Page 87 of The Dragon King

As it was in mine.

“The way I feel about my wife is the way Calista feels about you,” he said. “I can see it every time she looks at you.”

I’d seen the same look…a long time ago.

“Please don’t hurt her.”

“Trust me, whatever she feels, I feel it tenfold.” And I would have to carry that alone because she would never know the truth. “My youth is preserved because of my connection to Khazmuda, a gift I never asked for. The only reason Macabre agreed to this battle is because of his love for your queen. I’m sure if she asked him to fuse with you so she can be with her love always, he would agree.”

His eyes flicked away for a while before he looked at me again. “That’s not the way of the elves. We protect the dragons, not use them.”

“You wouldn’t be using him if he wanted to grant you this gift—and I suspect he would. I have no love for Macabre, but I havea deep love for his race. They’re mighty creatures with killer instincts, but their hearts love infinitely.”

“His hatred for humans is also infinite.”

“I still believe an exception would be made to grant Queen Eldinar happiness. To have the love of her life until her time comes and you both go together. If he’ll risk his life to protect her, he’ll do this.”

He continued to stare at me like he’d never been angry at me in the first place.

“Something to think about.”

Chapter 16

Calista

The sight of all the dragons gathered together was so powerful I forgot my misery…just for a moment. With different colored scales and in a variety of sizes, they were a spectacle. Marvelous and beautiful, wonderful to behold.

Queen Eldinar walked beside me as we approached Macabre, the dragon that was bigger than most of the others, his scales dark like smoke from a forest fire. Upon her approach, he lowered his belly to the earth so he could dip his head and regard her face-to-face.

Macabre didn’t wear the vicious stare he had when he looked at me. His expressions weren’t as discernible as they were on humans, but the love was still visible in his gaze.

It was the first time I saw the good side to Macabre, witnessed all the things Queen Eldinar had said.

She stepped forward and raised her palm to feel his snout, to glide her hand across the soft scales. His teeth were bared and visible, but she stayed below his lip, his warm breaths making her hair fly every time he exhaled.

I assumed they were speaking with their minds.

But I felt like I knew the details just watching them interact. It reminded me of the way I embraced Inferno, the way my heart burned when I looked upon Khazmuda.

A shadow approached, a black contrast against the blue sky, and I turned to see Khazmuda walk over with Talon at his side—and my uncle.

My eyes went to Talon against their will.

His eyes were already on mine.

I held his stare for a moment, feeling the pain and disappointment all over again. Then I flicked my gaze away and ignored him, pretended I hadn’t noticed him in the first place. I was still angry about our conversation, but I was even more pissed that he’d let me walk away. That he’d let me slip out of his fingers after everything he’d done to earn me.

Inferno approached from the left, his scales hot as fire.

I forced a smile when I looked at him, but I didn’t feel it deep inside.

Queen Eldinar stepped back from Macabre. “This is a historic moment for all our races. The union of dragons, elves, and humans. I’ve witnessed many things in my long life, but I did not expect this.” She turned to regard Talon as he stood beside Khazmuda. “I think the first thing we need to do is bury the animosity that lingers among us. We’re allies now. We will fight for one another. We will die for one another.” She continued to stare at Talon and silently encouraged him to speak.

I didn’t want to look at him. Tried to resist the urge. But my eyes shifted to his on their own.

He still looked at me, like he didn’t care about the queen or Macabre, only me. After a long stare, he shifted his gaze to Macabre. “It takes tremendous courage to do what is hard instead of what is easy. I meant those hurtful words when I said them, but they’re moot now because you’ve proven just how mistaken I was. It means the world to have you here—and I hope you will forgive my harshness.”

Macabre stared at him for a long time.