We had been at this all week, and yet, no one had any information of value. Day after day, failure after failure. How many more of these could I take?
One of themsniffled,like a gods-damned child. He lifted his head, his blue eyes wide as he looked at me.
“Please, Your Majesty,” he begged, his voice cracking as tears ran down his cheeks. “We don’t know where it is. I’ve personally dispatched stewards to every single village in my land. None of them have any knowledge of a map.”
The others whispered their agreement, echoing the sniffling lord’s story with slight variations.
A growl rumbled through my chest, and my knuckles turned white as I gripped the armrest. “Then you areuseless. Just like everyone else.”
“Please—”
I didn’t even wait to see which one of the failures spoke. Crimson ribbons flooded out of me, washing over the lords in a magical, deadly wave. I clenched my fist and smiled as their screams filled the air. My magic tore their bodies apart from the inside out, covering the floor and walls in red.
It was oddly beautiful, the sight of death. Like an artist’s strokes on a canvas, blood coated the throne room, reminding everyone who was in charge.
At least my magic wasn’t failing me. No.
My magic and my dragon were the only two trustworthy things in my life. Even Ranor, though he was proving competent in the bedroom, would never earn my trust.
I had learned long ago never to trust anyone but myself.
When the lords were no longer a problem, I shook my head. There was only one place left to search. Anger surged through me, and I slammed my fist into my throne.
“Your Majesty?” a Winged Soldier standing nearby asked.
“Everyone is failing me,” I snarled, smoke billowing from my mouth.
He paled. “Yes, Your Majesty.”
At least he didn’t deny it.
Storming off my dais, I shook my head. “I suppose if I want things done right, I will have to do them myself.” Wading through the rivers of blood, I went to the doors, yanking them open.
“Ranor!” I screamed.
The Winged Soldier materialized from the shadows. His face paled as he took in the crimson stains on my gown, but to his credit, his voice did not shake when he said, “Yes, my queen?”
“We are leaving this wretched place.” I turned, my bloody black gown sweeping behind me and leaving trails of death as I stormed through the halls. Servants scurried out of the way, their faces turning white as they caught sight of me.
Good.
Everyone should fear the Dragon Queen.
His hurried footsteps followed me. “Leaving?”
Good gods. All males were the same. Idiots. Even though Ranor had proven himself to be loyal and adequate in bed—two qualities which I found useful, at least for the moment—he was still as incompetent as the rest of his kind.
“Yes,” I said snidely. “Leaving. No one else can tell me where the map leading to my amulet is, so I’m going to find it myself.” I stopped, looking him in the eye. “Are you a coward like the others, Ranor? Or will you follow me?”
His eyes widened, and his throat bobbed. He snapped his wings behind his back, shaking his head. “Not at all, Your Majesty. I shall follow you to the ends of the Four Kingdoms.”
“Good.” I walked away from him as I went to hunt down the Captain of the Guard. “Pack my bags and meet me on the roof. We shall depart within the hour.”
* * *
The wintery windblew tendrils of hair in front of my eyes as I stared at the gathered guards. Fifty Winged Soldiers stood before me, their arms crossed and their wings tight against their backs as they waited for my direction.
None of them, not even Ranor, dared look at me. I walked over the black vines crawling over the roof, my footsteps echoing in the afternoon air.