But before she came within view, darkness drenched them. A black shadow flew overhead. Roa felt the rush of wind on her face, felt the earth shudder beneath a great weight. A familiar sound echoed through the garden: several loud clicks in rapid succession.
She knew of only one creature that clicked to communicate.
Dax looked back over his shoulder. Whatever he saw made him rise to his feet.
As soon as the weight of him lifted off her, Roa rose too, grabbing her scythe.
A dragon loomed over her, his scales dark as polished ebony. One eye was blind; the other slitted and staring her down.
“Kozu.”Roa stepped back.
A second dragon stood behind the first. Half the size of Kozu, its golden scales gleamed in the blue twilight and its two ash-gray horns twisted toward the sky.
Two riders dismounted. The first was Safire, who immediately made for the king, seeing everything—the bloodied blade in his hand, the bruise forming on his jaw, the way he put too much space between himself and the queen. When Roa’s gaze fell upon the second rider, her breath hitched.
The young woman had dark hair braided over one shoulder and a burn scar took up half her face and neck. Two twin slayers were sheathed across her back.
Asha.
“Get on,” the former Iskari told her brother while her black eyes gleamed at Roa.
Dax obliged—heading past Safire and toward the golden dragon, lifting himself easily up onto its back. As if he’d done it a hundred times before.
Roa should have tried to stop him. Should have called for help. She should have done something—anything—to detain him.
But as desperate as she was to save Essie, Roa knew now exactly what it would cost her.
She loved this boy—thisking—who wasn’t at all what she’d feared, but rather, everything their people needed.
In order to save her sister, Roa would destroy far more than just Dax. She would destroy her own self.
“I know what Essie is,” said Asha, her voice urgent. “I know what she’s becoming.”
Becoming?Roa turned to face Dax’s sister. What could Asha possibly know about any of it? She was a draksor.
As if sensing her thoughts, Asha said, “I know something of bonds. And loyalty.”
Loyalty.That was something Roa once knew. And now? Was there even a single person she hadn’t betrayed?
My sister,she thought. Staring down at the scythe in her hand, Roa whispered, “I have to save her.”
Asha shook her head. “You have torelinquishher, Roa. It’s your bond that’s keeping her captive.”
Roa hardened at those words. She thought of that night on the roof. Of Essie’s curls slipping through her fingers as she lunged to save the son of the king. Of Essie falling instead of Dax.
Roa clenched her fists so tight, her knuckles hurt.
Dax was the reason Essie fell from the roof. If her sister’s entrapment was anyone’s doing, it was his.
The footsteps in the arcade came closer. Asha glanced in the direction of the sound as Kozu spread his wings wide, telling his rider it was time to go. Safire, who was already mounting the First Dragon, called her cousin’s name. But Asha remained where she was, eyeing the scythe in Roa’s hand, as if afraid to turn her back on it.
And in that moment, more than the burning fire of anger or the piercing blade of grief, Roa felt the shadow of shame. In Asha’s eyes, she saw what she’d become.
Roa threw down her weapon. “Go,” she whispered. “Hurry.”
Asha went to Kozu, hoisting herself up behind Safire, then looping her arms securely around her cousin’s waist. As she did, Rebekah’s men flooded into the garden.
Kozu hissed, crouching low. The moment they advanced, the massive black dragon leaped over their heads and onto the roof.
