And then Tindera’s voice echoes through me.Stop. A pause, followed by,Mine. There’s no room for debate or disagreement. Those words were a command.
So I stop. Tindera has claimed this dragon that Sifa seems determined to save. He’s her drake—the dragon destined to be her mate—and the only being in this world who might matter more to her than I do.
I can watch or I can help. Tindera’s left me no other choice.
I sigh, a rock dropping into my gut as I decide to join Sifa in committing high treason against the Kastali.
Chapter eighteen
Sifa
I Will Free Him
He’scallingtome.
I have no idea how I know it, but I do. While I slept, he found me and started whispering in my dreams. I woke up with his image in my thoughts—the terrible, majestic, tortured dragon I saw earlier in the trip. When I heard his screams, I realized what I had to do.
Fhord tried to stop me. What else would he do? We’re both painfully aware what a bad idea this is. How easily it could go wrong. That even if I succeed, the dragon and I will be outcasts, forever hiding in a land that won’t be nearly big enough. But I couldn’t have stopped myself if I tried. And I didn’t see any reason to try. This is bigger than anything else in my life. Bigger, even, than going home.
When Fhord and I hide behind the bush, I reach out to the beast, caressing him with my thoughts. His response is everything. Relief sits highest atop his emotions, his weary spirit desperate for an end to his torment. Shimmering just below that, though, is anger. Hate. Spite.
Vengeance.
He’s so fucking strong. They’ve tried—the gods know how cruelly and sadistically they’ve tried—but they’ve never broken his will.
I will free him. And then I’ll join him in serving retribution on everyone who harmed him. All those who hold dragons in their grip, taking but never giving back.
I was born for this. It’s why I was drawn to this world. The next few minutes will set my fate or end me.
My thoughts stretch out again, gently probing at the trainer’s mind. I’m on edge, ready to yank them back if I get any hint he realizes I’m here. He doesn’t, as far as I can tell, but my search fails. He’s built walls of steel around his psyche. I can’t find a way in.
Freeing the dragon won’t be easy. The trainer is powerful, and I have no idea if I can beat him.
Slowly, a plan takes form in my mind. I’m turning toward Fhord when I feel his breath in my ear.
“Can you come up with a distraction?” He asks. I find his eyes, dark and solemn. He shifts a bit to again whisper directly into my ear. “I can attack while his focus is on you.”
My lips find his ear, mimicking his caution. “I need to do this Fhord. I’m not sure how I know, but I have to be the one who takes the guard’s life.”
Pulling my head back, I watch as he wrestles with my decision. I have no idea what this is between us, but I do know Fhord is driven to protect me. It pains him when I expose myself to risk. He has to fight to control some urge to smother me and keep me safe. Eventually, though, the rational side of him prevails. He nods his head.
“I’ll provide the distraction.” His voice is resigned, echoing with fear and doubt. My chest swells with the knowledge of what this male will risk for me. How important he’s become to me, despite our efforts to push each other away.
And then his lips are on mine. This kiss is different from the first one. It’s gentle, probing. He’s asking me to open to him, to trust him with this part of me. When I respond, parting my lips and letting my tongue taste him, he doesn’t pull back. He leans into the embrace, wrapping his arms around my back to pull me closer.
Every single part of my body responds. My stomach flutters, launching a kaleidoscope of butterflies to the tips of my toes. I burn for him, like I never have for a male before. In that moment, I want nothing more than to open myself, letting him see every part of me.
When I feel the dragon purr in my thoughts, I pull away. I can’t get this close to Fhord. Ever.
Fhord holds my gaze for a moment, his face a chaos of emotions. “This is why I can’t be with you,” he rasps in a low voice. “If you are in my life, my little rabbit, I can’t see past you. I can’t see anything but you. Too many will suffer if I let myself lose sight of them.” His lips find mine, more reckless this time. Desperate. “But know this,” he adds as he pulls himself away. “If not for Tindera—everything she would endure for my happiness—I would choose you. Even if it doomed everyone else.”
Fhord stands abruptly, backing away as he watches me. His eyes flare, a war of emotions reflected in their depths. “Be safe, my rabbit,” he whispers before spinning to slip away from me.
I can’t move. I can barely think. He’s so fucking dangerous. To me. To everything that matters to me.
Because I realize he may matter more than anyone or anything else.
Shaking my head to dispel the lunacy creeping through it, I focus again on the dragon and the brute holding his chain.Soon, I assure the beast.Be prepared.
