Page 82 of Of Blood and Banes
“Ooh…”she purrs and flexes her claws in it.“I think I like this.”
I unhook myself and jump down, pleasantly surprised to find my landing softened by the sand beneath me. Reaching down, I brush my fingers through it and revel in the gritty, foreign texture.
“It’s much better during the summertime,” Sethan calls from ten yards away.
I walk toward his direction, my steps slower than I’m used to. When I glance nervously toward the water’s edge, a breeze picks up, carrying my cloak out behind me like a waving banner.
“It’s winter. Past water dragons’ mating seasons. Just stay out of the water and you’ll be—hey!” Sethan’s eyes widen at something behind me.
As I turn, I find Daeja running in quick, jerky, enthusiastic circles in the sand. Each time she turns, she sprays a shower of sand, one of which shoots into the side of A’nala. The red she-dragon snaps at the air a few feet away from Daeja and growls.
Daeja pivots back and slams into A’nala, bowling her over into the sand. The two become a tangle of scales and claws. A’nala slips over top of Daeja, pinning her underneath until Daeja’s form disappears, gaining herself a flinch from A’nala. An unseen force shifts A’nala sideways, and Daeja blinks back into existence as she throws A’nala back down.
Sethan gawks. “They’re…”
“Playing.” I smile.
Though, A’nala looks more annoyed than anything. Daeja keeps teasing her with nips to the side of her neck and half-hearted paw swipes. The other dragons look on with craned necks and twitching tails.
The people of Vathstone have been nothing short of cheerful and kind. Every person I met in the community hall last night smiled and welcomed us with a warmth that mirrors what I can only imagine is what the summers feel like here. I ended up removing my cloak halfway through the evening after I found myself too heavily dressed.
After dinner, we all split off to our own private quarters for the night. Archie helps me hook Darian’s chain into the wall. Darian, surprisingly, is still quiet. And still trembling. Despite his attempts to ignore my offers of help, I light the fireplace for him again, anyway.
Throughout the night, I dream again of my brother in great detail, and the river that pulls him under every time. When I wake in a cold sweat, I can’t help but wonder if it has something to do with my nearness to the ocean. And how similar the currents of a river mirror the tides of an ocean.
By the next morning, the fire is still going in the hearth while I braid my hair back and dress, preparing for another day of travel. Just as I sit on the bed and bend over to lace my boots, an alarm rings out. An alarm that sounds an awful lot like…
A carnyx.
CHAPTER 28
FIRE INCARNATE
The sound shakes the walls of the room. Both Darian and I watch the roof tremble above us, followed by a cluster of roars echoing outside.
“Wild dragons!”Daeja roars.“Where are you?”
“In my room?—”
“They’re attacking the city! Get your ass out here now!”
If I wasn’t so alarmed, I might laugh at her use of vulgar language—perhaps I should be more mindful of how I speak around her.
Screams explode outside, and Darian pulls against his shackles as I race toward the door.
“Wait—wait! Don’t leave me here!” he calls after me, fighting against the chains.
I hesitate, eyes locking with his. But I can’t. I can’t trust him. This would be his best opportunity to escape under the distraction. And I still need him—I need to crack whatever wall he’s putting up to protect the secrets that could be the key to freeing this realm.
“I’ll come back, you’ll be safest here,” I whisper and slam the door closed on his protest.
Screams and roars mix in a manic orchestra outside on the streets. A massive shadow a few blocks away glides above the cobblestone street toward me, following a throng of screaming townspeople. A gigantic red dragon bursts through smoke, soaring above the roofs of the buildings, its jaws parting as it rears its horned head back and its nostrils flare. Fifty feet from us.
Thirty feet.
“Take cover!” I scream, bolting toward a mother cradling a newborn baby to her chest, and lifting my hand to block the flame.
I wrap an arm around her shoulder and lead her through the people scattering in opposite directions, their shoulders and arms hitting us as they sweep past. Going against the grain, I pull her down an alley away from the main street as the dragon blasts a fiery bolt of flame down the road and up the middle of a three story building seven streets down.
