Page 69 of The Dragon King

“I have to rip him apart until there’s nothing left.” Tears escaped the corners of his eyes and streaked down his cheeks. “I will burn his sons. I will burn his wife. I will burn every fucking person he’s ever loved. They will all turn to ash and fill my chamber pot.”

I let him seethe. Let him burn.

The tears continued their slow progress down his cheeks. “I lied to you. Riviana did speak to me. To reward me for protecting the Realm of Caelum…she told me I had a daughter.”

More tears flowed from my eyes. I tasted the salt.

“Her name is Lena.”

My hand remained on his arm, crying with him, crying for the little girl he’d lost.

“I wanted to be king. I wanted to rule the Southern Isles. But what I wanted more than anything…was to be a father.”

My tears deepened into sobs. I should comfort him instead of giving in to my own heartbreak, but it was too much for me to contain. “I’m so sorry…”

He closed his eyes again, new tears trailing down his face.

“I’m sorry,” I repeated. “I’m so sorry.”

He remained that way, still as a statue, doing his best to compose himself, as if emotion was a sign of weakness. He eventually recovered and opened his eyes, which were wet and red, but calm. “I’m not leaving this island unless Macabre and the others leave with me.”

Talon wasn’t himself the rest of the night. He barely said two words to me and remained distant. When we went to sleep that night, he stayed on his side of the bed and didn’t come anywhere near me. He even rolled onto his side and turned his back to me.

I knew it wasn’t personal, but it still felt personal.

When I woke up the next morning, he was still asleep in the same position as when I’d closed my eyes. He was never awake after me, so I knew he was tired…or depressed. I got dressed and left the cabin, the air cool in the morning, giving a slight chill. I crossed the beach and then pushed out my mind to Khazmuda’s.Are you awake?

Yes.

Can I speak to you?

Always.

I stood there alone for a few minutes before Khazmuda’s black scales appeared in the morning light. A direct contrast to the beautiful world of blue water and white sand, he looked like he didn’t belong in this serene place.

He made a gentle landing and folded his wings.I’m assuming you wish to speak of Talon since he’s still asleep.

“Yes.”

His rage has been constant. I can feel it even when he’s asleep.

Last night felt like a hazy dream, but it all came back to me vividly. “He told me about his wife…”

Khazmuda paused as he stared at me, his dark eyes absorbing my stare.He told you about Vivian.

“Yes.” The memory broke my heart all over again. No one deserved to die that way. To be burned alive while life glowed inside you.

It’s a horrible story, but I’m glad he shared it with you.

“A part of me wishes he hadn’t told me,” I said. “It makes me sick.”

Now you truly understand him. Why he needed to conquer your kingdom for your army. Why he forced prisoners to dig in the Arid Sands. Why he seemed empty of heart and soul when you met. After she died, I told him we needed to plan our revenge, but all he wanted to do was sit on a rock all day. He eventually moved to a small village and became a fisherman…then a pirate. I was deeply frustrated by his indifference and searched for free dragons on my own. But in hindsight, I understand he was in shock. His heart and soul were destroyed by what he saw, and he simply couldn’t process it. It’s like a hatchling that tries to fly before he can walk.

“How long ago was this?”

Over twenty years now. But no passage of time will make either of us forget.

“Yeah.”