Page 66 of The Dragon Queen
I’d gone to sleep wondering where we would wed and what I would wear. And when I woke up, I planned his burial.
“Perhaps you could fuse with Khazmuda. That way, he feels less alone.”
I looked at Khazmuda, who continued to stare at the stone beneath his chin, looking as devastated as I felt. “Maybe…”
“I am here for you always, Calista. Whatever you need, I will grant it.”
I turned to look at her for the first time, to see the same stoicism that she always wore. “I’m surprised you’re not more upset about all of this. The two of you were close.”
Her blue eyes remained locked on mine for seconds before she looked away. “When you’ve lived as long as I have, you become used to death. I’ve lost a lot of people I’ve cared for—and I will continue to lose people I care for.”
I accepted her answer and looked away.
She sat with me for a while longer before she left.
One of the guards built me a bonfire outside my tent. I sat in front of it alone, wounded by the memory of all the times I’d sat in front of a fire with Talon, staring at him across the flames. Our deepest conversations had happened in moments such as this.
Now, there was no one there.
Khazmuda drenched Talon’s body in tears to preserve him, and then Talon was placed in a coffin, sealed to carry back across the sea. There was no reason for Queen Eldinar and the elves to stay here, and the rest of the soldiers ached for home. There was no monarch in the Southern Isles to rule the people. They would have to choose a new king to usher in a new era.
Khazmuda lay nearby, his scales glowing in the fire.
I looked at him, seeing misery on an expressionless face. “Khazmuda…” My voice cracked when I spoke, drenched in pain and tears.
His eyes shifted to me.
“Queen Eldinar suggested we fuse together.” It was the first time Khazmuda was unattached in many decades, and the silence must feel deafening. I felt alone too, and the only one who carried the same misery was him. “That way, we can at least be together in this.”
His eyes continued to watch me. He hadn’t said a word to anyone, including me.
“We don’t have to do it. It’s just an idea.”
I’ll think about it.
I didn’t push the topic, because Khazmuda’s presence wouldn’t be enough to make me feel better anyway. “Okay.”
We prepared to depart the Southern Isles, pack the ship with all the essentials we would need for the return journey. Now that Talon was gone, there wasn’t a king of Shadow Stone and the Northern Kingdoms, so I wasn’t sure what would happen to those lands.
I could reclaim my throne over Scorpion Valley, but my heart had no desire to rule, no desire to take back the lands that had belonged in my family for generations. Without the love of my life to share it with me, I lacked the motivation for anything and everything.
Inferno appeared before me on the cliff, his scales scarred and mutilated from the battle, a hole punctured in one of his wings. He could fly, but not for great distances because he easily lost his balance and nearly toppled.
“I’m sorry I haven’t checked on you.” I knew Macabre had done his best to heal him, but after Talon passed away, I’d completely forgotten him. I loved Inferno deeply, but I’d stopped caring about everything.
I FEEL NO GRUDGE TOWARD YOU, CALISTA. GRIEF HAS SWALLOWED YOU WHOLE.
I gave a slight nod and felt the burn behind my eyes.
I DIDN’T CARE FOR TALON IN THE BEGINNING, BUT HE PROVED HIMSELF TO BE A RIGHTEOUS KING. I WILL HONOR HIM FOR AS LONG AS I LIVE.
“He—he was the best man I ever knew.”
HE WAS. WE’RE FREE BECAUSE OF HIM. I’VE FOUND MY SISTER BECAUSE OF HIM.
“That makes me happy…” As happy as I could be at the moment.
KHAZMUDA SAID YOU’RE RETURNING TO RIVIANA STAR.