“No.” He caught my elbow gently, acting as if I were made of glass. “Wren. You cannot fly yet. You know this.”
My eyes burned with fresh tears that burned hot, angry, helpless.
“I’m the queen,” I croaked. “I can’t just lie here while a child is missing. I’m feeling better now, I–”
But even as I said it, my voice cracked. I didn’t want him to go. He was my top mate, and I needed him with me. I didn’t know what to do, torn between my duties as a queen and a soon to be mother.
Gods, this was awful.
“Kieran is here with Firya and Garith.”
I blinked and stood quickly as Perri’s parents hovered outside the treehouse on the platform, faces hollow, eyes swollen from crying. Firya clutched a tiny carved wooden toy in her hands, rocking it unconsciously, her long red hair in disarray. Her mate, Garith, looked lost in anger andsorrow, the only thing keeping him tethered to reality was his grip on Firya.
My heart broke for them.
“Come, let us walk.” I descended the winding ramp slowly with them, every step a negotiation with aching muscles. When we reached the bottom, Firya collapsed into my arms, her sob turning sharp and animal.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered, holding her tight as my own tears blurred the world. “I’m so, so sorry. We will bring her home.”
Garith bowed his head, trembling. “I must go. Please let me go.” He directed this behind me at Benedict and Kieran, who had followed.
Nerissa stepped forward then, her expression grave before anyone could answer. “The wards above the volcano ridge are thinner. Nuva and I checked them. They’ve been weakening since the Overlord perished. One strong push from above and the barrier cracked. We can fix it though, I believe.”
Nuva, stoic and solemn, touched the volcanic rock. “Bloodmagick here is old. Older than your enclaves. It’s shifting. Weakening in high places.”
“So anyone could breach it?” Kieran gasped.
“Not anyone,” Nerissa corrected. “Something powerful. Or someone who knows draken magic intimately.”
The name hovered unspoken.
Veskor.
A cold shiver spiraled through the crowd.
“So any random creature can just walk onto my island, or just random drakens?” I demanded, pain throbbing through my belly. I needed to sit down. I needed to plan. I needed to sleep. I needed to save everyone.
Before I could force myself to stand straighter and decide what the fuck to do, the sky cracked with thebeating of enormous wings, and shadows fell across the clearing.
The wards fed me information: two drakens. Mated.
Mated?
Swords were drawn. Witches scattered and children were tucked away; Garith hissed and covered his mate with his wings. Benedict and Kieran growled, flanking me, bloodmagick flaring across everyone’s skin and scales. Guards rushed in, everyone tense and waiting.
“Veskor!” someone shouted.
“No,” Benedict snapped. “Not him.”
Two forms descended and they were massive, strong, and unmistakably draken. Gasps erupted.
“All of you down!” Benedict ordered.
The drakens were all forced to their bellies, groaning as their bodies folded into a submissive position. Benedict shoved an arm in front of me, and Kieran flared his wings wide to shield the platform.
My heart stuttered painfully.
Not again. Not tonight.
