Page 252 of A Dawn of Gods & Fury

“Romeria.” Elisaf’s face pinches with consternation, his attention on the cages where Zander now stands, where my parents were. Nothing but piles of dust remain.

A heap of green silk is all that hints of Sofie.

They’re all gone.

It dawns on me then. “It killed everything that came from the Nulling.” Both good and bad.

Aminadav’s horn crumbles within my grasp, coating my hands in bronze dust.

“What did you think it would do when you blew it?” Elisaf asks, suspicion lacing his tone.

“I thought it would save the realms.” An accurate—and vague—response.

But Elisaf isn’t fooled. “‘Tell Zander I will find him in my next life’.” His chest heaves with a sigh as he puts the pieces together. “All it would cost is you, right?”

“I did what needed to be done.” What the Queen for All was meant to do. “But maybe don’t tell Zander about this?”

Elisaf shakes his head and throws his arm over my shoulder, pulling me against his side.

A few cheers erupt, and then more, until a deep wave rolls over the land. The sound of victory.

Zander is below, his swords thrown to the ground at his sides.

We’ve done it.

We’ve saved Islor.

I smile as I slump against my dear friend.

94

Annika

Destry and Tyree crouch at the mouth of the tunnel, Destry cradling her stones, her eyes solid white.

I lean against the wall, still regaining my strength, my body aching. “Can you see it?”

Tyree leans out, searching the cave ceiling. “It’s there.” He ducks back in a second before its massive leathery body swoops down. “How’s it going, Des?”

She doesn’t answer and he doesn’t push her, settling a hand on my thigh instead.

“Here. Try this.” I collect a stone and toss it into the cave. Wings flap somewhere above and then the wyvern lands, bending to sniff it.

“It’s pretty,” I admit, admiring the shade of its red scales.

“That’s the one that brought you here. Same coloring.”

“I’m surprised it didn’t eat me right away.”

“So am I.” He winks. “I would have.”

I sink into his side, desperate to be close to him.

“Wait, I think …” Tyree frowns at Destry, then at the wyvern, who sits idly, its head bowed. His eyes light up. “I think she’s got it.”

“How will we know?”

As if in answer, it turns its claw upward, resting on the stone. It watches us through narrowed slits.

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