Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 69119 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 346(@200wpm)___ 276(@250wpm)___ 230(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69119 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 346(@200wpm)___ 276(@250wpm)___ 230(@300wpm)
I popped up into a sitting position, heart thumping. Adelaide waited at my desk, filing her nails. Um, had she always been there or just arrived?
She glanced up from her task, skimmed her gaze over me without concern, and tsked. “The council members are waiting.”
Great. The meeting I’d called before I left. There wouldn’t be any resting. I struggled to my feet and tripped to the ensuite, calling, “Find out everything you can about Nyla’s dagger. The Yrnblade has made a reappearance.” No one researched better than Adelaide.
“Way to bury the lede,” she muttered, attention falling to her phone.
Certain she’d know every detail by the time I exited, I shut the bathroom door, hurried through a shower and changed into ink-washed leggings, armored at the shin, and tucked my feet into heavy boots soft enough to mask my approach, but with a reinforced toe that would make anyone regret advancing on me. I slipped a dark cami over my head and cinched a leather belt around my waist, its width gleaming with ornamental weapons. The functional ones I concealed in secret pockets. Then, I pulled on a flowing overcoat the color of charcoal, its high slit allowing perfect mobility.
A glance in the mirror revealed the wound had indeed healed. Zero evidence of my fight with the Locke remained. Not outwardly. Inwardly, my dragon continued to froth, eager to unleash upon the mortal. Worse, my strength had yet to fully return. A problem when facing men with betrayal on their minds.
Head high, I exited the bathroom. Adelaide was standing, typing on her phone, a crown of blackened, dragon-fire seared steel dangling from the crook of her arm. “Don’t forget the precious,” she said, tossing the headpiece my way.
Though my reflexes were currently offline, I caught it mid-air, careful of the curved spikes resembling talons, each tipped with glowing amber. I anchored it to my hair, instantly feeling the weight of centuries of obligation.
“Looks like someone scrubbed Yrnblade details from our annals, but don’t worry.” Glee filled her voice. “I’ll learn how to break its hold. I’m very good at finding what others wish to hide.”
The delay sucked, but I knew she would succeed. “Thank you. On both counts,” I told her with a regal nod.
She performed an elaborate curtsy. “Obviously, you owe me, and I’ll collect.”
“Obviously.”
We strode into a hallway that stretched through the heart of the castle. Carved pillars depicting dragons propped up the ceiling. Their bejeweled eyes had fascinated me as a child. Rich tapestries, portraits of kings and queens long past and curious artifacts collected through the centuries covered the walls, almost blocking the shimmering wallpaper that looked like dragon scales.
Per royal custom, my sister remained a step behind me, but that never prevented us from conversing.
“I didn’t spot the Chains of O upon your return, soooo what happened with the professor?” she asked as we turned a corner and descended a winding staircase, spiraled like a dragon’s tail.
“Well, he hit me with Skyrend toxin, then stabbed me with a mystical blade to ensure I forever crave him. Then he commanded me to kill him in my fire, so I’d endlessly desire what I cannot have.” I pushed the words from between clenched teeth.
“Sounds like an adorable meet-cute. So what’s next?”
“Honestly, I’m not sure where we landed on future plans. Who knows? Maybe he’ll decide to hunt me down to give murder another go, and we can solidify details then.”
“Smart.”
“Oh! I did learn something useful. He doesn’t have a twin.”
“That’s too bad, if he’s as cute as his pictures promise. We could have double-dated.”
I tossed her a glare, and she blew me a kiss with her middle finger. Then it was game time, and we both went stone-faced, projecting a cold determination known to clear battlefields. We entered the royal meeting room.
Vast and echoing due to its vaulted ceiling, the skyglass allowed views of the heavens. A must for any dragon. Ancient maps and weathered scrolls graced the walls, side-by-side electronic boards and large viewing screens. At its center stretched a massive solid-wood table, long enough to seat the ten members of my council, and me. Crystal chandeliers suspended from dragon-claw fixtures that bathed the room in an amber glow identical to the one emanating from my crown. Every inch of this space spoke of power and history and my place in it as the second ever to serve as regent.
My father, King Cedric, first ruled us. Once known as Drachensturm and The Storm. Then he became the first dragon-shifter. Their first king—and our greatest enemy.
The members of my council perched at the table, with only the chair at the head empty. Each man and a single woman stood in deference, some more reluctantly than others. They bowed their heads as I approached. Several had served under my father. A fact that should have disqualified them from future service, but they were elected, not chosen by me. Reason five million and twelve why I relied more on my sisters than my council.