Page 66 of The Dragon King

“He says he’s no king, so that means I have the right to ask each dragon individually,” I said. “He does not have the power to decide for everyone.”

They will not listen to you.

“I have a feeling they’ll listen to me better than you have.”

Queen Eldinar came to my side and addressed Macabre. “Thank you for agreeing to listen?—”

Macabre pushed against the sand and took flight, moving a large amount of mass in very little time. He disappeared quickly, getting so high in the sky that the flames from the bonfires couldn’t reflect off his scales. Then he was gone, and his absence was felt.

Queen Eldinar stared at the bonfires for a long time before she turned to look at me. Like a mother disappointed in her child, her blue eyes were heavy with quiet resentment. “That was not diplomatic.”

“He’s a coward.”

“Macabre is a dear friend. Please don’t insult his character in my presence.”

“I stand by what I said.”

Her disappointment continued. “I’ve given you your opportunity, Death King. Now it’s time you search for another solution.”

“Doesn’t this bother you?” I asked.

All she did was stare.

“You’ve dedicated your lives to their protection, and when the time comes for them to fight for someone else, they do nothing.”

“They’ve suffered a great deal, Death King?—”

“So has everyone else in this world.”

No matter how angry I became, she retained her calm. “We can continue this conversation tomorrow when you’re yourself once more.”

“I am myself, Your Majesty.”

She stepped closer to me. “I know this is what your heart desires most. I understand the disappointment is simply too much to bear. But you’ve come so far in your journey—and I know this is not the end. You will find a way.”

“I don’t know?—”

“You will find a way.”

Chapter 12

Calista

Talon was the angriest I’d ever seen him.

So angry, he was beyond words.

After we returned to our cabin, he sat outside on the sand in front of the fire he made and didn’t say a word. Didn’t acknowledge me beside him. Just stared into the fire with the eyes of a madman.

“Queen Eldinar is right,” I said. “We’ll figure it out?—”

“Calista.” He steadied his voice, trying to control the wrath that wanted to explode. “The last thing I want to do is attack the person I care for most, but this is a disappointment that has only grown and festered since it was implanted in my flesh. Please leave me be.” He said all of that without taking his eyes off the fire.

I let the silence trickle by as I absorbed his words, knowing nothing I could say would counteract his anger. So, I left him there on the beach alone and went into the cabin we shared. When I got under the sheets, I just lay there, lost without him beside me. He’d become the person I shared my bed with, andwithout him there, I felt lost. It made it hard to sleep, and it was a long time before I drifted off.

When I woke up, the morning had already passed, and it was afternoon. I could tell by the light through the windows. And it seemed like Talon had never returned. I hadn’t heard the front door open in the middle of the night.

I left the bed and looked out the window to where the dead bonfire sat in the sand. Talon wasn’t there. I wondered if he’d gone fishing again. Or if he’d gone for a walk. Or if he was with Khazmuda. The island was small enough that I could communicate with both Khazmuda and Inferno, each of their minds different and distinct from each other. I pushed my mind to Khazmuda.Is Talon with you? I haven’t seen him since last night…