Page 53 of The Dragon King
“I was in a different place when I made it.” Too depressed to care about anything other than Uncle Barron’s death. I wanted him to burn in Khazmuda’s flames and scream just the way my family had screamed in agony. “But if I hadn’t made it, it wouldn’t have led me here.” It wouldn’t have led me to Calista on that starry night in the middle of the desert.
“You’re in a much different place now because you love again.”
I stared at the table.
“She doesn’t know…”
I shook my head.
“And Khazmuda?”
“No.”
A sorrow as heavy as mine filled her eyes. “Will you tell them?”
“I—I can’t.” I couldn’t tell Calista what was to come. It would destroy her joy and her smile. It would ruin what we had. It would ruin the first happiness I’d felt in a very long time. “I can’t see the look on her face. And Khazmuda…that would kill me.” I wasn’t sure who would be more devastated. “To tell them it’s coming will poison every day we have left together. It’ll be all they think about.”
She gave a slight nod in agreement. “You’re right.”
“I’ll just drop dead, and they’ll never know.”
She lowered her gaze to the table.
“I think it’s best if they never know.” It would be hard enough to lose me, but to know I would spend eternity in an insufferable existence when they couldn’t stop it was far worse. They couldn’t know.
Her eyes remained down.
“I—I loved my wife so much.”
She lifted her chin to look at me.
“I’ll always love her. So, I didn’t expect to ever feel this way for someone.” I didn’t expect to meet a woman who I would care so deeply for. Someone who would heal my wounds and make my heart beat again. Someone I would die for. Just when I touched the sun, just when I felt spring bloom in my heart, it was already dark and winter. “She needs me…and I’m about to abandon her.”
Chapter 10
Calista
I had to accept the fact that I would never know where Talon had gone.
He’d just vanished. I was jerked awake by his abrupt departure, my head dropping onto the pillow because his chest was suddenly gone. I jolted upright and looked into the dark bedroom, the flames barely alive, but only saw shadows.
Our journey on the galleon had been smooth for days, but it turned rocky when he sailed into storm clouds. The rain pelted the deck, and the ship swayed back and forth, making glasses and candles on tables knock to the floor. I’d never been on a ship, and I quickly learned that I was susceptible to seasickness.
I remained below deck in our chambers alone while Talon helped the elves navigate the ship through the storm. I wanted to help, but since I had no experience on the sea, there wasn’t much I could do except stay out of the way.
I sat against the headboard and felt my body rock back and forth, doing my best to stay calm and not let the sickness spread to the rest of my body. The storm lasted from day to night. At somepoint, it stopped because I’d fallen asleep and woke up to a still boat and a quiet day.
Talon wasn’t beside me, and I hoped he was okay.
I dressed and climbed to the deck, feeling the sunshine on my face when I emerged at the top. The sea air blew through my hair and removed any remaining tendrils of nausea that resided deep in my stomach.
I spotted Talon at the bow of the ship in plain trousers and a long-sleeved shirt, like he preferred to sail as a man rather than a king. Beside him was Queen Eldinar, in her usual gown and elegance. They were both facing the ocean ahead, but they appeared to be engaged in conversation.
I ascended the steps then approached them from behind, seeing the landmass in the distance between them. I stilled when I realized that was our destination, an island far off into the sea with nothing else around for leagues. It was still small at the moment, too small for details or dragons in the sky. “Looks like we’re almost there.”
Talon turned around to look at me, his eyes kind but mostly exhausted. “Yes.”
Queen Eldinar turned to regard me. “Before you stands Thalian, guarded by our soldiers who pledge their lives to the defense of the last free dragons.”