With a quick beat of wings, she flies down and snatches the bag clean from his grip and drops it into Reya’s waiting palm. Reya’s fingers close around it.
“That’s better.” She smirks at the guard, then leaves through the gate.
Watching her leave, he stays frozen in place until Ahria drifts down, her green body hovering in front of him as she lets out a surprisingly vicious roar.
That’s all it takes. Both his hands shoot up in surrender, fear flashing across his face as he races into his outpost and slams the door with enough force to rattle the frame.
Beside me, Ahria releases a satisfied little puff of smoke, then snaps her wings and peels off toward Reya, who has stopped at the side of the path, counting coins as mountain workers stream past her with chisels and axes in hand.
“So you fucking bet on me?” My boots scuff harder than they need to as I step in front of her.
“No, I don't bet. That's a loser's game. I just get paid to provide the entertainment.” She holds out a small handful of gold coins that glint as they shift with a soft clink. “Here.”
“What’s that for?” My focus drops to her palm, then returns to her face.
“Your half.” She nudges the coins forward “Isn’t that why you came?”
“No—what the hell? I have a fear of fire and I need to get over it. Merrin said you would help me train—so I can bond at the Blood Moon.” I glance toward Ahria as she skims past us, avoiding Shanwyn who chases after her. “I mean what kind of dragon would bond with someone who’s scared of heights and fire?”
Reya goes still. Her hand stays outstretched, coins resting in her palm, but something catches in her throat.
She swallows, tries to push it down, but it slips out anyway—a small, strangled sound.
Then another.
Her shoulders begin to shake.
And then she breaks.
“You’re kidding me,” she manages between the gasps of laughter spilling out of her. “Heightsandfire?!”
“It's not funny.” I bite out, brows furrowing.
“It’s pretty fucking funny.” She exclaims, folding in on herself, arms wrapping around her stomach as the laughter takes her. “Who the hell’s ever heard of a dragon rider scared of heightsandfire?”
Fury gets the better of me, and my fingers twitch as my Threads finally decide to wake up and join the party. I plant my hands on my hips, ready to throw something barbed back—but her laugh catches me. I try to hold it down, bite the inside of my cheek, but it slips anyway and the corner of my mouth tugs up.
“Okay…” My shoulders drop as a reluctant huff escapes me. “It’s alittlebit funny.”
Reya drags in a breath, wiping at her teary eyes as she straightens, still grinning.
“But I need this,” I add, the humour draining from my voice as quickly as it came. “Merrin saidthiswould work. And as much as I loathe saying it…” My jaw stiffens. “I know he’s right. I have to face my fears. Head on.” I peer over at Ahria as she pivots and starts chasing after Shanwyn, snapping at her tail with impressive accuracy. “I need to get over it, I need to last more than ten bloody seconds before the Blood Moon.”
Reya’s expression softens, subtle, but there as her piercing grey eyes move between me and the dragons.
“You really want to do this, Freckles?” she asks, her tone more serious again.
I nod. No hesitation.
“Well…” she mutters, almost to herself as she jostles the coins in her hand. “You did earn me more than that skinny recruit would’ve. They always love watching a damsel in distress.” Her lips pull thin. “Fucking creeps.” She taps her chin, thinking. “Fine. Why the hell not.”
The words land, and my chest loosens, letting out a heavy exhale I didn’t realise I was holding in—though I have no idea why. Relief makes no goddamn sense here. Not when I’ve just volunteered myself to cage fight Dave the Dick with no bloody magic.
“Why didn’t my Threads work in there?” I ask as Reya shoves the coins into her pocket and we start walking after the dragons toward the lake. “I reached for them, but nothing. Like they simply… vanished.”
“Draconite. They mine it out here.”
“Draconite?”
