Page 20 of The Dragon Queen

He kept his eyes down like he didn’t want to face the truth of my words. Didn’t want to accept the unacceptable.

“I’ll be okay, Talon.”

He swallowed, his eyes still on the table. “I’d die if something happened to you.”

“Nothing will happen to me.”

He still wouldn’t look at me.

“You need to accept that I’m a part of this. When you knew I had the gift, you asked me to help you. That’s what I’m doing.”

He finally raised his gaze to look at me. “You know everything is different now.”

“Because you love me. But I love you too—so I want to help you.”

He looked away again, this time turning his attention to the window.

“Talon.”

He ignored me.

“Nothing you say will change my mind, so just accept it.”

He crossed his arms over his chest and sank into the wooden backing of the chair, looking like a tired man rather than a relentless king. “Are you sure about this?” His eyes remained elsewhere for several seconds before he looked at me again. “Because if you aren’t, we’ll find another way.”

“I am certain?—”

“I need you to be absolutely certain?—”

“I am. I can do this, Talon. I’ve been both a ruler and a servant. I know how it works. If anyone can blend in like they belong there, it’s me.”

The uncertainty was still in his gaze, but he didn’t fight me anymore. He finally let it be. He grabbed the bottle again and took another drink before he licked his lips. His arms returned to their place crossed over his chest.

“Where were you?”

“With Ethan…drinking.”

I grabbed the bottle and pulled it to my side of the table out of his reach. “I can see that. I didn’t realize you two were so close.”

“He’s my oldest friend…my longest friend.”

“He’s a lot older than you.”

He smirked slightly. “But when we met, we were the same age. We’ve watched each other grow in different ways. When he realized I was fused with Khazmuda, he finally understood why time had been kind to me and not to him.”

“You never told him about Khazmuda when you sailed together?”

He shook his head slightly. “I was a hermit at the time. Didn’t want to be asked any questions. All I wanted was to work so hard I fell asleep the second my head hit the pillow…and then repeat it again the next day.”

Hints of that depression were still in his gaze from time to time. It seemed to have improved during our time together, but it would always be a permanent part of who he was. Every action and decision he’d taken since that night had all been geared toward this watershed moment. Once that was over, perhaps he could truly heal. “When we should we leave?”

His eyes had drifted away, as if he was thinking about old memories that soured his mood. “Tomorrow, I suppose.”

“What about Khazmuda and Inferno?”

“As much as I’d like them to accompany us, it would be unsafe. For them and for us. We’re on our own.”

I nodded.