Black dragons slam down around us as Galen, Lyra, and Isera’s temporary partner reach us as well. Alistair, Isera, and Orion leap down from their backs before Galen and Lyra shift into humans as well.
Draven gently cups my cheeks while tears stream down his face. “Hold on, little rebel. Please. You need to hold on.”
“I’m… sorry,” I gasp out. Every word makes my chest burn with agony. But I drag in a strained breath. Raising my hand, I attempt to wipe his tears away, but I just end up smearing my blood across his cheek. “I wish… we could’ve had… our future.”
“We will have our future. Please, just hold on.” He snaps his head up again and bellows, “Rin!”
A huge orange dragon slams into the ground. More smoke washes over us before Draven blows it all aside. I vaguely register that I couldn’t feel the wind this time. In fact, I’m having trouble feeling anything at all.
“Heal her!” Draven screams.
Rin’s glittering magic surges towards me, but dread quickly washes over her features.
“It’s too late,” she gasps out. “Her body is too damaged. She will die before I can heal wounds this severe.” Her black eyes are full of regret as she shakes her head. “If I still had a union bond, maybe. But my fae partner died in the sneak attack.”
“Then bond me!” Isera snaps.
I drag in a shuddering breath.
Then the world suddenly goes dark.
Fear and regret pulse through me as I desperately try to claw my way back to consciousness. I don’t want to die. I want to see every inch of this world with Draven. I want to find out what’s on the other side of the Western Sea. I want to build a home. I want to have an entire room full of children running around. I want to create a family with Draven. The happy, loving family that I’ve always wished I had.
Oh Goddess, I don’t want to die.
“Selena!” Draven’s voice is screaming at me from what sounds like very far away.
With a heave of desperation, I drag myself towards it.
Draven’s beautiful golden eyes suddenly become visible above me.
I smile, tears slipping down my cheeks and blood trickling from my mouth. “At least now… you’re free.”
“Freedom means nothing without you,” he whispers in a broken voice.
Next to us, a dragon roars.
Then magic surges through me.
I gasp as a prickling sensation starts in my chest and then spreads through my entire body. Tilting my head back, I find a huge orange dragon standing there with a streak of blood between her nostrils. Rin Tanaka. Beside her is Isera. A wound cuts across Isera’s palm, and blood drips down on the grass, but her eyes are solely fixed on me.
Draven lets out a shuddering breath. Tipping my head back down, I stare at the hole in my abdomen that the hilt of my dagger caused. It’s closing with rapid speed. And every breath I draw is getting easier and easier as Rin’s now boosted healing powers sweep through my body, repairing all the damaged organs and shattered bones. I let my head fall back down on the grass and heave a deep sigh.
With his hands still cupping my cheeks, Draven bends down and presses his forehead against mine. “You troublesome, infuriating, insubordinate little rebel.”
A laugh escapes my lips. It’s an exhausted and broken sound, but also full of hope and joy.
“Don’t ever do that to me again,” he whispers.
“I promise,” I breathe back.
“You’ve already fallen off my back and almost died once. This makes it twice. Never again.”
“Technically, I jumped this time.”
“I know. Hence,troublesome, infuriating, insubordinate little rebel. Try that again, and I’ll handcuff you to me for the rest of your life.”
“You know what? I might actually be okay with that.”
