“Let me take Chalia then,” Fox said.
Sofia felt sick at the thought. Not just the thought of losing Fox but?—
“I don’t think Chalia and I can separate like that,”Sofia said, articulating something she hadn’t even had time to dwell on since the nesting grounds. “Whatever bond exists between us, I don’t think I can handle leaving her behind while I go to the city. It has to be me.”
Micael exhaled. “We need to talk details and come up with a strategy, but I can’t make this decision for you. I would never ask this of anyone. But if you do so willingly…”
“I know. This is my decision.”
In a move so unlike Micael, he stepped forward and pulled Sofia into an embrace, his body cold despite the warm cavern.
“I won’t tell the others until you’ve decided,” he said.
Sofia and Fox watched as he left the way he’d come, the smallest limp in his steps.
They stood in silence, Sofia unable to look Fox in the eyes. She felt Chalia’s own unease at the other end of the tether, the dragon well aware of what she was planning.
At last, Fox spoke. “I’m not going to let you go on a suicide mission.” His voice was hard as flint.
Sofia stiffened. “You don’t have toletme do anything. That’s not your choice.”
“You’re right,” he said, his voice softening. She’d won, but her body didn’t relax. He was still looking at her in a way that made her skin crawl. “But you can’t force me to stay and watch you die.”
With that, he turned on his heel and walked away, the room suddenly cold around her, despite the heat of the springs. She bit the inside of her cheek until she tasted blood.
It was fine. He was only a distraction from what she needed to do anyway.
She’d always known dying was a possibility in her quest for vengeance. She was angry that she wouldn’t live to see Harlow dead, but if she could stop him from getting to the dragons, it would be worth it.
Without Fox there to prop her up, her knees collapsed, and she fell to the damp cave floor. And for just a few minutes, she let herself cry.
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
FOX
The way back was dark, his feet barely scraping along the floor to ensure he didn’t trip. He followed the faint glow of the outer cavern, remembering a similar walk through the dark on his way escaping the resistance base. He let the bitter laugh that bubbled up his throat flow over. He’d been running away from Sofia then. And now? He was walking away, but he wasn’t leaving her.
Fox didn’t stop when he made it back to the main cavern. For once, Micael didn’t bother to stop him or make any threats. The man only gave him a sad and knowing nod. The others were quiet, gathered around the fire, making their own plans or weighing their options. Would they come up with something better before Sofia flung herself between General Luna and the dragons?
Chalia was where she’d slept the night before, curled tightly with her wings tucked tightly to her body. She was grieving. He didn’t need to sense it or have her tell him to know.
“Hey,” he said, voice soft. He didn’t want to know if dragons startled.
She raised her head slightly in acknowledgement before winding tighter into herself. He found a small place near the top of her wingand sat down, pressing against her tightly. It was the best approximation of a hug he could think of.
“I failed everyone,”she said, voice cracking even in his mind.
“No,” he said firmly. “No one failed. Your family didn’t listen to us, and that’s on them. It wasn’t anything you did or Sofia did.”
“I should have convinced them. There has to be something I could have said.”
“Having been around you long enough—and now having met your mother—I think the stubbornness runs too strongly in both of you.”
Chalia snorted, cold flakes of snow spraying Fox in the face. He smiled despite himself.
“I feel what she wants from us—what she wants to do.”
Fox didn’t need to ask who Chalia was talking about.
