Everly’s blade gleamed at my back, a silent vow that she’d bleed beside me if it came to that.
Kassidy exhaled sharply through her nose, then shoved the tip of my blade away. Blood swelled on her palm where the edgehad cut into her. “Fine,” she said. “If you want to waste your magic, please continue to do so while those who actually need it suffer.”
The others backed off. Slowly, reluctantly, they all returned to the square and away from the dragons. Only a few dragons remained at our side.
I dropped to my knees beside the young dragon whose breath came in shuddering bursts. Her limb was mangled, but her heart was strong, so I pressed my palm to her side and let my magic flow.
Warmth rippled through me, not the firestorm Zaicha twisted earlier, but something tired but unrelenting. Zaicha’s attack had nearly drained me, but I pulled from my reserves, determined to make one thing right. A thread of light thrummed as I tried to stitch what had been torn apart. I didn’t fix what couldn’t be fixed, but I sealed the wounds, eased the pain, and renewed what could be so that she may live.
She breathed deeper, her brightening eyes finding me.
A soft pull echoed in my chest, like threads weaving together. Binding us. A bond snapped in place. Warm and electric and vibrant. She . . . she chose me.
She was mine. Gods.
And for one brief, precious moment, I felt joy. A dragon had chosen me.
I traced my fingers over her face.
“Do you have a name?” I asked her.
She blinked.“A dragon isn’t given a name until we complete training.”
“May I give you one, then?” I asked.
“Yes.”
“Ashara.” I smiled, savoring the weight of the word from our traditional tongue. “It means reborn from the ashes. Just like you.”
Everly knelt beside me, placing a hand on the dragon’s shoulders. “Ashara is a good name.”
I looked at Everly, at the female who’d stood at my side only moments ago. “Thank you.”
“I told you we’d be friends.” She smiled, knocking her shoulder against mine.
Unfortunately, the quiet didn’t last.
“Finley!” Willow’s voice called out, sharp with urgency.
“What could possibly be wrong now?” Everly asked through a heavy sigh.
Willow stumbled up the hill, breathless and eyes wide. “There’s a child in the village. Zaicha, we think?—”
I lingered for only a beat, pressing my palm against Ashara. When I pushed myself to my feet, Ashara stood with me, an older dragon keeping her steady when she stumbled. I gave myself a couple of beats to nuzzle my face against her before I turned to Willow.
“I’ll wait for you by your tent,”Ashara said
“Take me to them,” I said.
And then I ran.
Chapter
Thirty-Four
BRENTON
The sea roaredbeneath the horizon with waves crashing against the shore with the same violence that thrashed inside me. I stood there, staring at the line where the water and sky met, the thick, salty air stinging my face as if it could burn away the memory of Finley’s choice.
