Firebolt (The Dragonian Series)(105)

I struggled to swallow. Blake saved my life.

“I never thought in a million years that Constance would be able to save you, Elena. You had lost a serious amount of blood, but here you are.”

“Is Blake─?” I couldn't say the word.

“He's alright. He was down for two days, but now you would think that nothing serious ever happened.”

I couldn't believe that he’d actually carried me, flying so fast that his heart could have exploded.

“The other Council members have been breathing down my neck asking me for answers, which I don't have. King Helmut tried to force it out of Lucian, not to mention the way Sir Robert threatened Blake and Samantha. The only thing they did deliver was a new King of Lion weapon. The Queen’s axes you had.” He frowned. “Cheng's theory turned out to be more than just an over active imagination.You can be glad that it carried some of King Albert’s blood, Elena; otherwise none of you would have been here. Now please, enlighten me on all the details. I think I've waited long enough.” He didn't sound pissed off, but there was something in his tone that told me he was done waiting and playing stupid teenage games.

I shivered just thinking about having to relive what had happened.

“It's my fault.”

“What is?” he asked with a softer tone.

“This mission. It was crazy, but for some reason I was more terrified of what would happen if the wall was destroyed.”

He took a huge breath.

“Cheng told me about the Sacred Cavern and the prize at the end when you finished.”

His head jolted up. “You went inside the Cavern?” Disbelief mixed with shock was all over his face.

“Yeah,” I said.

“Elena, you’re telling me that you are the sixth person that made it out alive?”

I nodded again and didn't understand why it was so hard for him to believe this. He always said the darker your mark, the more you will accomplish.

“I have the scar,” I said in an unsure tone. I mean, he was an ancient, and he should know what the scar looked like.

“I didn't think that you would have made it out alive. Do you know what could have happened if you didn't?” He raised his voice again.

My lower lip quivered.

He sighed deeply.

I swallowed my tears and carried on. “I had to know where the sword was. The council didn't make any progress, and at first, I was going to do it alone, but then Becky told Lucian and Lucian told Blake. It got out of hand, and where I was planning on a one-man mission, it became nine.”

“Which only eight returned back alive.”

“What!” My heart skipped a few beats before it started to drum inside my ear.

“Brian . . .” He couldn't finish his sentence and just shook his head.





Chapter Thirty-Three





Brian’s death would be on my conscience for as long as I lived. It was my fault that he was gone, and no amount of tears would bring him back.

This mission was a pretty dumb mistake. I should never have gone after that stupid sword in the first place.

No matter how brave Master Longwei thought I was at the end, I felt like a failure. I didn't save Brian, and it should've been me instead of him.

I told Constance that I didn't want to receive any visitors yet, and she respected my wishes.

Around eight, she dropped off a tray of food for me. I hadn't eaten anything in the past three days.

"Elena, you need to eat something, please?" She begged, and sat on the edge of my bed.

"That whole mission was for nothing," I said as new tears formed in my eyes. I'm so angry.

"It wasn't for nothing, Sweetheart. Brian didn't die for nothing. He died a hero, protecting his friends from pure evil. It's the code of the Metallic dragons and one King Albert believed with all his heart that the Chromatic carries too. This mission proved that, Elena."

The truth portion of my foretelling jumped into my head. At first, I thought it was about the King of Lion sword and Cheng's theory, but it could be this. That dragon was dragon, no matter the breed.

"It's still my fault he's dead."

"No, Elena, it's Goran's fault. You guys weren't prepared to fight a sorcerer like him. To be honest, it's a wonder that most of you came back alive. What you did for Paegeia last week, it shows the kind of courage that doesn't exist anymore; it's what makes a true Dragonian. But for your friends to follow you all the way on this mission that seemed crazy, that's what makes Kings and Queens."

Pins and needles ran over my body as she said those words.

"You need to get out of this bed and carry on with your life. Your friends need to see you, and you need them now more than ever, don't push them away. Brian wouldn't have wanted this for you." She gave me a soft kiss on my head and left.