This is the meaning of my dreams. This is how I break my curse. By embracing the truth. I belong to the fae beasts. I never needed to fear them. The danger for me is that they drive away everyone who cares about me. My own family abandoned me because they knew that to keep me meant their destruction.
Alistair wants to use me to control them and expand his power.
There is nothing for me here.
I place one foot gingerly on the dragon’s tail and cling to one protruding spike. My skirt pulls taut and I almost lose my gripas the tail pulls me upward and mystupid awful dressdrags me down. Looking back, I find the prince clinging to the long train, trying to pull me off.
A large shard of glass sticks to the lace-festooned bodice. As awkward and precarious as the task is, I grasp it in my gloved hand and plunge it into the straining fabric. With a great tearing sound, I’m free and flying through the broken window out into the sky.
All the fae beasts roar their welcome.
But clinging to the dragon’s tail is difficult. The spikes are sharp, and my dress acts like a sail in the wind. Nor can the animal use its tail to steer properly. We soar awkwardly over the strangely empty streets of Belterre City as the monsters gathered at the castle take wing and follow us.
The last thing I see as I look down for one dizzying moment is Queen Isadora on an executioner’s platform in the private courtyard, throwing back her head and laughing as she crumbles into dust in the morning sunlight.
I throw my head back and laugh, too. The curse is broken.
32
Killian
Too late.
My horse’s hooves beat the ground in a steady drumbeat of fear.
Doesn’t matter if I am too late. I’m not leaving without her. Not unless Briar asks me to.
Outside the city’s walls, I drag my horse to a halt. He’s flecked with froth.
The gates to the city are barred. A manticore prowls the stone barrier, seeking entry. Atop the wall, archers train their bows on the beast.
I swing down from my flagging horse and pull open the enormous double doors with a loud protest.
First, I have to get past the manticore. Then the gate. Then into the city.
I am totally going to lose my nuts today. I’m a knight, not a stealthy assassin. There’s no way I can sneak in without getting caught.
“Fuck,” I mutter under my breath.
But seconds later, a huge shape soars over the walls, causing the guards to cower and the manticore to halt its prowling.
A dragon. A bigger one than the one I saw in the forest. Female, judging by the dull sheen of its scales. I’ll bet the smaller one is its hatchling.
The beast careens wildly from side to side. A white speck clings to its tail. Once they’re past the wall, it descends into the field beside the road.
I slide off my anxious horse.
The dragon drops heavily to the ground.
She casts a baleful glare at my armor.
Comprehension dawns. I drop to one knee.
“I killed your mate.”
Now she’s keeping mine from me in retaliation.
She slinks forward. My horse whinnies and backs away. I can’t spare him a thought, not with my head bent and the dragon’s hot breath chuffing across my neck. Slowly, I unfasten the armor. Placing it in a pile, I push it forward.
