Total pages in book: 155
Estimated words: 142916 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 715(@200wpm)___ 572(@250wpm)___ 476(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 142916 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 715(@200wpm)___ 572(@250wpm)___ 476(@300wpm)
Szelem didn’t turn his head toward Benedek. He merely lifted his eyelid to stare at Benedek with one soulful, intelligent eye. “You would have slain the vampire. Both might have died, but you would never have succumbed until he was gone from this world.”
Szelem spoke with utter confidence, as if there were no question he was right.
Benedek was polite enough to give the dragon’s words weight. Szelem rarely spoke, and when he did, he only spoke truth as he knew it.
“I would like to believe you are right, ainaakfél,” he said. “I would like to believe I could have held on long enough to take him with me. He was powerful.”
“You have grown powerful. Power isn’t good or evil, Benedek. The one wielding it chooses good or evil. They can choose to be honorable and do what they can for others, or they can choose to be selfish and get whatever they can in any manner possible. The question you must ask yourself is why you suppress your power when you have always followed an honorable code. Why do you think you would suddenly choose to stray from your code, especially now, when you have found your lifemate?”
The ancient dragon always asked the hard questions—and yet…perhaps the issues weren’t as difficult as Benedek made them out to be. Szelem often told him he overthought things and made them far more complicated than they had to be.
“It is something for me to give thought to, Szelem. I see you have settled on top of the soil rather than in it,” Benedek observed.
The dragon inclined his head. “I had forgotten the joy of flying. The feeling of battle. The camaraderie. Working with you was just as good for me as it was for you. You woke me up and made me realize I had given up on life. I have lived so long and thought to become part of the earth once more.”
Benedek understood that feeling—until he met Silke. She changed his world.
“There are young dragons who are attempting to learn on their own how to conduct themselves in battle. They need wisdom and guidance from their elders beyond what was imprinted on them. That was how our society worked. Too many are gone, but that doesn’t mean the young should be forgotten. Or left on their own to learn what should have been taught to them.”
Benedek nodded. “I see. The young ones give you purpose.”
Szelem gave Benedek another side-eyed stare. “I have made mistakes, Benedek, thinking my age gave me wisdom and that was all I needed. I stopped being wise when I stopped learning.”
“I understand what you’re saying to me.” He did. He had learned quite a bit about himself on this journey, and part of that education was from this very dragon.
“When I awakened this evening and rose from the rich, rejuvenating soil beneath this forest, the first thing I saw were the magnificent colors overhead. It has been long since I saw in color and to see shades of red, pink and orange felt like a good omen.”
The ancient dragon looked skyward. “I believe it is a good portent.”
“After the battle with Emil and knowing what transpired with Silke and Castello, I want a day together. I don’t feel like that’s asking for a lot, just a day for the two of us to be alone and enjoy ourselves without worrying about war. That’s what I’m asking for, Szelem, a day before Lilith sends her demons to overtake the villagers.” He gave the dragon a lift of his eyebrow.
Szelem yawned. “I hope this for you,” he said. “But life doesn’t always give us what we wish for.”
Benedek scowled at him. “A little encouragement is in order.”
“I did encourage you. Do not waste your time talking to an old friend. Go find your woman and enjoy your time with her.”
Benedek thought it good advice. He dared to place his hand on the ancient dragon, right between mushrooms and moss. “Thank you again for my life, ainaakfél.”
“Before you go, take dragon blood to make you stronger.”
That was an offer given to very few people. Most Carpathian hunters were never given the opportunity, yet when he was a young man and his family had attempted to murder him, the dragon had provided blood on many occasions. Normally animal blood wasn’t sufficient to heal wounds such as the ones Benedek had sustained, but dragon blood was different. It was ancient, extremely powerful and healing.
“You humble me,” he murmured and, as respectfully as possible, took the blood the dragon offered. Szelem lifted his scales to give Benedek access to the vulnerable underside of his neck, allowing the Carpathian to take the life-giving vitality from the ancient dragon. The nutrients, plasma and platelets were superior to anything else Benedek had experienced when it came to healing. The blood also boosted his natural vitality, strength and abilities.