When It Reigns (Cursed Reigns, #1)

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

Zoran's shoulders sagged in relief, and he flashed his dimple with a grin, dipping back under the radiant water as I removed the heavy garment. I swiped the mountain lion hat from my head and peeled off the remaining layers of clothing until I'd stripped down to just the fingerless gloves blocking the power I lacked. Once those were off, I pushed my pile of clothes near Zoran's as a wintry draft entered the cave, causing goosebumps to break out across my pale skin. I kept the throwing stars strapped to the inside of my wrists, as well as my dagger sheathed on my thigh, but abandoned Racquel's topaz knives with my clothing.

I made it halfway down the steps to a wide platform right as Zoran's head breached the surface again. I threw myself off the step and plunged in the deep water. It surged over my head, submerging my body in a warm embrace. I opened my eyes, awe stricken by the bacteria shining a bright teal to light up the entire cavernous pool and even more surprised by the tiny creatures swimming between the vines of microbes.

The animals ranged in colors with long tails and four limbs ending with webbed paws to propel them through the water in quick dashes. Spots of the bioluminescence lined their spines and swishing tails. They were so small that I could hold one in my hand if it allowed me to.

I kicked my legs and pumped my arms to bring my head above the water. Zoran was looking at me with an expectant look on his face as I shoved back the thick throngs of hair plastered to my cheeks.

"What are those?" I asked, tapping the surface of the water with a finger. "The little things swimming all around us."

He smiled. "Those are Dracnae."

"Dracnae? How come I've never heard of them before?"

Zoran made a clicking noise with his tongue and one of the aquatic dragons swam into his floating palm. It twisted its neck and looked up at him with inquisitiveness as it settled down on his Insignia, sweeping its tail around its violet body. Small wings were tucked against its back as it closed its eyes. Zoran petted the creature using his thumb to rub the center of its head and down the length of its back.

"This cave was discovered when we first moved to the Wrexial Mountains after the bomb that made the Phoenixians go extinct forced us away from Aramore. There were several nests of frozen dragon eggs spaced throughout the cave. We've been suspecting the fallout from the explosion caused this mutation to the dragon eggs that were buried in this nursery before we arrived. The eggs were frozen over the past five decades until this river eroded through the rock and created this hot spring that thawed them out a few months ago. It seems like the bacteria must have gotten into the eggs to cause the mutation," he said, admiring the Dracnae sleeping in his hand.

"Does my father know about these...Dracnae? And what are these bacteria doing to us if it altered these dragons so much?"

"I've been here countless times before and I'm fine. I told my mother about them, so it's only a matter of time before she tells the emperor. I strongly advised against it because I'm sure they'll be used for the war effort since we can barely cross the Forbidden Seas infested with other mutated creatures without the use of dragons. Once matured, I'm sure these Dracnae would be a huge asset in the water, but they are far too young and small to do any substantial damage and risk dying for naught."

Zoran swept his arm toward me with his fingers splayed open, the resting Dracnae sound asleep. "You must keep them a secret, princess. They are too vulnerable as they are right now."

"Why are you showing them to me if you're worried that I'm going to tell my father about them and end up putting them in danger?"

"Remember what I said about your heart, princess? Plus, I asked if you trusted me, and you got in the water with me as your way of saying you do. Now, I'm trusting you to keep this secret."