Page 108 of The Bond That Burns

What? Why?I hissed.What are you planning?

Go. Now.His tone brooked no refusal.

Heart pounding, I did as he said, reluctantly walking towards the Tribunal, my shoulders tight beneath the weight of their gaze.

Viktor’s eyes narrowed. Catherine’s lips thinned.

“Rider!” Viktor barked. “What is the meaning of this? You will bring the dragon to heel at once.”

I took a deep breath but said nothing. My gaze darted to Blake. He’d risen to his feet but still remained on the platform, his arms crossed over his chest, his feet spread wide, his stance unyielding—as if nothing would get past him. Aenia and Florence were safe, I told myself. For now.

I glanced at Florence. Her face was pale. She looked fucking terrified.

That’s far enough,Nyxaris’s voice snarled in my mind.Run past them. Now.

My heart leaped into my throat.Nyxaris, no. Not like Lord Mortis. Please, don’t...

I said run.

I broke into a sprint, veering to the side to dart around the group of highbloods. The moment I’d passed the last one, a roar erupted from behind me.

I whirled around to see Nyxaris rearing up, his wings flaring wide as flames erupted from his jaws.

The crowd screamed, scattering like insects, but it was too late for the Tribunal members. A ring of fire blazed to life around them, cutting the group off from the rest of the field. Viktor looked furious. Catherine, angry and terrified. Lady Avari and Lysander stood together. To my surprise, their hands were linked and they seemed calm in the face of the fire.

“Stand down!” Catherine’s composure finally shattered as she screamed over the roar of the flames. “Stand down, dragon! You will obey your rightful masters!”

Viktor’s crimson eyes glinted with fury as he spun to face Nyxaris. “You dare to—”

Nyxaris let out an earth-shaking roar that drowned out the rest of the highblood lord’s words.

He breathed a second ring of fire, this time one which nearly touched the edge of Lady Avari’s dress. I watched as she gasped and stepped back as Lysander quickly trampled the flames closest to them out. All of the Tribunal members crowded together within the circle Nyxaris had created. I watched Lysander grasp the older highblood woman’s arm to support her and realized I hadn’t seen Kage or Lunaya in the crowd. Perhaps they had no interest in watching Nyxaris or myself be judged under these circumstances.

Regardless, Nyxaris had made his point. I ran back, placing myself between the ring of flames and the dragon.Please, Nyxaris. Stop. You’ve terrified them. Isn’t that enough?

They need to understand. They need to learn. I bow to no one,Nyxaris growled.

But he did not add to the fire and within a few more moments, the flames dropped and the highbloods began to stamp them out until they were free of their confines.

We are not through here.

I froze as Nyxaris shifted on his clawed feet. I could feel his fury still radiating through our connection.

You will speak for me.

I swallowed hard, but raised my voice as the Tribunal started to move away. “Nyxaris wishes to address the Tribunal.”

I’d probably phrased it a lot more politely than he would have.

Viktor turned back slowly, his lips curling. “He does, does he?”

I ignored him.What should I tell them?

Nyxaris’s voice rumbled in my mind, his words heavy with contempt. I paled as I listened, but hesitated only for a moment before speaking aloud.

“He says this has gone on for long enough. He wants you to leave me alone. I’m the only one with any measure of control over him, as you’ve all just seen. He says...” I hesitated just for a second. “He says if you attempt to harm me in any way, he’ll know. And he’ll act decisively.”

I’d toned down his actual words and now he growled at the back of my mind, clearly not happy about it.

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