Avondale V Read Free Page B

powers.”
    “I thought he might be useful to our plans,” she snapped.
    “And yet you didn’t bring him here to me,” Draggah growled.
    Leonosis could feel the demon’s temper flaring. It made him howl in pain as the anger burned through Leonosis’ mind like molten metal. He wanted to warn Ariel, but no one could hear him except the demon.
    “Worse still,” Draggah continued, “you let him leave Avondale.”
    “How was I to know he would survive?” she said defiantly.
    “You not only let him live,” Draggah went on, ignoring Ariel’s argument, “your actions forced him to grow stronger. He was nothing until you empowered him.”
    “This isn’t my fault!” she shouted.
    Draggah pounced like a cat, leaping toward Ariel before she even realized he was attacking her. He dropped one knee onto her stomach, pinning her to the bench. His left hand held her throat so tight she struggled to breathe, but his right hand stroked her face tenderly. Leonosis was angry to see the demon hurting Ariel and repulsed by the long, dirty fingernails he saw on his own hand. He had always been fastidious when it came to personal hygiene, but Draggah cared little for the body that sustained him and allowed him to roam the world at large.
    “And whose fault are you suggesting it is?” Draggah said softly. “Surely not mine.”
    “No,” she managed to croak.
    He leaned forward until his mouth was less than an inch from hers.
    “Don’t vex me, my sweet.”
    Draggah breathed out heavily with each word. Leonosis saw Ariel’s face stiffen as she tried not to gag at the smell of his fetid breath. Leonosis had no control over his body, yet still his pride stung that Ariel would be so repulsed by him. There was a time when he felt a kinship with her. They were both bound to Draggah now, both slaves to his cruelty, helpless to stop his evil plans. But Draggah had not allowed Leonosis to control his own body for some time now, and Ariel never spoke to him directly anymore. Not that he blamed her. Whenever Draggah discovered them talking, he flew into a rage.
    Draggah stood up, releasing the young queen, who gasped for breath. Leonosis’ body walked to the window. He could see soldiers assembling in the courtyard below, and the sky around the tall mountain was filled with war ships. The grand army of Sparlan Citadel was poised, ready to strike out at their enemy, but they had no idea where Tiberius was. He wasn’t in Hamill Keep, which had been lost in anarchy since Tiberius had slain Earl Marcus and escaped with the earl’s family. Leonosis had a sinking suspicion where Tiberius would go, but he did his best to banish any such thoughts whenever they entered his mind. Draggah could read his thoughts easily, and if the demon learned Leo’s suspicions, he would descend on Avondale with his fleet of war ships like a swarm of locusts.
    “Soon,” Draggah said eagerly, “we will leave this place. We will go out into the wide world and wage war. It shall be a pleasant distraction.”
    “War?” Ariel said, sitting propped up on her elbows. “Who would dare fight you?”
    “There will always be someone to crush,” Draggah said. “Otherwise, what would be the point?”
    “You really think you’ll find him?”
    “I can feel him—at least the stone, anyway. Soon, it will be strong enough for me to pinpoint its exact location.”
    “Does that mean it’s coming here?” Ariel asked. “Perhaps Tiberius is coming to Sparlan Citadel.”
    “No,” Draggah said. “He is no fool, and I will not be lulled into thinking he is foolish or weak. He is a worthy opponent, and I shall savor every moment of his demise.”
    “No!” Leonosis shouted, but all he could hear was the demon’s chuckle as phantom pain tore through Leo’s mind.
    “And once the boy is defeated? Then we shall rule all?”
    “Everything,” Draggah said, but Leonosis could hear the note of doubt in the demon’s voice. It was nothing but a split-second hesitation,