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Chapter 19

MEDRA

Where are you going?” I whispered. I stood on the beach, my crossbow still in my hands. My heart hammered hard. The plan had been insane—simple and brutal and risky. Yet it seemed to have worked. Nyxaris drew Vorago out with his blood, the emberfern bolts did their job to weaken him. Blake would surface, take control from Vorago, and then Nyxaris would lead him to safety. They would carefully land. But now Nyxaris was flying off course.

I didn’t have time to watch where he was going. My eyes locked on the red dragon—on Blake. He was still airborne, but his flight was uneven. Something was happening. We were missing our chance. Nyxaris had lost him. The red dragon was slowing, flying off on his own.

I watched in panic as the Inferni curved around the far end of the island and slipped out of sight beyond the rocky point. For a second, I stood there, frozen, staring at the sky where he’d been. Then I started to run. Even as my lungs burned, I knew it was pointless. I couldn’t catch a dragon. Could I?

“Medra!”

I skidded to a halt. Theo was there. He had Visha in his arms. The sight of her made my stomach lurch. Her jacket was burned black across the shoulders and chest. The leather had been fused to her skin in places. Where the flesh was exposed, her skin was ruined. Highbloods were strong—they healed fast and rarely scarred. But this … My stomach heaved.

“Oh gods,” I breathed. “Visha!”

She was still conscious. Her teeth were clenched, and her brow was slick with sweat and seawater. Theo adjusted his hold on her and a horrible sound tore from her throat.

“Shit,” Theo whispered. “I’m sorry, Vish.” He looked at me, his face anguished. “It’s my fault. My aim was off. I missed. If I’d hit with my shots … if I hadn’t …”

“Don’t,” I said quickly. “Don’t do that. It’s not your fault. We all knew what we were getting into.” It could have been me in Theo’s arms, burned with dragon fire. But I was still standing. And meanwhile, Vorago—Blake—was getting farther away from us by the minute.

“She ran out.” Theo’s voice cracked. He looked stunned. “She ran to get a clearer shot. I didn’t stop her … I …”

My gaze moved to Visha’s wounds. I swallowed hard. “Theo, it isn’t your fault. And what Visha did was incredible.”

“I know I’m incredible, bitch,” Visha muttered weakly. “Blood-dammit, I am going to hit that asshole so hard when I see him next.” She started coughing. Her whole body seemed to spasm.

“Shit,” Theo said, looking down. He looked back at me, his eyes wide. “I think she passed out.”

I took a deep breath. “I hate to ask you this but …”

Theo lifted his chin. “It’s all right. I can get her to the infirmary by myself.”

“You’re sure?” I asked meeting his eyes, my voice trembling slightly. I hated this, hated that I had to leave them.

“I’ll be fine,” he said stoutly. “You go get Blake.”

Something butted against my calf.

“Medra.” Theo’s voice was excited. “Look.”

Neville was at my feet. Belatedly, I realized he’d been yapping and yipping at me for a while. But I’d been too worried and distracted to notice. Now his tiny body practically vibrated with agitation.

“I’d almost forgotten you were here,” I murmured.

He darted in a circle around me, then growled and latched his tiny teeth onto my boot and clamped down hard.

“Ouch! Neville, stop.” I leaned down, hands on my thighs. “What are you doing? Blake isn’t here. Can’t you see that?”

He let go of me, hopping backward, then turned to face me and chirped loudly.

“I think he wants me to follow him.” I looked at the fluffin. “This isn’t part of the plan, Nev. Do you know where Blake is?”

Neville chirped enthusiastically. Then he raced down the beach, stopping after a few feet to look back at me. He yipped loudly.

My heart sped up. “Do you think he knows where Blake went?”

“You’d better hope so,” Theo said. “He’s here for a reason. He knows what he’s doing. He helped you once before, that night in the Dragon Court. I think we have to trust him now.”