Page 16 of A Dawn of Gods & Fury

“She is troubled,” Radomir notes, watching closely. “There is something in the rift. Something coming.”

He’s right. Her attention is riveted to the canyon in the earth.

My stomach roils. Is this the moment Malachi makes his grand appearance? Bexley did say he wouldn’t crawl out of the Nulling like a fiend, but maybe he’ll fly out on the back of a wyvern?

“On your horse now, Romeria,” Jarek commands, goading me toward my saddle with a firm hand on my back. Others follow suit, Solange hauling Agatha up with a holler from the elderly caster.

We’re backing our horses away when two mammoth forms shoot out from the rift and up into the sky, issuing earsplitting roars.

“Fates,” Elisaf whispers as we watch their wings spread wide. “They are of her kind.”

Caindra launches herself upward toward them, answering their calls with one of her own.

I gape as the beasts soar high above and shouts of panic erupt in the camp. They’re identical to Caindra, save for the color of their scales—one a burnt orange, the other a vibrant chartreuse.

More dragons.

“She’s not attacking them!” Jarek yells over the commotion as we struggle to steady our bucking horses.

In fact, their sky dance of spiraling dives and spins appears friendly, their wings grazing each other’s with each pass.

It dawns on me. “She’s been waiting for them.” Caindra’s astute guard from her perch today wasn’t just to ward off enemies. She was anticipating her kind’s arrival, either with expectation or hope.

In a triangular formation, with Caindra in the lead, the three dragons sail toward us.

“Stand down!” Radomir’s voice booms as he hollers at soldiers armed with arrows and swords to back away.

The ground trembles as they land, Caindra flanked by the others.

“Fates.” Kienen’s sword dangles in his grip, useless. “The orange one is even larger than her. I didn’t think that possible.”

Larger and fiercer looking, its jade-green eyes cold as they size us up. A deep gouge through its scales hints at a battle fought long ago. What could do that to a dragon?

The chartreuse one on Caindra’s right side is much smaller, its yellow eyes narrowed as it drags its claws through dirt.

“Romeria,” Jarek warns through gritted teeth as I slide off my horse and move forward.

“Everyone, stay back.”

“As if.” With a curse, Jarek joins me on foot. “You are determined to see me eaten by one of these things.”

“Put your sword away,” I warn him, keeping my gaze ahead. “It might agitate them.”

After a moment, he complies, wincing with the simple movement.

Caindra tips her head back with a roar before swinging it to the side to rub snouts with the orange one.

“I think it’s okay,” I whisper, advancing toward her.

“And if you are wrong?”

“Then neither of us will know any better because we’ll both be dead.”

I feel his glare at my cheek, but I keep my eyes on Caindra and her companions, my heart pounding as we get closer, until we’re standing within their shadows.

The chartreuse dragon’s snout twitches as it scents us, and it emits a growl.

Jarek is in front of me in a split second, his hand gripping his pommel.

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