Incoming,I whispered in my mind.
Impressive,Kaelith murmured, her voice carrying both awe and something more—reverence.
The lost horde.
They flew in a disciplined arc, shifting formation as one, their wings carving the air with eerie silence. When they angled east toward the Dragon Isle, the whole flock tilted, their massive bodies banking like birds riding an invisible current. Not a single dragon was out of sync.
They’ve flown together since birth,Kaelith said.It is... beautiful.
It was.
We stayed aloft a few seconds longer, watching as the gray-scaled flight began to descend toward the far side of the isle, where rocky plateaus met the edge of the sea.
Then Kaelith turned back toward Warriath, and I glanced down to see the familiar sprawl of the Ascension Grounds. Thrall Squad descended in formation, tight, clean, sharp, and as we landed, our dragons peeled away without waiting for a command, wings rising again in unison as they returned to the isle to greet the arrivals.
I stepped down, dust trailing my boots, and looked back just as Kaelith vanished into the clouds.
Beside me, Jax silently reached for Ferrula’s hand.
She didn’t hesitate.
Fingers intertwined, the two of them walked together across the field toward the barracks.
A promise, simple and unspoken.
And I stood still for a moment longer, my gaze drifting toward the eastern skies—where new dragons had come.
Zander took my hand gently, the warmth of his palm anchoring me as the last of the gray-scaled dragons disappeared into the horizon.
“Will you accept my ring back?” he asked, voice low, almost hesitant.
I stared up at him, at the sincerity in his violet eyes, and shook my head. “Not yet.”
His lips curled in a soft, understanding smile. “I understand,” he murmured. “But I intend to have a chat with Remy.”
I huffed. “Good luck with that.”
The wind shifted, and Kaelith’s voice shimmered through my mind like the ringing of glass.They are coming.
My pulse stumbled.Who?
But she didn’t answer—not with words. Only a growing pressure along our bond, like the beat of distant wings moving steadily closer. I turned toward the skies, already knowing that whatever came next—would change everything.
Chapter
Twenty-One
Theron strode from the castle steps like a man born to command, guards fanned around him in rigid formation. Inderia clung to his arm like a trophy, her smile all venom and victory. But it was the girl behind them who caught my eye.
She walked with her head bowed, a veil of silky blond hair shielding her face. Her steps were too careful, too soft, like someone walking toward a noose.
Theron stopped in front of us, his icy gaze sliding over me like I was dirt he couldn’t quite scrape off his boots. Inderia’s smugness made me want to bare my teeth, but I stayed still, pulse hammering in my throat.
Theron motioned to the girl.
“This is Amelia,” he said, voice ringing with false civility. “She is Lady Belana’s sister. We promised her father a royal connection, and since I have chosen to upholdyourcontract—” he looked to Inderia, who batted her lashes with a practiced grace, “—you will upholdmine.”
His eyes snapped to Zander. “You will marry Amelia.”
