Lord Craven that Princess Pendroko is still alive. And that she remembers.” With precise movements I smack the butt of the blade against his temple, knocking him unconscious.
Jesper bounds up to my side, kissing my temple. “You look gorgeous covered in blood, but we should really go. Killian and Talyn’s dragons are doing what they can to hold off this bastard’s dragon. It keeps evading our attacks.”
I look on the other side of the clearing to see them keeping it away. I nod and run back to Vasari, using a burst of air to help me into her saddle quicker. With the signal of her roar, we take off into the sky, the bodies of the three dragons and their riders left behind. They have been ripped apart by our dragons and magick, while the black dragon scrambles to its unconscious rider, roaring its want for vengeance at us, but unwilling to leave Bracken unprotected.
“Your mates are not happy with your decision to let him go,” Vasari states regally after we have been in the air for a bit.
Nero pouts. “I still can’t believe you didn’t get me that bitch’s eyeball.”
“He would have discovered who I am, if he didn’t already know. Sending a message feels right and I stand by it. But next time I cross that asshole in battle, he’s dead. Let the fae of Damorleia have hope that I’ve come back for them. That with the help of the males I grew up with, their own flesh and blood, I will rid this realm of their tyranny and bring peace back. They can be mad at me all they want, but this is my choice and I’m standing by it.” My hands shake as the adrenaline leaves mybody and I become nauseous and light-headed. I swallow and whisper to Nero, “Oh, I did manage to grab you her eye—” I gag and smack my hand against my mouth taking a deep breath to try and help. “I’ll give it to you when we get back.” I clutch my stomach as I gag again. Oh fates, this is not good.
“Shit! Land, you oversized lizard, or we’re all going to be sprayed with chunks!” Nero yells in a panic as I cover my mouth.
Some future Queen I am. I can’t even seem to keep the contents of my stomach where it’s supposed to be, I think to myself as Vasari dives towards the ground.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
IKNOW WITHOUT A DOUBT that Talyn is one more incident from losing his shit. He’s always been one to take control of everything. He’s been the leader of our group for as long as I can remember and when things don’t go the way he wants, it doesn’t sit well at all. I fear our mate is driving him crazy not listening to his orders, but she is right. She will be Queen one day, and ultimately he will need to learn to concede to her, or compromise at best.
He should know that she’s never liked being told what to do—even from a young age.
“I think your mate is going to vomit,” Evisdor informs me just as Vasari begins to dive towards the ground.
Instantly we all follow, and I just know Talyn is going to say something stupid. He’s been better with her, shockingly. I can tell he’s trying, and I know from the others that something has happened to him. If his father had anything to do with it, I just know he isn’t himself right now. I’ve never seen him so volatile, let alone towards Ravina.
The moment we land, I blink to her side, holding her hair as she empties the contents of her stomach.
“Ugh,” she mutters, spitting onto the ground. “I swear I was fine and then all of a sudden I was dizzy and nauseous.”
My hand goes to the back of her armor, and even though she won’t feel it through the metal, I rub her back soothingly. “It happens after battle. After my first one, I was hugging a bucket for hours. It’s a completely normal reaction.”
She doesn’t say anything for a moment before she starts gagging again. “I killed her.”
I shrug. “She would have killed you too, no? Can you see why Talyn wanted you to go to safety? To protect you from this?” I ask her gently, keeping up with the soothing motion of comforting her.
She shakes her head, leaning into me, and whispers. “I don’t care that I killed her. In fact I feel pretty indifferent to it. Like it’s just part of life. She hurt me so many times that I actually wish I was able to take longer. Does that make me a bad person?”
Jesper, who I heard approach a moment ago, pushes some hair behind her ear and hands her some water to wash her mouth out with. “No, the fact that you didn’t prolong her death is merciful. You took your justice. You did good, Little Mouse. Although now I may need to come up with a new nickname for you.”
“What the hell do you think you’re doing, Ravina!” Talyn spits as he storms towards us. “You could have been killed dismounting your dragon in the middle of battle like that! And letting that bastard go! What the fucking fates were you thinking! This isn’t some fantasy book you read before bedtime. This is life and death!”
