Braxius almost died at the hands of a monster, and I’d been helpless to save him. A monster who now controlled the deadliest magic in the world in its full force.
Kasia had died. So had her husband. And now, all of my friends would, too. Then everyone else.
I’d thought I could make a difference. Thought I could remain a step ahead, foil The Order’s plans and save the day. Instead, I’d single-handedly brought about the end of the world.
If I’d never stepped foot into Windguard’s castle, none of this would have happened. The greatest irony was that I’d spent my life searching for a purpose, thinking I was meant for something good. And look what happened. Striving for that led to the opposite. What would my father say? My mother?
Guess I would find out soon enough since I’d be joining them.
“Look,”Dae said.
He finally slowed, and I craned my neck to see around his big monstrous head. My friends stood in a line, as if welcoming me home. They were all glowing. Had I already died? Was this heaven? I lost that hope when I noted how they all donned Highcrest armor. The sun reflected off the shiny silver steel, the sight nearly blinding.
We approached, and I dismounted. Dae shifted quickly, barely letting my feet hit the ground. He grabbed my hand, holding it tightly. There was an uneasiness about him, so I asked, “Are you okay?”
“Are any of us?” he replied, but it seemed intentionally avoidant.
Greeting the others, I hugged them as if it were the last time. I explained that we’d been too late, but it seemed they’d already figured out something had gone wrong. The army worked behind them, sharpening weapons, passing around supplies.
The terrain here was a blessing and a curse. Barely any flat, open land existed, only a small clearing that forced soldiers to file along the road behind us, or scatter throughout the trees. Not efficient for mobilization, but at least provided coverage from attack. Though the same could be said for the enemy.
“After this, you know what I could go for? A nice big steak. We should put that chef of yours to work, eh Nick?” Tio said to soothe the throbbing tension. He always had a knack for doing that.
I smiled, but tears slipped free regardless. Dae’s hand remained tightly grasped in mine.
“I’m sorry, everyone. I tried to help but I just made everything worse.” I didn’t want their pity, or their sympathy. Any attempts to comfort me or try to convince me that it wasn’t would just make this harder. Pretty words wouldn’t erase the truth.
“They were always coming, Ro. At least we got to see it coming, to try to make a difference,” Tio said, already resigned to theinevitable loss heading straight for us. He tightened his hold around Melody, his thumb lovingly stroking against her hip, and I wanted to cry. They wouldn’t get to have the life they deserved together. In a matter of moments, it would be ripped away, all because I hadn’t shared what I’d learned with Dae. If I had, he would’ve had the sense to stay away. To keep his brothers away. And Kasia never would have returned. It was actually incredible how fast everything went to shit. I doubted history had ever had someone make such colossal mistakes so rapidly. How could anyone hold faith in me now?
Familiar drums sounded from a distance. No, not drums—beating wings. We all looked toward the sky to see the horde of dragons soar over the treetops. Screams of terror rang out from the army as the dragons landed, crushing trees and sending gusts of wind that stirred up leaves and dirt.
At last, a behemoth blue dragon joined, and I ran. I collided against Braxius’s chest, splaying my arms over his expansive, scaly body.
“I thought you died.” I sobbed into his leathery hide.
“I’m insulted. You know how tough I am.”Even his mental voice boomed.
The soft sound of my laughter sounded foreign against the heaviness in my heart. “You’re no longer the spry, pesky little thing that sat on my shoulder all the time.”My lip trembled at the thought that I’d never feel him there again.
“I’m still spry and pesky. If you want, I can try sitting onyourshoulder.”
I chuckled.“No, please don’t.”
He brought his nose down to nuzzle against my head. “Maybe it’s your turn to sit on mine.”
I squeezed my hold against him. “What were you thinking, getting that close?!”My eyebrows pinched together in anger.
He lifted his head, returning to a regal posture. Damn his nostrils were huge now. “I spotted you in the woods when they had you tied up in that wagon. You needed help, so I got it. But we didn’t know.”
“Didn’t know what?”I asked.
“The Eleven cannot kill us with dark magic. For balance, as is in all things, we cannot kill them by our fire. I was flying around, trying to figure some other plan of attack, when an owl plucked me from the sky in its talons. It handed me off to Marvoe. They used the blood from the non-magic wielders to draw symbols over their skin, muttering a spell over me and the horn. I guess I was the last ingredient. But I wasn’t scared, because I had seen you and Dae escape. I didn’t enjoy having my throat slit, but I would do it again if it meant keeping you safe.”
“Please don’t ever do that for me. I wouldn’t be able to live if I was the reason you died.”
“You’ve been the reason I’ve lived, Ro. I left the mountains because I wanted more from life. I wanted adventure, risk, and fun. You provided all of that for me. Looking back, I don’t think I could have pulled it off on my own. I would have retreated back to the mountains with my tail between my legs, admitting defeat for being foolish and naïve that my life could be something more. But a redhead with a bow and arrow welcomed me without reservation and gave me a home.”
My face drowned in hot, salty tears. “You’ve helped me live, too.”He had. So had Tio. So had Rav and Radhak. I’d been much the same as Braxius, feeling like there was something more calling to me. Fitting in had never been easy until I found a group of people who didn’t. People, and a tiny little dragon creature who wandered out of the woods of Argora Vale in need of a meal.
