Page 152 of Ash

“Have you been harassing Tyrez and Dani?” Aphostra asked her squirming offspring.

“We have been conducting a warrior training session,” Tyrez interjected with dignity. The effect was somewhat ruined by the giggling Gryphlets.

Aphostra rolled her eyes. “I see. Well, I thank you for your patience. It is time for their lessons.”

The Gryphlets’ groans broke off when their mother fixed them with a stern eye. “Off you go. Your teacher awaits.”

They tumbled into the cave, swatting at each other.

“They are woonderful.” Dani was quick to defend them.

Aphostra shook her feathered head, but Dani thought she was pleased. “They are a handful. But much loved.” She fixed her gaze on Tyrez. “Cara and Bess are back for another try at disabling Ash’s collar.”

The Watchers had been working hard on the energy binding the collar to Ash’s throat. Dani had lost track of the number of sessions.

Every shred of joy appeared to drain from Tyrez at Aphostra’s words. Dani stifled her frustration—they needed to help Ash. But it had been so wonderful to see him smile.

She pushed her sentiments aside. “Hoow—hoow is Ash dooing?”

The feathers of Aphostra’s head and neck lay flat. Dani knew enough about the Gryphon, now, to know it was a sign of distress.

“His psychic talent, on top of his emotional scars, are complicating my efforts. Sometimes neither he nor I can tell what was reality, and what is a future that has not yet happened, or perhaps never will.” She blinked her enormous eyes. “He often seems confused on the issue as well.”

Tyrez stiffened. “Does he have control over his ability?”

“He is evasive on that topic. I haven’t pushed because it seems to panic him.”

Dani swallowed. This didn’t sound good at all. Her efforts to speak with Ash over the last few days had been dismal failures. He had withdrawn from both her and Tyrez.

Aphostra took her leave. Tyrez sat on the stone, his shoulders slumped as he stared across the grasslands. Stifling her worry, Dani shifted back to human. As she bent to retrieve her clothes, her wrist itched. She rubbed at it, and something flaked away.

She leaned down and then crouched low. There, lying in the dirt—a cluster of small flecks gleamed dully. She picked them up, examining them in the palm of her hand.

Her heart accelerated. Scales. They werescales. So black they were almost blue.

“Dani? Are you okay?”

“Yeah. Just getting dressed.” Should she admit to the Dragon that she’d grown scales? It could be a one off, a residual effect of his virus.

He had enough on his mind without worrying about her. She dropped the scales into the pocket of her sweatpants and pulled them and the tee on before joining Tyrez on the sunning stone.

They sat in silence as the sun climbed and the stone heated beneath them. Finally, she asked the question foremost on her mind. “Do you think Aphostra can heal him?”

He sighed. “Honestly? I have no idea.”

Had they freed Ash too late? Had Rindek destroyed both his ability, and his mind? Was the soul-deep bond Tyrez longed for enough to reach through the walls Ash seemed to have built around him? “Maybe you can help him.”

A muscle jumped in Tyrez’s jaw. “I don’t know how.”

Dani turned her face into the sun. Despite her worry, her soul was lighter for her run. For doing what Dires were meant to do.

It gave her an idea. “Ash is a Dragon,” she pointed out.

Tyrez grew very still. “Yes. He is.”

She shrugged. “So you need to teach him to fly.”

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