Page 225 of Mama Si's Paradise

Storm was going to eat Shadow.

Suddenly, it all felt like a dream. There was no way this was real. Shadow—the tiny dragon I’d named myself, who liked to hang out on Valentine’s shoulder, who’d hung out onmyshoulder, too, once. He’d plucked the eye off Storm’s skull and now he was going to get eaten by him.Eatenright in front of my eyes.

Then Storm stopped, and a much smaller figure was right over his head, beating wings as black as the clouds.

It was Romin and he was looking at Grey, while his own dragon, Balthazar, flew not thirty feet away, just over the trees.

“Grey Evernight,” Romin said, his voice as strong, as dark as ever.

Grey had barely moved since the fight began, and he had his eyes up on his brother, too, jaws locked, hands fisted tightly to his sides, wings spread all the way.

“Valentine’s dragon has chosen to not withdraw, and Valentine has chosen to not surrender. You have the chance to end this,now,or you can spare your brother his dragon. You can choose to demand his banishment, or the banishment of them both so that they may perish together, or you can allow them to remain in the Whispering Woods.”

My eyes closed for a moment and I tried to get my shit together, to continue to pretend that I had myself under control.

“The decision is yours. Once you make it, to take it back is considered treason,” Romin continued. “So, choose—what will it be?”

Valentine was on his knees, looking up at Storm, about to eat Shadow. He seemed in pain, and so did Grey. I barely saw his profile, his hair all over the place, but he seemed to be shaking.

If only my legs would carry me all the way to him so I could hug him. Just to take some of it away.

“Grey,” Romin said again. “What will it be?”

Grey finally turned to look at me.

Our eyes locked. I didn’t dare speak or try to tell him anything with my expression because this really was his decision. He was challenged. He accepted. His dragon lost his eye in the fight, and now he could choose what to do next.

But still, I couldn’t help butbeg,deep in my heart—please, please, please let him go.

After all, Shadow had saved my life once. After all, Valentine had been the closest friend I’d had in those long days in the castle.

For Grey’s sake, though, I smiled. I forced a big smile on my face just to let him know that it was okay. Whatever he chose to do, it was okay. We would get through it one way or the other.

“Let them stay.”

His words rang in my ears, his voice crystal clear. I hadn’t realized how long I’d been holding my breath until I released it, the same second Storm released Shadow.

He was awake now, flying, though slowly, and he went straight for Valentine. Storm backed away with a roar, like he was pissed. Like he’d wanted some dragon meat, and he was angry that Grey made him back off.

The other brothers stepped forward.

It was over.

Fuck, the challenge was actuallyover,and nobody had died. A goddamn miracle if I’d ever witnessed one.

The other dragons all flew in circles over our heads. The brides were crying—they were happy—but my eyes were stuck on Valentine still.

My God, he seemed furious. He seemedmad, his eyes bloodshot as he slowly stood up with Shadow on his shoulder, licking his wounded wings.

Words he said before came back to me like ghosts from the past.I will never be a coward,and my instincts fired up again right away.

That’s when I realized this wasn’t the end at all. This wasn’t over, not for Valentine.

Not for me.

Too late.

My body froze when I realized Shadow had taken flight again. My voice didn’t work, and my mind refused to accept the view in front of me, even though it was perfectly clear. The other brothers were by Grey, congratulating him, shaking his hand, and Valentine was looking at me from under his lashesas Shadow launched himself forward with his wings folded and his tail pin-straight, coming for me.

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