Kaelith’s head lifted, nostrils flaring as shadows swept across the Ascension Grounds, familiar ones. The LowbornSquad circled overhead, their dragons banking tight above the courtyard, scanning like predators on patrol.
Where the hell have they been?
They hadn’t been here during Theron’s speech. During the assassination. During the fury.
We stepped aside instinctively, giving them room as the dragons descended one by one in practiced, fluid movements. Dust flared. Wind rushed. The moment Luthias’ Clubtail touched down with a thud of armored scales, I spotted Teren already unstrapping his harness.
He slid off the saddle with a grace only dragons could gift and landed in a half-crouch. Then he stood, raking a hand through his windblown hair and eyeing the grounds as if we’d just lost a battle.
“Why does this place look like a bomb went off?” he asked flatly.
“Because it did,” I said, brushing soot off my sleeve. “Just a political one.”
Teren’s brow arched. “Do I want to know?”
I crossed my arms. “That depends. Where the hell wereyou?”
Chapter
Two
Teren tilted his head, the faintest glint of irritation in his eyes. “We were at the docks,” he said. “Some suspicious activity was reported. Major Ledor ordered us to sweep the area. Just some light recon only. Nothing hostile.”
Zander and I exchanged a look. Ofcourse, Ledor had them elsewhere. Right when everything in Warriath had unraveled.
Teren ran a hand down his dragon’s neck, calming the restless Swift as he continued. “We didn’t get much. Just a few cloaked figures loading unmarked crates onto a civilian vessel. It looked suspicious, but before we could investigate, the alarms went off.”
He glanced toward the palace. “We thought there was a security breach here. Figured if something was going down at the Ascension Grounds, we needed to be here more than there.”
Kaelith rumbled low beside me, tail flicking as another gust of wind blew across the training ring.
Before I could ask more, Major Ledor strode out from the shadow of the southern tower, his cloak torn and soot-streaked. His gaze swept over us, then locked onto Teren.
“Report,” he barked.
Teren stood straighter. “Sir. Perimeter sweep at the docks showed two figures moving crates onto a vessel flagged for merchant use. No visible insignia. We returned when the grounds’ alarm sounded. No signs of pursuit.”
Ledor nodded once, but his jaw was clenched. “I’ll have the guard sweep the port for what you missed. You’re not to return.”
Teren frowned. “Do you want us to go back now?”
“No,” Ledor interrupted. “All riders are grounded until further notice. No patrols. No flights. Until I say otherwise.”
The words hit like a slap. Around us, the dragons let out low, echoing growls, deep enough to vibrate through the stone. Kaelith’s wings twitched, and I felt her magic pulse beneath my skin like a restrained storm.
Ledor didn’t flinch. “Return your dragons to the Dragon Isle. Now.”
Kaelith snarled, her fire crest flickering in visible defiance. Hein bared his teeth beside her, and Narvea let out a spine-rattling hiss.
Still, one by one, the dragons obeyed.
Kaelith turned toward me, her violet eyes glowing with warning.I don’t like this,she whispered into my thoughts.
Neither do I,I answered, jaw tight. But I stepped back.
She beat her wings once, furious wind scattering dust and ash—and then she soared into the sky, disappearing behind the veil of clouds like a threat tucked just out of reach.
And just like that, the skies above Warriath went quiet.
