Warriors of Wind and Ash (Merciless Dragons #2)

“Then I’ll leave the festivities early and walk the halls of the palace until I sense her or someone stops me. Whichever comes first.”

“And…” Aeris hesitates so long I know what she plans to ask. “If she’s truly linked to Rahzien? If she can’t leave?”

“Then we must find some way to break the spell, unravel the bond, dissolve the link. Whatever it takes.”

“I may have an idea where we would start with that.” She lowers her voice. “I haven’t told any of the others this, but… you’re not the first dragon I’ve met.”

“You encountered dragons during the war.” I nod grimly.

“No, that was different. I’m saying I’ve met a dragon. She was badly wounded, and she’s in the care of a sorcerer friend of mine—they’re both in hiding, because he doesn’t want to serve Vohrain with his magic, but—”

Heat flares through my body. I grip Aeris’s shoulders. “What the fuck did you say?”

“My friend, he’s hiding from the King—”

“No,” I choke out. “The other thing… you said she is in your friend’s care.”

“Yes, the dragon.”

“The dragon… is female?”

Aeris nods slowly. “I should have told you before, but I wasn’t sure I could trust you, and then I thought it might be too much, on top of everything else. But yes… there’s a female dragon here in Elekstan. One who survived the Supreme Sorcerer’s curse.”

14

“There, there.” The Vohrainian healer strokes my forehead with her soft palm. “Poor dove. Sweet thing. You’ll be alright soon.” She wipes my mouth and sets aside the bowl I just vomited into.

“I’ll be alright because I’m back in close proximity to the King,” I say faintly. “That’s what you mean, isn’t it?”

“Well, yes.”

“He poisoned me. You know that, don’t you?”

She nods sympathetically, hitching her embroidered shawl more closely around her shoulders. “Healers can’t purge poison, lovey.”

“I know.” I draw in a deep breath and release it as a long sigh. I’m in yet another room—an even plainer one this time, intended for the servants of palace guests. It’s a sign of the King’s disapproval with my escape attempt, but I’m fortunate he didn’t throw me in a cell. At least this bed is comfortable, though I would trade it for Kyreagan’s nest in a heartbeat.

“Thank you for your help,” I tell her. “Do you know how long the poison lasts? What if I get pregnant? Would it affect the baby? Who made the poison for the King?”

She darts an anxious glance at the bedroom door. “Your stomach should settle now. I’ll have the kitchen make you some good chicken broth. Try to drink it all when it arrives, and then get some sleep. The King has quite the evening planned for you tomorrow.”

After rinsing the vomit bowl in the bathing room, she hurries away. I don’t blame her for being too nervous to answer my questions. Rahzien must be a terrible man to serve.

He wasn’t lying about his access to magical poisons, or the link between us. And it follows, then, that he must have been telling the truth about the poisoning of the dragon clan.

Surely they’ll find a way to survive. They have Thelise with them on Ouroskelle—maybe she can counteract the magical poison. Kyreagan won’t die. Can’t die.

Parma brings me the broth. She’s sporting a large bruise on one cheekbone. “One of the guards,” she whispers when I ask her about it. “I didn’t bow to him.”

“Fuck these bastards,” I hiss under my breath.

“They say you tried to escape.” She looks at me tentatively, biting her lip.

“I did. But I’ve been poisoned, and the farther I get from the King, the sicker I become. I nearly died tonight. Could you check on Callim and Ondette for me? Make sure they’re alright, that no one saw them helping me.”

She nods and picks up the soup tray. “Try to sleep, my lady.”

“Not much chance of that.”