A Destiny of Dragons (Tales From Verania 2)

“So are you.” Because he was. Yes, he was a pain in my ass, but I had a feeling that anybody worthwhile would always be a pain in my ass.

“If I did this,” Zero said, “if I helped you, would you help me?”

“To do what?”

“Make the world beautiful,” he said. “I want the world to be beautiful again.”

I smiled up at him. “I think I can do that.”

He leaned forward until his face was inches from my own. His slitted nostrils flared, and he said, “The star dragon told me you would be good. And kind. A little foolish, but that your heart would be as big as a dragon’s. Do you know what he told me about the other?”

I shook my head, not trusting myself to speak.

“He told me the other was your opposite. That he would bring this world to its knees. That he would lord over everyone and everything. I don’t want that. I just want to grow my trees and flowers. So yes, Sam of Wilds, I will side with you. Because of your dragon heart.”

And then he pressed his snout against my forehead, the lights exploding all around us, and—

Chapter 20: Tripping Balls Again

I GROANED, head pounding, trying to find the will to open my eyes. I wanted nothing more than to sink into sleep, but I knew that wasn’t what I needed to do.

I had to get up.

I had to get up.

I had to get up—

I forced my eyes open.

Everything was bright and shining, and I brought my hand up to my face to shield my eyes and—

I was made of stars.

My fingers. My hand. My arm.

All of it was stars.

They reminded me of Zero’s fireflies, his little lights that brought beauty into this world.

I was in the night sky.

I said, “What the fuck is this shit?”

From off to my left, a voice said, “That’s probably the first time I’ve heard a constellation curse.”

I looked over.

The star dragon stood there, watching me.

“You,” I said, narrowing my eyes. Or rather, I think I did. It was hard to tell what I was doing. I didn’t even know if I had eyelids.

“Hullo, Sam.”

“You.”

“So you’ve said.”

“Am I dead?”