The Dragon Queen (Death #4)

33. Talon

Chapter 33

Talon

Upon Khazmuda’s back, we left the Riviana Star and flew across the sea, a fleet of dragons behind us above the clouds in the sunlight and the moonlight. When we arrived at the Kingdom of the Southern Isles, it was dawn.

Khazmuda landed in the courtyard, the trees burned to the ground, the stakes still erected on a pile of ash, half of the castle destroyed. It was once a glorious place, but it’d been stripped to a graveyard of stone.

I left Khazmuda’s back and walked to the edge of the cliff to look down at the village. There was damage below, but most of the city had remained intact during the battle, the fighting taking place in the sky.

It had been strange to return here the first time, but it felt right the second time. The place would never be exactly as I remembered it, but perhaps it could be better.

Calista came to my side but remained quiet, giving me a moment to soak it all in.

Free of revenge and self-hatred, I was able to stand there and appreciate the breeze on my face, savor the sunlight as it tanned my skin. It’d been a long time since I’d known peace, so long it took me moments to recognize that it had returned.

Calista turned and stared at the side of my face, watching me overlook the kingdom that had been pried from my hands.

I turned and met her look.

A hint of a smile was on her lips, a love in her eyes that reminded me of the way my mother used to look at me. “Where should we start?”

I focused on the aspect of the kingdom that had been severely neglected—and that was the people. They had been starved, with no resources, and I opened the gates so people could come and go as they pleased. I ordered every able-bodied sailor to fish in the sea and feed everyone in the Southern Isles. The crops had died and the livestock withered, but the ocean was right on their doorstep. Barron had cared more about containing his citizens than letting them sail from the harbor to fish.

It was maddening.

Now that the dark elves had been slain, Calista helped the farmers work the fields, tilling the soil and planting seeds in the hope they would grow. The castle was in ruins, so Calista and I slept in a tent in the courtyard, but prioritizing my palace felt selfish under the circumstances. Once I took care of the people, I knew they would take care of me.

“Your Majesty, we have someone at the docks who wishes to speak with you.” The soldiers had already accepted my leadership even though I hadn’t been coronated. When I returned with the dragons, the authority was automatically granted to me.

I stood at the edge of the city before the docks, watching the sailors bring their catch to market—where it would be given freely. Currency was banned for the moment, and everyone worked to bring society back to its former shine. “Lead the way.”

He walked down the stone pathway that hugged the cliff, moving closer to the port and the line of docks. When we approached a galleon made of dark timber and black sails, a smile crept on to my lips.

He stood on the pier, in his black cutlass with the holes in the arm, his tanned skin leathered from a lifetime at sea. He wore his hat, a rip in the flap from an enemy’s sword. His mouth started in a soft smile before it widened to a grin. “King Talon Rothschild of the Southern Isles—among us peasants.”

I smirked as I walked up to him, seeing the blue eyes that looked like the sea.

He stared back, his eyes flicking back and forth, emotion so potent he didn’t need to speak.

My heart hurt, but it never felt so free.

“I heard rumors that the rightful king had returned to his throne. Had to see it myself.”

“Here I stand a king—but forever a pirate.”

His smile slowly started to fade. “You’re a better king than you ever were a pirate, Talon. You always had more integrity than the rest of us. Always cared more about people than treasure. I thought you were weak—but then I realized I was wrong.”

I expected him to ask how I had returned from the dead, how I stood before him as a man rather than a ghost, but he never did. “There’s a place for you here—all of you—if you wish to take it.”

“And serve a pompous prick like you?” He grinned. “I’ll pass. My heart belongs at sea—until the day it claims it.”

I smiled back. “You’re always welcome to visit. And don’t be surprised when you see a black dragon headed for the Hideaway for a visit.”

“I look forward to it, Talon,” he said. “So, what’s next for the Southern Isles?”

“A lot of damage was done, and not just in the battle. I’m working to repair all the destruction Barron caused these decent people. It’ll take a long time to mend what was broken, but one day, this place will be whole again.”

“You’re already a better king than your predecessors.”

My eyes flicked away at the compliment. “The coronation is a week from today—as well as the wedding.”

He smirked again, the playfulness reaching his eyes. “She’ll be a fine bride.”

“But a better queen,” I said. “It would mean a lot to have you at my side.”

He gave a slight shake of his head. “Like I would miss it, Dragon King.”

My eyes narrowed slightly at his words.

“That’s what they call you,” he said. “And I like it a lot more than King Rothschild…far less pretentious.”

I smirked at the taunt.

He came closer and gripped me by the shoulder. “To them, you’re the Dragon King, Ruler of the Southern Isles. But to me, you’ll always be the best sailor I’ve ever had—and an even greater friend.”

I stood at the edge of the cliff, all the citizens of the Southern Isles gathered below, present to watch their king be crowned. My heart was full with the people there, with Khazmuda as he stood in the back of the courtyard, with all the dragons that watched from their positions in the air. I expected to feel the twinge of despair, standing in the place where my family had died, but I felt nothing but peace.

I’d changed my uniform, shedding the one I’d worn as the Death King because that identity had been replaced long ago. Now I wore the crest of my family’s name on my chest—but it’d been changed to include dragons surrounding it, marking the union and alliance of our races.

I felt no unease or uncertainty. Taking the responsibility as king was a heavy burden because the entire kingdom and its citizens rested upon my shoulders, but I found it surprisingly light…because I’d already been carrying it all this time.

Ethan came to my side and got my attention before he nodded behind me.

My eyes remained on his for a moment before I turned to look down at the parting in the crowd.

Calista walked to me with her uncle at her side, wearing a uniform that matched mine except it had been made into a sleeved dress. Silhouettes of dragons were sewn into the material of her gown, a subtle texture that enhanced her appearance. With the confidence of a dragon, she walked to me, eyes locked on mine with a hint of a smile, like she was as touched by my appearance as I was by hers.

An eternity passed as she made her way to me, the train of her gown trailing behind her, a symbol of a new beginning, a future that looked brighter than the sun. When she came to me, she looked up into my eyes, that warmth all over her face, her love and devotion written like words in permanent ink.

Queen Eldinar stood at the edge of the cliff, in a crisp white gown with a crown of dragon scales in her hands, all donated by the dragons that had come to watch me become king. “Talon Rothschild, the fifteenth of his name, I crown you king.” She lifted the crown and gently placed it upon my head. “King Talon Rothschild, Ruler of the Southern Isles—the Dragon King.”

“Roooaaaaarrrr!”

“Rooooooaaaaarrrrrr!”

“Roooooaaaaarrr!”

“Rooooaaaaaaarrr!”

The dragons that hovered in the skies released their mighty roars that echoed off the cliffs and stretched far across the lands and open sea. It was so loud that the cheers of the crowd below could hardly be heard.

Calista’s eyes watered as she watched them continue their powerful roars, welcoming me as the rightful king to the throne, our alliance deeper than convenience, full of love and respect.

It was a sight I would never forget, a feeling I would hold in my heart as long as I lived. For the first time, I let myself accept what I’d earned—knowing I deserved it. Knowing no one else deserved it more than me.

“Roooaaaaarrrr!”

“Rooooooaaaaarrrrrr!”

“Roooooaaaaarrr!”

“Rooooaaaaaaarrr!”

I turned to Calista, the woman who’d taken my heart when I’d thought there was nothing to give, who saw in me what I didn’t see in myself. My heart was full of the love that I had for her, and my heart would grow so I could love her more. “I take Calista Laurier, Princess of Scorpion Valley, to be my wife—the Queen of the Southern Isles—the Dragon Queen.” I raised my palm to her. “If she’ll have me.”

With watery eyes and a trembling lip, she took my hand and squeezed it. “I will have you for as long as I live.”

I pulled her into me and released her hand so I could slide my arm across her lower back. I tugged her into me, forced her onto her tiptoes, and kissed her in front of the kingdom, in front of the soldiers who served me, in front of the people and the dragons who had made this moment possible.

“Roooaaaaarrrr!”

“Rooooooaaaaarrrrrr!”

“Roooooaaaaarrr!”

“Rooooaaaaaaarrr!”