Oracle (Dragon Oracle Book 1)
Page 12
“So?”
“Like I said previously, dragon politics are complicated at best and annoyingly archaic the rest of the time. Sure, everyone knows the other family is allied with our opposing faction, but we have to prove it and even then, there’s a whole trial that has to happen to decide if anyone gets punished.”
“Really? So, someone tries to kill you, a prince, and there are no repercussions?!”
“Technically, they weren’t trying to kill me. Just to take you and either distract or incapacitate me in the process. Yeah, not exactly something that I’m pleased with, but not the most heinous of crimes in our culture.”
“Well, your culture sucks!” I crossed my arms and fumed. “So, after all the pain I went through, after literally breaking my skull, you’re saying that nothing will happen?”
“Not necessarily,” he continued. “There will be a trial and both my grandfather and his court expect to prove beyond a reasonable doubt to the rest of the dragon nobility that the faction in this city that would cling to the old ways has gone too far. We just have to wait for all of our leaders to arrive or send emissaries in their stead.”
“Oh, is that all?” The idea did appease me a bit. I liked the idea of those that had hurt me facing justice. “Do you think any of these royals have my sister?”
“It’s hard to say. Part of me hopes that they are just in hiding and the men I sent are surprisingly skilled at evading magical detection.”
“Yeah, well, that’s not a very logical part of you then.”
“I know, but a little hope never hurt anyone. We will find your sister, I promise.”
“You had better. Otherwise, I will make you sorry you ever dragged me into this world. I don’t know what comes with being a seer, but I will dedicate all of it to making you sorry.”
He nodded gravely. “I understand and I wouldn’t expect any less. My word is my bond. We will get her back to you.”
I heaved a breath and felt myself settle. I was still upset, still torn apart at the thought that I didn’t know where Mickey was or if she was okay, but there wasn’t much I could do while I was injured and in bed.
“I think I’d like that walk now.”
“Of course.” Bron smiled brightly and offered his arms to help me up. Instead, I turned to Mallory and let her aid me in getting to my feet. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to touch the dragon, but I couldn’t help but be wary of him. So much had happened since we had met that I didn’t really have time to figure out what I actually thought of him.
He didn’t seem to take the slight to heart, however, and proceeded to lead us along, explaining different rooms and halls and architecture as we went along.
It was…nice. After the maelstrom I had been through, it was nice to do something as casual as strolling along with my weight supported by my friend.
Eventually, we reached some sort of balcony that hung out over the front drive, beautiful flowers winding around the railings.
“Does this thing actually have a purpose?” I asked. “Or is this more rich people foolishness?”
“It’s a balcony!” he countered, sounding like he was holding back a laugh. “It’s for having tea when the weather is lovely.”
“Or being outside without having to touch the actual ground like us peasants,” Mallory muttered under her breath.
I snickered to myself, and looked out at the view.
It actually was quite beautiful. I could see the alabaster walls of the mansion far ahead, and the meticulously polished cobblestones of the drive as it led up to the landing. The fountains, the sprawling green lawn, the workers busy doing whatever it was they were supposed to do. I could even make out midnight black limo roaring closer to the sprawling mansion.
“That one of the royals?” I asked, gaze narrowing.
“Probably,” Bron admitted. Hopefully, it was one of the friendlier ones.
I watched, waiting for whoever it was to make their grand reveal. Even with them chugging along at a good pace, it still took them nearly five minutes to pull up, park, have the chauffer get out, and cross around to open the door.
At first, I saw only a designer shoe exit, polished to a high shine and more expensive than all of my belongings combined. A leg followed it, then another foot, until the visitor finally stood outside of his car.
He was tall, I couldn’t exactly tell how tall considering I was so far away, but I guessed he was around Bron’s height. He also looked to be close to our age. He had shockingly red hair that was brushed back into wild and messy braids, with colored beads dotting them. His head tilted, and lavender eyes met mine, cutting through the distance between us like it wasn’t there.
It felt like lightning had struck me, making every single cell in my body charge with electricity. Suddenly, my visions started to replay themselves. Bron fighting on that open field, an unknown figure pummeling him. Both of us in the dungeon, that same figure holding my shoulder and threatening us. Except that form—the shapeless, shadowy face that I hadn’t known—wasn’t so impossible to discern anymore. I knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that the man standing below me was the tormenter in my visions.
“Who is that?” I gasped, voice refusing to come out of my throat.
“Oh! That’s Baelfyre,” Bron said, sending me a casual grin. He didn’t know. He couldn’t know. “He’s my cousin, very far removed. I think you’ll like him.”
As I looked down into that cold, cold gaze, I knew I absolutely wouldn’t. The only question was, how was I going to tell Bron that one of his family was plotting to kill him?
THANK YOU
Thank you so much for reading Oracle, the first book in the Dragon Oracle series. Things are just getting started for Davie as she learns about the underground world of dragons and other creatures that most people think are only myth. In the next book, she will be thrown full scale into the underworld battle for supremacy. I really enjoy hearing what readers think so if you could leave a review for me on Amazon, that would be really cool.
The next book in the series is called New Reality and is available on Amazon.
Get New Reality here:
amazon.com/dp/B079QLGD7W/
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