“I’m going to win this war. Nyte is going to wake up. Then we’re staying right here with you until the end of our age.”
Drystan held me with a cold stare, but his eyes flexed a fraction. He didn’t respond, turning his attention back to his journals.
He placed the enchanted map he’d loaned me in the Libertatem on the table and slipped a new overlay on top of it. I strolled closer to catch a glimpse.
“There’s sixteen more temples with dragon paintings across Solanis, which means sixteen dragons to free just like we did with Athebyne—I hope. You told Nyte to tell me your key is with the dragons. When you broke it, you sent the pieces to these temples, didn’t you?”
“Yes. Your father was granted the ability to wield it without harm by my creators—I think they want me dead as much as Auster does. I couldn’t risk the weapon in their hands, and they had us in that temple. So I broke it, and I knew that if I didn’t escape Auster, you would understand what I meant and get it back without me.”
“It was smart thinking. But do we really need the key back?”
“Being Lightsdeath is only half of what it will take to kill Dusk and Dawn. The key is the other.”
Sometimes as I slept I thought I felt the key’s pain. Heard the cries of broken power like a violin off-key. Grating, demanding someone to tend to the instrument to fix it back in tune. I wondered if ignoring the key’s calls to be found and reforged would have any greater effect on me than a few headaches and restless nights.
“That could take months,” he said, itching with our mutual despair. “But at least if Eltanin doesn’t choose Nyte to bond with, we might have sixteen other dragons to try.”
My hope grew into a larger flame against my will.
“You really think it could work?” I whispered.
Drystan flicked a look up, and it was the most caring emotion he’d shared with me. I’d come to accept his cold shoulder over the weeks. With no solutions and hitting endless walls with suggestions, I couldn’t blame him for hardly being able to tolerate me.
“I reallyhopeit can,” he amended before pivoting. “Since you mentioned my father, have you seen him at all during your scouting of the city?”
“No,” I said. In truth, I hadn’t thought of him at all while my vengeance was acutely set on Auster.
Drystan paused at the door, making to leave. “Perhaps Auster has already disposed of him. A shame; I’ve been looking forward to doing it myself.”
He said it so coldly and detached from any emotion. His indifference wasa mask over his pain. Though he deserved to face his monstrous father and be the one to end him, as did Nyte, I thought it would also be the most difficult thing they’d ever have to do.
I was about to crawl back into bed when a familiar head of pink hair appeared in the doorway. My mouth opened but no words formed on my tongue. I’d never seen Rose look so tired and frightened than in these last weeks. She hardly ate and had barely said a word. In all the chaos of my own life, I hadn’t seen just how much she’d come to care for Zath. Something was different about her now; there was a light in her eyes I hadn’t seen in too long, which straightened my spine and skipped a beat in my chest before she even spoke.
“He’s awake.”
3Astraea
I didn’t know why I was nervous to see Zathrian. He was still the exact same person I knew, no matterwhathe was. Yet my hands clammed, my heart raced, and I faltered just past the door at the sight of him, propped up andsmiling.
As if he hadn’t narrowly avoided death. As if his wound wasn’t still bandaged and healing. He was just… Zath. All bright blue eyes and dashing grin. When his gaze slipped to me, a whimper escaped my lips.
“I don’t look that bad, do I?” he said, voice still thick from his long rest. “It’s good to see you, Stray.”
My brow crumpled to hear him call me by that name. To recall how much of a dear friend he’d been while I was finding my way.
I let out a breathy laugh, and the image of him blurred more as I edged closer.
“How is he?” I asked Lilith, who had been his savior. Her knowledge of nature made the medicines that kept him alive, and I was sure her magick had healing properties as well.
“He is healing well,” Lilith informed me, straightening from checking the bandages over his bare torso.
“Doesn’t feel that well,” Zath said, giving himself a mocking inspection. His skin had lost its glow and tan and was now clammy and pale. His eyes carried dark circles despite the cheerfulness that added a sparkle to his irises.
“I’ll get you some water,” Lilith said.
He said to me, “I know I’m very good looking, but I’m spoken for, so you can stop staring.”
My eyes flashed briefly to Rose, and her cheeks flushed, but her familiar scowl pinned on Zath, who winked at her. My body relaxed to see her spirit somewhat returning.
