“Tempest.” Reyla raced across the room and hurtled herself at me. “Get away from that beast before it kills you.”
“Hewon’t. He’s . . . mine.”
“What does that mean?” Her face cleared. “You read that book I found before the Claiming.”
“I didn’t cast the spells.”
You sang them,Madrood said.An unusual way of bonding, but it worked.
Maybe I had. I couldn’t remember exactly what I’d sung while I was with him.
Reyla peered up at Madrood. “I can’t believe you stole the king’s dragon.”
I never belonged completely to that fiend,Madrood said.But I now belong to you.
I couldn’t quite fathom that.
“We need to leave,” Reyla said.
“You’re right.”
We only had a brief reprieve. Ivenrail would regroup and come after me soon. The next time, he’d make sure I didn’t get away.
“I’ll grab Brodine,” Reyla said, waving to where our friend stood near the wall.
“Take Glim. Meet me and Vexxion near the aerie.”
“We’re leaving, right? Flying away from this horrible place.”
I nodded. “Only for now.” I glared at the smoldering castle around me. “I’ll be back.” I tipped my head back. “You hear that Ivenrail? I’ll be back, and when I come for you, you’re going to die.”
“Brodine,” Reyla said, hurrying over to our friend. “We’re leaving.”
I dropped down beside Vexxion, placing my head against his chest. He lived. He breathed. And I was going to save him.
He’d gotten those collars somewhere, and there had to be more.
I couldn’t lose him. The thought of going on without him ripped through me like a white-hot blade, slicing through everything in its path.
Lifting Vexxion onto my lap, I wrapped my arms around him. I flitted, settling us on Madrood’s back.
We flee,the dragon said.
Can you take us wherever I ask?
Of course.
While Reyla led Brodine from the room, I urged Madrood toward the enormous door in the wall.
Grab that bag,I said.
He lifted it in his fangs and tossed it up to me. I snatched it from the air and secured it to my spine.
One blast of Madrood’s fire, and the door disappeared. Fresh, clean air swept inside, but it would take more than a gust of wind to cleanse this place.
It felt like forever since I’d ridden a dragon yet, at the same time, it felt like only a moment ago.
I secured my hold on Vexxion with magic and whispered by his ear.I love you. I know you can hear me. I’m not giving up, damn you. You’re mine, and I’m going to find you no matter where you roam.
