“You all saw what killed Immanuel,” he said defensively.
“I saw a shadow. It could have been anything,” Fini said, shrugging.
“Ocon probably was killing all the soldiers himself, inventing monsters to blame,” Jordi said. “I don’t know if you’re stupid or complicit for believing him.”
Nesto stood, not quite looking at the others as he walked away, his blush going red.
The others burst into laughter, and Ian stood, giving them a nod as he walked away, not quite following Nesto until he was out of the directlight of the fire. Dusk had turned to night over the past hour, and it was easy to slip into the shadows.
“I don’t doubt you saw monsters out there,” Ian said as he approached behind Nesto. The boy jumped, but he kept talking. “It’s kind of ignorant to see a dragon and then claim no other monsters can exist.”
“They didn’t see the worst of it,” Nesto said, stopping in his tracks. Ian nearly ran into him.
“The worst of it?”
Nesto didn’t answer immediately, studying Ian.
“They blamed Ocon and the dragon for Belni, Gilian, and Rom’s deaths, but there was something else there. Something...” He cut himself off. “It doesn’t matter. I let Ocon get away.”
“I knew Ocon, too,” Ian said, tone careful, trying to read Nesto’s face. “He didn’t seem the traitor type. You couldn’t have seen it coming.”
Nesto scowled. “I thought he was a friend.”
Before Ian could say anything more, Nesto was walking away, his message clear: leave me alone.
Ian almost ignored the cue. He almost followed him, but a dragon roared in the distance again, and he turned to see a soldier racing across the camp, heading toward Harlow’s tent. He followed, not quite catching up with the soldier before he had announced himself at the entrance of the tent.
“Sir,” the soldier said, panting slightly from his run. “Thethingsyou called are here.”
Ian heard the disgust in the word, and he had to wonder just what was standing outside the camp waiting on Harlow.
“Perfect,” Harlow said, already coming out of the tent, buttoning his coat. “Ensure the archers are ready, just in case. I’ll meet them at the northern gate.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
SOFIA
Sofia woke with a start. Fox’s hand pressed softly against her chest, not restricting her from escaping, but reminding her where she was. She hadn’t slept through the night in days, waking every few hours to her heart racing and an urge to flee. The only thing that had kept her sane was Fox’s warmth beside her and his words whispered in her ear.
“You’re safe,” he said. “We’re in the cave near the nesting grounds. You’re safe. We’re safe.”
Only when her breathing had evened out did Fox move his hand, running his fingers through her hair. She rolled over, careful not to make too much noise. Javi, Jacinta, and Carmen—Javi’s heart-mother—were sleeping just a few feet away.
His eyes were bright in the dim lighting of the cave, as if the rays of dawn sought them out with purpose.
“Hey,” he said, voice the barest whisper. He didn’t ask if she was okay. He never did. As if he knew it was a pointless question. She hadn’t been okay in days—blinks—sun cycles. His thumb brushed softly along her cheek and jaw, resting there as he watched her, reading her face for any signs of distress. She gave a weak smile, the best she could muster,and it seemed to soothe him enough that his shoulders lost their tension.
He moved his hands down to her arms, fingers caressing over her unscarred wrists. The burns from Chalia’s ice had faded quickly, apparently not as deep as they’d thought.
They’d been at the nesting grounds for two days, and so far nothing had changed. Aurelia had let them into the actual grounds once. Far fewer dragons were there to greet them this time, and Sofia imagined the rest had hidden themselves away somewhere.
In terms of negotiations, things had stalled—or more accurately—had never begun. The scouts that Aurelia had sent out hadn’t returned, and she refused to start until they did. Despite the fact that there were two dragon eyewitnesses to what the chief commander was doing, she wanted more information before acting, though it was an improvement from an outright denial. If anything, Sofia wondered if the delay in her scouts’ return was making her uneasy.
“You’re thinking too hard,” Fox said, his thumb moving to rub across her lips. She rolled her eyes, but didn’t argue as he wrapped an arm around her and pulled her against him until their foreheads pressed together. His lips pressed against her hairline. She closed her eyes and let herself sink into his warmth for the moment. His breath was warm against her skin.
She felt safe in his arms. She always felt so safe. They were living in a fantasy, daring to seek pleasure while war brewed, but she couldn’t stop herself from falling back in his arms again and again.
It didn’t change her goals, and it wouldn’t stop her from making the decision she knew she might need to make someday.
