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~ VOSKI ~

It was a long wait for us before Kham was certain it was dark enough for them to land without being seen by human eyes.

When they finally did, in the meadow below and behind the stables, Grace and Koa rushed together in a way that made my chest ache with empathy. I knew the feeling. On a mission in the past, I’d gone weeks without touching Kham, and it hurt like hell. But this time, we’d only been parted hours, or a day or two at most. And I’d been so tense, so frantic to get close to Grace myself, I hadn’t thought about her discomfort and stress purely from being separated from her dragon. Perhaps she didn’t even fully recognize it until that moment.

Grace was so relieved she shook. Kham had carried his harness, so while the females reunited, I harnessed him. But we had no harness for Koa, and needed to get away.

Kham was the one who hurried them. I was grateful. I didn’t feel strong enough to disappoint Grace just then.

So, Grace and I flew on Kham together, Koa right at his wingtip—calling often, once we were out of earshot of the castle.

Now, finally, we were at the mountain cave Furyknights used when we entered Fyrehold secretly, or wanted to wait to reveal our presence before arriving at the castle.

I stood at Kham’s leg as we watched Grace hug Koa's snout, crying soft, happy tears, while Koa crooned and fluttered her wings.

I stood, one hand resting on Kham’s scales. But I was tense. I’d been so focused on getting here, I hadn’t thought about how it would feel to be in this place again.

This was the area where we’d been when Grace caught me, and the dragons bonded.

They were delighted to return to the place of their first mating.

But I felt sick.

Everywhere I turned, I saw all the ways I’d hurt my mate—rejecting her, raging at her, bullying her. All because of my own fear.

The feelings were so overwhelming, I was glad Grace was emotional about reuniting properly with Koa, because it made it less likely she’d notice my distress before I got it under control.

‘Do you love her, Voski?’

I shot Kham a confused look from the side. ‘Of course! Why would you even—’

‘Then, don’t hide your distress from her.’

I frowned and turned back to Koa—her head so low her nose was on the ground. Grace laid her cheek against the broad, flat expanse between Koa’s eyes, which were mostly closed as the two drank in each other’s presence.

‘She’s carrying enough. She doesn’t need to carry my shit as well,’ I sent bluntly.

Kham snorted. ‘Ask her whether she prefers the burden of knowledge, or the unease of ignorance. I believe you know the answer.’

I pursed my lips. But my dragon wasn’t done.

‘How would you feel if it were her who had struggled here?’

‘I’d want her to tell me so I could reassure her.’

Kham’s silence was pointed.

I sighed and clawed a hand through my hair. I knew he was right—he usually was—but it was still irritating. I caught myself about to say something jagged, and swallowed it. Then frowned and turned my thoughts inward. What I saw there was… humbling.

My dragon had been so patient with me.

My mate had been so forgiving.

And I stood here, in the place of my own failure, and found myself angry with him?

‘I’m sorry,’ I sent quickly. ‘You’re right, Kham.’

He turned his great head with a low, pleasant rumble, and nudged my stomach with his snout. I hugged him, then reached up to scratch his eye ridges.