Luminescent (Inheritance Cycle and Beyond)

Chapter Thirty-Two: Radiant

"Come here," My body was pulled from its fetal position and into a tight hold. I continued to shudder with pain for a few more minutes until, amazingly, my shoulder started to hurt less. I relaxed from my rigid position and took a deep breath of air. "Does this happen every night?"

"Most, they've been awful lately. I am so tired, but every time I try to sleep, my shoulder acts up. You can leave now."

"I already told you that I'm not going anywhere."

"You are infuriating," I mumbled before totally relaxing and closing my eyes. "And to think I almost forgot."

"Just try to go back to sleep,"

It had been a week since the ball, and since then, my father had been pressuring me to spend copious time with the green egg. It took all that I had to stop from snapping at him. The egg wouldn't hatch for me because another one already had.

Once again, I found myself in the egg chamber, sitting on a chair with the green egg in my lap. My fingers caressed the sparkling green shell absentmindedly as I stared off into space. It was only when I heard footfalls, did I pull away from my inner thoughts.

"We have located the white egg," An eerily familiar voice purred. My eyes narrowed as I stood up and gently placed the green egg back on its stand. Walking briskly to the chamber doors, I peered out to see one of the twins from Tronjheim talking with my father.

"And?" My father demanded.

"Only fragments were found, I believe the egg has hatched, your majesty." The breath left my chest as a slight panic set in.

"So, the second female has hatched, find her." My father said darkly. "The sooner we have a female. The sooner more eggs are created."

"It's a she?" I asked, feigning ignorance. The two glanced at me, my father seeming pleased that I had been with the green egg.

"Yes," My father said. "Both the white egg and the blue egg were the last of the females, to ensure the survival of dragons, it is imperative that the female's breed."

I bit my tongue at the relation of my dragon being a mere egg breeder.

"I am sure that you understand the importance of bringing the dragons to Ûru'Baen." The twin spoke, his words dripping with venom. "After all, the white dragon is only a newborn. She will need protection."

"Yes," I agreed, though not for the same reasons. "she does need protection. After all, there is nothing more precious than a dragon."

The twin smiled sickly at me while my father walked over to me.

"Your understanding of the situation is astounding, Khensamel," My father praised. "I am sure that even if the green egg doesn't hatch for you, another will."

"It is in my blood," I replied. "You wouldn't happen to know why the men of Ûru'Baen have suddenly taken an innate interest in me, would you?"

A smile appeared on his face.

"You are nineteen and unwed, my dear," My father said with his unsettling smile. "I only act as a concerned father."

"I have no interest in those airheaded twats that can't even hold an intellectual conversation," I said as I smoothed my skirts. "Perhaps I should get married, yes, but no to an idiotic halfwit with no sense of astuteness."

"A good point," He said with a gleam in his eye. "I shall debate this subject heavily; after all, only the best shall take your hand."

A chill ran across my skin as we stared each other down, neither of us wanting to be the first to break.

"My king," A voice said, breaking our eye contact.

"Stron, you have information?" My father asked, directing his attention to his advisor. Stron glanced at me.

"I will take my leave," I said briskly before striding away. Hurrying through the halls, I bypassed servants and nobility, not giving them a chance to greet or exchange pleasantries with me.

I burst into my room and began to pace. If Saphira or Alethea ever fell into my father's hands, they would be reduced to hatching machines. All those eggs, in my father's hands. He'd be able to create an army of enslaved Dragon Riders.

It would be the end of the Varden. It would be the end for Alageasia. Now that my father knew that Alethea had hatched, it was even more critical to keep her away from Uru'Baen.

I held my right hand in front of me and opened my palm. The blank spot where my Dragon Rider mark lay, leered up at me. Since he was aware that Alethea had hatched, I no longer needed to keep her hidden from the world.

I folded my fingers in with a twisted smile on my lips. My father unknowingly just enabled another Dragon Rider to rain fire down upon his shoulders, and I would make sure he felt the sting from our flames.