Page 146 of Feralheart

“We pair together,” Lyndie said. “Keep it simple.”

Reece nodded. “Makes sense.”

Except there were three of us.

I shook my head. “I don’t think Selira will be willing to pair with one of the other dragons.”

Longing snapped through our bond so sharp it stole my breath.

Him, Selira said. Her certainty bypassed language. Mine wants him.

She was already moving, her attention locked across the cavern with an intensity that made my chest swell.

“No,” I said, seeing where she was headed. “Selira, don’t⁠—”

Her satisfaction hummed through me. You chose yours. I chose mine.

Elite dragons had gathered in the open space between camps. They circled each other cautiously, sniffing, testing, waiting for their riders’ commands or whatever they needed to guide them. Some paired quickly, strategic matches their riders had planned. Others hesitated, confused about what was expected without an elite forcing the choice.

Selira stomped through them all, making them scatter, their nostrils flaring. Wild one. Danger. Get away.

But one dragon didn’t move, one with midnight-black scales with silver tips. Sleek and powerful, he made the other dragons look unfinished.

Aristus.

I raced after her. “Selira, don’t do this.”

She took flight, soaring toward him.

Fen stood a short distance away from his dragon, his face carefully blank. He wasn’t making any effort to stop this.

The two dragons met.

Everyone stopped talking. I swore some even stopped breathing.

Selira and Aristus touched noses. Then they exhaled smoke at the same time. It swirled together and drifted up toward the ceiling.

My lungs forgot how to pull in air.

Lady Severine’s face blanched before color flushed it scarlet. She strode toward Fen, her hands on the hilts of the blades strapped to her sides. “Your Highness, I thought you and I would⁠—”

Fenian glared at her.

She stopped mid-step, and her mouth snapped shut. She took a step backward.

The other riders whispered behind their hands. A few didn’t bother hiding their disgust.

“Let him do what he wants,” someone said, loud enough to carry. “He’s contaminated.”

Lyndie moved closer to me, Reece right with her. He snatched a stick up off the ground and held it by his side. He couldn’t use it to protect me from the nobles, but I appreciated that he was willing to try when commons had been put to death for less.

“Well,” Lyndie said, her voice bright. “This just got interesting.” She nudged Reece’s shoulder, gesturing toward where her dragon and his were touching noses. “Looks like it’s you and me for this challenge.”

Reece sent me an eyebrow-raised look. “Your dragon chose the prince’s.”

“Yes,” I said.

“That’s…”