He dipped his head and kept flying, his sharp gaze scanning the world around us, seeking threats.
All my life, I was told Lydel was cursed, that its people had been turned to stone. Could I free them and talk them into joining my army? Who was I to do such a thing? I was a dragon trainer. A rider. And fae, another notion I was nowhere close to accepting.
I needed to muster a battle force if I hoped to survive whatwas coming. Ivenrail would not attack me alone. High Advisor Adwarin would ride by his side, as would Kerune, the king’s new enforcer. Only this morning, I’d witnessed Kerune killing at least thirty Lieges. He’d done it to seize control of the dregs, the feral beasts who hunted us. The feral beasts who may have been gifted with wings by Ivenrail.
Some might call me foolish for continuing to fight him. They’d say I should keep flying until I’d crossed the vast sea below this continent, that I should continue onward until I reached a place where no one knew me. I could live in relative safety there while the king feverishly searched for me, gnashing his teeth when he didn’t find me.
But he could track Vexxion with his collar; he was probably tracking my lover already.
Lydel is my past and my future, I told Madrood.As is Vexxion.We were betrothed when I was little. I’d loved him almost from the moment I met him. I’d never dreamed that I’d find someone I was destined to love until my dying day.
Vexxion had kept many secrets. He’d shared what he could, but he’d held back too much from me. I understood why. He’d walked a fine line to protect me at all costs, and the final sacrifice he’d planned was giving his own life to ensure Ivenrail died.
We left the vast plain behind and flew through the narrow passage where my dragon, Seevar, was killed on our way to Bledmire. The high advisor’s daughter murdered him that day, but I’d found my revenge when I stabbed her and pushed her off a cliff. Her death would never bring my dragon back, but I’d found justice.
Vexxion shifted in front of me, and when he released a groan, my heart came to a halt before shivering behind my ribcage.
Vexxion.I tightened my arms around him, leaning my face against his back, drinking in his scent.Vexxion?
He didn’t reply. When he first spoke to me in my mind, I was appalled. I thought he would roam through my thoughts that too often focused on him, that he’d lay waste to my soul, but he hadn’t. Now I’d give anything to hear him speaking to me like that again.
When we passed over the area where Seevar had fallen, I didn’t look down. If I let grief past my walls, it would swallow me whole.
That was when I heard subtle sounds behind me.
Reyla looked backward and her sharp cry rang out. “What the fuck?”
The second bone dream vision was upon us.
A small pack of dregs flew furiously toward us, their clawed hands extended, and their fangs bared. They screeched, their harsh cries gouging my skin.
Kerune flew his dragon above them. When he caught my eye, he lifted his sword and pointed the tip right at me.
“Faster,” I shouted, and our beasts picked up speed, darting through the rest of the channel. We’d pass over a vast forest beyond with no place to hide. If we could reach Weldsbane, Vexxion’s wards should protect us, though only long enough for us to regroup and figure out how we’d reach Lydel without leading the dreg horde to our only potential sanctuary.
Hold tight,Madrood shouted in my mind. He swooped downtoward the forested valley and leveled off, his claws nearly smacking against the canopy.We have to outfly them.
Was that even possible?
Drask squawked but held on, his claws digging into my shoulder. He leaned against my neck, nearly fusing himself to me.
Shooting ineffective glares at Kerune, I snarled my lower lip with my teeth while holding Vexxion’s family dagger snug in my hand. What I’d give for a sword right now. Leathers instead of the infernal dress I’d worn to the wedding.
Actually . . . A flick of my power, and I magicked myself into the leathers Vexxion had packed in the bag. That, I wrenched off my back and secured to the spike jutting up between Madrood’s shoulders.
No matter how hard I tried, however, I couldn’t magic a sword into my hand.
“More speed,” Reyla cried out, shooting terrified looks over her shoulder. “Can you dress me in leathers? I’m useless in this crappy dress.”
I tried but while I’d easily stripped off Vexxion’s clothing in the past, I couldn’t do anything for my friend.
At least Vexxion had included my sheaths and blades in the bag. I sent one of them to my friend and wrangled to secure the others to my thighs.
A glance behind showed Kerune and the flying dregs had narrowed the gap between us. We still had a long flight before we’d reach Weldsbane and the safety of Vexxion’s wards, though I wasn’t sure his magic would hold them back long even if we could breach them.
I had to do something now, but what?
A blade whistled past me and glanced across Madrood’s neck scales.
