21. Drago

21

DRAGO

D rago didn't know what in the Seven Hells they were in for during "The Quenching," but whatever it was, he blamed himself. He never should have taken so much time to master his Drake—which was upset now all over again.

Grimly, he held onto it. As big as the Feasting Hall was, it wasn't big enough for a Drake the size of his. Even if there had been enough space for it, he couldn't let it out—it might hurt or kill Addison in its rage and eagerness to protect her! If only it had a mind—if only he could reason with it. But being a Primal Drake, it had nothing but base animal instincts. He couldn't trust it not to hurt the woman they both loved.

We'll just have to get through this somehow, he told himself as the guards surrounded them and marched them to the broad double doors that led to the Room of Sighs. Afterwards he would go to Commander Sylvan and admit his shortcomings and tell how he had failed to protect Addison. But for now, he had to do everything he could to help her through this strange experience.

He kept a protective arm around her, noting as he did that her small, curvy body felt hot—like she had some kind of fever. Was that the impending "Thirst" they'd all been talking about? Or was that just a load of bullshit, as the humans said, to scare her into going along with their bizarre ritual?

Drago didn't know. He only knew they were in the middle of a shit-storm and it seemed that the only way out of it was through it.

Goddess, help us! he prayed, directing his thoughts to the Mother of All Life, whom all Kindred worshipped. Help me to protect Addison and get her safely home again!

He heard no answer to his prayer but his Drake calmed somewhat, allowing him to relax some of his iron control and pay more attention to what was going on around him instead of focusing on the inside.

He would bring Addison home, alive and unharmed, he swore to himself. He didn't care what he had to do to manage it—what price he would have to pay. He would gladly pay it.

He had no idea just how high the price was…but he was about to find out.