Astrid isn’t shaking, the room is. The drumbeat she can hear isn’t the sound of her heart. It’s a dragon’s wings.
She looks up just as Mjolnir smashes through the glass dome, violet eyes narrowed on the queen.
59Skylar
Skylar throws her arms above her head as glass rains down around them. Then lets out a sob of relief at the sight of silver scales. Mjolnir roars, and it seems to be the final call of action to Zryan, who breaks free of his second chain, pulling it straight from the wall. He grabs the head of a Dreki who had been fighting Bastet, and twists—breaking the man’s neck instantly. His eyes promise violence—and for the first time, Skylar truly sees why those in the army revere him.
Mjolnir opens his mouth, and Skylar hears it—that sound only animals can hear, the high, piercing shriek. The three Dreki attacking Astrid are blown apart, blood and gore splattering broken glass. The queen is sprinting in the other direction, over Axel’s body and out of the dome, the last of her menagerie by her side.
But it’s not over. Skylar can feel the air cooling around them, and somewhere nearby, a flash of light scorches the clear blue sky.
Zryan Teleports, appearing next to Astrid and leaving his chains behind. He places his hand on Astrid’s cheek, and Astrid lets out a cry, reaching her hands up to cup his face. Then Skylar’s attention is dragged away—by the shimmering bronze scales coming into view over the rubble.
She experiences a horrible surge of panic, even as Mjolnir speaks into her mind.
I couldn’t leave Kaida behind. Bruma is nearby. She’s safer with us.
Skylar really, really hopes that’s true. Because the cold is more intense now, making their breath mist in front of them, the tips of Skylar’s fingers turning numb. Zryan, Astrid, and Bastet have turned to look, too—at the blue dragon beating its way toward them.
“He’ll try to stop us leaving,” Zryan says. He glances at Bastet. “How quickly can you fly?”
NOT FAST ENOUGH TO OUTFLY A DRAGON, IFEAR.NOT WITH MY INJURIES.He’s limping, Skylar notices, one leg trembling. Astrid bends to inspect it—but she’s all out of potions.
“Then I’ll just have to take him down so you can get away.” Zryan looks to Skylar, and though she can’t hear his thoughts, she thinks she knows what’s going through his mind. She knows he wants her to stay here, with Astrid—to make sure she’s safe, that she gets away. She gives him a firm nod, reaching out a hand to place it on Kaida’s head as she nears. Kaida nuzzles in, not seeming bothered by the blood that coats it.
Axel’s blood. She flicks a gaze toward his body, lying in the rubble, then immediately looks away again. It doesn’t feel real, what happened. And she’s not sure how she’s going to feel, when it catches up with her. But right now, they have bigger things to worry about.
We will come back for you, Mjolnir says into her mind.
I know.
Zryan kisses Astrid, hard, and when he pulls back, his eyes are bright. “Don’t you dare die, okay?” He kisses her again, swallowing any words of protest she might have, then turns—and Teleports straight onto Mjolnir’s back.
They take off into the sky, flying toward Bruma. There is the crash of thunder meeting ice, and the sound sends a tremble around this desolate place.
“We need to move,” Skylar says, ushering Kaida in front of her, as Bastet limps ahead, over the shards of the shattered glass dome. Kaida is oddly quiet, like she knows how serious this is. Skylar squints against the bright sun and looks back over her shoulder to where the two dragons are fighting in the air. Mjolnir has the upper hand, she can see that. But Bruma doesn’t have a rider to protect, and he is ferocious.
Astrid lets out a gasp as another clash of elements shudders through the sky.
He’ll be okay, Little Witch. We just need to—
But she’s cut off, screaming in agony as pure, dazzling light burns her eyes. She can hear Bastet yowling, Astrid screaming, too, as theyall fall to the floor. A growl comes from Kaida, and Skylar reaches out blindly to try to grab her tail, stop her from advancing. Because this is Ziva—and Kaida doesn’t stand a chance. None of them do. She thinks she can hear Zryan shouting, somewhere in the distance, can hear another crack of thunder. But cold is still surrounding them—Bruma has not been taken down yet.
The light ebbs, pain retreating, and Skylar blinks to see the queen sliding off Ziva’s back, her eyes holding a predatory focus as she advances on Astrid. On the wand, hanging at her side.
“You will not take that from me. I have worked too hard, given too much.” Skylar can hear how much she means it. How warped her mind really is.
Kaida roars, and for the first time ever, a tiny flame erupts from her mouth, setting fire to the bottom of Ottilie’s tunic, making her screech as she flaps at it. Ziva hisses at Kaida, and Kaida hisses right on back. And whether it’s because she, too, has an innate urge to protect a baby dragon—the last fire dragon in existence—it makes Ziva pause, as Ottilie works to extinguish the flame.
Get on Bastet, fly!Skylar tells Astrid.
He’s not strong enough.
He’s going to have to be. Hide somewhere if you can’t make the distance. Mjolnir and Zryan will come for me.She can see the protest before Astrid’s thoughts come—but this is bigger than both of them.Astrid, we are not letting her have that wand, okay? We don’t know what she’ll do with it.
Skylar thinks she might love Astrid even more, as her mate nods, determination in those blue eyes. She doesn’t hesitate as she gets on Bastet, clutching the wand tightly. And with an effort that looks painful, Bastet launches into the air.
Go with them, Little One, Skylar urges Kaida.
