Page 46 of Of Scale and Blood

“Hopetown was attacked this morning. We’ve been ordered to fly over there and investigate.” I glanced at Kele and Hannity. “It’s going to be a long day, I’m afraid.”

Kele shrugged. Hannity looked even more excited by the prospect.

“No word of casualties?” Damon asked.

I shook my head. “The scribe quills went down, but hopefully most made it to the underground shelters they built.” Or even the damn caves that littered the Black Glass Mountains, although that range was a long way out of Hopetown itself and probably not viable in this sort of situation. I had no idea if the “leg” portion of the Black Glass was similarly pocked with caves, but surely if it had been an option, they would have used it rather than building new shelters.

“Hopefully.”

His tone suggested he held no more hope than I did that there wouldn’t be massive casualties and death. I motioned him on, and it only took us another five minutes to reach the barrier. As it flickered briefly in warning, Damon called a halt, then motioned Hannity forward.

“We’ve placed a magical barrier across the entrance to prevent unwanted intrusions into the aerie, so I’ll need several drops of your blood to broaden the spell and include you in the entry parameters.”

Hannity was shoving her hand at him even before he’d finished. Damon’s gaze met mine, and we both chuckled.

“What?” the younger woman said, her gaze darting between us.

“I believe our captain and her prince are laughing over the fact that Iwasn’tso eager to have my life’s blood drained away,” Kele said dryly. “But I do assure you, it doesn’t hurt, and it is only a few drops.”

“Wouldn’t care anyway—there be drakkons ahead!”

Kele grinned and patted her shoulder. “There are indeed, and they are awesome.”

Damon retrieved a small container from his pack, then unsheathed his knife, whispered a few words, and lightly cut Hannity’s finger before turning it upside down to drip into the container. After half a dozen drops had gone in, he righted the finger. The wound was already healing.

“This shouldn’t take too much longer, but best you all step back, just in case something goes wrong with the adjustment.”

“Does that happen often?” Hannity asked curiously.

He smiled at her. “No, but it is always better to play it safe around magic.”

She immediately took several steps back, but her expression remained fascinated. I couldn’t wait to see how she reacted to her first close-up with a drakkon.

I leaned a shoulder against the wall and crossed my arms. Damon began to spell, his words rich and melodious, the language not one I knew but a sound I could listen to all day. Unlike the time he’d first raised the barriers here, he didn’t use his own blood, probably because this time it was simply an adjustment to the spell’s already existing rules. As the force of his spell rose and the small hairs at the back of my neck prickled in response, Damon thrust a hand into the wall none of us could see, then tipped the blood out of the small container. The softest of shimmers ran across the opening, then disappeared. Damon nodded, withdrew his hand, and finished the spell.

“Done.” He tucked the used contained into a side pocket of his pack, then slung it over his shoulder. “I shall leave you ladies to the business of drakkon riding.”

“You’re not coming with us?” Kele asked, surprised.

“No, I’ve business I need to attend to.” His gaze came to mine. “Fly safe.”

Come back to me. He might not have said that last bit out loud, but it nevertheless echoed through me.

I hesitated, then responded the same way.I will, for as long as you don’t betray me.

Something flickered in his expression. He’d heard me. This connection, whatever it truly was, definitely went both ways.

He nodded, though whether that was in acknowledgment of my statement or a simple goodbye, I couldn’t say, then walked away.

I watched him for several seconds then pushed away from the wall. “Shall we go meet some drakkons?”

“I think Hannity will bust if we don’t,” Kele drawled.

She grinned and once again didn’t deny it.

“Be prepared to be awed,” I murmured, then led the way in.

The barrier responded, its magic briefly pressing against us, then we were through and walking down the rest of the tunnel to the large main aerie cavern. The musky scent of drakkons filled every breath and the scrape of claws against stone echoed lightly as big beasts shifted in anticipation of our arrival. They were all here, all watching us, their eyes gleaming like jewels in the ruddy glow of the sands. Even though I’d now been here multiple times, joy still danced through me at the sight.

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