The Last Dragon King (Kings of Avalier #1)(52)

His magic was dying without an heir—something I could give him. Something I wanted to give him. He looked at me and I felt an intangible bond form between us. It was hard to explain but it was as if something knitted together, tying my fate to his.

Maker help me, I prayed. Where Drae was concerned I was sure of nothing, only that I wanted to be true to myself first and foremost. I wanted to be loved, adored, wanted.

‘Let’s fly,’ he said. ‘For Joslyn.’

‘For Joslyn,’ I agreed.

I kicked off the ground and flew west with my mind replaying the best kiss I’d ever had in my life. Would every kiss with him be like that? Was it just because it was new and exciting and… forbidden? I shouldn’t be kissing a betrothed king. A king who is now mourning the loss of his future wife.

But was he mourning? He didn’t seem to be. He respected Joslyn but he seemed angrier about her death than sad. Still, it was inappropriate timing and I felt awful. Why would I kiss a man who said nothing when Regina called me the backup? That was the biggest reason of all not to kiss him ever again. These thoughts warred in my mind as we flew towards a fate unknown.





SIXTEEN





We flew low over the Nightfall border, hiding within a dense bed of fog. I’d never been to this part of the realm before, and although I was on a mission I was also sightseeing in a way. Once we reached their main gate, we flew higher into the sky to avoid their detection.

The Nightfall realm had more glass and metal than I had seen in my entire life. Mechanical horseless carriages with lamps in front of them rolled down the streets. And even though it was nighttime, everything was lit up. But there was no flame or fire, it was… a different type of light. A soft, constant glow. The buildings were expertly made. Glass, brick, and metal. All the lines were straight, nothing looked jagged or pieced-together hastily. I regretted to admit it was beautiful, a sight to behold.

Soldiers were stationed everywhere, two on every corner, and they all held different killing contraptions. Metal weapons with projectiles loaded into them. Arrow throwers, spear throwers, and one even had a flame burning from the tip. Fire thrower?

What was this place? A place of invention and technology the likes of which I couldn’t imagine in my wildest dreams… or nightmares. It was as if the queen wanted to expunge the realm of magic and then use her machines and metal to become magical humans.

‘The queen’s beloved eldest son lives outside Nightfall Castle in his own fort.’ Drae’s voice pierced my mind, pulling me from my thoughts.

‘How do you know?’ I asked as we veered left, away from the bright lights of a far-off castle and towards a smaller village.

‘Spies,’ was all he said.

The kiss we’d shared lingered between us. I didn’t know how to act in front of him now. He’d saved my life by heating me up when I’d been freezing, but I didn’t feel thankful. I felt angry that he told Cal and all of the other guards not to date me. He casually accepted Regina’s referral to me as his backup, and then just so casually mentioned that he wanted me within minutes of Joslyn’s death. Did he refer to me as a backup with Regina and not a member of his Royal Guard, not a friend? Because that’s what hurt the most.

I was an insurance policy.

Smoke began to leak from my nostrils and the king’s black head swiveled in my direction. I snuffed out the fire and faced forward, ready to just focus on the task at hand.

Avenge Joslyn.

It still didn’t feel real, that she was gone, that her soul had left her body.

‘I should have protected her. What a lousy Royal Guard I make,’ I muttered to Drae.

He peered over at me. ‘Lousy Royal Guard? What about the dozen guards the Nightfall soldiers passed when they broke into my palace? Regina is beside herself that she didn’t do her job. You did more than anyone. You killed them.’

I hadn’t thought of how Regina might be taking this. How upset she would be that as the leader of the Drayken she allowed two outsiders to break in and kill the king’s betrothed. Not to mention the fact that she’d had a spy within her ranks and never knew.

I kept quiet after that, realizing that this affected more than just me. Though I was confident that out of everyone, I knew Joslyn the best and cared for her the most.

‘Go low, into that mist,’ the king said suddenly, and dropped. I lowered myself with him and then we were flying in a damp white haze.

“That outcrop of trees…” Regina said.

I peered to the left to see that just inside the fort’s gates was a small orchard. We stayed in the mist, passing over the fence, and then when we were directly over the trees Drae dropped suddenly, as if his wings had broken.

‘Drop quickly so that you aren’t seen, and then pump your wings last minute to lessen the impact,’ the king said.

Fear gripped me at such a fall. It reminded me of the time the wind had tumbled me to the ground and I’d been severely injured.

I circled the orchard, still hidden in the mist, terror consuming me. What if I didn’t fall fast enough and the guards saw us? Or what if I fell too fast and then I killed Regina, who was attached to a basket on my back? I circled for a good minute, tearing myself in two with anxiety, when Regina reached out and stroked my head. “You got this. I’ll be okay. I’ve tumbled and dove from King Valdren’s back many times.”