Page 9

We were already close, the world a blur as each beat of the dragon’s wings devoured the miles. Yet despite his earlier confidence, Cinared seemed unsettled and unusually tired. He soared higher until the clouds surrounded us. I asked if something was wrong, but Cinared stayed silent, and I struggled to understand him through the fog enveloping his mind.

Cin, fly lower, please. There’s no point in my being here if I can’t see the ground.

A plume of smoke wrapped around us in response, but the dragon descended below the heavy grey curtain.

The situation didn’t look too dire from above. Brown fields appeared, the pristine snow melted, the trees still bare.

Yet a grimness, pressed against the senses and soured all hope for Spring. Then the pillars appeared: impossibly tall even at this distance, shining against the grey clouds. They remained too distant to make out clearly, but unease was already gnawing at my chest. Tivala’s creation stood proud, pulsing slowly like the steady beating of a tired heart.

So they’re active. Fuck. I didn’t mean to project this thought, but Cinared caught it anyway.

Active or not, we can destroy them, and then I’ll fly to that bastard’s castle and turn it into a pool of molten stone. The vicious answer surprised me. Dragons weren’t prone to unbridled violence, but Cinared was a notable exception. His temper burned hotter than any dragon I knew, his mind filled with terrifying, incandescent rage.

The only time a softer side emerged was for his Sanika.

What about the innocent? I asked, shifting to bring back a semblance of circulation in my legs. I couldn’t do much, though, as his shoulder pockets held me tight.

With a sharp twist, Cin swerved to the left, and the curse that slipped from my lips turned into whispered thanks for his grip on my thighs.

Those who stood aside while my Sanika was abused? Or built the abominations that corrupt the Aether? Those pillars are latching onto me like the spectrae. It must be destroyed, all of it.

And spectrae were the death of the dragons.

The vampiric ghosts were a corrupted creation of the Lich King’s powers. They swarmed and latched onto dragons, refusing to let go, draining their Aether until the beast died.

Fly as close as you’re comfortable, then land. I can walk the rest of the way.

His answer was a wry chuckle and another sharp turn.

I’m serious, Cin. Sana would never forgive me if her favourite pet got hurt, I quipped, and he grumbled, but his thoughts carried approval. This grumpy old bastard loved Roksana in a way I couldn’t explain, going as far as to challenge Vahin for touching her.

I’m no pet, and I didn’t challenge him, Rey. I’m just… afraid. I never knew that fear was a part of love, but… I’ll never soar the heavens alone again. The rawness of Cin’s emotions stunned me, but before I could answer, a warning flashed into my mind, and I instinctively grabbed his crest.

With an abrupt snap, the dragon folded one wing and plummeted sideways. Agony echoed in my soul when he twisted, swerving to avoid an unseen attack.

What’s wrong? I asked when his thoughts cleared.

A spell. The closer we get, the harder it is to avoid its tendrils, he answered, a defiant roar filling the skies. I can fly a little closer, but we have to land soon. I won’t risk you falling if it gets worse.

I nodded, bracing for a rough descent, but nothing prepared me for the explosion of blue fire that engulfed the ground beneath us, scorching the earth and immolating everything else.

‘What was that for?’ I coughed. I was immune to his fire, but the smoke still hurt my lungs.

‘Deflection. I combusted the Aether to divert the searching tendril,’ he answered. The parched soil cracked as he landed, creating a cloud of ash. I slid from his back, my knees buckling, and hissed as the feeling returned to my legs.

My hands sank into a soft, powdery ash. The southern loam was normally fertile, black, and glistening with nutrients. This was lifeless dust, and while I hoped the dragon flames were responsible, that didn’t feel right. As I knelt, Cinared reared back, his massive paws clawing at his chest before he fell to the side with crushing force. I threw myself forward when he rolled and shuddered, his head flailing as flaming saliva fell from his muzzle.

‘Cinared!’ I screamed.

An unfiltered wave of agony tore through our connection. I gulped back the vomit burning my throat, fighting to stay conscious while Cinared’s torment engulfed all thought.

‘I can’t stay here, Rey. Climb back on! Now!’ He was fighting the spell torturing him. I couldn’t move, couldn’t breathe, couldn’t do anything but kneel in the dirt while this monstrosity was tearing his spirit apart.

‘Escape. Fly away!’ I roared when the berserker awakened. I couldn’t fight off the Wild Magic and Cin’s pain, but I refused to lose him.

Guilt and anger burned in his thoughts, yet he listened and, with enormous effort, leapt into the sky. The pain subsided as he climbed higher. I lay on the ground, forcing myself to breathe until I regained control of my body.

With Cinared distancing himself, the full force of the pillar’s magic no longer overwhelmed me. The berserker withdrew, and I dragged myself off the ground and locked onto my destination. My eyes widened at a plume of dust in the distance.