Free Fire of Stars and Dragons by Melissa Petreshock Page A

the refined intellectual seated before me.
    “Few can accomplish such a dramatic shift in the very core of their being, down to their soul.” Retracting those razor-sharp fangs with a swift snick , he squeezes his hand closed again, then reopening it with the pink paper rose in his palm. “Even my mother knows not why I have the vampiric traits I do, or why for so long rage fueled me, feeding the need to create others, but I cannot allow them to destroy this world, Theo. I renounced vampirism for a reason. They will bring nothing but death and destruction in the end.”
    “Oliver would not permit Corrin to do such a thing, Dante. We cannot interfere in our wards’ free will, but we also cannot ignore the darkness of a soul. Should a ward choose that path, it is our duty to destroy them, just as it is our duty to protect them for so long as they remain driven toward the intended destiny which honor-bound us to them.” I am not sure he isn’t simply rambling at this point as he often does, though he seems to have some point.
    “And I am not saying Oliver would not try, or even all vampires are bad. However, those far worse than Corrin outnumber those like Cedric and Evan by the hundreds. As long as any one of them rules, they see the balance of power tipped in their favor.” The demigod tosses the rose in the air, and it spins in slow motion as he speaks. “It is my opinion that their time has come and gone. A new order must be brought to this world.”
    Spinning my desk chair around before taking a seat again, I face him, wondering what my brother will say when I speak with him regarding this conversation. “Why do you care now? You’ve never involved yourself in the political affairs of this world until Corrin came into power, and even since then, you’ve been barely interested enough to stay in the sovereignty—or this realm for that matter—for the past fifty years.”
    Dante reaches to take the rose out of the air. Closing his fingers over the origami flower once more, he unfolds his grasp, revealing a pristine, elegant red rose bud. “Because, Theo, before, I found nothing in this temporary world worth such depth of caring, and now… Now I have something beautiful and delicate I cherish and wish no harm upon.”
    “I would sooner die than allow Cait harmed.”
    Standing, his eyes meet mine; they are intense, dangerous. “As would I.”
    Laying the fresh rose down, the lights in the room flicker in a momentary blinding brilliance, and with a flash of lightning, he disappears from the room. Blinking, spots from his dramatic light show blurring my eyesight, I pick the flower off my desk.
    Cait. Everything revolves around Cait, yet I cannot see the how or why.
    I hope when Claaron arrives tomorrow night, he offers the guidance I need.
     

Chapter 6
     
     
    *Cait*
     
     
    Setting the origami dragon and blue rose back on the nightstand, smile fading from my face as I recall the conversation with Dante last night, I pick up my bag and follow the smell of frying bacon to the kitchen. “Good morning.” Voice upbeat, Theo acts as if everything is fine. “How do you like your eggs?” my dragon asks the second I settle into one of seats at the breakfast bar.
    “Scrambled, unlike the truth. I prefer that straight up, raw, no dressing.”
    Theo at least has the decency to look ashamed when he turns to face me. “I did not lie to you, Cait. The topic did not come up.”
    “Convenient.” I scowl, and he goes back to cooking. “I have a test this morning, but the rest of my day is free. Have you figured out what the plan is with the king? Does he want to see me, or is he playing games too?”
    Dropping the whisk on the counter, he spins around and slams his hands on the granite bar. I’m surprised it doesn’t crack under the force. “Yes. He does want to see you. He asked to see you this morning, and I refused. I refuse to let him play games with you. The king wants you for breakfast, Cait. Wants to see if