Page 51 of A Court of Darkness and Dragons

“We could try channeling our magic into the dragons,” Naia suggested, brushing a strand of sandy hair from her face. “Force the connection open again.”

“That could fry the bond entirely,” Riven countered, arms crossed, her silver Striker Lola pacing restlessly behind her. “If the disruption is magical in nature, shoving more magic at it could just… burn it out.”

“Maybe we split the riders from the dragons and try a different approach?” Naia offered.

“That’s not any better,” Riven said with a quick shake of her head. “We’d be fighting without them while they’re vulnerable.”

I sighed, frustration knotting in my gut. Every suggestion sounded good for half a heartbeat before turning to ash.

Cordelle shifted beside me, rubbing the back of his neck. “I just wish Kass could help me. My dragon is so much better with magic than I am.”

I froze mid-breath, my gaze snapping to him. That’s it.

Turning to Kaelith, I spoke to her, holding her gaze. “Do you know how to break the spell?”

She nodded once.

“Do I have the magic to do it?”

Another nod… then a shake of her massive head.

I blinked. “Which is it?”

She did it again—one nod, one shake.

Riven frowned, tilting her head. “Maybe she means yes and no.”

My mind started racing. That meant I could do it—but I needed her help. Or maybe… the help of the others.

We worked through the theory fast, too fast, maybe, but every second we lingered here, the bond between rider and dragon stayed frayed.

“If you can’t get the power from Kaelith directly,” Naia said, her blue eyes scanning the restless dragons, “then you’ll need to take it from someone else.”

“Easier said than done,” I muttered. “Siphoning is… messy. And none of you have the kind of magic Kaelith and I share.”

Still, I tried—reaching out to Cordelle first, then Naia, then Riven. The threads between us sparked lightly and died just as quickly, like a candle snuffed before it could catch.

But when I reached for Zander… my magic met his like a rushing tide, pulling at the molten heat and shadow that lived inside him. The bond flared between us, raw and alive.

Riven narrowed her eyes. “So… if Kaelith can’t feed you power right now, Zander can? That’s what we’re talking about here?”

“Looks like it,” I said, still holding that tenuous thread.

Zander’s mouth curved in a grim half-smile. “I have enough to give you, but I’ll be weakened.”

Riven drew her sword without hesitation, the steel catching what little light there was. “Then I’m down for being your bodyguard. I mean, you are the king and all.”

Zander gave her a wry look. “I appreciate your patriotism.”

A few chuckles broke the tension, but my gaze shifted to the sky, and my blood went cold.

The dragons above were under siege, swarmed by Blood Fae riders.

One rider from Warborn tumbled from his mount, arms flailing. No member of his squad was close enough to save him.

His scream tore through the air, until it ended in a sickening, abrupt silence when he hit the ground.

I met Zander’s gaze, my pulse pounding in my ears. “We have to do this. Now.”