Page 79 of The Dragon Queen

“Why?” Queen Eldinar asked.

“Because no living mortal can challenge Bahamut, God of the Underworld,” Riviana said. “He would slay every last one of you.”

A tremor of fear rushed through me, fearing something I’d never seen.

Queen Eldinar showed no sign of the terror I felt. “Revealing the gender of his unborn child is insufficient payment for what he did for you, with all due respect. He saved this realm, protected the souls who live here and reserved it for the souls who have yet to come, and he deserves to be free of eternal damnation. I will travel to the underworld and risk my life to free him of darkness. If that means I need to fight Bahamut myself, then so be it.”

The brunette drew closer to Riviana. “We don’t need you to defeat Bahamut. All we need is to free Talon from the underworld. His soul remains intact because of Khazmuda’s strength, so he’ll be free of Bahamut’s magic.”

“But he’ll still be dead.” Riviana looked at me. “I don’t think you realize that.”

The hope I’d felt for just a brief second burned in volcanic fire. “I—I still want him to be free.”

“His life was unfairly taken by Bahamut,” Queen Eldinar said. “If we free him from the underworld, you can restore his soul to his body.”

“I’ve never done that, Queen Eldinar,” Riviana said. “It’s not my place?—”

“But you can do it.” I stepped forward. “So please do it. Please…” I’d never seen so many people beg someone for anything.

Riviana took a quick scan of all of us, her composure still rigid with stoicism.

“It’s the right thing to do,” Queen Eldinar said. “You’ve been blessed with this power for a reason. Use it for good. Use it to right a wrong. Use it to save a hero who could have betrayed us and helped our enemies instead.”

Riviana took a heavy pause as she considered our pleas, but the hard expression she wore made it difficult to know her feelings. She seemed to make her decision because she sighed. “The answer is no. I’m sorry?—”

“You will not leave him there.” The brunette turned delirious. “You will not forsake him. You will not forsake a man who’s clearly beloved by all. He’s a king and deserves to die as a king, not as a servant to a fiend.” Tears poured down her cheeks. “Please…” She dropped to her knees in front of the god and bowed her head. “I will serve you in any way you wish.”

I stepped forward and did the same, moving to my knees in front of the only being who could give me what my heart desired most. “God of Caelum, we beg you. We all do.”

She stared down at me for a long second before she looked at Queen Eldinar next.

Queen Eldinar stood her ground—because she bowed to no one.

Riviana continued her stare.

I watched the silent battle between the two titans, waited to see the outcome of their strength.

Then Queen Eldinar took a knee before a god—and begged. “Please, God of Caelum. With our full hearts, we beg you to save the life and soul of Talon Rothschild.”

I stared at Riviana and waited for the answer I desired most, hoped that we could return Talon’s soul to his body, and if not, at least take it to the afterlife where he could live peacefully.

She straightened her spine before she gave a sigh. “I will grant your request. I will provide a path for you to travel to the underworld and retrieve Talon Rothschild. And if he chooses, I will restore his soul to his body. We don’t know what treachery or horror he’s witnessed below, so that decision must remain with him alone, so he may wish to pass on and heal in the potency of my light.”

Overwhelmed with gratitude, I hadn’t said a word since Riviana had granted our wish. My eyes were wet from shed and unshed tears. I was weak on my feet, my fingers numb at the prospect of getting Talon back.

Queen Eldinar moved her hand to my shoulder. “Are you alright, Calista?”

I snapped out of my reverie at her touch. “Yes.”

“Your eyes look hollow, like you’ve lost your sight.”

“It’s just…all of this is still unbelievable.”

She returned her hand to her side. “I know. In my long life, I’ve never seen anything like it. But then again, I’ve never known a man like Talon Rothschild. This mission will cause great peril to us all, but I will not abandon him, not when he wouldn’t abandon me.”

I nodded. “Do you think…he’ll choose to stay?”

Queen Eldinar stared at me.