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“He’s coming,” he whispered, terrified.

“Run, boy,” I commanded. “Run now, to the sea. Call for the Emperor.” He obeyed quickly, though I had no reason to think he’d be successful in bringing help. The fire dragon would be upon us in a minute.

“Warrior.” Alexios’s eyes snapped open. The word was a command I could not ignore, and when I turned back to him, gold light fell like rain all around him.

As if he’d never collapsed, never been wounded, he unfolded his legs gracefully and stood, taking Rada back from a stunned Lachlan, who bowed and murmured, “My lady.”

“Warrior,” he/She snapped again, moving toward the lip, holding Rada like a baby. “Catch her when I fall.”

The golden light moved to Kellin. “Bind his wings.”

Then to Lachlan. “Care for them, Omega, only son of my line.”

And then Edan was there, above us.

RADA

Iwas burning, so when I opened my eyes, I wasn’t surprised by the fire all around me. Above me.

Inside me.

I didn’t remember falling into the maw, but I must have. The world was on fire, and I was in some hell made of heat and pain.

But when I drew in a breath and realized I was in the arms of my Beta, my last moments of consciousness came flooding back. My early training kicked in, and I took in everything around me. The warriors. The weapons. The ways out… No. There were none.

Edan was a dragon above me, hovering with my dagger in his throat.

Goran stood between Edan and Lachlan, his sword falling from his hands as it grew red-hot. Lachlan snatched it up instantly, wrapped the hilt in his pelt, and handed it back.

Kellin stood a few feet away, a long rope in his hand, whirling it in a loop over his head like I’d seen some cattle farmers do to capture wandering calves.

And Alexios… Golden light spilled down on my face, and I squinted to see where it came from. “My lovely one,” he said, but his voice was feminine, and bells chimed in each word. “Hold on.”

I did, gripping his arms as he stepped back from Edan, who was roaring in some draconic language.

Alexios lifted his voice over the wind. “You want her? Come take her, Edan.”

The dragon shrieked and reached out with his neck, jaw wide. But Kellin let loose the rope he held, and it wrapped around the translucent, burning jaws… and did not burn. Edan twisted in the air, and somehow the rope looped over him. It moved like it had a mind of its own, like it was magical as it caught him.

It bound his wings. Edan struggled in the air for a moment, and then, like a flame going out, he began to fall through the opening of the volcano, down into the maw below.

Kellin released the rope. Lachlan let out a wordless cry at that, though I did not understand why. Goran dropped the wrapped sword, his arms outstretched.

The reason became clear when Alexios’s body jerked hard, and a wave of heat slapped us both. “Warrior!” Lex shouted, and threw me toward Goran.

He caught me.

But Alexios fell.

It only took a few seconds for my world to unravel as he tumbled after Edan, into the maw. Goran hissed in pain, his arms tightening around me.

“Let me go! Let me go! He may be holding on!” I struggled against Goran’s grip, trying to remember if there was anything Lex could have grabbed on his way down. But I knew, and Goran’s tear-filled eyes told me, there was nothing.

I didn’t feel him die. I wouldn’t, though. I wasn’t bound to Lex with any metaphysical cords. No mating marks or claims, other than the soul-deep, hard-won love I held for him.

More than anyone else, more than my mates even, I loved him. Even with his secrets, I’d wanted him.

Had I told him I loved him? Had I told him I forgave him? Too late, my heart cried. Too late now.