a Robbi
r than thunder, vibrating through the thick crystal pa
ring the throbbing pain in my lower body,
eet below, the bustling crowds of merchants, commone
eople dropped to their knees, pressing their faces aga
e city was compl
their scales shimmering with an incandescent crimson-gold hue that
ale Sub-
, possessing wingspans broad enough t
side the city walls a
to the air, creating a hurricane of wind that ripped banners from their poles and shatter
t my lips before I even
ed behind his back, his eyes fixed on the c
t know how to knock,
ron-reinforced doors of the outer cor
rebounded as half a dozen figures strode into the Grand Sun Suite, c
ont walke
g cloak of dark gold trimmed with black fur, her lon
ished Dragonslayer Gold, and at her hip
ng, terrifying wave of pure dragonfire t
ess Germai
s the room and locked onto my face, the lethal, te
d dead in
e leather riding gloves,
s she took in my hollow cheeks, my matted hair, and th
clad in dark plate armor, his face weathered by decades of war-f
Thanks to Eben's initial introduct
ight-blue robes and silver cuffs of the K
ild, fire-red hair, the insignia of the Royal T
f them
s burning into me with an intensity that
single, shudderi
her voice cracking int
le word shattered whatever defensive shell I ha
the Grand Duchess crossed the vas
ful, armored arms wrapped around my shoulde
stplate, burying her face
guttural and wild, tearing from the depths of her s
ed on pur
a sudden touch meant a shove, a ba
hands clenched into tight fists, my bod
of her tears soaking through my cheap
elle
he cleanest, hottest dragonfire I had ever known-a scent that called to s
rest on the back of my head, pre
ms wrapping around both of us, his great chest heaving as silent, hea
bled, his deep voice breaking like cracking stone. "E
of cold cellars, cruel laughter, and Kraig's c
ing sound tore
ne's cloak, and I buried my face in the curve of her neck, weeping with
h me, holding me cradled in her lap as if I were still th
s, my hair, over and over, murmuring
d, their eyes bloodshot, their jaws clench
nd, his fingers lightly brushing a str
is fierce, boyish face contorted with grief.
ds cupping my face, her thumbs gently
y the rough collar of my dress, then to my bloodstained hem, a
face hardened into an expressio
lethal, freezing whisper that made the hair on my arms stand up.
g in my mouth.Finally, I simply recounte
ploding forge tore
ed with pure, crim
ite with static heat, his hand snapping to
voice a guttural dragon roar as he turned toward the door.
fingers slowly tightening around the pommel of his ceremonial blade. "
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