Pride that I’d killed such a terrifying creature.
Down below, no one spoke. But everyone walked around the massive creature to stand in front of its head and stare up at me.
Eliza cradled a burnt arm. Calyx’s one wing looked injured from the way it hung lifeless behind him. Rathiel, thank everything, seemed unharmed. Levi looked as though he’d taken the worst of it, blood streaking nearly every inch of him. Mephisar picked himself up from the ground and slithered over. Even Gorr limped closer, one back leg tucked beneath him.
I slowly climbed off the dragon, one foot after the other, careful not to slip on the blood-slicked scales. Halfway down, Rathiel offered me a hand, which I took. The second I stood on solid ground, my knees began to tremble.
I passed each of my friends, touching them lightly as I moved by them. Eliza clutched my hand but quickly released me as I pulled away and kept moving.
Sable’s body lay in the ashes, untouched since I’d pulled the dragon off her. Her massive form looked so small now, so wrong. I’d never seen her crumpled like that, so it was impossible to think of her as sleeping. Especially since she was lying in a pool of her own blood. Her blue-black scales had dulled, her golden eyes still fixed on the sky.
The moment I reached her, something inside me cracked and broke apart.
I fell to my knees beside her and placed a hand on her side. My eyes burned with the threat of tears, but I held them back. I couldn’t let myself give in to the sadness. Not yet.
Mephisar slowly approached. A small, plaintive cry fell from his lips as he stared down at his friend. I glanced at him and noted that he looked older somehow. As if this battle had aged him. His wings were limp, the membrane shredded in places. Blood painted his back and flanks, a few of his claws and one of his fangs broken. A series of gashes ran along his side, down to his flank. He didn’t complain, though, even though he had to be in a great deal of pain.
It seemed like the dragon had targeted my hellwyrms. They’d definitely taken the brunt of the attack.
Mephisar lowered his massive head to Sable’s. He bumped her gently, once, as if trying to nudge her awake.
That hurt me more than her death—seeing him mourning her, begging her to wake up. But she didn’t move.
Finally, he made a noise. A soft crooning sound that brought fresh tears to my eyes.
I pressed my forehead to his side, careful of his injuries so as not to hurt him any more than he already was.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered to him, the words empty. “I’m so sorry.”
His tail snaked around me, and he pulled me closer, clearly seeking comfort.
I cried.
For him. For me. For Sable. Because he couldn’t. Because we would miss her. Because we’d loved her.
Gorr limped forward, his shuffling gait uneven, and sat next to Mephisar’s other side. A whine escaped his lips, and he leaned against Mephisar’s other side, offering him whatever comfort he could. Then he tucked down closer to Sable and gave her cheek a gentle lick.
Slow footsteps approached me from behind, and I knew they belonged to Rathiel. He didn’t speak, but he did lay his hand on my shoulder.
I immediately rose to my feet and stepped away.
I didn’t want anyone’s kindness or comfort right now. Because this…was my fault.
I never should have gone off with Rath last night, no matter what anyone said. We knew better than to venture off like that. The possible consequences were numerous and now were facing one of the worst. Obviously, we hadn’t been thinking clearly. I’d just wanted one night alone with him. One selfish moment of peace.
Sigh.
We were atwar. This wasn’t a game. This wasHell, not our honeymoon.
If we’d been here, we might have been able to prevent Sable’s death.
She’d chosen to follow me, to protect me. But I hadn’t been here for her when it counted. I hadn’t stopped this. And I swore, right then, that I would never let this happen again.
Chapter Eight
LILY
We buried Sable.
