He’s on edge, too.
I don’t move. Don’t blink. I’m giving him this moment—out of respect. Not because I’m asking for permission. Just letting him know.
Bay grips my arm, just as Myko’s voice murmurs in my head.
“She’s asking you not to push him. Your mom’s not her best lately. He’s barely holding it together.”
Don’t I know it.
But Roran’s out there—alone. I’m not going back.
“Then tell her I don’t give a damn what he’s doing. I’m not leaving without her.”
Bay sighs and steps forward to face him herself.
“I’ll keep him out of trouble,” she says softly to Dad. “We have two beasts here. I think we’ll manage.”
Pedro throws one last worried glance Bay’s way, small arcs of electricity crackling in his hand.
I don’t blame him, we’re deep in enemy territory.
The Russians know way more than we thought. More thanIthought.
But I don’t care.
I’m not stopping until I get Roran back. And I’m not leaving a single soul who hurt her in this world—or the next one.
“We’ll stick to the old plan of tracking the Red Dock. Keep us updated,” my father finally says, eyes onme, not Bay.
Something lifts in my chest.
I was going anyway. But now... it feels like I’m not doing it alone. He approved.
I nod once.
Pedro lingers a moment longer before disappearing into the cars with the others. Engines roar to life as Myko spirals down, his glow slowly shrinking into Bay’s chest until he disappears.
She breathes in deep.
“Let’s go find Roran,” I say.
This time, no one stops me.
Roran
My head pounds so hard as I roll over the rough surface, eyes snapping open the moment a familiar smell hits me—choking mold.
I shoot my body upward to sit, but I’m slammed straight back down against the floor, only now noticing the chains locking down my arms, legs, and chest.
I thrash against them, fighting with everything I’ve got, but the chains are too heavy, too solid. All I’ll earn by struggling is more scars. My heart slams wildly as I force my memory to catch up.
I was with Bay. And Onyx.
I shake my head, flashes coming back in jagged bursts—the hellish red eyes, the burn in my throat when she choked me, and then—
That dragon.
Maybe it was a dream. Maybe I hit my head too hard, but the chill racing down my spine says otherwise. The hairs on my arms stand on edge as its growl echoes in my mind like a new trauma already carved into the rest.
