Page 108 of The Death King

“But they’re so big and they fly. I don’t see how they can stay hidden.”

“That’s the great mystery,” he said. “I’d heard rumors of these dragons in my travels, so I came here to investigate. I questioned your king, and he told me to investigate Scorpion Valley. I traveled there, but before I could question that king, he chose to be a coward and take his own life. There’s no doubt in my mind that he had the information I needed, and the only way to make sure I didn’t get it was by poisoning himself so that knowledge would die with him. I guess it was the right move, but I’ve gotten no closer.”

My heart pounded so hard in my chest I almost fainted.

The edges of my vision turned red and black. My surroundings blurred because he was all I could see. The warm fire lost all its heat.

I was immediately aware of my body, aware of the tightness that squeezed my spine, the way my fingers curled into loose fists. My stomach suddenly felt three times smaller and overstuffed with food I hadn’t eaten. It made me feel sick. His words made me feel sick…like they were poison.

Seconds passed, but it felt like minutes. Felt like hours. I was aware of the sweat that evaporated from the back of my neck, sweat from the intense heat my body suddenly produced.

Inferno’s voice was instant. I FEEL YOUR DISTRESS.

I need you.

ALMOST THERE.

Talon shifted his gaze from the fire and looked at me. His stare wasn’t possessive and intense. Now it was guarded but absorbed, reading the expression I worked so hard to hide. The golden sparkles in his eyes were gone, replaced by the black abyss that he normally emitted.

I hadn’t said a word and I did my best to look normal, but something told me he knew.

That he could feel it.

He got to his feet.

I mirrored his movements.

His arms were at his sides, but his posture was different. Tense. Angry. His guarded eyes watched me without blinking.

I stopped breathing at some point.

Then he spoke, and though he didn’t raise his voice, the words were still so loud they could shatter my eardrums. “That’s how I know your face.”

My heart dropped into my stomach like a boulder falling into the bottom of the lake. The sickness was profound, so intense it now made me break out in a cold sweat. My palms were so slippery, I wasn’t sure if I could wield my sword if I needed to.

Reliving the past hardened his expression, made him look exactly as he had that night—like a heartless murderer.

The sight of wings came from the dark sky. Then the earth shook as Inferno hit the ground. I’M HERE.

I stepped back.

Talon moved forward. But instead of a single step, he booked it.

I ran for it.

Inferno lurched forward and opened his powerful jaws, releasing a roar so mighty, it nearly snuffed out the campfire. “Roooaaaaarrrrrrr.” It shook the entire world, blew the air from the campground, made trees nearly bow in the wind.

But it didn’t slow Talon down.

I jumped onto Inferno’s side and grabbed the scales I could grip. Go!

Talon tried to rush me.

Inferno moved sideways and blocked my path with his magnificent head. His powerful jaws lurched for Talon, about to snap him in half, but he rolled out of the way in time.

Don’t hurt him. Please.

HOLD ON. Inferno pushed off the ground in a rush, powerful wings opening and taking flight from the earth. He wasn’t gentle the way he’d been last time. Now he rushed off like speed was of the essence.