Song of the fireborn

ng I noticed was the cold floor beneath me-smooth like marble but with a strange warmth seeping

m was m

a room.

cate carvings, displayed massive dragons-some with wings spread in flight, others curling around mountains, their fierce eyes burning even in stone. Large columns lined the hall, coiling

lowed

e wa

hed in my grip. My body ached, my head spinni

I saw

ar end of the hall, watchin

st beautiful man

. His skin, a deep, polished bronze, gleamed under the lanterns. But it was his eyes that sen

kles, and a sleeveless top of deep crimson that draped elegantly over his frame, leaving his arms bare. Golden embroidery curled along the edges of the fabric, almost like dragon scales

a king, and h

rments, their eyes watching me with barely concealed curiosit

hem, the man and woman w

feet, my pulse th

hrone, their piercing green eye

wed up m

, stepping back, searching th

, but I forced myself to stand tall. "

the throne chuckled,

that sent another shiver through me. He leaned forward, resting his chin aga

"I want to

slightly, his exp

e so casual it made my

lin

at

d. "The door is right behind you. Go back to yo

s tone made my

, heart

ssive, gilded, standing at

nd, I dare

en

, voice colder now, "you

roz

turned bac

irk wa

now, his sheer presence filling the room. "And yet, here

ted my

ring," I snappe

ching a brow. His blue eyes flicked

the strap. I hated how sm

said again, more firmly. "

ession d

think you're trouble? Your kind already

kind? What are yo

oice like thunder, "kille

ent deathl

rom my face as his fists

ice heavy with something unreadable-rage, pain, something

back, shaki

? I-I d

there was no humor in it. "No. Of course

y eye in the room pressin

ge," he said, his voice lowering. "Be

in a shar

the f

in my ears. I

o

his blue eyes flashed, an