Vane held her tightly against him, as if he could shield them both from what was coming. Kronos’ gaze fell to his hand, his eyes flicking over the marriage band there, and amusement was quickly replaced by rage.
“Come, Sora, if you wish him to live.”
She coughed weakly and rasped, “You’re a fucking liar. You always have been. “
“Fine,” Kronos said, rising to his full height. “We do this the hard way, then.”
Ether sparked the ground around them, and Vane shielded her with his body. But the blow never came, and two wild roars filled the air. Dragonfire, blue and red, torched the ground, setting the camp ablaze in seconds, and she lost sight of Kronos in the sudden chaos.
Dragons were taking to the sky around them, adding to the blaze Thessa and Heles had begun. People screamed in the camp as flames engulfed them. Vane helped haul her onto Thessa’s saddle before practically jumping onto Heles.
Prepare yourself.
Soren coughed as smoke filled her lungs.The other riders?—
The mortal princess gathered them. They fly with us.
Thessa took off running, catching the air and vaulting up into the night sky. Heles let out a cry behind them before forging ahead, leading the way. Kneeling atop her, Vane called out, motioning to the riders who circled the camp.
Stay awake,Thessa ordered.
Soren forced her heavy eyes open.Why do the other dragons follow us? Why not try to kill us? We killed Johannas.
We do not bow to a mortal king. We were forged in fire by Vulcan. They only bent the knee to King Johannas’ war because his heir is bound to it so closely.
Heir?
Heles roared, letting another stream of red-hot flame loose in the air, Vane pointing north atop her.
Vulcan, like Nyx, only ever gave his ember of life to one child. Why do you think we chose you both that night?
Does he know?
A rider screamed behind them, and Soren twisted in horror to see three dragons at the tail end of the group, snapping their jaws. Their riders were no friends.
“They must have seen the smoke!” Vane bellowed, turning Heles around, his fingertips glowing like hot coals. Soren could feel her magic returning to her now too, Kronos’ hold loosening. She didn’t know why and didn’t trust it.
Vane called out the name of a flight formation Soren vaguely remembered from her first few days in camp, and Heles roared. As Soren watched, she thought she could see the truth of Thessa’s words now. Vane was powerful, a born leader. That kind of intuition didn’t come from nowhere.
No. We were instructed not to tell you until the right time arose. Heles informs me we are to flee. I am opening the connection back up to them both.
Soren had only half-realized Vane couldn’t hear her conversation with Thessa, but until she could tell him properly, and not in the middle of an ambush, she shut her mind to the issue.
Vane whipped his head back and roared, “Go! Get her to safety!”
“No!” Soren bellowed over the wind currents. “Do not listen to him, Thessa.”
Ahead, a dragon screeched in pain, their rider screaming as they fell, the dragon’s neck partially severed. Cion was letting loose arrows from the back of Valhamnor, and dragonfire lit up the night air.
“Soren!”
She sucked in a breath as Thessa dove, narrowly avoiding the snapping jaws of a large gray dragon.
We are leaving.
“No!”
Kronos drained you, even if his hold on you is gone—for now.
