The black dragon roared and thrashed, a piercing, keening cry rumbling in his throat. He circled the two figures, wings splayed, a red glow burning behind the scales of his neck.
Larylis slowed his approach as he neared, which gave him just enough time to roll out of the way of the dragon’s sudden blast of flame. The creature snapped his teeth, then charged—
“Uziel, stop!” The male voice was an agonized rasp, but the dragon obeyed nonetheless. “Drop your sword and bow to him, human fool!”
It took Larylis a moment to realize Fanon was speaking to him, but he did as told, dropping his sword to the ground and folding into a bow. Uziel released a hiss, then an agitated rumble, but from the corner of Larylis’ eye, he watched the dragon take a grudging step back.
“Leave him be, Uziel.” Fanon’s voice was even weaker now.
Larylis risked rising from his bow. He cast a wary look at the dragon, who continued to hiss at him but made no move to roast him alive. Taking that as permission, he jogged the rest of the way to Fanon and Ailan. The latter was motionless, her neck severed, the sight too gruesome for Larylis to study. He turned his attention to Fanon, who was at least still alive, though losing blood quickly. He’d ceased dragging himself across the grass and now lay supine beside his consort at a haphazard angle.
Larylis crouched before him. “I’ll tie a tourniquet—”
“I can’t understand you,” Fanon said through his teeth. Seven devils, of course he couldn’t. He’d had the same translation charm around his wrist that Larylis wore now. A charm that had obviously been lost with his hands. Steeling his nerve, he sought any sign of the missing appendages, but Fanon halted him with a stern tone. “Don’t you dare tend to me. Take the collar and go.”
Larylis returned his gaze to Fanon. The Elvyn jerked his chin toward the other side of Ailan’s body. Larylis saw nothing in the grass but heavy gouges and pools of blood—
No, there was something. Half hidden in the blood-soaked grass was a talon. Larylis rushed to retrieve it and found not one talon but two. It was the collar that had once adorned his wife’s neck.
“Take it and enter the tear,” Fanon said. “He’s already inside.”
Larylis’ blood went cold. Darius…had entered the tear?
Fanon spoke again. “Uziel, take him.”
“What do you mean, take me?” Larylis asked, but the sound was drowned out by Uziel’s roar. The dragon slammed his tail on the ground in protest, setting the cliff rattling.
“Do you want to avenge her?” Fanon’s voice was growing weaker by the second.
Uziel ceased thrashing and released a series of piercing chirps. Larylis didn’t need to understand the language of dragons to know the creature was grieving.
“Then take him to the Edel Morkara’Elle. She and our Morkara are all we have left of Ailan. Do you understand? Do not fail her, Uziel.”
Uziel swiveled his head and pinned Larylis with a forbidding look. He gnashed his teeth, his tongue flicking outward, sending small licks of flame into the air.
“And you, human,” Fanon said. He closed his eyes, his chest pulsing with shallow breaths. “Do you want to save the woman you love? Do you want to succeed where I have failed?”
Larylis tightened his fist around the collar. “With everything I have.”
“Mount the dragon,” Fanon said, understanding his conviction even without a translation. “Enter the tear. Stop him before it’s too late.”
* * *
Tears of fearand grief and rage stung Mareleau’s eyes as she, Etrix, and Garot rushed from the palace toward the dragon caves. They’d accumulated a squad of guards who now brought up the rear. She wove her arms protectively around her son as she hurried along the same path Ailan had taken her down two days ago.
Ailan.
She was…gone.
Mareleau hadn’t fully warmed to the woman, but it would be a lie to say she hadn’t grown at least somewhat comfortable with her. Ailan may have stolen her and her son from the lives they’d known and loved…
But she’d treated Mareleau with respect. Fought to position her as a person of high esteem amongst the Elvyn, despite her human blood. She’d taught her the motions for wardweaving and encouraged her to work with the magic she already possessed without undermining her goals.
Just like that, she was gone.
Mareleau would never get to say goodbye.
Could never rely on the woman to protect and advocate for her.
