Kendra flared her wing so it nearly covered her entire head. She let out a small squeak of fear.
“Kendra,” I said, and she lifted her wing, her eyes snapping to me. “You can do this. You were incredible against the soldiers earlier. I watched you fight them off when they threatened those children. It was… Well, it was quite admirable.”
Kendra’s head rose, her eyes brightening. “Really?”
“Really. I was very impressed. And I don’t say that lightly.”
“It’s true,” Eira added. “He hates saying kind things.”
I shoved her arm, and she elbowed me in response.
“It’s just for a few seconds,” Eira went on. “You don’t even have to get that close to them. Just fly nearby, draw their attention, and let us slip away. Shoot some ice blasts at them from a distance.”
Kendra tilted her head, considering this. “I think I can do that.”
“You definitely can,” I said encouragingly.
Kendra glanced between us, then scrutinized Eira. “Why is your sleeve pulled down?”
Eira made an exasperated sound, her cheeks reddening further as she adjusted her tunic. A few more soldiers moved past us, their pace slower than the others’. I worried they would look at us too closely and recognize us. I pressed closer to Eira, trying to block her and Kendra from their view. I considered asking the princess to turn invisible but realized it would look even weirder if I were pressed up against the wall by myself.
“All right,” Kendra said, stretching out her wings. “When you hear my call, it’s time to move.”
Eira nodded. “We’ll meet you at Stella’s house.” She beamed with pride as Kendra leapt off her shoulder and took off into the sky. The dragon’s tiny form vanished, and I resisted the urge to turn and watch her fly away. I needed to look like a brothel patron, not someone acquainted with a dragon.
I kept my face close to Eira’s, our cheeks touching. Her erratic breathing matched mine. I could feel her thundering heartbeat even through her tunic.
From behind us, a scream rang out. Then another. I made to move, but Eira pinched my arm.
“Not yet,” she hissed.
I held perfectly still, waiting. I itched to turn and look at the cause of the commotion, but I needed to keep Eira hidden.
Then, a shrillcawsounded, like the amplified crow of a raven.
This time, it was Eira’s turn to grab my arm. Together, we bolted, taking off down the alley. I shot a quick glance over my shoulder, barely containing a snort of laughter.
Kendra, the fierce but tiny dragon, was flying around the guards. She leapt from shoulder to shoulder, shooting burstsof ice directly into each soldier’s ear while they fruitlessly swung their swords at her. I heard the familiar low bellow of Mauro and caught sight of a flash of his antlers as he joined the fray.
Though I longed to linger and watch the show, Eira pulled me forward. We rounded the corner, and the soldiers and animals faded from view.
My body was still buzzingfrom adrenaline and the feel of Theron’s hands. Not to mention how that deep, gravelly voice of his made my stomach flutter…
I shoved the thought from my mind as we raced between alleys, my shorter legs struggling to keep up with Theron’s longer ones. I trusted him to navigate through this network of backroads; it had been far too long since I’d been to Tolston, and even then, I certainly hadn’t taken a route like this before. A stitch formed in my side, and each gulp of air sent a stab through my lungs.
“How far is Stella’s home?” Theron asked, barely even winded.
I shot a quick glance at the unfamiliar and grimy buildings that surrounded us, unsure of how to answer. After a moment, I wheezed, “Half a mile… south of… Miller’s Forge.”
Theron’s steps faltered, his brow furrowing. A keen, calculating look crossed his face, and then he nodded before leading me to the left. “This way.”
The dusty path took us downhill, and we took another left. The buildings thinned out, becoming sparser the fartherwe ran. When Theron tugged my arm, guiding me to the right, we emerged on an empty cobbled road. My mouth fell open as I recognized the town square with the church bells in the center. A statue of my father rested in the center, covered with a light dusting of snow. The sight of it made my throat tighten. There were stables to the left, and I heard the soft nicker of a horse.
Somehow, the backroads had led us straight to the heart of the village. Ordinarily, this place was bustling, but now, in the dead of night, it was eerily silent—the curfew, no doubt.
“We can’t linger here,” Theron muttered, his gaze roving over the empty square before he urged me forward.
I knew he was right. Already, the heavy footfalls of soldiers nearby made me want to bolt. I was tempted to shroud myself in invisibility, but I knew it would do no good. I couldn’t extend my magic to Theron. Besides, with Vikros after me, it would be useless anyway.
