Page 125 of Stealing the Dragon's Heart (Dragon Lords 3)

Caryn mumbled through her fingers, “So, basically normal.”

Surprised that Caryn could joke at a time like this, Onnika actually let a shaky chuckle slip. “I’ll be worse. I’ll be horrid to everyone, and no one will want to be around me. I’ll drive Aidan away.”

“Aidan loves you. He’s not going anywhere. He’ll help you through—”

“You can’t leave me, Caryn. You just can’t. I need you. You keep me grounded. You help me to be a better person. We’re supposed to grow old together.”

Caryn’s eyes shimmered with unshed tears. “Thank Lear and Ash for being so nice to me.”

“No. I won’t.”

“And when you get home—”

“Stop it!” Onnika sobbed. “Just stop it, okay? You’re killing me. You’re giving up. Why? After we clawed our way to get here. We’resoclose. You can fight a little longer. Youcan. You’re stronger than you think. Look at how you conquered The Gauntlet.”

“Couldn’t have”—she winced—“without you.”

“If you hadn’t been poisoned, you would have strolled through there like it was a day at the spa. Your magic told you to go because it was the only way to save yourself. So stop all this nonsense.”

“Maybe I just wanted one last adventure with you.”

Onnika fought the painfully growing lump in her throat and brought their foreheads together. “It won’t be the last.”

Suddenly a jolt passed through the ship. Onnika and Caryn blinked at one another, confused at first, then Onnika reached out with her magic and knew what was happening. “They’re coming for us.”

“These bastards?” Zeek exclaimed. “How did they catch up to us so fast?”

The Condemnedwas closing in on them fast and had already taken several explosive shots that hit far too close for comfort. “They seemed to have lost their bodyguard,” Lear observed. He stood at one of the consoles, monitoring their surroundings, and had been the first to sound the alarm.

Aidan snorted. “No surprise. Ten to one says they either leftArmadabehind or executed the lot of them. Alliances never last till the end.”

Another blast exploded somewhere behind them, the percussion rocking the ship forward. So far, they were out of the other ship’s range, but it wouldn’t be long before one of their weapons hit its mark. How well wouldMother Junkerhold up under the barrage that was coming?

Ahead of them, far in the distance, a bright yellow sun broke up the monotony of space. According to Zeek, that was where they were headed. There must be a planet in orbit, though they couldn’t see it yet. “Vin,” he called over the intercom, “can we get any more power out of the engine?”

“It’s maxed out,” Vin replied.

“Priya, how’s our defense looking?”

“Not great. This ship wasn’t made for battle.”

“Do your best.”

“Aye, Captain.”

Looking somewhat disheveled, Onnika raced into the bridge. Her eyes were puffy rimmed with dark smudges. “It’s those sons-of-bitches.” She snarled and hurried to Aidan’s side.

“How’s Caryn?” Asher and Lear asked in tandem.

Her face twisted with grief. “We need to find this finish line fast, but…”

“But what?”

“The Condemnedwon’t let us. They could easily pass us. Take first. But they plan to…eviscerate us.”

The bridge went so quiet, Aidan could have heard a mouse fart.

“Why?” Asher broke the silence.

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