Page 118 of The Kingdom's Reckoning
"He’s your brother, though. What if it comes to the worst?" Bax asked after a moment.
Rian cracked his knuckles. "After what he’s done to our kingdom, after he attacked our brothers and sisters, our elders and children, he is no brother of mine."
Bax massaged his jaw, a tense expression passing across his features. But when his hand dropped from his face, he leaned forward, resolute. "What do you need me to do?"
Laurince gave him a wicked smile. "How do you feel about staging a coup?"
Chapter 47
GRAESON
As Graeson layon the small bed, he heard the patter of light footsteps across the creaking floorboards outside. The hinges of an old door screeched open and clicked shut. He pressed the heels of his palms against his eyes, and white splotches filled his vision.
"Want to talk about it?" Moris asked from the second bed.
"Talk about what?" Graeson asked, digging his fingers into his hair.
"Her, you. Whatever," Moris said, casually flicking his hand in the air. As if any of those things were casual.
Graeson turned to his side. "No. Go to sleep."
"I was just offering."
"Well, don’t."
"I didn’t think it was possible for you to get even broodier. I would have thought after saving her, you would have been more tolerable. I guess I was wrong."
Graeson groaned. He had forgotten how nosy Moris was. "I just said I didn’t want to talk about it."
"Andyou don’t have to. I was just thinking out loud."
"Maybe don’t," Graeson grumbled. He was rethinking these sleeping arrangements. He would have preferred sleeping in the stables with the horses and Nyrri. At least they wouldn’t pry into his business.
"Fine." Moris’ bed creaked from his weight as he shifted. Releasing a heavy sigh, he broke the brief silence. "You’re lucky your wings disappear."
"You’re lucky your bones don’t break every time you shift in order to gain them," Graeson retorted.
Moris snorted a laugh. "I suppose that’s true."
The quiet returned, and Graeson sank into it. Before he could get comfortable, though, Moris spoke again.
"Have you tried transforming again?"
"It’s none of your business." Graeson pressed the sides of his pillow against his ears, hoping to drown out the conversation.
It didn’t work.
"So you haven’t then."
"No," Graeson admitted, letting the pillow flatten. He peered into the darkness that spilled over the room. Graeson had cracked the window before getting into bed, and the slight breeze was a welcome reprieve. It brushed over his skin and cooled his rising temperature. Graeson had always run cold. But ever since he transformed, his skin was hotter than normal, and his temperature was harder to regulate.
"Will you?" Moris asked.
"Will I what?"
"Try to shift?"
Flashes of the fire raking through the forest sent a chill down Graeson’s spine. He had always known he was dangerous. Many people in Pontia already feared him because of what he could do before. What would the people think of him when they learned he could become a dragon? If he transformed again, there wouldbe no hiding it. Word would spread. But could he prevent the transformation?
