Page 27 of Blood of Dragons
ONCE I CONVINCE THE DRAGONS, I’LL COME BACK TO YOU.
And if the dragons can’t be convinced, I’m sure they’ll let me visit once I build their trust.
YOU THINK I’LL FAIL.
No. I just think it’s a lot to ask. And if you’re happy there…it’s okay to be happy.
I WANT YOU TO BE HAPPY TOO, CALISTA. AND I KNOW GETTING YOUR HOME BACK IS WHAT YOU WANT.
It was…but not anymore.
WHAT’S CHANGED?
No amount of revenge will ever bring back what I lost.
He studied me for a while, his wildfire eyes showing his sympathy.
Without the help of the elves, I have no chance against Talon, so I need to let it go and find peace.
I HOPE YOU FIND IT, CALISTA.
Yeah, me too.
ARE YOU READY?
Yes.
Inferno closed his mind, and after a few seconds, I felt the fire in my veins go cold. Felt the strength leave my bones. Felt a sense of power diminish. A hum sounded in my mind, and then theworld went quiet. I felt myself fall to my knees because the loss of his soul was like losing a part of myself.
ARE YOU ALRIGHT?
Yes. I pushed myself back to my feet and righted myself.It was a lot harder to separate than to fuse. I looked at the queen and Ezra, who were both staring at me. “It’s done.”
Queen Eldinar turned her look back on Inferno. “If you allow me to enter your mind, I’ll share the details with you.”
I ALLOW IT.
The world went quiet, and since Queen Eldinar and Inferno had their eyes locked, I assumed their conversation was taking place. It took a while, several minutes, so questions must have been asked.
Queen Eldinar turned to me. “It’s done. It’s time for you to part ways.”
I turned to Inferno and moved to his leg, wrapping my arms around his scales. “Until we see each other again…”
He dipped his head, his snout resting on my head, the warm breath from his nostrils blowing through my hair and down my body.I’LL SEE YOU SOON.
“Take care.”
YOU TOO.
He pulled his snout away then stepped back, making adequate space between us. Then he opened his powerful wings and launched into the sky, heading away from the mountains and farther north.
I stared at him until his red scales were just a speck. “I’ll miss you.”
We made our journey back into the depths of the forest, and while I was surrounded by people, I’d never felt more alone. My mind felt like an empty vessel when I had no one to share it with. I might be able to speak to Inferno at this distance, but at some point, that connection would break…and that would hurt.
The soldiers continued to guard the queen like I was a threat, even though my sword and supplies had been left in Riviana Star. We shared no words, and none of them spoke to one another in my presence.
Hours later, we returned to the heart of the forest, greeted by the sound of music. It was dusk now, the fireflies coming out to bring the forest to life. A yellow glow was cast across the trunks and the green grass, creating vibrant colors that belonged in a painting.