Total pages in book: 129
Estimated words: 127722 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 639(@200wpm)___ 511(@250wpm)___ 426(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 127722 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 639(@200wpm)___ 511(@250wpm)___ 426(@300wpm)
“I refuse to accept that answer,” I said. “There’s more—and he’s going to help us find it.”
“Wait…” Ian rubbed the back of his neck as he kept his eyes on the floor. “Could he be Necrosis?”
The thought hadn’t occurred to me, and once he suggested it, a rock dropped into my stomach. My eyes went back to my sister. “Elora?”
“I mean, he didn’t look like Necrosis. He wasn’t covered with black spots or anything…”
“They only wear those marks when they’re weak,” I said. “Their features tend to be more prominent. Did you notice that?”
“He did have sharp features, but so do the two of you.” Her eyes switched back and forth between us. “So that doesn’t mean anything.”
“Guess not,” Ian said.
“Elora, when he approaches you again, you need to get everything out of him this time,” I said. “Ian, you should stick close by while I’m gone.”
“Gone?” Ian asked. “I’m coming with you.”
“Mother and I will leave to take Delacroix,” I said. “That means you’ll be in charge of HeartHolme while we’re gone.”
“Commander Dawson can take the position,” Ian argued. “Now that the battle has been won, I need to return to the outpost anyway.”
“Those are the queen’s orders, Ian.” Ian showed great leadership in the battle against Necrosis, and he was the right person to oversee HeartHolme in the queen’s absence. He lacked confidence in himself, born from years of disapproval from our mother. “You’re the best person for the job.”
Ian didn’t argue anymore, but he looked disappointed.
“We’ll be leaving soon,” I said. “So, I need you to do something for me, Elora.”
“Sure,” she said. “Anything you need.”
“I need you to make armor.”
She looked me up and down even though I wasn’t wearing any. “You already have my best design. I haven’t made any improvements since.”
“It’s not for me.”
Her eyes narrowed, probably thinking of Ivory.
“It’s for the dragons.”
When I walked in the door, she was sitting at the kitchen table eating the leftover bacon and toast that was still sitting in the pan. In one of my shirts that fit her like a blanket, she had one leg propped up her chair while the other rested on the floor. “You know I don’t like waking up to you being gone.”
“That’s why I made you breakfast.” I approached the table then leaned down and kissed her.
She stilled at the affection before she gave me a kiss back.
“What?”
“What?” she said back.
I pulled out the chair and sat down. “You hesitated.”
“We’ve just never done that before. You know, kiss goodbye, kiss when we see each other…”
With my arm over the back of the chair, I stared at her.
“Not that I don’t like it…”
“You have a funny way of showing it.”
“It’s just weird, you know? To think of where we started…and where we are now.”
“I never think about where we started. Doesn’t matter anymore.” She had no resemblance to the man who’d taken everything from me. She didn’t remind me of everything I lost. My mother and sister were still in that place, but I hadn’t been there for a long time. “When you’re finished, I need you to help me with something.”
“What is it?”
“Elora is going to make armor for the dragons. Need to get them fitted.”
She was about to take another bite of her toast when she hesitated. “She can do that?”
“Elora can do anything.”
“You think the dragons need it?”
“I think if they’re the last free dragons, we need to do whatever we can to protect them.”
“No argument there.” She abandoned her food and got to her feet. “Let me get dressed and we’ll go—”
I yanked her onto my lap then pulled her into my chest.
Her arms were around my neck, her fingers in the back of my hair. Her lips landed on mine with the softness of a rose petal, and her fingers fisted my strands instinctively. She could feel my hardness underneath her, because she rolled her hips slightly, playing with it. “I guess there’s no rush, right?”
Pyre and Storm emerged once we approached the cavern. Their scales immediately shone in the sunlight, dark green and cobalt blue. They both dipped their heads to examine us, and Pyre rubbed his hard cheek against Ivory in greeting.
Storm was cold like me—and preferred to stare. They’ve fed us well.
“Those were my orders.”
But we wish to fly.
“You can fly at night.”
I want to fly in the daylight.
“Soon.”
Ivory laughed at something Pyre said, and I didn’t think dragons could smile, but he smiled at her.
“We’re going to outfit you with armor,” I said. “Do you have any objections?”
Armor?
Pyre turned to me.
“My sister is a blacksmith. The best blacksmith I’ve ever seen. She’s made the armor and weapons for our army that have protected us all our battles. She’ll protect you as well.”
Has she made dragon armor before?
“No. But I assure you, she can do it.”