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Gia accepted Wyn into her arms and watched as Sorin shifted into his dragon self. As he set the cabin ablaze, Wyn cried silent tears against her neck.
The blaze was intense, so hot, she thought it might scald her, even as far as she stood.
But then, in mere moments, it died done, not even the walls left standing.
What did remain...a stone cairn.
“Take the boy across the trench now, Gia. It’s time for the next marker.”
THE BODIES OF THE MENwho’d helped Ronna Greene slaughter men, women and children had been left at the bottom of the trench, along with Ronna herself.
The one man who’d asked about retrieving them had been the recipient of a burning look from Sorin.
“They came to wage war on those under my care and died on a field of battle. This is where they’ll rest, as warning to any other who might consider such an act in the future,” he’d warned.
Nobody else dared speak against him, not even when he launched himself into the earth and again took his dragon form and turned the muddy, wood-pocked sludge into more dragonstone, forever sealing the bodies into the earth.
Now Gia understood the message.
One soul left in a memorial, given a hero’s passing, behind a protective barrier.
The others left in an unmarked grave as a warning to any other who’d try to cross the dragon who’d claimed this territory.
Judging by the looks the surviving men had given Sorin, she could tell they’d received the message loud and clear.
“Tell the rest of the people in your town,” she advised them as Sorin and Wyn walked back to stand by the smoldering ruin of the cabin. “And just be aware, we’ll be watching. Now...go.”
So, they were left alone, finally, Gia, Wyn, the dragon and her shade.
It was half way through the afternoon when she heard an engine and she had to grab Sorin’s arm to keep him from taking to the skies.
“It’s a friend.”
He frowned at her.
“A friend,” she said again. “I sent word while I was still in the mountains with Wyn. We can’t keep him out here indefinitely. He needs rest, in a real bed. With decent food and warm clothes.”
Sorin’s face turned thunderous.
“He can’t be left with strangers right now,” he said, shaking his head. “He just lost his mother. He needs...”
Then he stopped and looked toward the low-lying pond where Wyn played with the shade, almost as if they were schoolmates. Eyes closing, he murmured, “He needs you.”
“I think he’s as fond of you as he is of me. But...” She stopped and looked around, gaze coming to rest on the stone cairn that had been cleaned of soot and now had a dull sheen. It wasn’t beautiful—yet. But Gia could see the promise.
There was also the shrouded shape that Sorin had flown in earlier in the day after the human men had left. He wouldn’t let her look, had only allowed Wyn a peek.
“You’re not done here. Anybody can see that.”
Sorin’s face darkened with a frown. “The first days are critical when creating dragonstone. If I leave off now and try to restart in a few days, a week, the process will be ruined and I’ll have to start over. She deserves more than that.”
“Yes.” Gia didn’t offer anything else.
Swearing, Sorin hauled her against him, his mouth slamming down on hers.
Long moments later, when he lifted his head, it was only to demand, “Tell me you aren’t walking away.”
“Dragon...have a little faith.” She cupped his face in her hand and rose to kiss him, her caress far gentler than his.
