Total pages in book: 247
Estimated words: 235897 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1179(@200wpm)___ 944(@250wpm)___ 786(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 235897 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1179(@200wpm)___ 944(@250wpm)___ 786(@300wpm)
“I don’t want to leave you.” Xaden drops the wall of shadow. I glance over my shoulder and find dead wyvern scattered in the field, and Sgaeyl, Tairn, and Marbh examining the chains strapped around Teine.
“I know. But you have to.”
“I’ll carry her.” Brennan bends and scoops Mira’s unconscious body off my lap.
“You’re all right?” I locate my alloy-hilted dagger in the grass and put it back in place as I rise, then grab the package Sloane left behind, too. It’s addressed to Aaric and bears the unbroken seal of Dunne.
Why in all that’s holy would he send Sloane into a war zone to give me his own mail? I’m going to throttle him…as soon as I figure out what the fuck he’s currently doing.
“Mairi gave me a little more than she needed to. I’m fine.” He adjusts Mira in his arms.
“I know you were supposed to stay, but take Mira,” Bodhi says. “We’ll figure out how to free Teine so she can follow.”
“Agreed.” Brennan’s mouth tenses, and he looks at me. “I have more than a dozen runes I can leave—”
“Thanks, but I’ll pass,” I interrupt. “Better I stick to what I’m good at.”
He nods. “Stick to the plan, Violet—no matter what goes wrong. We’re counting on you.” His gaze jumps to Xaden. “That applies to you, too.” He doesn’t waste time waiting for a reply, just heads toward Marbh.
I slip Aaric’s package into my flight jacket pocket and watch as Brennan walks away. Weird. There’s no mark at the back of his neck like he carries on his palm. There hadn’t been one on Dain’s wrist, either.
“You’d better go,” Bodhi urges Xaden. “We’ve got wyvern trying to round the north side of the city, and the pass is just beyond. Whole battle just a few miles away, remember?”
“I’m going.” Xaden grabs Brennan’s discarded waterskin, then pours its remaining contents over my right hand, washing away the majority of Mira’s blood. The water runs off my fingers, slowly fading from crimson to pale pink before he drops the skin. “Concentrate.” He cradles my cheek, and our eyes lock. “Use only Tairn’s power. Do not turn. Do not die. Accomplish your mission, and I will find you after.”
He kisses me breathless, and for just that second, time doesn’t matter. My heart races, and I wrap my arms around his neck, pouring everything I feel for him into my response. It’s chaotic and desperate and over far too soon.
“Come back to me,” I demand as he moves away.
“Only ever you.” He holds my gaze for another few steps, then turns to Bodhi. “Stay with her, but remember your promise.”
Bodhi nods. “I don’t want your fucking province.”
“Noted.” Xaden clasps Bodhi’s shoulder, then breaks into a run for Sgaeyl. Her golden eyes swivel toward mine.
“Get off the ground and stay with him,” she orders, and we both know she doesn’t mean Bodhi.
“Same goes to you.” I lift my chin.
They’re airborne within seconds, flying south toward the city. I look away before fear has a chance to grab hold. He’s the most powerful rider on the field, and she’s merciless. Their survival isn’t a question.
Bodhi and I will give them enough time to save the city.
“Now that the Duke of Angst is gone,” Bodhi says, his voice rising, “we have a problem.”
Of course we do.
The only thing more stubborn than a dragon is its rider.
—Colonel Kaori’s Field Guide to Dragonkind
CHAPTER SIXTY
“What’s the issue?” I walk back to the carnage surrounding our dragons.
“He does not wake,” Tairn announces, and Cuir lowers his green snout to Teine’s.
Oh shit. Fear comes racing back.
“We have to get him off this field before Theophanie returns.” Bodhi studies the clouds.
“Can Garrick get Teine up the cliffs?” I ask.
“Under normal circumstances? Yes.” Bodhi winces. “But he’s already exhausted from walking all over the Continent in the last few hours. There’s no chance.”
“The plan is going to shit fast.” And we’re miles away from everyone except the lethal dark wielder who wants to kill us. But there’s another option. My head swings to Tairn. “You’re the only one strong enough to get him out of here. You can carry him if you use the chains.”
“I will not leave you on this field—” he growls.
“If I leave, everything falls apart. Dragonkind protects its own, even above a bonded rider,” I remind him.
His eyes narrow, and steam billows from his nostrils. “Do not lecture me on the laws of my kind or you will learn how comfortable I am breaking them.”
Cuir quickly removes himself.
“Please,” I beg Tairn. “If not for Teine’s own sake, then for Mira’s. I’ve already lost Andarna. I can’t lose my sister, too. Do not ask me to find that strength or I will fail you. I will fail us both.”
A snarl rips from his throat and metal clangs as he positions himself over Teine, gripping the four ends of chain wrapped around his torso in his claws. “You will not move from this field,” he orders.