Page 65 of Blood of Dragons
East.
Where Vivian should be right now.
Can you hunt?
“I’m not hungry.”
We both need to eat, and if I expose myself, they’ll find us.
“I told you I’m not hungry.”
You need to survive, Talon.
“I don’t need to do anything.”
I understand your sorrow right now. But once it passes, you’ll want revenge?—
“Once it passes?” I sat up and looked at him. “Humans and dragons must experience emotions very differently becauselistening your wife scream your name as she’s burned alive doesn’t fucking pass…”
That was a poor choice of words. I’m not proficient in your language like Constantine was.
“You just don’t understand because you haven’t lost what I’ve lost. Your kin aren’t even dead. They’re feasting on my people as we speak.”
He was quiet for a long time.You’re right, our circumstances are very different.
I stared outside the cave again.
You can’t save the people you love, but I still can.
“Good luck with that.”
I can’t do it alone.
“Well, don’t expect help from me. I owe you nothing for saving my life—not when I wish you’d let me burn.”
Your devastation will turn to anger, and then you’ll want revenge.
“Revenge won’t bring them back…won’t bring her back.”
But he must answer for his crimes?—
“Stop trying to manipulate me.”
It’s not manipulation, but a reminder of your duty. It’s your duty as the rightful king to take back your kingdom from the foes who stole it. It’s your duty to murder those who murdered your family. It’s yourduty as a husband to avenge your wife’s death. I’m simply reminding you of your obligation.
I got to my feet and felt myself sway slightly, my body weak from the lack of water and nutrition. But I steadied myself and looked outside the cave. “Fine, I’ll hunt just so I don’t have to listen to your bullshit any longer.”
I wasn’t sure how much time had passed.
A couple weeks. Maybe a month.
It didn’t matter.
I sat on a boulder in front of the stream, watching the water swirl around the rocks and continue on its way toward the lake at the bottom of the valley. It was a clear day, and I sat in the shadow of the pine tree, the birds chirping overhead, the world in various hues of green because of all the rain that had fallen over the last few weeks.
Khazmuda and I barely spoke to each other. He didn’t mention returning to the Southern Isles again, as if he understood that I would just reject that suggestion again. Sleep was still difficult to tackle because the nightmares were so vivid and horrific. There was no reprieve when I was wide awake, because it was all I could think about.
I watched salmon swim upstream, moving to the top of the stream to lay their eggs.