Chapter 31 #2
“I’d have you do what I command,” Viktor bellowed.
“My patience has run out. If you fail to obey me tonight, I swear to you, Nephew, I will destroy every person you ever cared about. Not just your consort but also your cousin. And your mother.” He leaned forward, with a cruel smile.
“Your pathetic, traitorous mother, who I have kept alive solely for your sake. Your friends. Every person who has ever paid you a single kindness. All will die in throes of agony. For I warn you, Nephew, my limits have been reached. You will do as I ask.”
I flinched. “Why not do it yourself? We both know what you’re really capable of. Or are you too much of a coward?”
Viktor hissed.
Professor Allenvale’s voice cut through the tumult, tight with terror. “Blake, please. Stand down. I don’t know quite what’s going on here, but let him kill me if he must. Better me than the city.”
“She’ll die, yes.” Viktor’s eyes were still on me, not even sparing Allenvale a glance.
“They all will. First her, then your blightborn whore. The girl is useless to you now that she has no dragon. Her heart is weak. She holds you back, I see that now. Without her, you’ll be who you were meant to be.
No mercy and no regret. You’ll rule by my side, the heir of your true father. ”
I gritted my teeth as he mentioned my father.
“Now, transform. Be the dragon you were meant to be,”Viktor ordered.“The solider of my right hand.Your flame at my command.”
Inside, my heartbeat thundered. “I won’t burn Veilmar,” I said slowly. “I won’t be your monster.”
Viktor stared down at me. “Then, we shall begin with smaller fires.” He snapped his fingers, and Quinn gave Allenvale a vicious shove—sending her toppling straight into Cade’s reach.
The professor screamed. Cade’s chains jangled, and he grabbed for her, his teeth burying deep into the flesh of her shoulder.
I shouted, hearing Pendragon and Theo doing the same, but Allenvale’s screams of pain and terror drowned us all out.
Cade pulled her down to the ground, worrying at the wound like a dog twisting a bird’s neck.
Crimson flooded the purple velvet of her coat.
I felt sick as I watched her being slowly devoured.
Highblood, are you? Softblood, more like. You would stand helpless while your mate trembles in another’s grip?
My breath caught. Vorago?
I waited, highblood. Waited to taste your marrow. Waited to weigh your worth. Yet you would let carrion feast on your mate while you bargain with tyrants.
The red beast I’d thought dead slammed against my ribs, rattling the bars to get out, and I gasped. You’re alive. You fucking lied to me.
A rumble of mirth. I offered release for us both. No one compelled you. You chose to speak the words.
I recalled what I’d said: The elder burns and the younger fades away. A chill spread over me. What the fuck have you done to me?
Cade was still feeding, the sounds wet and sloppy. Allenvale wasn’t dead yet. Her cries of agony were unbearable to hear.
I won’t let her die. But I won’t destroy the city—I can’t. Those people are innocent. It would be a massacre.
She is your mate. She is my rider. You have no choice.
She’s not yours. You are not me. You were never supposed to be here. I drew a ragged breath, tasting iron, balanced on a knife’s edge.
Enough, Vorago hissed. If you will not defend what is ours, I will.
Scales erupted across my arms like a spreading tide. I screamed as my bones split and lengthened, talons shredding through my skin. Cries of terror ricocheted off the walls as I began to grow and transform. The Bloodguards near me stepped back.
Viktor’s eyes lit up, then he moved like lightning. One moment he was on the dais, the next he was at Pendragon’s side, his hands digging into the soft flesh of her arms. The old fucker wasn’t taking any chances.
Pendragon’s eyes were wide and disbelieving as my body morphed and changed. “Blake?”
“I’m sorry,” I managed—and then my jaw cracked wide, tearing into a muzzle of red scales and white fangs.
My spine arched, bursting outwards into ridges of scarlet plates.
Wings tore from my shoulders, slamming against chandeliers and breaking open windows with the force of their gust. I fought for control, clawing at the torrent of power swelling through my veins.
But Vorago slammed my will aside. My consciousness hung, helpless, in his grasp.
Allenvale stared up at us, Cade still slurping from her open body. She was dead and yet not: No one should have to go through what she was enduring.
I felt Vorago’s gaze fix upon her, and for a moment, my pity briefly permeated his mind. Our maw opened. White-hot flame spread forth, engulfing Cade and the professor. The two bodies vanished in incandescent heat.
Not Veilmar, I pleaded, hope momentarily rising at the way Vorago had granted Allenvale a mercy killing. There must be another way. Give me more time. Transform back. I’ll persuade Viktor to let Pendragon go, or I’ll kill him myself.
You’ve had your chance, youngling. Cities fall, Vorago answered, placidly. Our rider is irreplaceable. Your uncle wishes to have a monster at his fingertips. Let him reap what he has sown. Better a monster with teeth than a princeling with empty hands.
I felt him shift his massive bulk, claws cracking the stones beneath us like glass. He dipped his enormous head down to Pen-dragon, a breath of heat blowing back her hair, and for a moment, we stared at one another. Me through his eyes.
Pendragon’s lips parted, trembling. She tried to lift a hand to touch my snout, but Viktor dragged her back.
I saw the fear in her eyes.The pain, the hurt.
I steeled my heart. But was it even still mine, or was it Vorago’s?
I’d sworn never to let Viktor hurt her again.
If I had to trade my soul for the city, burn the sky to ash to keep her breathing, then in this moment, the bargain was struck.
I would light my own pyre with dragon fire if it meant keeping her safe.
She deserved to live far more than I did.
Vorago’s wings opened with a thunderous crack. Leaping forward, he smashed through the wall of the refectory, stone exploding around us, and we vaulted into the open sky.