Page 90 of The Infirmary for Dragon Burns and Midair Mishaps

Her head slumped against me, dead-weight, and I struggled to keep her snout above the water. Matty waded over to us, curving his arms under the other side of her jaw, helping me hold her up.

“Don’t leave me now.” I pressed my lips to the scales near her nostrils, feeling the weak breath that bled from her. “We’ve still got a lot of adventures left to have.”

She made a soft mewling sound. She wanted to sleep.

“Rest,” I told her. Tears burned in my eyes, blurring my vision. “Just stay with me, okay?” Her eyelids closed, and a thin stream of smoke curled from between her lips. “Just stay.”

31

EDEN

“Do you think she’ll make a full recovery?” I asked as Vaela and I wandered up the path together, hand-in-hand, toward the still smoldering town. The sun had finally crested the horizon, turning the sky a calming shade of pink. It was a small comfort after such a dark night.

“Gunther is hopeful that she’ll improve once the altitude sickness wears off,” Vaela said, looking back over her shoulder at the lake. A floating raft had been crafted to hold Min’s head above the water while she floated, recovering from the exertion. A tiny but determined smile tugged at the corner of Vaela’s mouth. “She’s stronger than any of us could ever know. But flying is definitely out of the question for her now.”

I squeezed her hand, my thumb caressing her knuckles, sad to know that Min’s days in the sky were officially over. “I suppose you knew it was coming.”

She nodded. “I just wish I could have prepared her better. I’m sure it’ll be a shock when she wakes and realizes she doesn’t even get one last glide around the forests.”

I tugged her to a stop and kissed her cheek where a tear fell. There was nothing I could say to make this situation better, but I could be here to support them both. And I would be. “Will Cyrus give her the time to rehab in the water before trying to kick her out again?”

Vaela grimaced. “I suppose we have until the town is rebuilt and Ember Ridge is no longer considered a crisis zone.”

“And then what?”

She sighed heavily. “I’m not sure. I think Cyrus is going to be itching for the day he gets to evict us from his land.”

I leaned against her, inhaling the scent of smoke from her hair. “We’ll figure something out.”

Vaela blinked at me. “We?”

I nodded. “Of course we, silly. I figure Gunther’s going to need a second pair of hands with all the rebuilding that’ll be happening. People will be stubbing their toes and whacking their thumbs with hammers.” I threaded my fingers through hers. “There’ll be more work than ever at the infirmary.”

“Min’ll be happy to hear you’re sticking around post-migration.”

“You didn’t really think I’d be leaving?”

Vaela shrugged and gave me a sheepish smile. “I hoped not.”

I kissed the space next to her ear. “She wouldn’t stop,” I said softly, pulling away but holding her gaze. “Flying higher, I mean. Even knowing how dangerous that altitude was, Min was determined to get to you.”

Vaela’s lips trembled. “Because she wanted us all to be together. And… I want that too, Eden. I mean it. I realized some things while I was up there with the Wretch.”

“You mean while we were barely able to breathe?” I teased.

She huffed a laugh. “Yeah, leave it to some altitude-induced visions to finally make me see clearly.”

I tilted my head, curious. “What are you saying?”

“If Min’s retiring…” Vaela sucked in a deep breath. “So am I.”

My face crumpled in shocked confusion. “You’re done wrangling?” I couldn’t believe the words coming out of my mouth.

“I don’t want to bond with another dragon,” she said with certainty. “It would never be the same as what Min and I had. And… I’m ready to stop being so reckless. I don’t want to throw my life away for the thrill of a job when I have someone I’m so determined to live for.”

My throat tightened. She was giving up the skies for me. “You’re sure about this?”

“Yeah.” She clutched both of my hands. “I know my life will look a little different now. But it’ll still be good, and Min and I will find a new purpose. Together.”