My lips sink into his.
I will my tensing body to relax, reminding my nervous system to breathe through the kiss. My frozen lips open for him. He tastes like salt air and the promise of ruin.
I try to detach from my body.
I try not to feel it as his tongue slips into my mouth, learning my insides by feel.
I force myself to lean into his touch and let his hands wrap around me. It feels easier than it should. We fall onto the bed, and I stare up into heavy ocean eyes.
When he starts to undress, I bite my lip so hard I taste blood.
I springout of the nightmare, drenched in sweat. It takes me a moment to realize where I am—to register the strip of light filtering in through the tent. Kai sleeping soundly at my side. I lift my fingers to my mouth and glance down at the drop of black staining my fingertip.
This is real. Our friends came for us. My dragon came. We made it out.
Tossing off the thin blanket, I stand and make my way down the beach. Mar, Dover, and Zadyn are plopped down in the warm sand, speaking quietly while Jace stands with his back to me, arms folded over his chest. Zadyn is the first to notice I’m awake, dropping off mid-sentence as the rest of my friends turn toward me.
“There are some things I need to share with you all,” I say, planting my bare feet and locking eyes with each of them.
“The Stryga didn’t kill those Guardians at the portal. Kylian did. He somehow gained control of it and has been using it to amass an army. No creature can pass through without swearing allegiance to him.”
Zadyn mutters a curse, shaking his head as I go on, “His goal is, you guessed it, world domination.”
“Surprise, surprise,” Mar mutters sardonically.
“And if I had to bet his army is going to consist of the Stryga and others like them.” I pause. “He’s going to attempt to conquer the remaining four kingdoms, starting with Aegar.”
“He could have a whole other arsenal of creatures at his disposal if he’s controlling the portal,” Mar says. I nod, already having considered that possibility.
“Exactly. And the Stryga have no problem breaching our wards because they aren’t from here. We have to figure out how to close the portal before anything else can get through,” I continue. “I say we head home to warn them and muster up all the military strength we can. Then we head to Hyrax.”
My friends gape at me. Jace seems to be suppressing a small smile. I tweak my head.
“What?”
“Nothing.” He inhales loudly. “I’ve just never heard you speak like that. Like a Dragon Rider.”
“Desperate times.” I shrug, though his comment sends a swell of pride through me.
“Could Kylian be working with anyone else? Did he mention having the support of any other kingdoms?” Jace asks.
I shake my head. “No, none that I know of.”
Zadyn glances at Jace. “I doubt any would align with him, certainly not Berringer.”
“There’s something else. Kylian was clear that he wanted Furi, but he wouldn’t say why. There was something he wasn’t saying.”
“Well, whatever his intentions were, I doubt they were pure so it’s a good thing he doesn’t have her.”
“If he had shot her out of the sky, he would have. I didn’t realize that blood ore worked on dragons.”
“It works on all creatures of magic,” Zadyn explains. I shudder at the thought of anything hurting my dragon ever again.
“We need to fly home. Tomorrow,” Jace says, brows set firmly over his stunning golden eyes.
God, I forgot how intense his stare can be. I hate how much he makes me want to punch him in the face and kiss him raw at the same time.
He’s engaged to Sorscha.
