Page 51 of Blood of Dragons
“Because I’m not enough. An army is not enough. Not when I face a hundred dragons in the skies. I have one fucking chance at this—one. Dying and failing is not an option. I must do this.”
I dropped my chin because the pain and anger on his face were too much to bear. “There’s nothing I can do?—”
“Bullshit. Don’t deny me what my heart desires most.”
My eyes stayed down.
“Calista—”
“I don’t want to see you anymore.” It broke my heart to say it, to sever ties with a man I cared so deeply for…but also despised. “I’ve made my desires clear, so there’s no reason for us to speak further. It’s just making it harder…for both of us.” I kept my eyes down because I didn’t want to see the look on his face, see the hurt mixed with rage.
He was quiet.
I waited for his hostility to evaporate, for his presence to disappear into the night.
But he stayed. “This is it, and you won’t even look at me.”
After a deep breath, I lifted my chin to meet his gaze.
He sat there, his angry eyes locked on mine, a world of hurt deep in their abyss. His stare remained glued to my face without a single blink, as if he was trying to memorize my appearance for the lonely nights to come. “This is it, and you have nothing to say.”
“It’s just going to make it harder?—”
“I’ve felt nothing these last thirty years. The only person I care for is Khazmuda, and that relationship took decades to build. But with you…it was real from the beginning. It was real the moment I saw you. I don’t know what the future holds, but I expect our paths will cross again…probably across a battlefield. And when that moment comes, just know that’s not what I wanted for us.”
I felt the tears build behind my eyes, but I refused to let them fall.
“Goodbye, Calista.” He didn’t wait for me to say anything before he vanished—disappearing into thin air.
PROLOGUE III
TALON
She turned in bed. Turned again. Released a heavy sigh.
I was already wide awake and staring at the ceiling, so my hand moved to her stomach. “Baby, relax.” She’d gotten so big the last few months. It had taken her four months just to show, but her belly was unmistakable. Just a couple more months and my son or daughter would be here.
“I can’t.”
I pulled down the sheets, lifted up her nightdress, and pressed kisses to her stomach. Sometimes when I rested my hand there, I could feel the baby kick, feel the life that we’d made together. “Breathe.”
Her fingers moved into my hair as she took her deep breaths, her stomach rising and falling.
“All of this will be worth it in the end. Remember that.”
“I know. I’m just so uncomfortable…my back…my feet…everything.”
“You know I would do it for you if I could.”
Her affectionate eyes blanketed me with her love. “I know.”
I continued to rub her stomach. “In a couple months, you’re going to have someone you’ll love more than anything else in the world. And all the hardship, all the sleepless nights, it’ll all be worth it.”
“It’s hard to imagine loving someone more than you.”
“You will. Trust me.” I lay beside her again and felt her cuddle into my side, her stomach against me.
“Why are you awake?” she whispered.