“Guess they didn’t get your letter,” Rakos shouts, seizing the shadows beneath Sarka’s wings. Darkness lashes out, and the fire dissipates—but the air still whips towards them, and Sarka barely dives beneath the threat.
“Get closer to the castle,” Bellamy shouts, hoping Rakos can hear him.
Rakos dispels the air magic an instant later, then another lash of fire. “Anything for you, sweetheart. Just got to dodge around the fucking city.”
Approaching Greenhaven is easier said than done. The next few moments are a blur of light and shadow, flame and air, rocking Bellamy in every direction at once. He’s glad he didn’t have any breakfast in Castle Bernek—he’d surely lose anything in his stomach.
“Fuck,” Rakos hisses, while Sarka exults.Oh, yes! Yes! The fun begins!
“What fun?” Bellamy asks.
Rakos just grunts, concentrating too hard on dispelling the next wave of fire. Sarka’s the one who answers Bellamy’s question.Evil Tree Man has entered the fray! I will avenge the three scales he tore from my beautiful hide last time!
“Evil tree man?” Bellamy shoves himself up enough to see new gold-green magic swirling upwards. “You meanAudric?”
That’s the one.Sarka pumps her wings for altitude.But Rakos just told me I can’t have vengeance today. So, this will be slightly less fun.
A red cloud twists and turns on the wind, thousands of autumn leaves edged with green-gold Sandry magic. Bellamy’s never seen Audric’s magic unleashed to this extent, but he recognizes the feel of it.
Each of those leaves is like a razor blade,Sarka says enthusiastically.He controls them in separate groups, so it’s harder for Rakos to dispel them! How awesome is that?
“We need to back off and regroup,” Rakos shouts.
“Wait,” Bellamy cries as Sarka banks away. “Let me try something.”
Rakos doesn’t waste time arguing. Just hands over his trust: “You have thirty seconds.”
Bellamy inhales, leaning back against Rakos’s strong chest and taking strength from the man’s faith in him. Ignoring his bruises and the dazzling pounding in his head, Bellamy reaches deep for his mother’s magic. The power leaps to his command, a gentle, cooling power unfurling through his veins.
As Sarka dives away from the razor-sharp cloud, Bellamy flings his power in a blaze of green and gold. It’s so bright, he can’t see past it—but he feels the first connection with the autumn leaves.
For just a moment, his magic overwhelms Audric’s.
Not for long. Not even long enough to redirect the swirling cloud. But enough for Audric to feel the force of another Sandry mage.
Bellamy releases the power, gasping in Rakos’s embrace, his fingertips cold and numb. His eyes hurt, his head hurts, but he forces himself to watch until all the Sandry magic withdraws from the sky. No longer edged with magic, the brilliant red leaves flutter harmlessly towards the ground.
“Audric recognized me. We can land at the castle now.”
“You’re amazing,” Rakos says. “Hang on.”
Sarka’s descent is slow and steady. Under Rakos’s direction, she practically floats down, giving everyone on the ground time to prepare for the dragon landing in Greenhaven Castle’s central courtyard. Rakos is already unbuckling harness straps as they approach the ground, while people spill from the castle. Soldiers line the walls, weapons and magic glittering.
A small contingent stands at the castle steps, headed by Bellamy’s brothers. As they land, Audric is clearly holding Julien back by the shoulder.
Sarka alights with impeccable grace, hardly jostling her riders. Her wings tuck in to avoid touching the surrounding trees. Rakos makes quick work of the rest of the harness, and Bellamy is so dazed, he barely experiences Rakos helping him down. Everything is a blur, but Bellamy knows he won’t fall because Rakos is there, keeping him upright.
“You good?” Rakos asks when he’s steady.
“Yes,” Bellamy says, checking on Bastard in her pouch. She bites his finger, then blinks onto Sarka’s head.
And with Bellamy’s assent, Rakos lets him stand on his own. Bellamy straightens his black wyrmskin coat and strides towards the castle steps, only slightly wobbling.
There’s Audric and Julien. Oathguards and soldiers. All of them stare at Bellamy in a mixture of joy, relief, and awe—except Lucien Vaire, who’s distracted by the dragon.
Bellamy has never felt so impressive in his life. He grins up at his brothers. “Hi, everyone. Sorry I’m late.”
Audric half-laughs, half-sighs, and unleashes Julien. Moments later, Bellamy is trapped in a ferocious bear hug.
