Chapter 11 - What Selene Woke
Eighteen years earlier, Selene had been pregnant with Mara and desperate.
King Edric, Rowan’s father, had ordered every suspected Drakeborn arrested. Selene’s husband had already been hanged.
“I went below the palace because I thought the dragon king could protect us,” she said.
Mara stared at her. “Did he?”
“For a price.”
Selene opened her palm.
The black scale twitched.
“He gave me enough power to escape execution. In return, I carried a piece of his magic inside me.”
Mara understood before Selene finished.
“And I inherited it.”
“Yes.”
“That’s why he can enter my mind.”
“Yes.”
Rowan looked sick. “Can the scale break the connection?”
Selene shook her head. “It can lead us to the heart of it.”
Tessa folded her arms. “Meaning?”
“Meaning we go back.”
Mara laughed once. “Back to the city where half the population wants to burn my child?”
Selene met her eyes. “If we run, Varrik will keep calling her. When she grows stronger, she’ll answer without meaning to.”
“Varrik?”
“The dragon king’s name.”
The moment Selene said it, Elara screamed.
The black scale flared hot.
Brin knocked it from Selene’s hand.
Too late.
A shadow raced across the ravine.
Everyone looked up.
A red dragon dropped from the clouds.
Archers fired.
“Hold!” Mara shouted.
The creature landed on the cliff edge hard enough to crack stone.
It did not attack.
Instead, it lowered its enormous head.
A rider climbed down from its back.
He was young, thin, and covered in silver scales from throat to fingertips.
Tessa raised her sword.
“Name yourself.”
The stranger bowed to Mara.
“Kael of the Ember Clans.”
Mara held Elara tighter. “Why are you here?”
“Because Varrik has sent word to every dragon still alive.”
Selene whispered, “What word?”
Kael looked at the child.
“The heir has been born.”
Rowan stepped forward. “She is not his heir.”
Kael’s expression was grim.
“Then you’d better reach the palace before the dragons decide she is.”
Mara glanced toward the distant city.
“How long do we have?”
Kael looked at the moon.
“Until midnight.”
“And then?”
May you like
He met Mara’s eyes.
“Every dragon in the north will kneel to whoever holds your daughter.”
