Page 233 of A Dawn of Gods & Fury

“Aminadav has granted our request to block the passage from the Nulling. I don’t know how, and if there will be consequences. I guess we’ll find out tonight.” Her shaky sigh exposes her worry.

“This is a big deal.”

“It is one problem solved,” Zander counters, forever the pragmatist. “The other one is marching to our doorstep as we speak. Come on.” He jerks his head toward the tent’s exit. “Let us see how much ground they have made.”

His meaning dawns on me instantly. “With the dragons?” I didn’t mean to show so much enthusiasm.

Romeria snorts. “You sound like a kid on Christmas.”

I frown. “Christmas? What is—”

“Never mind. Yes, with the dragons.”

“I should probably tell King Cheral.”

Zander cocks his head at me like I’ve lost my mind. “You are a royal prince and the commander of the king’s army. Must you ask permission?”

“No, but … no.” And yet I worry that Kier’s king will consider it disrespectful.

Zander waits a beat. “Besides, I told him where we were going.”

I shove him playfully, earning his laugh.

Behind us, Romeria wears a pensive smile.

“It is even larger than I thought!” I yell as we soar high above the approaching army, their torches like a sea of stars on the ground. The horrifying reality below mutes the exhilaration of this experience. “Can we get closer?”

“No, it is too dangerous. They will be ready for us this time and Malachi’s reach is considerable!” Zander yells back.

I cling to the dragon’s claws. They look sharp enough to slice me in half and yet they haven’t. The green beast that carries me is surprisingly gentle.

Bexley’s child.

Who could have ever imagined?

Romeria shouts something at her dragon and it banks hard, the two others following a split second later.

We coast in formation along the rift, low enough to spot any movement within the crevice.

There is none.

Nothing emerges from the deep, dark well.

My legs wobble as they touch ground after soaring through the air for so long. “So this is your secret kingdom in the mountains.” I stare up at the golden gate as it climbs open, anticipation feeding my body, the detour unexpected.

Gracen is in there.

I have no idea how she feels about me now. She may hate me for the mistakes I made with the mortals. I will have to live with that, for however long I survive. What I can’t bear is not seeing her one last time.

Inside, the tunnel is lined with bulky winged beasts in armor the likes of which I’ve never seen.

“They’re nymphs,” Zander answers my unspoken question.

“Of course they are.” This is all too surreal. “When I received your letter, Boaz was convinced it was all a sham to lure me away,” I muse. “Where is he, anyway? Still in Cirilea?” I haven’t thought of him since I left.

“His ashes are.” By the cold look in Romeria’s eye, I can guess who delivered that punishment.

Through the tunnel we march, and at the end is another gate and a different set of creatures, these sleek, the bony bulges from their skulls disturbing. They also have wings.

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