The Dragon Bond: Heirs of Lyra

Chapter 64

Shade was livid, pacing around their room furiously, his hands waving as he spoke. "Are you out of your mind, Princess?"

She sat on the edge of the bed, her hands folded in her lap. Her fate was decided. 

Shade stared at her, clearly expecting an answer to his absurd question. "I am never going to allow it."

Elysia glared at him. "Yes you will," her voice was firm. He may not agree with her decision, but he was going to accept it. "Once I tell my father the terms of the alliance, you will have no choice in the matter."

Shade clenched his fists, looking up at the ceiling as if to restrain his anger from releasing itself onto an unsuspecting wall. "Do you know what happens in a war, Princess?"

"No but I've always wondered," she said sarcastically. She didn't like the way Shade was speaking to her. As if she were ignorant. As if she had no idea what war entailed. 

Shade moved in front of her, his hands articulating his anger as he spoke, "This is not a game. Take it from someone who has been in many battles, this is not something you will survive. Do you understand that? Even if you do manage to escape with your life, you will not move on from this. Every life you take, every scream you hear, every person you see dying, it will change you."

"I understand the risks, Shade. Believe it or not, I have killed people before."

Shade's jaw tightened. "Have you ever killed a child before?"

Elysia leaned back, away from him. What kind of question was that?

"Because you will," Shade said firmly, "if you fight in this war you will have to kill innocent people. Women and children and anyone who gets in your way. Lots of kids pretend to be older than they are so they can fight. Women disguise themselves as men. When you pass through villages, civilians will attack you. They will fight for their land. To them, you are the enemy. Can you handle that, Princess?"

Elysia shook her head. She couldn't look at him any longer. Her eyes burned with tears as she fought to push them back. He would only see it as weakness. She already knew what war entailed, why did he have to paint so vivid a picture?

"I may end up doing unspeakable things," Elysia admitted darkly, "but at least my kingdom will have a chance of surviving. At least I will be fighting for a just cause. If Niebla wins, they will devour our lands. They will rid the world of every last dragon bond. Everything that I hold dear will be destroyed." She looked up into Shade's eyes, struggling to hold back tears of rage. "You don't have to tell me all the horrible things I will have to do. I already know. I accept my fate. This is my decision. My choice."

He stared at her, his entire body tightened with anger. Then he turned and stormed away, into the other room. He slammed the door, leaving her in cold silence. She wrapped her arms around herself, hugging her knees to her chest. Shade had been angry with her plenty of times. Never to this extent. 

She thought he of all people would understand. He was always so logical about things, cold and calculating. After she poisoned him and ran off, she thought he would be furious. Instead he was proud. Now she had gained an alliance, doing the only thing that could help her kingdom win the war, and Shade was enraged. She couldn't understand him. 

The wind howled outside, sending a gust of twirling air down the chimney. Shade was still gone. It was dark. The fire had faded long ago and Elysia was too despondent to rekindle it. She closed her eyes and lay back onto the pillows. 

She didn't want to sleep. Perhaps it was the relief of gaining an alliance, or the anger and hurt she felt over Shade, but when she closed her eyes once more she was pulled into sleep.