Bandages bound my wounds tight. I was safe.
Kallias had secured that before turning back for Tallon.
A man of priorities. He placed others first, storing his own wants like contraband at the bottom of a locked chest.
The world tilted as I pushed upright, a hiss slipping through my teeth at the pressure between my ears. I leaned into Ronan’s side, and he held me steady, careful to avoid my back.
With slow, long breaths, I worked through it until the clearing came into focus. Dark water lapped at a moss-green shore, the scent of lake rot and damp bark thick in the air. Fallen logs formed a rough circle around us. Flecks of dying embers glowed just beyond reach, thin smoke curling upward in pale threads. Two corpses lay bound nearby, eyes fixed on the sky, glassy and unseeing. Flies gathered at the corners of their mouths.
A small warning buzz reverberated in the back of my thoughts, distant but insistent. Something was wrong. My gut tightened,pushing through the fog of exhaustion, searching for the shape of it.
“Where are the riders?” My voice scraped thin.
“With Kallias. I admit, even I was shocked.” Ronan let out a breath that almost passed for a laugh. “He hopped on Tsunami like he owned her, like she was some horse, and just—flew off.”
“She threw Greaves off the Andeluith.” My gaze fixed on the treeline, branches stirring in a faint breeze as I forced the memory to align.
“He lives. Well—he was alive when we left.” Ronan exhaled. “Look, I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner. But you’re my sister. If you knew you could order Gyrak around without my consent, I’d never hear the end–”
“Stop.” My hand shot out, gripping his shoulder. Mud lay gouged beside us, claw marks sunk deep and violent.
She hadn’t been attacking when Tallon captured me. She’d tried to save me.
But she couldn’t.
He had that canteen—the same one Penelope passed to that man at our handfasting. I could still see her fingers closing around it, polished and innocent.
She stole the dragons’ blood—if not our own.
And now Tallon had it.
“We have to go.” Pebbles cut into my soles as I struggled to stand.
“You’re not going anywhere.” Ronan caught my arms, hauling me back against him. “You’re a breath away from crossing the Veil, reduced to a wisp of smoke.”
“He has Tsunami’s blood.” I shoved at his bare chest. “Tallon is a Fortune. Ichor and Cruor. If he holds someone’s blood, he can command them. And he had Tsunami’s. Maybe Kallias’ too.”
“Then he has yours.” Ronan bared his teeth and spoke through his hiss. “I already lost you once. I’m not taking you back there.”
“If you don’t, Radaan will lose her king. And you’ll lose four riders. Four dragons.”
His jaw clenched with an audible crack. His blue gaze cut through me, hard as tempered steel. “Then they die.”
A scream tore from my throat. I shoved him back. “Gyrak! Hold him down.”
The black dragon keened, sound high and furious, wings flaring wide enough to stir dust into the air. His paw slammed over Ronan, clawless nub pinning him to the earth, leaving only his head visible.
“You squiggling eel! You dung fly!” he roared, twisting, thrashing, struggling to free himself.
My hands dug into Gyrak’s shoulder, nails chipping on midnight scales. My body protested every inch, muscles trembling, breath breaking. Still, I climbed, hauling myself higher.
“Wait! Nienna–” He struggled, dirt grinding into his hair. “Dragons above, I’ll take you. Don’t you dare go alone!”
My fingers closed around the leather stirrup. The strap felt rough, oiled hide biting into my palm as I dragged myself up. “I won’t abandon him, Ronan.”
“Because you’re a storming fool.” Fury sharpened each word. “But you’re my sister. Let me up. You can’t ride alone.”
My arms shook, strength thinning with each pull. He was right. I’d need to strap in and pray I didn’t tumble from Gyrak’s back. The flight would be steadier with Ronan behind me. I wouldn’t oppose his fire.
