Kaelith’s wings flared, her tail slicing the air with a hiss of displaced wind. She lunged, jaws snapping just short of Hein’s throat. He dodged with a quick flex of his wings but didn’t retreat.
Zander appeared at my side just as a deep roll of thunder swept across the skies—despite the cloudless morning above us.
“Don’t call on your magic,” he said quickly, eyes fixed on the dragons. “Not right now.”
My fingers twitched. “What’s going on?”
He exhaled, tension bleeding from every line of him. “Hein wishes their bond to move to the next level. He’s done waiting.”
I blinked. “He wants tomateher… now?”
Zander’s jaw ticked. “Yes. But Kaelith’s resisting. And Hein believes that unless he shows her he won’t take no for an answer… she’ll neverrespecthim.”
My heart thudded painfully. “So he’s going tofighther?”
Zander didn’t respond, he didn’t have to.
Kaelith snapped again, this time her teeth grazing Hein’s side. Her tail whipped wide in warning, but Hein pressed forward, growling in answer, coiling tighter around her.
Suddenly, Kaelith lashed out.
Her tail swept wide and struck the base of the podium with a crack like a tree being split in two.
Major Ledor dove to the side just in time, rolling across the grass as a massive slab of stone broke and crumbled beside him.
The riders screamed and scrambled back farther.
Kaelith reared up on her hind legs, wings half-unfurled, and let out a roar that sent birds scattering from the cliffs.
And Hein…
Didn’t flinch.
He bowed his head.
Not in defeat.
But in declaration.
And Kaelith’s growl fell quiet… for just a breath.
She launched into the sky with a roar that shook the stones beneath our boots. Her wings snapped wide, violent and beautiful, as she tore into the open air. Hein followed a breath later, his massive silver frame cutting through the clouds after her like a storm given form.
The moment their wings vanished beyond the cliffs, the major exhaled and waved rapidly at one of the guards. “Get another podium. We continue the trials.”
The guards ran off, and the grounds slowly resumed motion, though the tension lingered like smoke. The Ashen Path glowed again, more riders preparing to face the coals.
Teren and I drifted back toward the edges, giving space to those who hadn’t yet completed the trial. The morning sun had warmed the dirt, but I still felt the chill from Kaelith’s roar lingering under my skin.
I glanced at Teren. “Have you done this trial before?”
He shook his head. “No. That was a new one.”
I was about to ask what he thought the next would be, when I caught it.
A flicker ofsilverin my periphery.
Movement.
