And the city, with all its danger and shadows, was kept at bay.
For now.
Zander sat heavily on the narrow bed, the old frame creaking beneath his weight. He leaned forward, elbows resting on his knees, and for the first time in a long time… he looked exhausted. Not from battle. Not from lack of sleep.
But from hopelessness.
I sank down beside him, close enough that my knee brushed his.
“Hey,” I said gently. “Are you okay?”
For a moment, I thought he might nod, give me one of his half-smiles, and sayI’m fine,like he always did.
But something cracked.
His jaw flexed, and his hands balled into fists. When he spoke, his voice was rough and raspy, like it had been scraped raw.
“When they arrested me,” he said, “Theron was waiting. I hadn’t even gotten the shackles on before he started gloating. Mocking me. He paraded the evidence like it was ironclad. Everything Inderia said, he took at face value. No questions. No hesitation.”
His breath shook, and he shoved a hand through his hair.
“God, I almost let them execute me.”
I reached out and placed a hand on his shoulder, grounding him. “Zander… it’s not like you to give up.”
He didn’t pull away from my touch, just stared down at the floor like it held the answers he couldn’t find.
“I feel…” he paused, jaw tight. “It’s weird. Being without Hein. I’ve had him in my head for almost three years. Every time I reached out, he was there.And now, it’s just... quiet.”
My heart clenched.
I hadn’t considered what Hein’s absence might do to him.
Zander had always been so strong. So centered. But that anchor with Hein had been with him from the start. And now, without it…
He was like me.
Drifting.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered. “I never really thought about what being separated from him would feel like for you.”
Zander finally met my gaze, something wounded flashing behind his eyes. He gave a slight nod, just enough to saythank youwithout needing the words.
“I think this is the real reason dragons usually mate after a lifetime with a rider,” he said. “So they don’t have to choose between their own bond and ours.”
I swallowed hard.
“Maybe,” I murmured, “if we can prove we can handle it, they’ll consider taking second riders. Maybe the mating thing has made them believe it’s one or the other.”
Zander let out a tired breath.
“Maybe,” he echoed.
And for a moment, we just sat there.
Two riders.
Two broken bonds.
