When It Reigns (Cursed Reigns, #1)

CHAPTER THIRTY

AERYN'S POV

Zoran squeezed my hand and dropped it, moving away. The cold weather swept in, cooling the blush staining my cheeks as Zoran's palpable heat vanished. The snowstorm picked up, pelting snow and hail at me in the whipping winds. 

I lifted an arm to shield my face from the icy assault just as he raised his palm to the sky, light blue glow illuminating his hand as he concentrated. The gray clouds broke apart, and snowflakes and chunks of ice paused in midair. He closed his fist, and the ice and snow melted around us, softening the sand underfoot with the innumerable drops. 

I was at a loss for words as I repeated Zoran's in my head. He believed I had heart even after I'd killed one of my best friends and two other innocent Draconians. 

"Well, if that wasn't the most encouraging and confrontational compliment I'd ever received," I groused. 

"I wasn't trying to flatter you, princess. It was a warning – one you must not take lightly. You are going to be my Champion, so you are my responsibility to deal with. You need to understand just how dire our situation is in the midst of this war." 

"You're speaking as if I'm some burden or liability you have to take care of in order to save your own skin." 

Zoran deadpanned, "That's exactly what I'm saying. Once we are bonded as Champions, the death of one of us results in the fatality of the other. I've already had to come to your aid too many times as it stands. To say I'm concerned is an understatement." 

"I'm going to go speak to my father. I'm sure he'll be able to bypass Hyrule's decision and pair us with other Champions," I said, turning away from him as I gestured for Serene to come over. 

The young, white dragon leapt up and padded over to me, lowering her neck once she reached me. Grabbing her horns, I hefted myself onto her neck and saluted Zoran as I was lifted higher than his tall stature. He shook his head and clicked his tongue, saying, "I am not saying I don't want to be your Champion. It's going to be a challenge, but the Test of Talons will determine whether we're as appropriate for each other as Hyrule seems to expect. And one last thing." 

"Hm?" 

"Be sure to tell the emperor his daughter has found her bond for life, and that bond is not going to be with Shade Cross," he said, watching as Serene took a few running steps and launched herself above his head. "As long as you're mine, you won't be handed over to the assassin." 

Serene beat her wings and carried us away from Clear Water, heading up the mountain towards the Nyrial Castle as I clenched my jaw. Zoran confused me with his cold demeanor only to heat up the fiery manner he regarded me with just moments later. 

I wasn't his, but I couldn't ignore the way heat flooded my entire body at the statement. I shook my head to clear my thoughts and attributed Zoran's possessive remark as due to our Champion status. I concentrated on the land below for the remainder of the flight until the ice castle came into view twenty minutes later. 

"Thanks, Serene," I said, patting the fuzzy spot between her horns as I slid off her neck and planted my feet on the slippery stairs. Rubbing her iridescent scale, I recalled her to the dragon realm to rest and rejuvenate her essence as I climbed the steps with two other scales in my pocket. The guards nodded at me in recognition and their dragons kept their snouts pointed outwards without acknowledging me. I pursed my lips, wondering just how grim the war was looking for the ice sculptures to be replaced by actual dragons now. I slipped by them and opened the heavy double doors of the castle as my heart picked up speed. 

I entered the flashy entranceway and scrunched my nose at the gaudy chandelier and tacky picture frames of past famous Draconians lining the walls along each staircase spiraling on both sides of the foyer. With a deep breath, I made my way up the four flights of stairs to my father's office and stopped at the door to calm down.