Chapter 78
[ 1,085 words ]
“The strongest sisterhood is born from surviving the same nightmare p>
~ Rebel Beast
“Isn’t this p>
“A storage room,” Zainab finished for her, sounding every bit as heartbroken as Charlotte felt.
Technically, it wasn’t.
The large windows, high ceiling, and generous floor space made it obvious the room had originally been intended as living quarters. Somewhere along the way, however, it had become nothing more than a dumping ground.
Furniture was stacked wherever there was space. Bed frames leaned against one wall beside rolled-up mattresses wrapped in yellowing sheets. Wooden crates were piled on top of one another, some overflowing with old books, brass lanterns, chipped vases, and framed paintings draped beneath dusty cloth.
Broken chairs, folded tables, rugs rolled into thick bundles, empty trunks, and shelves waiting to be assembled occupied nearly every corner. Dust blanketed everything so heavily it looked as though no one had stepped inside for years.
Tamara turned to face them.
“Dragons are hoarders by nature,” she said matter-of-factly. “Everything you’ll need to furnish your rooms is already here p>
She gestured around them.
“Take whatever you want to keep. The rest can be moved to the storage room I’ll show you afterward. Is that clear p>
Her tone remained perfectly calm.
Meredith stared at the mountain of furniture in disbelief.
“This is ridiculous!” She threw her hands toward the room. “It’ll take hours just to clear enough space to walk, let alone clean everything p>
“And who do you expect to clean it up?” Tamara retorted, no warmth in her voice.
“The dragons p>
Her lips curled with open disdain.
“Should we clean up after your mess p>
She took a slow step closer, her eyes sweeping over the four girls.
“Or have you already forgotten what you are? You’re outcasts p>
Meredith’s mouth parted, then closed again. There was nothing she could say. The humiliation settled heavily in her chest, leaving her to endure it in silence.
Charlotte couldn’t.
“This doesn’t make any sense!” she burst out. “We’re guests here p>
Her chest rose and fell with indignation.
“I want to speak to Rhydian p>
She never finished.
The instant the Dragon Prince’s name left her lips, Charlotte blinked. When her eyes opened again, Tamara was standing directly in front of her, one hand clamped around her throat.
The next second, Charlotte’s back slammed against the wall hard enough to rattle the framed pictures hanging nearby.
“Charlotte p>
Zainab, Indigo, and Meredith cried out together. Instinct took over, and they rushed forward.
“Don’t p>
Tamara’s voice cracked through the room like a whip.
She didn’t even look at them. The mere glow in her eyes was warning enough for the three girls to stop dead in their tracks as reality came crashing back.
They weren’t confronting another human, but a dragoness. If Tamara chose to breathe fire, there wouldn’t be enough left of them to identify.
Fear rooted them where they stood.
Charlotte was left alone.
Tamara tightened her grip just enough to force a strangled gasp from her.
“I think I need to set something straight,” she said quietly, her dark eyes burning with contempt. “You’ve mistaken Prince Rhydian’s kindness for an acknowledgment that you’re important p>
She leaned closer until only Charlotte could hear her next words.
“You’re nothing but servants here, brought in to serve us. Don’t ever make that mistake again. Otherwise, you’ll discover just how easily humans burn. Do not test my patience. Ever p>
Charlotte didn’t need to be told twice. She nodded frantically, desperate for air.
The fear in her eyes pleased Tamara.
She released her grip, and Charlotte crumpled to the floor like a sack of potatoes. She immediately broke into a fit of coughs, clutching her aching throat as she struggled to draw a proper breath.
Tamara looked down at her with undisguised disdain. So fragile. To think creatures this pathetic dared compare themselves to dragons.
Just as Charlotte looked up, Tamara remembered something.
“Oh, and one more thing.” The amber glow in her dark eyes flared brighter. She lowered herself into a crouch until they were eye level.
“Should I ever find you hovering around Rhydian Her voice softened into something far more dangerous.
“Or worse p>
She held Charlotte’s gaze captive.
“Should you ever entertain the delusion of finding your way into Rhydian’s bed p>
Charlotte’s eyes widened. It felt as though Tamara had reached inside her head and exposed the one fantasy she’d never dared speak aloud.
“I promise I’ll kill you myself p>
There wasn’t the slightest hint of exaggeration in her voice.
“It will be slow, and brutal p>
For one reckless moment, Charlotte glared back in defiance only to lower her eyes.
Tamara’s lips curved into a satisfied smirk.
Nothing more than a spineless little wretch.
She rose gracefully to her feet and brushed the dust from her sleeve. Reaching into her pocket, she pulled out the key and tossed it onto the floor in front of the remaining girls.
“You’ll find the storage room six doors down the corridor,” she said indifferently. “Move everything there once you’ve decided what you’re keeping p>
Without another word, she turned and walked away, leaving the door hanging open behind her.
It wasn’t until the sound of her footsteps had completely faded that Zainab, Indigo, and Meredith finally found the courage to move.
“Charlotte p>
They hurried toward her, stopping only a short distance away, guilt and concern written plainly across their faces.
Without warning, Charlotte screamed. The sound echoed through the room, startling the girls backward.
She stormed toward the nearest wooden crate and shoved it with all her strength. It crashed onto its side, spilling books and brass ornaments across the dusty floor.
“Who does she think she is?” Charlotte shouted, her chest heaving.
Who was that bitch to tell her to stay away from Rhydian?
He was the dragon of her dreams.
From the moment she’d first read about dragons as a little girl, she’d imagined standing beside one.
No one was taking that dream away from her.
“No.” Charlotte shook her head furiously as she paced the room like an agitated animal.
“We have to deal with her p>
“Deal with who?” Indigo asked, alarm creeping into her voice. “You don’t mean Miss Tamara, do you p>
“Charlotte,” Meredith said carefully, “she’s a dragon p>
She hoped that simple reminder would be enough to extinguish whatever reckless thoughts were forming inside Charlotte’s head.
It wasn’t.
Charlotte stopped pacing. A dangerous ambition settled into her eyes as a slow smile spread across her face.
“Even dragons,” she said, “have a weak spot beneath their thick scales p>
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