Cassarah #2
By the time I was done speaking, I was standing behind her chair.
With my magic holding her in place, I reached out and settled my hand on her head.
Closing my eyes, I forced my magic into her, causing her to thrash about.
I felt something tug on my power, and I let it pull me under.
I found myself in something similar to being in Vasin’s shared-mind space.
Only, instead of bright light and warmth, it was cold and gray with shadows lurking about, reaching out, trying to wrap me up in them.
My Birthright began to glow in a shield around me, blocking the tendrils from latching onto me.
“Well, if it isn’t the little Dragon Queen herself,” Henry drawled as he appeared out of the shadows.
“I have to admit, I’m impressed you figured out about my little spy here.
It was the king, wasn’t it? I figured he might catch on one day.
If it weren’t more work to kill him than to let him live, I would’ve dealt with it long ago. ”
“What did you hope to gain from this?” I asked, still feeling like I didn’t see the bigger picture. “If you had her under your hold, why not just take Creisal for yourself already?”
“That’s the question, isn’t it?” he mused as he circled me. “What makes you think I’m going to tell you just because you asked?”
Shrugging my shoulders, I turned, keeping him in my sight at all times. “It’s always worth asking. If you tell me, then I’ve gained knowledge, but if not, then I really haven’t lost anything either.”
“You think you’re so clever, don’t you? Most of my plans you haven’t figured out until it’s too late to do something.
Then you dare to lure me right to you? Like I would ever be foolish enough to send my dragon if I thought it would kill me,” he scoffed.
“Xotha already died once. The connection we have in that way has been broken and can’t be used against us.
Why do you think I did the spell in the first place?
I couldn’t risk someone else figuring that out and trying what you did. ”
“The more I deal with you, the closer I get to figuring you out. This war won’t end with you being the victor, I can promise you that,” I vowed. “Even if that means sacrificing my life to make it happen, I refuse to live in a world with you in power.”
Henry stepped up into my face. “Bold words, little queen. Do you have the courage to back them up? Are you willing to do whatever it takes to bring me down because between me and you, I have nothing to lose?”
“See, this is where you and I differ. I might have the most to lose, but that also means I have the most to fight for. Come at me with all you have, Lost King, and I will meet you head-on with the power of everyone I love backing me up,” I taunted.
“The dragons chose me, the fates blessed me, and I wear the crown of the dragon throne, not you. The kings of old knew this day would come, and here I am, ready to wipe you off the face of the earth.”
Henry tossed back his head and laughed. “You believe those wives’ tales that the Dragon Queen was foretold centuries before?”
“Yes, and so do you. Otherwise, I never would have been seen as a threat to you,” I argued.
“Since you found out who I was, you’ve tried to kill or remove me from becoming who I am now.
While you might be used to dealing with stubborn, pig-headed nobles who can’t see past their noses, I always look at the bigger picture.
I warned you the more I know, the more I see.
Richard told you who I was, the lost who’s been found, pair-bonded to a black dragon in the time when evil is rising.
If I’d had any doubt, you, Henry, have confirmed it every step of the way. ”
“Stop calling me that,” he snarled. “I am a king. Do not speak to me as if we are equals because we most certainly are not. I might not be able to capture your mind in this place, but remember how close I was once before, and I’ll do it again.
Distance is your greatest ally right now, but when we meet on the battlefield, I will turn all those people you love against you. ”
“The fates saw to that as well,” I murmured as I reached out, calling to Paxton.
I could feel the mark on my chest warm, making me believe he could feel me.
“I will be taking the queen’s mind back from you as I leave this place.
Creisal is now officially an ally, and even if she might not like me, I will stand by our agreement and save her all the same. Until we meet on the battlefield…”
“No. No, you can’t do that,” Henry’s scream echoed as I was yanked out of his magical hold and back into my body.
When I opened my eyes, I found myself wrapped up on Paxton’s lap.
His arms held me tightly as he slightly shuddered, his breath coming in quick, panicked bursts.
Queen Catharine wasn’t in her chair, and as I looked around, I found her on the couch with King Thomas kneeling beside her, placing a cool cloth on her head.
Sitting up, I looked into Paxton’s worried eyes, confused. “What happened?”
“I should be the one asking you that, Cassarah. What the fuck were you thinking?” he snapped. “I almost couldn’t get you out. He’d hidden you so deeply I almost couldn’t find you.”
“What are you talking about? I was with him for only a few minutes?” I countered.
Pax shook his head. “No, Cassarah, you were under for almost an hour.”