Page 23 of Blood of Dragons
My eyebrows furrowed.
“Dragons are not to be used. They’re to be respected.”
“I wouldn’tusethem. I would ask for their help, and they can choose to give it.”
“And why would they help you?”
“Because once he’s gone, they can fly free in our lands. We would never subjugate them again.”
“Once he’s gone…” Her eyes shifted away as she considered what I said. “I’ve noticed that you’ve never once described him as dead, only gone and defeated.”
I swallowed.
“Because you can’t kill him.”
“Not everything has to end in bloodshed?—”
“There is no scenario in which the Death King is vanquished by exile. You said yourself that his ambition is relentless. Death is the only thing that will stop that madman and his endless rage. You request our aid but are unwilling to do what it takes to win.”
“He’s not as evil as you describe?—”
“You recounted all the horrible things he’s done to you, but now he’s not evil?”
“It’s more complicated than that?—”
“Your allegiance is complicated,” she said simply. “That’s the only thing that is clear.”
This had gone far worse than I’d ever expected. “The red dragon’s name is Inferno. He’s from the Southern Isles, the same place where the Death King comes from. His species was taken prisoner by the same man who killed the Death King’s family. Those dragons are still enslaved—and he wants to petition help from the other dragons. If you don’t want to help me defeat the Death King, then that’s fine. I’ll do it myself. But please help him.”
She stared me down coldly. “You have many requests.”
“I accept your rejection, but don’t reject his plea. My father said you’re the Guardians of Thalian. Thalian must be the land of the dragons because there’s no way they’re confined to this forest. There are more dragons out there that need your help. They deserve to be free just as much.”
Her eyes shifted to Ezra before they came back to me. “We can’t risk the remaining free dragons. They’ve suffered enoughat the hands of your people. We safeguard their peace and will continue to do so.”
Every request I’d made had been shot down, and my own uncle viewed me as a stranger. I’d failed in my quest and had nowhere to go. I had nothing else to say. My eyes moved to the floor as the defeat swept over me. But then I thought of Inferno, alone just like me. “If you won’t help me or ask the dragons for their aid, then could you at least take Inferno to Thalian, where he can live a free life among his kind?” I would lose my only friend, and I would truly be alone, stuck on this side of the mountain until I found the secret passage to the other side, but I wasn’t sure what reason I had to go back anyway.
The daggers in her eyes slowly retreated, and her hostility passed like a floating cloud. “You’re fused with Inferno?”
“Yes.”
“And you would unfuse with him?”
“Yes.” I said it without hesitation.
“You would lose your powers and your immortality,” she said. “Do you understand that?”
“I never expected to be fused with him forever. I knew we would part ways once our mission was over. We’ll be parting sooner than that, and that’s okay. I know he’ll be disappointed that we won’t be able to free his kin…his sister, but he’s not stupid. There’s no way we can do this alone. He’ll just get himself killed, so he should make a life in Thalian and start over. I’m sure his kin would understand.”
She continued to stare at me like she wanted me to say more.
But I was empty.
She turned her gaze to Ezra. “I wish to speak in private.”
“Yes, Your Highness.” Ezra turned to me and gestured to the entryway.
I didn’t say goodbye before I walked out, taking the hallway until I left the building and moved down the steps to where the statues had been erected.