Are any dragons missing from the island?
A growl. She senses what she thought was offensive, somehow.Dragons come and go as they please. Wechooseto stay on the island—unless we find a rider.
It doesn’t totally answer her question, but…Why do dragons bond with riders?
We grow stronger, with the bond. We can draw more power, to defend and to protect. And when you die, your power flows to us—and stays with us until the end.
Ah. It’s about all Skylar can manage—the idea of her life force, flowing to a dragon once she dies… It is weird, to say the least. But energy has to go somewhere, right? At least that explains a little more why dragons bother with the royals. But if that’s true—if it’s all about power, then…Why only the royals? Why not bond with anyone Blooded?
It has been that way since Cuatra chose the first dragon rider. And riders must withstand a test—we cannot choose just anyone. If only one family comes to the island, then only they can be tested.
So is it the royals controlling that—not the dragons? An interesting idea.
Do riders get stronger, too?
Over time, yes. We amplify your natural Blooded ability. But we cannot create power where there is none.
Abruptly, Mjolnir lets go of her mind and Skylar finds herself sucking in air, trying not to topple over where she stands. Her own thoughts and feelings seem to scrabble back into her brain, making her whole again. She’s not sure she likes it, the way his mind felt, pressing into hers. But then, she’s not sure shedidn’tlike it, either.
Zryan glances at her, briefly assessing, then looks back to Mjolnir. “Will it affect her bonding, the fact that she shows no power?”
No emotion there, just straight to the point.
She remembers her mother’s lyrical voice, sad and firm at the same time.You are not Blooded, Skylar.
I do not know. I can’t speak for the whole of my species.
“But if no one bonds with me, they’ll still let me off the island, right?”
Mjolnir gives what can only be described as a dragon shrug. Fantastic. Really confidence inspiring.
“I’m an heir, though.” It feels odd to say it out loud.
“Not all heirs come home with a dragon,” Zryan says bluntly. And the subtext is clear.Not all come home at all.
“How will I know? If a dragon chooses me?”
They will find you, Mjolnir says into her mind—and only her mind, apparently, because Zryan says at the same time, “You’ll feel it—the pull.”
Mjolnir studies her for another beat.I think many dragons will come out for you. They will be curious about the heir who was not supposed to be.Skylar doesn’t love the sound of that. She imagines a cat, batting at things it’s curious about.
“And given that,” Zryan picks up, “you need to be prepared. The dragons will test you, on the island—it’s how they decide if you are worthy. And defending yourself against dragon powers is a bit like defending yourself against strong Blooded powers.” He glances toward the edge of the arena, where there is now a group of hooded people making their way over. “Luckily, we’ve got some help in that department, courtesy of my mother.”
They’re the same people who surrounded the queen at the binding ceremony, Skylar realizes. The Blood Wielder, Flame Thrower, and Arach knows what else. Her fucking menagerie.
As the hooded people close in on them, Zryan nods to the Flame Thrower, who steps forward.
Skylar eyes the man warily. “I thought we established fire dragons were extinct.”
“They might not be able to shoot fire,” Zryan says, “but, trust me, what they can do is worse.”
She glances at Zryan. “What do you want me to do, exactly?”
Zryan’s lip curls. “Survive.”
There is a flash of fire. And Skylar does the only sensible thing she can think of.
She runs.
