31. Chapter 30

Chapter 30

Cyrus

M idas directs me to land before we cross the river into the Silver Horde's territory. The short flight gave me time to cool down, but my heart still pumps wildly, and I can't stop shaking.

The dragons with us, drop under the freeway and we all land, forming a small contingent hidden from human eyes.

"They're most likely holding her at their headquarters," Midas says. "It's not a big building, but it's heavily guarded. So we go in strong and draw them out."

"Wait." Anxious tension pulls my muscles taut and makes my chest ache. "I don't think that's the right play."

Everything in me wants to charge in and burn the Silver Horde to the ground once and for all. They took my parents from me and now they have my mate. But going in hot and heavy might get Finley killed. Or Midas. I can't let that happen.

It could also just reignite the wars that only recently stopped. The new queen of the Silver Horde seems different from her parents. I don't think she really wants a war.

Goddess, let this work.

I swallow my anger and tamp down on the deep-seated need for revenge. "I think we need to be more strategic."

Midas growls. "How can you say that? They have your mate!"

"That's exactly why I don't want to charge in there!" I force a breath. "Every time we fight the Silver Horde, we end up with casualties, and so do they. I don't think any of us want that. I don't think that's what Adrianna Ra'a wants either. If she wanted to start a war, she would have just killed Finley. She took her instead."

I look around the group. Damian. Aeson. Jethro. And many others I've known my whole life. I care about each of them and don't want them hurt. My gaze lands on Midas last. Midas, with a new baby at home. Midas, who always advised me to act with caution. Maybe I'm finally learning. Even if it makes every muscle in my body ache and vibrate in resistance.

"What do you suggest?" Midas asks through tight teeth .

"I want to go in alone."

"No." He shakes his head. "Absolutely not."

"Midas, listen to me." I sigh, feeling as if I'm seeing clearly for the first time in my life. "I don't want war with the Silver Horde." Not anymore. Not with my mate at stake. "I know you don't either. So let me go in alone. Let me talk to them, negotiate, find out what they want."

Just then, my phone vibrates in my pocket. I pull it out and look at the text message before holding it out so Midas can see.

Silver Ra'a: Your princess is quite entertaining, even if she has been poorly educated.

"Fuck." I hadn't thought about the implications of Finley spending time with the Silver Horde, but they have no reason to keep her in the dark about what we are. It should have come from me. I'd planned to tell her after the party. But then everything went wrong, and now she's in danger, surrounded by people who are probably blowing her mind with information and dismantling everything she's ever believed about the world. About me. Will she even want me now that she knows I' m a dragon?