Page 104 of The Death King
Khazmuda and Talon were gone—and it was just Inferno and me.
The enormous bonfire had flames twice my height, and they burned if I stood too close. My chin had to tilt back to regard the imposing dragon because he didn’t lower his gaze to my level, not the way Khazmuda did.
Now I realized how thoughtful it was.
YOU FACE ME ALONE. YOU MAY BE SMALL—BUT YOU’RE BRAVE.
“You can only be brave if there’s something to fear. You told me I would be safe, so I don’t fear you.”
He stared at me, his red eyes surrounded by black depths. TELL ME YOUR STORY. ARE YOU TALON’S MATE?
“No…we’re friends.”
A BEAUTIFUL MAN AND A BEAUTIFUL WOMAN ARE NEVER FRIENDS.
“Well, we’re closer to friends than we are to mates.”
AND YOUR STORY.
I wasn’t sure what I should share and what I should omit. “I was a prisoner in the Arid Sands when King Talon came for a visit. Once he realized I had the gift, he took me with him. Told me his story and asked for my help to reclaim his kingdom and save the dragons. There are more details than that, but those are the important points.”
HOW DID YOU END UP A PRISONER?
“I was in the wrong place at the wrong time, and his scouts took me.”
YOUR FAMILY?
“They’re dead. My mother got sick. My father has been gone ten years now.”
I’M SORRY.
I didn’t expect any sympathy from him. “Thank you. I’m sorry about yours.”
SO YOU CHOOSE TO SERVE THE MAN WHO IMPRISONED YOU. THAT’S INTERESTING.
“He didn’t directly imprison me.”
HOW LONG WERE YOU THERE?
“Seven years.”
SO, NOT LONG AFTER YOUR FATHER DIED. THAT MUST HAVE BEEN TRAUMATIZING FOR YOU.
He didn’t know the half of it.
AND YET, YOU SERVE HIM.
“It’s complicated.”
BECAUSE YOU’RE MORE THAN FRIENDS?
“That’s part of it. But not all of it. I pity him…I guess.”
YOUR EMPATHY IS GREATER THAN YOUR ANGER. YOU HAVE A KIND SOUL.
“I don’t know about that. I struggle sometimes.”
YOUR ANGER WILL ALWAYS BE THERE. IT’S JUST BEEN BURIED ALIVE. BUT IT’LL RISE FROM THE DIRT WHEN YOU LEAST EXPECT IT. UNTIL IT’S TRULY RESOLVED, IT’LL ALWAYS ENDURE, ALWAYS SURVIVE.