Page 75 of Maleen

Before we can ask her to elaborate, she continues, “You both were meant to stay hidden until the war was finished. I told Calantha that it wouldn’t be possible, but she was determined. She made me swear not to come to her aid if she was captured, and I agreed. If the realm knew we were alive, it would have put a target on all of our heads. It was best if everyone thought the royal family—fae and dragon—all dead.”

I straighten my shoulders. “But why hide here? Would it have been such a bad thing to know the Queen was alive? She could have been saved. All of this could have ended years ago!”

The dragon’s gaze shifts to mine. “Because of the prophecy.

When death’s kissed stone once shattered becomes whole, the pale ones shall fall.

Only shadows of darkness can hold off death’s mist until fate deals death’s kiss.

A sacrifice of each power will be made or minds melding will enslave.

“The stone must stay separated; it can never be made whole. Keeping you hidden with a piece they would never find…” Her large eyes narrow as she searches for my necklace. “Where is it?”

“Safe,” I reply, feeling nauseous from hearing this so-called prophecy.

“You’d best hope it is, hatchling. Now ask your questions. I am tired, and have been waiting a long time for you to find me.”

I swallow and feel my bonds, letting them stabilize me. “Why are all the white dragons here? Why did you leave Phixmery? Why not come to Vathia where riders are needed?”

She lets out a sigh so heavy it’s almost as if she has spread the weight of the horrifying truth over us before she tells us. The emotions stagger from her through Vasari’s bond to me. “The Lords began to silently purge the white dragons. Dragonkind with warped minds began to be used for this purpose, and we realized that only those who could wield shadowflames were being killed. Mothers fled, some even unwillingly abandoning their eggs, and some never made it here. After the fall of your royals, it became worse. Your mother and I separated to keep our young safe. Vasari was left with the dragons of Phixmery so when the time was right, she could find you—but alas, it doesn’t seem to have worked out that way.”

Dragons around us shuffle and growl. “We are safe here, hidden. At least until now. Once the Lords find us, the purging will begin again, and you know why.”

My gaze turns over my shoulder to Aemon and Evisdor. “Because shadowflames are the only thing that can prevent the wraiths from causing destruction. But why not go after Evisdor? Surely the lords knew Aemon had bonded a white dragon? And why not Vasari, who can wield all dragon magick?”

Her massive tail thumps along the stone floor. “I do not know why this young one has been spared, other than Vathia’s protection. But as for Vasari, she is a royal dragon. I suspect they planned on using the Soul Stone on her to get your people to believe the Fates have chosen a new royal bloodline. Though I cannot be certain of this I do know that their plan relied on knowing Vasari’s whereabouts. I’m sorry for abandoning you, my fireling.”

Vasari shifts beneath me and I sense the turmoil in her before she calms. “I understand. A Queen has her duties, and you and the fae Queen did what you thought was right.” Her breath expels into the room, cutting the tension like a snapping cord.

I clear my throat. "So what now? Will you still hide here or will you fight with us? They have dragons on their side, and we need forces in the air to even stand a chance.”

The Queen dragon levels her heavy gaze on me but I don’t back down. We are the same, after all—maybe not in species, but we both have beings in our charge to protect.

I feel the nerves of my mates as they hold their breath.

“You may send warriors. Whether they bond or get feasted upon is up to the Fates. On one condition: that you do whatever it takes to destroy the Soul Stone. I will not risk dragonkind again in the future, if that Fates-forsaken stone is left forgotten in this realm only for some power hungry fae to start the wars all over again.”

I grin, letting a savage smile fall across my face. “Good thing that was already the plan.”

She snorts. “You’re so much like your mother,” she murmurs wistfully.

“Will you be seeing her again?” My throat grows thick but that doesn’t stop the emotion from leaking through the mental speech. “She’s not faring well. The healers say that she doesn’t have long.” Yet she seems to be clinging to life.

For the first time during our conversation with the Queen dragon I hear real grief and exhaustion in her voice. “I’ve done all I can to help my rider. We are tired. Our mates have passed on to the aether, and we wish to join them. I always stayed with Calantha. Begged to save her, but she gave up on life long ago. Her final wish was to keep her daughters safe, so I kept hidden and separate from her. For if the realm knew we were alive, he would have come for you in that village. Craven knew you were there and used your safety to keep her compliant. He threatened Vasari as well if I tried anything. They were keeping close tabs on her. Now you two are safe and have each other, so your mother’s last wish is fulfilled. I am now too weak to see her in person, and I do not need to. I’ll see my rider on the other side.” She tucks her long neck against her body, done with the conversation, hurting from what she has endured.

Tears spring to my eyes. She knew—they knew where I was the entire time. Forced her to endure whatever he was doing with her. The anger in me boils over, cracking my facade of calm and composure.

I slip into the shadows and appear at the base of the Queen dragons talons, placing my hand against her chest, and then my head. “I swear to you to protect Vasari and our realm. We will enact revenge for you both. This I promise.”

I vaguely hear my mates yelling in fear for me in the background, but I know in my heart that nothing bad will happen to me in the presence of Vasari’s mother. After all, I used to play with her as a fledgling.

Vasari moves behind me and presses her snout against her mother’s.

“Thank you, my hatchlings. I am tired now; go, bring your warriors and put a stop to the tyranny. I will not join; my energy is sapped. May the Fates guide your journey.”

I step back into the shadows and bend them to land delicately onto Vasari’s saddle.

Killian’s voice pushes into my mind, seething. “I thought we agreed you were not to get off Vasari’s back, Little Warrior.”