Chapter Seventy-Nine #3
“If I understand correctly, the Emperor can threaten me and cause me all the harm he wishes without repercussions.”
Minea’s eyes fall closed and my pulse pounds in my ears as I await confirmation.
“You are correct,” Minea says.
Warmth casts over my shoulder as Varic places his hand there before stepping around me to address his blood-bound Dragon.
“Then have your Elders approve Tasch to bond with one of your kind.”
Minea’s nostrils flare as he pulls in a breath. “She would need to be appointed to a position requiring a blood-bond with a Dragon, as stated in the accords.”
“You’re fucking serious?” Varic squares his shoulders before advancing on the enormous beast before us. “The most powerful beings in existence cannot make an exception for the witch enduring abuse from the ruler appointed by your ancestor’s agreement with a long-dead sorcerer?”
Minea lowers his head for emphasis. “We do not need to agree for it to be the rule.”
“Fine. So these accords allow for the sorcerer in power to harm anyone not blood-bound to a Dragon by Elder approval, but what happens if any of us harm the Emperor?”
Sutrea glides closer and stares at Varic until he meets her gaze. “Those consequences are determined by your own laws.” Her wizened voice makes that fact seem so much more sinister than it is.
“Which means his heir would take over?” Varic asks, only to be met with silence.
Frustration prickles up my skin as the Dragons refuse to explain any further.
“So we are meant to wait and learn what is to come of our Empire once the Emperor expires?” I shift my gaze between each of the Dragons hovering.
“All in due time,” Lucrea projects, his wizened voice resounding in my mind.
Lars steps away to stride over to Dranea.
“Should we climb on your backs and leave, then?” Dranea releases a breath and turns to Sutrea when Lars adds, “We cannot keep Tasch here. Knowing the Emperor, he will go straight for her the next time he’s angry—which is nearly constant now, despite Tasch continuing to mitigate his moods. ”
“You may stay in the dens until it is time to meet with your source,” Minea offers.
“I’ll be fine.” My voice rings true as all eyes land on my being. “I’ve survived twenty-six years under his command; what’s two more nights?”
Raki drops down to rest over the curve of my shoulder, and I tense every muscle in my body to prevent anyone from detecting the shiver rolling down my spine.
“He will be more on edge than usual after being reprimanded by a band of Dragons.” Varic’s expression is pained as he seems to consider all this might mean for my safety.
“He will be even more cruel toward you—commanding you to use your magic in worse ways than usual, just to prove he can. To remind himself he still wields some form of power after his importance has been called into question.”
“It’s better than asking the Dragons to risk a war between their kind by taking us to another land, or to hide out in their dens.
” I hold my head high as I deliver the message they all need to hear from me.
“I am well-versed in how the Emperor must use me to prove his worth.” Brea and Sutrea grumble while they all pin their attention on me.
“I can survive two more nights of his games.”
Varic tenses his fingers and encourages me to look at him. “I don’t like this.” His eyes search mine, and I cannot bring myself to argue back.
“Is there somewhere else we could easily survive until it is time to meet with your source? As far as I understand, we are at war with every bordering land aside from Annovia. And while Fray could fly me there faster, the rest of us would be separated.”
“She speaks the truth,” Minea says. “The only safe option would be to hide in our dens.”
“He isn’t going to kill me in the next two days.” I stare into Varic’s eyes, imploring.
Varic drops his head and folds his arms around my body, squeezing me tightly as he releases a breath over the opposite shoulder from where Raki watches.
My lungs fill with his warm spice scent, then every muscle in my body tenses with the thought that this is the way we embraced just before the Emperor stormed through those doors.
Yet the longer he holds me, even the tiny spy digging his talons into my shoulders cannot keep me from melting into him.
I revel in the warmth of his body without blocking it.
Without keeping myself from accepting his comfort.
He slowly releases his hold to share a meaningful look with each of the sorcerers he leads. “We stick to the plan.”
Varic turns and bows to Minea, and we all mirror him.
Then the giant green beast lets out a roar as he frees his talons from the railing and careens to the side before pumping his wings to soar further off.
Awe strikes my chest as every other Dragon follows after him, and my heart leaps when they let out a roar in response as they all glide in a wide arc.
The magnificence of the moment is short-lived as a collective deep breath rolls through us and we prepare to survive the night like we have every one before this.