Page 100 of When Roses Burn

Had the dragon been patrolling the kingdom when they left, or can they somehow communicate with each other?

It wasn’t a possibility that would have occurred to me before my Needing, but now I knew it could happen. I recalled the way Knox and the dragon had interacted while he was examining the walls; they definitely had a bond.

And while Gizzi was the only animal I’d communicated with so far, I was curious to learn if I could talk with others. Maybe it was only something special between me and Gizzi, or perhaps it was something more. I intended to find out as soon as I could.

The book wasn’t giving me any answers so far. Yes, some of the demigods could communicate with animals, but they exhibited the ability since birth. I most certainly hadn’t been gifted such a thing until recently.

None of it made any sense, and the more I searched for answers, the more questions I had. It was frustrating.

With Knox gone, I was under Dromon’s watch. “You don’t have to stay in the tower room; if you would like a different one, I’ll show you some options,” Dromon said.

I pondered this before deciding against it. “I like the view from the tower room, and it’s cozy.”

I didn’t add that it was also a way to face my fears and a fuck you to my mother. She may not know about it, but I did, and staying in the tower was a way to prove she hadn’t broken me.

“Okay then,” he said. “You’re free to roam the castle and its grounds as long as you stay within the walls. You can also aid the sprites in tending the plants, but you’re to start with only one until Knox returns. It’s in the music room.”

“Why just one?”

“To prove you won’t kill it.” When I scowled at him, he shrugged. “Not my orders.”

“And what would your orders be?”

“The same.” He studied me for a second before sighing. “You have to understand what we all went through at the hands of your kind. Do you really expect us to just trust you with something as important as the plants and roses here?”

“No,” I reluctantly admitted. “But nature is important to me too. I wouldn’t do anything to purposely destroy it.”

“And now is your time to prove that.”

“Then that’s what I’ll do.”

“Good. You cannot leave the castle grounds, and you’re to tell me when you go outside.”

“Are you going to stand guard over me?”

“No, but I’m to know where you are. That’s for everyone’s safety.”

“Oh yeah, cause I’m so scary.”

“Maybe not you, but the things outside the walls are.”

I wasn’t going to argue with that. I didn’t want to encounter another basilisk, and I certainly wasn’t looking to stumble across an ogre or something else that could kill me. From what I’d heard, they liked to play catch with the heads of eternals, and I’d prefer to keep mine right where it was.

“I need some earth moss if I’m going to help with the plants,” I told him.

“I know where to find some within the grounds,” Bertie said. “I’ll take you to your plant and then take you to the earth moss.”

Dromon looked between us before folding his arms over his broad chest and grunting. It seemed he’d run out of words, so I took that as a yes.

“Would you like to go now?” Bertie asked.

“Yes,” I told her.

“We get to go outside!” Gizzi exclaimed in my head.

I was as excited as he was when I followed Bertie out of the great hall. When we arrived in the music room, she introduced me to a sad-looking, bleeding heart drooping in its container. There were no blooms, and it barely had any leaves left on its wilted stems.

When I ran my finger over its soft surface, unexpected tears welled in my eyes as the plant emanated sadness. I rubbed a limp leaf between my fingers to soothe the dying plant.