by Emma Hamm
“Apparently, there are more Beastkin here than I knew about.”
“You’ll tell me when to collect them from now on, and keep them safe until I arrive.” She made certain her voice was firm enough to convey how important this was. He might not abandon his kingdom, and so be it. But she wouldn’t allow him to hunt her people anymore. Otherwise, she would return for them all and raze the city in her search.
He saw the fight in her eyes, because he blew out a frustrated breath and knowledge. “I’ll do my best. I can’t save them all, Sigrid. Someone will catch me, and then we’ll all burn.”
“A dragon cannot burn.”
She turned on her heel and made her way back to the balcony. It was a long way down, but far enough that she might be able to carry the child on her back. A little one couldn’t be expected to fly the entire way to Wildewyn. Perhaps she might even sleep a little. The Bymerian Beastkin had said her neck was quite comfortable on their journey.
A’dab tucked a cold hand into Sigrid’s neck and stared up at the sky. “Are we leaving now?” she asked.
“We are.”
“Sigrid,” Nadir’s voice drifted onto the balcony.
She set her teeth, telling herself not to look back. Only temptation awaited there, and she had to go. But she glanced over her shoulder anyway.
Light silhouetted his form, turning strands of his dark hair red with fire. Yellow eyes stared back at her, and she knew what lingered in their depths. She would miss him, too.
But that was not their story.
“How many of you are there now?” he asked again.
“Hundreds. All the Beastkin in Wildewyn are now under my command. The Bymerians remain under Jabbar’s.”
“You know we call him the butcher here.”
She nodded. “I’ve heard the name. I understand he’s killed many of your people. Humans are very weak.”
“He hasn’t just killed humans. He’s sacrificed Beastkin when the time seemed right. He doesn’t care if people die, Sigrid. Ask him all you want; he’ll tell you the stories. He’s proud of them.”
The words would likely haunt her, but she didn’t have time to dwell on their meaning. She’d always known Jabbar may be up to something. She’d seen it in his dark gaze before. That didn’t mean he wasn’t the right person to help her lead. The men already followed him. And soon, there would be a council to help both of them.
If they made it that long. Her brows furrowed, fear settling in her stomach. “I’ll ask him.”
“Think hard if that’s the kind of man you want at your side,” Nadir replied. “As much as I’m leading this fight for the Bymerians, I don’t want to see you harmed.”
“Nor I you.”
Sigrid turned before she did something foolish, like cry or return to his side. She perched the little girl on the balcony, and she seemed to understand what Sigrid wanted. With a flying leap, Sigrid vaulted over the edge and plummeted through thin air.
It was easy to let the dragon take over this time, even as she silently waited for a white dove to settle on her back. The dragon didn’t feel as strongly as she did.
But, as she flew back to Wildewyn, even the dragon let out a haunting cry as she left her mate behind.
About the Author
Emma Hamm grew up in a small town surrounded by trees and animals. She writes strong, confident, powerful women who aren't afraid to grow and make mistakes. Her books will always be a little bit feminist, and are geared towards empowering both men and women to be comfortable in their own skin.
