Page 42 of The Keeper of the Kingdoms

“To my knowledge, yes. But as you know, if there is such information available, then the Healer on High would have a record. And we don’t.”

“Well then, try some new things.” He slapped his palm on his desk.

Jaxus tensed.

I dropped my chin to my chest to gather some patience. “I’ve been trying new things for weeks. There is nothing left to try. Keeping him chained to a table in the dungeons is just cruelty. Please see reason, Nyx. He did nothing wrong. He was captured and turned this way against his will. Won’t you help him the only way we can?”

Nyx glared. I needed him to see sense, but there was only one more push I could give him, and I feared the repercussions.

“I don’t enjoy prolonging the suffering of a fellow fae, but in the name of science, his sacrifice is worth the lives we could save. I must insist?—”

I was left with no other choice. “Would you want that for Kol?” I asked.

Nyx’s eyes flared. My stomach churned. It pained me to inflict that wound, but he left me no other way to get through to him.

Backed into a corner, Nyx turned on Jaxus rather than me. “And you’re here, why? For decoration, or do you have something to add?” he demanded.

“I’m here with my ryder, in full support of her professional opinion. We have worked tirelessly, researching and testing. Kiera is the best in her field, and I trust that she has left no stone unturned. But there is still nothing?—”

“There must be a way.” Nyx slammed his fist on the desk, cutting Jaxus off. “Kol?—”

“Kol is dead, my friend,” Jaxus soothed. “I saw it with my own eyes. You did not mistake what happened to him. He is not somewhere in the kingdoms, turned into an undead slave. He is with the Goddess. Take peace from that and help as many poor undead souls as we find to follow him to the Shores of Avalon along the way.”

Nyx hung his head and nodded. He chose to direct his wrath at his fellow dragon rather than his lifelong friend, but the painhe was in was mine to bear. Tears stung in my eyes, but I fought them.

“I’ll make the arrangements,” Jaxus said, standing.

“No,” Nyx stood too. “I’ll do it myself. It’s the least I can do.”

“Shall I summon a priest?” I offered.

“No, no one else should be involved. A healer can perform the ritual if necessary. Do you mind?”

I offered a sad smile. “Of course.”

After Nyx and Jaxus burned the undead in dragon fire and we took his ashes to the river to wash away to the Shores of Avalon, Nyx left us to find Zaria.

“Are you okay?” Jaxus asked, coming to a halt outside the healer’s wing.

“I’m better now, just worried about him.”

He nodded in agreement, staring in the direction Nyx had gone as if he could watch over him wherever he went.

“Are you okay?” I flipped his question back on him. We had both been physically and mentally drained by the events of the last few weeks, and he carried a lot on his shoulders.

“Yeah, I just need—” he cut himself off, looking almost guilty.

“What is it?” I frowned, concerned.

“I need to fly.” He looked away, as if saying he needed the thing I was refusing to do was somehow betraying me.

“Of course.”

His eyes met mine. “You don’t mind?”

“Why would I mind? We don’t need to waste our hours in the dungeons now, I’m sure you need to feel the wind on your wings.” As I spoke the words, a tug in my chest startled me. Apull on my center, not from him, I sensed the difference. This was something else. It was coming from within me. A need. The idea of experiencing the wind through my hair as we soared through the clouds.

I swallowed.

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