Page 71

Rose continues to hum, the melody shifting subtly and becoming something more resolute.

I don’t want comfort. I don’t want to be soothed. I want to fight back.

These hatchlings deserve a better world than the one they’ve just entered. They deserve a world where they can grow and thrive without the shadow of war hanging over them.

A world where Rose can sing her songs in sunlight rather than hidden caves.

The silver hatchling climbs halfway into my lap, tiny claws pricking through my clothes. She peers up at me with guileless eyes.

My heart clenches with the gravity of my responsibility to these newborns. “Somehow, I’m going to make it better. For all of you. I promise.”

Chapter Twenty-Three

Dawn’s light spills through the high windows of the palace, bathing the grand hallway in a soft golden hue and illuminating the hopeless state of my clothing after spending the night in the hatching cavern. I took Rose to her mother hours ago, then I flew back to the cave to continue admiring the newborns and the bond between the babies and their parents before returning to the capital.

Dame and Chirean remained behind, ready to feed their hungry brood. I don’t know how long it will be before we see them at the palace again with their hatchlings in tow.

Though my bed beckons, I’m too energized to sleep. My heart races with the knowledge of what I’ve witnessed, and I replay the events of this miraculous night in my head over and over again.

The moment I round the corner toward the royal wing, I stop dead in my tracks.

Sterling stands in the dim light at the end of the hall.

For a heartbeat, time stops.

Gold-flecked eyes, stormy with fatigue and something deeper, meet mine, and the world narrows until it’s just the two of us. I drink in the sight of him, cataloguing every line of his face, the scruff on his jaw, the new scar on his forearm. He’s dressed in all black and strapped with enough weapons to supply a small army. His glossy black hair is loose and wild, hitting just past his shoulders.

My body launches forward without thought.

I race toward him, my boots pounding the floor.

Sterling’s mouth is on mine in a matter of seconds.

He kisses me—no, devours me—like he’s starving. His hands tangle in my hair, pulling me closer until there’s no space between us. I wrap my arms around his back, reveling in his familiar warmth. He smells of wind, leather, and spice, and the grounding scent ignites something fierce and comforting inside me.

Home.

The frenzied kiss grows gentle, lazy. We take our time tasting each other. Exploring. Relearning what we already know.

Minutes later, he pulls back far enough to study my face. “You look like you just battled a dragon and lost. What happened?”

A laugh bubbles up and spills free. “Well, it did involve a dragon, but there was no battle. I’m happy to see you, too, by the way.”

A grin splits across his face. “Oh, that kiss? That was only the beginning of me telling you just how glad I am to be back with you. Once you’ve visited the others and I’ve had a hot meal, I plan to whisk you away to bed and not let you leave until I’ve given you at least a dozen orgasms.”

My cheeks flush and my toes curl at his promise, leaving me a little breathless. “I’m going to hold you to that.”

He kisses me again, long and slow, then lowers his forehead to mine. “I’d be disappointed if you didn’t. Now tell me about whatever happened that involved a dragon.”

“Dame’s eggs hatched.” I launch into the story, ending with, “Newborn dragons are messy eaters. And did you know they don’t have full control of their tails yet? They just trip over the swinging safety hazards. It looks so painful and adorable at the same time.”

“That’s amazing. I can’t wait to see them.” His brow furrows when he catches something else in my expression. “What else happened while I was gone?”

I shake my head, my throat thickening. I don’t want to think about all the other crap. Focusing on the dragons is way more fulfilling. “Later. You first. How did it go?”

Sterling shrugs, but the nonchalant gesture fails to hide the burdens he carries. “We didn’t find what we were looking for. Just⁠—”

Familiar voices approach, laughter and chatter rolling down the hall like a welcome wave. When I spy Leesa and Agnar at the end of the corridor, relief floods me. Their presence acts like a balm, soothing the frayed edges of my anxiety.