She stopped in front of him and he could smell the flame that was buried under human skin. A She-dragon.

“You’re her boy, ain’t’ cha?”

“I am.”

“And proud, too.”

“I’ll always be proud of my mother. Now just kill me and get it over with.”

“I could kill ya, but looking at you, such a strong, young boy with so much untapped power . . . I think I got a better plan now.”

“Plan for what?”

“To get me an apprentice.”

Confused, Benedetto asked, “But . . . why? I mean, you’re with the Abominations, aren’t you?”

“They’re kin.”

“Then why? Why would you want me as an apprentice?”

“Well . . . I guess I feel I owe your mum a bit. For me new life.”

“New life?”

She pulled back the hood of her robe and Benedetto gasped at the beautiful face staring at him. With one big blue eye and long, soft white hair falling onto smooth cheeks. Only her one milky-gray eye suggested a harder life than Benedetto had ever experienced.

He didn’t understand. From the voice, he’d thought the She-dragon would be ancient. But her face . . . her hands . . . everything but her voice was young.

“Come, boy. Let’s get you safe.”

Not knowing what else to do, he stood and together they walked away from the war and the life Benedetto had once had.

“What’s your name, boy?” the She-dragon asked.

“Benedetto. Benedetto Salebiri.”

“Well, I’m your new mistress, Benedetto. I will teach you what I know.”

“All right.”

They walked on and, finally, when she still had not killed him or led him into a group of armed Abominations scouring the hills for any survivors—simply toying with him as his mother would have anyone else—he asked, “And your name, Mistress?”

“Name’s Brigida. Brigida the Most Foul.” She tossed her walking stick to him and picked up her speed, nearly skipping to wherever she was leading him. “And we’ll be close, you and I, Benedetto. And true power will be all ours.”

Chapter Thirty-Six

Chapter Thirty-Six

Brannie and Izzy sat on one of the hills looking down at what was left of the battleground.

They were silent for a very long time, gazing at their soldiers killing any Zealots still left. Annwyl didn’t want any captives. She just wanted the Zealots wiped out.

A few had probably escaped but Brannie doubted the power of the cult would return. Who would want to be part of a defeated, eyeless cult?

Suddenly Izzy looked at her and asked, “Who gets trapped under a mountain?”

Brannie laughed. “It just went down.”

“I can’t believe you didn’t fly away. You must have been distracted.” Izzy smirked. “Was it Aidan distracting you?”

“Nope. It was Caswyn. He ate me horse.”

Izzy gasped. “Not Puddles!”