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“Autumn…” I warned. “This creature—It—"
“Trust me, Sahl.”
My eyes widened at the fondness and light shining in her eyes as if what happened the previous night was forgiven.
The dragon moved, cracking metal and iron claws against the stone. My sword hand tensed, and I refused to put it down. They were both insane.
Autumn made another step, and the dragon released a puff of black smoke. “Easy,” she was saying. “We won't hurt you.”
My hands twitched on the hilt of my sword. Like fuck I won't. If it made one threatening move—
“I promise he won't,” Autumn said, glancing back at me.
I lifted a pissed-off brow.I would. Not that I would be much against an Iron Dragon, but I would sure as the Underworld try for her.
“It's all right,” Autumn crooned as if speaking to a timid rabbit. “I'm here to help. You can tell me.”
She moved another few steps, and I tensed further.
The creature growled; it resounded through its metal scales. “I want to help,” Autumn murmured.
The dragon made no threatening moves. It was sizing us up but didn’t lunge. Autumn was so close now it could swallow her in one bite. My heart hammered.
I sucked in a breath as Autumn extended a hand. “Autumn,” I cried, but she simply shook her head. I was unsure whether the beast was speaking to her or if she took its lack of aggression as a good sign, but I could not help her if it attacked; I was too far away. So I stepped further, but Argen’s hand whipped out and stopped me.
“Don’t, Huntsman. Just trust her.”
I did. That was the problem. I trusted her with everything I was.
The dragon bared its teeth at me, and I swallowed back panic, but Autumn stood steady. Cogs in the beast’s head clicked, and more metal clanged against metal as it twisted and slowly lowered its mighty head.
My heart lodged in my throat as it closed its gemstone eyes and seemed to melt in place as she touched it.
Autumn ran a gentle hand over the cogs, the metal of the beast’s head, and the plates of armor that made up its cheek.
“You are magnificent.”
It blew a breath into her hand, and she pulled her hand back and looked at it before continuing to rub the metal plates. The dragon opened one gemstone eye as if agreeing with her.
“We are looking for an ornate blade forged by the legendary Cabro Lightfoot.” A heartbeat passed, and her movements stilled.
Another agonizing moment went by, and Autumn's brows furrowed. Then she glanced back at us before returning her attention to the dragon.
“Hei'Rndu?” She asked twice, ensuring she had the pronunciation correct.
Argen sucked in a loud breath, and my eyes whipped to his. He glanced at me with an awestruck expression.
Autumn cocked her head, then glanced at Argen. “Heartrender.”
“Is it speaking to you?” I asked, but I knew the answer.
Who would have thought Autumn could speak to a fucking Iron Dragon? No one else in the world would have even considered trying.
“Yes.”
She moved to the dragon's side and ran her hands over the creature. It moved its leg and wing to expose its… heart. The beast had a keyhole where its heart should be.
“He says he can take us to Hei'Rndu. But then I must break his curse, or he will not allow us to leave here.”
