My own breath rasped in my chest, coming faster and faster. Fists formed, my muscles trembling with the effort of holding myself back, even as I knew I needed to push forward.
I can’t talk to her,I told Argent, not needing to clarify who.I can’t, brother. Touch her mind and?—
You must. His mind was like a firm hand landing between my shoulder blades, shoving me on.You must, brother, because…
Because otherwise this would be Fern’s last meal.
My eyes closed, and I shut my eyes, then nodded, flicking them open again to take the stairs two at a time, striding into the mess. Fern, the crown princess and the scrappy little girl that had befriended the two of them wandered into the room, chattering away, only for me to come to stand in front of them.
“Don’t go.” All three ladies blinked and then took a step backwards. That instinctive recoil, I knew it well. “Don’t go up in the air today.”
This was the moment when Fern nodded, hearing the desperation in my voice and changing her plans in response. That line between her brows smoothed away, and she saw: my intent, my vision...
Me.
Instead, it just deepened.
“What?” She grew flustered at her blunt reply. “I beg your pardon, good sir.” Her eyes went to my shoulder. “Have you been promoted to the rank of officer, to bark commands at a woman so?”
The little one’s lips quirked up in a cheeky grin, but the crown princess stepped in front of me, wearing a frown of her own.
“You’re one of the silver dragon riders.” Her arms crossed. “From what I hear you weren’t especially attentive during the orientation lecture, so let me remind you of the most important parts. Female cadets are to be afforded the same respect, the same courtesy a lady inside the keep as they could expect outside it.”
So I had no business talking to a lady without formal introduction. My family had little use for me, but they ensured I received a proper education in etiquette so as to not embarrassmyself. I knew what I was doing was wrong and yet… As I stared into Fern’s eyes, I saw it.
“If you go up on your dragon’s back this morning.” The words were dragged out of me. “You’ll fall from the saddle.” Her hand went to her chest and her gasp was echoed by all three women. “You’ll fall and I…”
That was the moment when my voice failed me, because my vision doubled, tripled as I saw the possibilities. Of being in the air as well, of Argent shadowing Auren as her dragon swept through the air. Of my dragon flying low, his wings almost skimming the waves as we swept back and forth in preparation.
“That won’t happen.” Cora turned to Fern, her voice perfectly reasonable. “You’ve had some flying experience, and this is a very simple training exercise. This…” She shot me a dark look over my shoulder. “Female riders are a relatively new thing in Nevermere and it seems that some men respond by getting a little overprotective.”
“Ready to fly out this morning?” The lieutenant arrived, his helmet under his arm. I didn’t even rate a glance as he stared down at Fern, a smile on his face. “Some of the corp dragons will demonstrate the ways we work together to protect Nevermere and then your beast will show what she learned, destroying an old wreck in the bay.”
So that’s how it would go down? My fingers flexed, needing to do something because otherwise I’d reach out and haul Fern back against me, forcing her to stay right where I could protect her.
“Don’t.” I said that in a far gentler tone, shaking my head, because I already knew what her response would be. “Don’t go and?—”
“I’m ready.” Fern nodded firmly and right then, it felt like my heart was dropping just as fast as she had in my vision. “Auren’s raring to go.”
“Some breakfast first?”
Lance offered her his arm, and she took it, the four of them turning to find a table, which just left me staring after her.
“You’re up early.” Lorien appeared at my shoulder. “Asked our girl to breakfast, did you?”
“No.”
Everyone kept saying that word, but I did so with a special kind of vehemence, striding out of the mess and heading straight for the mountain where my dragon was waiting.
We will save her,he told me as I grabbed his saddle, hauling it up and over his back, then fastening it in place.We will not let her fall.
But Argent saw my dream. His mind was fused to mine as he watched us fail over and over again. My forehead pressed into his side and for just a moment, there was only the feel of his hot scales. The quiet inside my head didn’t last long. Visions came whether I wanted them too or not, and right now, a deluge flickered through my mind. Everything I tried to do, Argent did, I saw all the ways we failed.
“What’s going on?” Kael’s voice cut through the haze and I blinked, catching his frown. That expression was quite a different thing on his face. “What did you see?”
Those four words, they were the lifeline I needed thrown my way, lest I get lost in the rocking waves of my mind.
“Fern…” My voice was a harsh croak. “I saw her fall?—”
