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If you could just tell me how you took Elizabeth’s bond, then I could?—
No, Azar says again.
I thought maybe you’d changed my brother. Hyperion’s smiling. But he’s just as rude and unyielding as he ever was.
He certainly hasn’t changed for me. That’s the biggest lie girls tell themselves about men the world over—that they’ll change.
Not that Azar’s a man.
He’s a dragon.
I’m not delusional. I know he’s a dragon. I take the two steps to reach Azar’s shoulder, and then I bang on his leg. If he thinks I’m going to try and scramble nine hundred yards up to his back in front of these two, he really has lost his mind.
Azar drops his shoulder and flattens out his leg so I can climb up more easily. “Still no saddle, though,” I mutter.
That makes the bond go light green, which means at least he finds me slightly amusing.
Where’s my sister? Asteria asks. I should see her.
“She’s trapped under a red bubble.” And the bond is back to yellow. “What?” I hiss. “She was going to find out. We’re leaving for Iceland soon, and we still don’t know what to do with her when we go. Right?”
Asteria’s now staring at me. Clearly she’s getting no answers from Azar.
“He stuck her under there so she couldn’t keep doing dumb things, but when we leave, we’ll have to either let her out, or leave her stuck. I doubt the humans will let her just go free when they return.”
Asteria blinks.
“But, if we could get my mom’s bond passed to your friend here.” I gesture. “That would be an easier thing to navigate. Right?”
Azar launches into the air with no warning, and I slide sideways, nearly falling off.
Note to self: don’t irritate him right before flying. “Whoa there, big red. Humans, even strong ones, can’t cling at these kinds of speeds.” I frown, the wind whipping my newly-turned-scarlet curls into what I’m sure is going to be an epic wad of tangles. “Or is it velocity? I think that means speed plus direction. I didn’t pay much attention in physics.”
Your bond wasn’t passed, Azar says. Or did you forget?
“I remember.” I just sort of momentarily overlooked it.
So what exactly do you think Asteria’s going to do if she tries to take your mother’s from Ocharta, other than fail miserably?
And in the process, get my mom’s hopes up… and then let her down again. “I?—”
But in that moment, Azar lands with a loud thump in the woods.
Next to Ocharta.
My mother’s leaning against a nearby tree, her eyes open and staring, her expression blank. When Asteria and Hyperion land off to the side of us, her head pivots slightly to take them both in, but she doesn’t even look shocked at seeing another fire dragon.
Sister. Ocharta doesn’t sound very happy to see Asteria.
That only improves my opinion of Asteria, to be honest.
You’re the same as ever, taking things that don’t belong to you. Somehow, even saying such bitter things, Asteria manages to sound amused.
He’s not yours, Ocharta says. He left you behind.
I’m not talking about Azar. Asteria’s beautiful, long silver head turns slightly and peers curiously at my mom. You bonded someone against her will. Why doesn’t that surprise me?
Ocharta slams against the red dome, her lip curling to reveal her teeth. As if human feelings matter. They’re easily overridden. They’re a tool, and you’re a fool if you believe anything else. Now Ocharta turns her face upward, toward me. But the biggest fool of all is our Return Leader. He’s allowed a human to entwine him. She shakes her head and huffs. You’re welcome to him.
