Page 137 of Kingdom of Shadows and Wings

The dragon stills, golden eyes again locking on mine. Slowly, the tortured, haunted look ebbs from her gaze, replaced by a newfound serenity.

Aine’s anguished images and emotions cease. Now all I feel is an overwhelming sensation of relief. Of peace. Of freedom.

The breath I didn’t realize I was holding escapes in a whoosh.

“That’s right,” I murmur, still envisioning the silken cords between us. “Go. Be free.”

Lowering her massive head in a gesture reminiscent of a bow, Aine’s gratitude channels through our connection. She turns her head, giving one final, ear-splitting roar.

Then she backs away, semitranslucent wings unfurling as she beats the air and takes off with a gust so powerful, I stagger backward.

Utterly drained of energy, I can no longer fight my lightheadedness. My knees buckle, and I start to fall.

Strong arms catch me before I hit the ground. My back’s pressed against a hard chest, and in a matter of seconds, I’m on a black alicorn and soaring upward. The scent of leather and soap envelops me, and I don’t doubt for a second whose arms I’m in.

“Are you hurt?” Husky concern laces Sterling’s voice.

“Only a few bruises and scrapes.” I know I should fight him, but I think I’m in shock. I’m too tired to do anything but sag against him. Now that I revealed myself as a dragoncaller, no doubt he’ll deliver me directly to the king. I can’t find it in me to care.

His grip tightens around my waist as we soar above the crowd. When I glance toward the king, I see his satisfied grin. Beside him, my mother’s face has gone pale, a silent plea in her eyes. When they lock on mine, she mouths,Run.

Chapter Fifty

Run where? I have nowhere to go.

And does she mean from the king? From Fligthhaven?

The fear that wasn’t present when I faced down the dragon seeps into my bones, mingling with exhaustion.

To the north, the sky darkens like a storm’s rolling in. Sterling tenses behind me but says nothing as the sky grows darker and an eerie quiet fills the air.

“That storm came out of nowhere,” I murmur, mostly to myself.

“This isn’t a storm.” Sterling’s words are so quiet, I have to play them back in my head to be sure I heard him right.

What the hells is he?—

A siren blares.

Within minutes—or maybe seconds—alicorns and riders have joined us in the air.

The dark mass to the north is much closer now, except it isn’t a mass. It’s a myriad of creatures, their powerful wings beating as they come straight toward us.

Winged creatures. I take a good, long look at them. No, not winged creatures. Wingedhumans.Just like the one who hunted me down before I came to Flighthaven.

Oh, shit.

My fear grows into a living, breathing entity. Tirenese.

In the blur of the next few minutes, too many winged flyers to count arrive. Through it all, Sterling remains unnervingly silent, his entire body as tense as a deadly weapon ready to strike.

Except he doesn’t.

As the fighting ensues, he does everything he can to avoid contact with the Tirenese. And miraculously, they leave us alone.

He flies Balasar right, left, up, down. No matter his direction, there’s always an airborne fight blocking our escape. At last, he puts his alicorn into a hover as he surveys the surroundings.

Beneath us, shouts merge with the sirens. Aside from those already in the air, Flighthaven instructors, recruits, and others scramble toward the weapons building to arm themselves against the attack.

---