Curse of the Undead Dragon King (Skeleton Key) by Skeleton Key, Konstanz Silverbow Page B

toy with my hair and surround me, envelop me. I watch as Aurelio takes flight and disappears slowly, becoming smaller and smaller the farther away he gets.
    “My lady,” Castel says. From his tone of voice, it seems he has been talking to me and I’ve heard nothing.
    “Yes?” I look at him.
    “I am sorry to add to your burden, but we must announce to the people that the wedding will not be taking place today.” He holds his hands in front of him, slightly leaning over, looking more and more apologetic.
    “Of course.” I nod and begin walking back toward the castle—what else can we do to make this day even worse?

 
     
     
     
     
    I FLY EAST UNTIL my wings demand a break just as I reach the forests of Fabulum and slowly descend until I see the road. Once on the ground, I turn and find the path leading deeper and deeper into the land.
    Going on foot as a dragon is the most difficult way to travel, but my wings ache so I force myself to walk. There is a constant feeling of being surrounded, too many things close by, and I begin to feel like there isn’t enough air. I won’t be able to breathe.
    It makes me wonder if all dragons feel this way when walking when they could be flying. But I go on, ignoring the pressure and the senseless headache trying to spread. I walk and walk, knowing this may be the only chance I have at escaping this torture. And if I’m feeling like this after only a few hours, how will it be in a week?
    What will I do if I can’t find the wizard? Worse yet, what will Zanta do? I’ve left her in charge of Dracameveo before we even had a chance to get married. I dropped the task on her, knowing I could never let her go on this journey.
    I only hope Castel will set aside his feelings of unease and help her. Guide her. Teach her how to be queen. It is no easy task, becoming ruler over any land all in one fell swoop. I should know.
    A small whisper of sound, flapping wings, like a hummingbird in comparison to my own movement, catches my attention. Of course my presence will disrupt the fairies’ lives. How could I expect it not to? When dragons visit their lands, they come in human form. These roads would not be used by someone like me.
    More and more, I’m beginning to see the disadvantages of being a dragon. Never before has it caused me so much trouble.
    “Shift into your human form or suffer, dragon! You break the treaty between your king and mine, and the consequences will be great.” A small—or perhaps regular size, and only small to me—teal-winged fairy appears in front of me, batting her wings as fast as they will move, her spear in my face as she glares, waiting for me to comply.
    “Please listen to me carefully,” I begin, hoping she will listen.
    “Do not speak. Shift into your human form or suffer,” she repeats.
    I try to keep my voice calm and low so as not to hurt her delicate ears with the harshness of my dragon voice. “I cannot shift, but I promise you, I mean no harm.”
    “I’d do as Moth says. She can be feisty.”
    “I am trying to tell you that I cannot shift into my human form. I am King Aurelio. Please, I mean no harm. I only wish to travel on foot a short distance, and then I will take flight once more.”
    “I am sorry, dragon.” The male fairy spits the words. “But if you refuse to abide by the law, we will be forced to take you to see Her Majesty, Queen Calassida, to face the consequences.”
    “Very well.” I nod, knowing there is no point in arguing. They aren’t listening, and the queen could be very helpful.
    Moth takes the lead while the other fairy flies close behind me as we walk toward the tree castle. The closer we get, the more fairies begin flying beside me, surrounding me, many watching from the safety of their hiding places among the leaves.
    Just outside the castle where Zanta and I were only days before celebrating our engagement, one of the guards speaks. 
    “You are scaring the younglings. We must know why you travel through