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I’d use the soft earth near the bridge, but on its other side, to make it look as if I’d traveled in a different direction, then, I would have taken the animal into the water where no trail would be left and ridden, leaving no hoofprints, until I was parallel with the hiding place.

If he knew the hiding place, if he’d been told the location, and he was heading north through the water, I didn’t have to go to the bridge. He was ahead of me. I had to keep traveling north, praying I’d find some clue to the path Grace had taken, or—worst-case scenario—cross paths with Breckon after he’d left the water and could lead me to her spot.

But what good would that do? He won on first touch. If he beat me to her, he won in the eyes of the Cruors. And though he couldn’t break our bond, this spell alone was evidence that the Cruors’ power could keep us from each other.

My only choice, if he touched her first, was to find them in time to kill him before he returned her to the Circle.

Fear crawled up my throat to strangle me as I ran. I swallowed it back. I tried again and again to reach Kham, or Grace, but with no luck.

I ran as fast as I could, searching for any trail, any sign or signal, but knowing I could be just feet from Breckon’s passage, or Grace’s with those men, and still miss it, because I didn’t know where to search.

I was beginning to despair—and accusations ran circles in my head.

Arrogant.

Thoughtless.

Stupid.

Should have known better than to invite the binding.

Should have listened to my dragon.

On and on and on, until I ran, my throat pinching, my breath tearing in and out of my throat, and staggered to a halt in a small clearing where the moonlight shone through a gap in the tree canopy.

My dragon had been right at every step. He’d warned me. He’d tried to protect me. But he couldn’t protect me from myself.

I had gotten us here. I had put us in this position. If I lost Grace…

God, I almost vomited. Help me, I prayed. Help me. I don’t know what to do. If Breckon wins, he’ll take her. He’ll claim her. It would break me, because until the shackles on my power were released, I could do nothing to stop him.

And in that moment, my dragon’s words, spoken so many times, filtered through the panic. You don’t fight darkness with darkness. You shine light into it.

But how? How could I shine light into this dark night and bring Grace out of it safely?

God, if only I’d found a way to maintain the link with the dragons, but they flew too high to be seen and might not know where I was now that I’d been cut off. Kham and I always relied on the bond when we were out of each other’s sight. Could he even track me now?

I’ll never leave you. Never.

More of my dragon’s words… along with the quiet conviction that they were true. Kham wouldn’t leave me. When we were cut off, he would have found me. Or found a way to track me—even if we couldn’t talk. He knew flying in would only attract the attention of the Cruors. I didn’t think he’d do that as long as Grace was safe.

But… hope. That meant Grace remained safe, for now. Right? Koa and Kham would have stepped in if she wasn’t. He would have roared. I would have seen flame. There’s no way Koa would let Grace face Breckon alone.

None.

So, she was still safe.

Kham would be watching me. Koa would be watching her. And neither of them would leave. Even if they couldn’t connect, my dragon wouldn’t leave.

…you only fear and fail because you refuse to let anyone else help you. Oh, the sick despair at remembering those words. Of remembering all the times my dragon threw himself into my path, begging to help me, insisting. And I wouldn’t listen. I forged my own way. Trusted only my own judgment.

And now look where it had gotten us.

To hell with Breckon. To hell with any of this. To hell with this dark power—I didn’t want it anyway. We needed to get out of here. And I had an escape plan I’d ignored… why?

You only fear and fail because you refuse to let anyone else help you.

I didn’t hesitate a moment longer. I lifted my chin, stared at the half-shrouded moon and the glowing clouds above, and I screamed.