When It Reigns (Cursed Reigns, #1)

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

Garrenth was a different type of cold. It was no wonder Zoran's demeanor was just as bitter as his hometown. The highest peaks on the Wrexial Mountains experienced brutal temperatures in the negatives all year round. I'd piled layers of clothing beneath the white mountain lion fur cloak secured around my torso and traded my leather, steel-toed boots in favor of a pair of boots made by the tough skin of the same animal. The head of the hauntingly beautiful mountain lion made up the hat adorning my head in an attempt to keep out some of the vicious chill.

Yet, the cold still managed to find a way to seep through the thick clothing and rattle my bones, making me shiver as Tanwen landed in Zoran's hometown close to midnight.

Promise me you won't hand me over to a summoner from Garrenth, Tanwen pleaded. Magma dragons don't do well in this climate.

"I'll see who is without a dragon in the Elemental Forces once I'm assigned to one of them," I said, peeking into the gaping cave Zoran had told me to meet him in front of. "They aren't faring well at the Voltant Isles and as morbid as it sounds, I don't think it should be too hard to find a dragonless Champion."

The Force, huh? Tauren and I both knew he'd be a Consul after graduation. I never even considered I'd be fighting in the war.

I patted the side of his face and dismounted, landing in the fluffy snow.

"A magma spewing dragon as fierce as you would be a huge asset to the war. Tauren would be proud."

Tanwen puffed a cloud of smoke from his nostrils in response, warming me with the fleeting blast of heat. The frosty temperature consumed me as the brief hot air gave in to the whipping winds. I hunched over and placed my hands on my thighs as I breathed deep.

"I'm not sure how much longer I can keep you summoned," I worried, "It takes more of my energy to summon you and Rays than Serene since I'm bonded to her."

"That's fine, you won't be needing him for what we'll be doing."

I jumped, whirling around as Zoran sauntered over, arms covered by a jacket for once. He had the fur-lined hood pulled over his head and it appeared to be tailored specifically for him. Two incisions the exact width of the base of his horns allowed them to poke through the dark fabric, and the coat hugged his broad build, accentuating the muscles of his biceps as he crossed his arms over his chest.

"The Test of Talons is all about compatibility – something we both struggle with. We'll practice with Serene another time since she'll be the third party of our union. In the meantime," Zoran said, flicking his head at the red dragon, "recall your third dragon. You and I have some bonding to do."

Tanwen's silver essence streamed into the red dragon scale as I rubbed it with a finger. Pocketing his scale, I looked up at the night sky and grumbled, "I can't wait."

An ominous breeze toyed with my hair and I rubbed my arms, looking out at the behemoth obsidian gates surrounding the Nyrial Empire. A distant shadow zipped over one of the high spikes as the wind howled in my ears. The shape moved so quick I wasn't sure I'd even seen anything. Double checking that my eyes weren't just deceiving me, I treaded over to the edge of the cliff and peered at the walls as I tried to track the dark silhouette. The ruby ring around my thumb flared bright red and warmed to a scorching pain. Cursing, I shook my hand to cool the burning sensation.

"What's wrong?" Zoran asked, appearing in front of me with his eyebrows drawn together under his hood.

"Nothing," I clipped, biting my lip as I shoved my hand in the pocket of my pants until the searing heat ceased.

Skeptical, his emerald eyes sparkled in the moonlight as he interrogated, "What did you see?"

"It was probably nothing. Let's just get this over with."