Page 238 of Burn Her They Said
Varic stares at his own blood-bound beast. “Agreed.”
Lars shifts where he stands. “This is how we save her from him.”
“No,” Malin begins. “Because if this were a viable option, the Dragons would have already called for her to blood-bond with one of them.”
Varic turns to face Malin with a squeeze of my hand. “You think they’re aware of how he treats her?”
“They know more than we can ever fathom.” Malin’s voice is assured as he stares forward.
What he says is true. The Dragon’s neural network is something we can only imagine, without any way to ever truly understand it.
Minea’s voice booms in our minds, and we each lift our gaze to give him our full attention. “When our Elders deem a magical being worthy of bonding with one of our kind in a blood-bonding ceremony, we mean the words, promising the bond is ‘til death.”
The Emperor sways where he crouches on one knee, being the only sorcerer blood-bound to a Dragon without approval from the Elders. The only one they would never deem worthy. Who was only honored with the opportunity to blood-bond with Kresmea through the privilege of his ancestry.
A sly smile works its way up one side of my face, because this same clause which protects my Guards does not apply to the Emperor. Then my face falls just as quickly, because it does not matter, since we can never bring about the bloodshed removing him would result in.
Lars leans in to whisper, “If only this meant harm to the Emperor would not result in the Dragons’ reign.” I solemnly nod with the rest of my Guards.
Minea raises his head, increasing the sensation of fear pulsing through my veins as the giant being tilts his emerald head to the side before righting it. “The result of the Emperor’s death is not for us Dragons to reign.”
My pulse pounds with Minea’s voice booming in my skull while I study the tyrant’s reaction, though the message must have only been projected to my Guards and myself, as he merely seems impatient.
“The accords state that when he dies, his reign will pass down the line of succession like any other Emperor, with his title being afforded to an heir, or heir apparent.”
“But he doesn’t have an heir,” Varic whispers.
“He has not yet named his heir,” Sutrea projects.
My Guards and I stand frozen until Varic grips my hand harder. “So you are saying he has an heir; he simply has not named him.” Sutrea remains silent, which we all must take as confirmation, as Varic adds, “The fucking snatcher.”
“He’s been lying to us,” Cirrin says.
Fray shakes his head. “All these years.”
Lars cracks his knuckles in two tightly held fists. “He made us believe our survival depended on his protection.”
Malin stares at where our sniveling ruler remains on his knees. “Or else we’d all die under the reign of the Dragons.”
I swallow against the knot forming with the wish that Hendry were here to learn this. What might he have done, should this correction have been made in front of him? After years of holding back, when it was obvious he wanted to obliterate the Emperor every time he hurt me, yet he consistently suppressed his need due to the belief he was doing the best thing for every citizen.
“Meaning, we have a real chance at giving our citizens the right to a better life with this revelation,” I say under my breath as each of my Guards turns and considers me, no doubt recognizing my use of Hendry’s maxim.
“Your army failed to protect my mother’s blood-bonded sorcerer,” Minea accuses the Emperor, while his eyes meet mine at the mention of Hendry, though his gaze is knowing rather than sympathetic, and my chest constricts as I try to recall his choice of wording. “You require the strongest force sorcerer to guard Imperial Grand Witch Tasch because the military, which you claim to be the most powerful, is obviously inept when it comes to preventing such virulent attacks.”
The Emperor’s throat bobs as he silently takes his chiding.
“You inappropriately focus on trivial matters,” Sutrea says. “Wasting your power to threaten the one sorcerer capable of protecting Ampara Deicra’s greatest asset.”
“Your leadership tactics confound us,” Lucrea admits. “Explain what benefit your Empire derives by threatening Imperial Lead Guard Varic?” His deep ruby eyes study His Majesty, looming closer over the railing. “And how exactly does his affection for Imperial Grand Witch Tasch endanger her?” Varic and I spare a quick glance at each other as our cheeks pinken. “For we perceive their connection to be an asset, while in agreement her safety is paramount.”
My pulse pounds in my ears as it becomes apparent that every being in attendance has long recognized our connection.
“What impact would your citizens suffer were you to make the mistake of bringing harm to Imperial Lead Guard Varic?” Brea asks, and I shudder from her bone-rattling timbre.
“Did you think we would not learn of it?” Sutrea asks.
“Do you think we do not know what you attempted in Annovia?” Minea rejoins the conversation as His Majesty opens and promptly closes his mouth. “Do you think our blood-bonds are so weak we cannot sense when one of our own is in danger?”
