Page 102 of Three Dark Kings and the Gilded Serpent

“Now let go of that dragon’s skin,” she says, “and take Thyra’s hand.”

“What? No.”

Thyra’s so close to me that I’d only need to lift my arm to touch her. The four threads remain taut, while the amber thread between her and me has shortened dangerously. The dragon’s hide is her protection from me.

“You can’t hurt her if you take her right hand.” Aeliana’s voice is urgent but soft. “The Dragonstone Blade will protect itself.”

I’m startled. “You can see the blade?”

“I can see the blood bind. She wouldn’t have the bind if she didn’t have the blade.”

I shake my head, refusing to reach for Thyra. And I sure as hell won’t let go of this dragon’s skin. “What the fuck is happening right now?”

“Maxim.” Aeliana’s green eyes are wide and imploring as words tumble from her lips. “I’ve been asleep for what must have been more than a decade. I’ve woken to find myself exactly where I feared I might one day be. I don’t know what has happened while I was sleeping. I’m confused and terrified, and oh, how to explain?”

She squeezes her eyes shut. Exhales. Opens them. “The rune on my wrist was once part of the blood bind now on Thyra’s arm. All of the runes were on the hammer my people guarded. But while the other runes had always been there, one day, I discovered they’d been altered and worse: an additional rune was added. I don’t know when.

“I used my starlight to sever this rune from the others and force it onto my body. I thought my starlight could destroy it, only to discover its purpose was a deathless sleep that overpowered my light.

“And I know, I know none of that might make sense to you right now, but what you need to understand is this: the blood bind wants to complete itself. This rune wants to get to Thyra and if it does, our hope will end.”

Aeliana gasps for breath, pulling deeply at the air before she rushes on. “You must hold Thyra’s hand so the rune believes it can get to her by continuing through you.”

“Why would I take the risk of burning her?”

“Because only your fire is hot enough to burn a blood bind rune to ash. Once it’s on your body, you can step away and end it.”

Just as I burned the dark blood that had encompassed Thyra’s hand. But I don’t like the way Aeliana paused before answering me, even if she appeared in need of breath.

“Please, Maxim. This rune has been triggered and now it won’t stop until it reaches her. I’m asking you to save her!”

My fear burns hotter than my fire.

Thyra is already too close for her own safety.

Her hair, flammable strands, floats around her shoulders. Her Lethian armor ripples and shimmers, the threads retreating from the heat pouring off me, leaving her breasts and pelvis barely covered.

I tell myself I have the dragon’s skin, if I can wrap it around my body, then I’ll keep my fire contained.

As soon as I pull at the hide, attempting to wedge it beneath my underarms and keep it around my chest, Aeliana shouts. “You cannot use the hide. The rune could transfer to it. It was designed to survive on anything.”

“You’re telling me to give up the hope of protecting Thyra at all?”

“I’m sorry.”

I shudder as I throw the hide onto the ground away from my feet.

My left hand shakes, a soul-crushing rattle as I reach for Thyra.

I’m afraid of touching her.

Deeply fearful.

I tell myself I’ll test the contact carefully, no matter how urgently Aeliana spoke. I will take whatever time I need to breathe, exhale, and to⁠—

Thyra’s hand locks around my wrist.

Full contact.