Breaking it was easy at this point.
Beryl rolled her eyes and sighed. “Do you really think that frees you from anything? You’re still at my mercy, dragon. I will have you do my bidding. You work for me.”
My shoulder blades itched. Wings scraped against the inside of my skin, pushing to be released. I didn’t fight it or the tail that burst from the base of my spine. I stretched my wings and pumped them, buffeting Beryl with the wind. She cringed away from the stinging air in her face.
I used that moment to plant my boot on her chest and push. Between the force of my wings and my kick, I shoved myself out of her grasp. I landed several feet away, my tail lashing. It crashed into a table leg and sent the whole thing flying.
“I’m proud of you, Ryder.”
Beryl’s words drew me to a halt. I half-turned to glare at her. She wore the widest, most self-satisfied smile. After straightening out her skirts, she went back to her lounge where she spun and dropped dramatically.
“You’re proud? What are you—”
“You’re more of a leader than I thought. I was trying to prepare you for the position, but it seems you had it in you all along.” Beryl lifted a finger and beckoned.
A fae stepped out of the shadows and placed a long-fluted wine glass in Beryl’s hand. She brought it to her lips and took a long sip from the golden liquid.
I waited for the hunger to come and remind me of what I could never have, but it didn’t strike.
“Alvin has a curse upon him that I did not place. It’s eating away at his sensibilities. He no longer has the same sense of self-preservation that he once had.”
I wasn’t sure about that. “He’s been hiding behind a lot of spells lately. If anything, it seems like he’s more protected than ever.”
Beryl shook her head. “Spells can be broken. He’s using them because he knows he’s being sloppy. Break the spell and catch him off guard. You’ll have him at your mercy then.”
“You’re telling me this because you want me to take his position, aren’t you? I don’t want to become the new alpha.” I hesitated, unsure if that was even true. “I won’t fall prey to the Treasure Sickness. It won’t take me like it took my father.”
Beryl seemed to sense my indecision because she lifted a brow as she grinned. She dismissed me with a wave of her hand.
Though I wanted to stay and argue with Beryl, there were other matters at hand. Ness needed me. This conversation was a distraction that I could hardly afford.