A Kingdom of Ruin (Deliciously Dark Fairytales Book 3)(99)

Something about the look in her eyes and the power curling around her made my heart speed up and excitement drum through me. My dragon pushed closer to the surface, straining to get out, liking what she heard.

A little smile curved Ami’s lips. She nodded, almost imperceptibly.

“Waste of time,” Claudile grumbled, but I could hear the excitement in her tone, too. The eagerness to get fighting. To draw blood.

Maybe dragons were crazy, but fuck it if I didn’t want to play.

I couldn’t keep the grin from my face as Hannon rose from his chair and met me at the gate.

“Don’t bring anyone,” Ami called as we left and joined Micah on the lane. “Just you. And your brother.”

Micah shook his head a little as we headed back to the village center. “I wonder what her interest is in you. She’s known to everyone, but the three of them usually keep to themselves, and Ami only trains and flies beside a select few dragons. Allowing you two in is…unusual.” He glanced back, his expression troubled.

I shrugged. “I kinda forced my company on her.”

“Tending the plants, yeah.” Micah scratched his chin. “That’s probably it. She has a higher regard for those who do it well, and she is generally thought to be the best. She’s a good person to learn from.”

I crinkled my nose, indignation running through me. Regardless of my comparative youth, I was a master, same as them. I’d had to be.

Not like he would have any way of knowing that, I supposed. Before meeting me, he hadn’t known what crowded everlass could do. He hadn’t realized the significance of me knowing about it, and how even that set me apart from other dragons.

“Any news?” Hannon asked Micah.

“Not yet. They’ve heard my story, and the other escapees are spreading the same tale in their villages. Word is circulating, and there can be no doubt we’re telling the truth. There can be no doubt that the demons pose a problem to all of us, but we’re not the authority in this kingdom. To get the kingdom behind us, we need to appeal to the king and queen, and that will take weeks. Their deliberation will take even longer.”

“We don’t have weeks,” I said.

“We don’t, no.” Micah looked down on me as we neared the tavern. He stopped. “They are discussing two courses of action. The first is to send a representative to the king and queen to tell our story, and Elex has stepped forward. Given the look of him, he’s good for the role. The second is to help you. We’ve been spreading word that we’re going to help a fallen dragon kingdom in the clutches of sex-trafficking demons, and all volunteers are welcome. They’ve been warned that it will be dangerous.”

“That warning was probably a highlight for them,” Hannon said.

Micah laughed. “For many it was, yes. Vemar has not been quiet about his experiences. He’s taking Hadriel’s approach to the whole thing and shocking everyone with his directness. When they get over their shock, they listen, and surprise turns to rage.”

“What’s our timeline?” I asked.

Micah shook his head. “I don’t know yet. You have to remember that this is all new information for everyone here. We’ve only been here a few days, and most can’t seem to focus on the name Wyvern. I can’t. The curse or the magic is making it hard for us to discuss the situation. But we are mobilizing. You will have aid from us as well as the wolves and faeries. They’ll turn up.”

“Worst case,” Hannon said, “we force Govam to take down the magical locks on the portals and go that way.”

“If Dolion hasn’t gotten rid of the portals entirely. The officers aren’t around to make him new creations to send through. Why keep them open?”

“Because he needs a doorway, and that is it,” Hannon replied. “Otherwise he’d have to strip all the magic keeping Wyvern separate, and then what good is a curse?”

He was right. I knew he was right.

I nearly turned and went back to the everlass field and Ami’s house. I wanted to check on the elixir and then ask if they needed help with anything else. Anything to take my mind off my current situation.

Micah’s comforting hand drifted to my shoulder. “It’ll be okay,” he said softly. Shivers coated my body. “We’ll get through this. We’ll save your kingdom.” He hesitated for a moment. “If you want to come by my house…to get your mind off things, you’re welcome. It was left vacant. It’s still a little dusty, but it must be nicer than a tavern. I can make you a hot meal, and you can stretch out near the fire.”

Heat sparked in his eyes. Warmth soaked into my flesh from where his hand rested on my shoulder and then wormed through my body. My stomach fluttered and my heart started to quicken, making it a little difficult to breathe.

I blinked up at him, confused, shaken by my body’s reaction to his proximity and the heat pulsing off him. His power flirted with my dragon, drawing her closer to the surface, making her purr in appreciation.

A moment later, a strange feeling trickled through the bond, a mix of rage and understanding. Nyfain and his dragon sensed our reaction and knew it was to another man—his possessive dragon wanted to squash the threat to his claim.

Alarm replaced the heat, and I stepped back, dislodging the hand on my shoulder.

In another situation, sure, I would have been happy to get to know Micah. He seemed steadfast and loyal, and he clearly had the potential to excite my dragon. But Nyfain had my heart, and so I had zero interest in anyone else. I didn’t understand the stomach fluttering or the heat worming through my veins. I didn’t get why my body was reacting so differently than my head and heart.