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We wheeled and dove, playing a game of aerial tag, darting through narrow crevices and skimming so close to the treetops I could feel the leaves brush against my skin. Nithra’s joy surged through the fastening, mingling with my own until I couldn’t tell where her elation ended and mine began. She danced through the air, her scales glinting in the dim sunlight that pierced through the clouds—a living jewel against the backdrop of the mountains.

I followed her lead as we twisted and dived through the skies, circling every mountain until we reached the tip of the highest peak. There was nothing but clouds below us and it looked as if the ground had become a blanket of cotton that I could step onto and walk across the sky.

My wings slowed their beating, lowering me to the ground beside her. I slid my fingers along her side, letting my hand run over her scales as my boots hit solid ground and I leaned against her front legs.

This place is called The Peak of the Gods, Nithra said down the fastening, her voice soft—reverent, almost.It is the closest my kind will ever be to the place we once called home.My throat tightened at her words, and I leaned a little closer into her.You,my child, have given me hope. Hope that good still remains in our Gods. Flying with you into war, will be my greatest honor.

A tear slid down my cheek as the fastening went silent and I looked up to see her own tears falling to the earth. Flowers burst from the dirt as they collided and I gasped at the garden that bloomed around us. And as the sun began to rise into the sky, coating the clouds in a radiate, glittering pastel work of art Nithra lifted her head androared.

Ihadforgottenjusthow thoroughly Cai could scrub a person. My skin stung as she poured hot water over my raw body and I gripped the lip of the tub to keep myself from scurrying out of it. If she kept this up for much longer, I would be nothing more than a bloody mess by the time the ceremony started.

“Ow!” I hissed as Calista dragged a comb through my curls, cursing as it caught on another knot.

“You are an animal,” Calista snapped, pouring a generous amount of oil onto my curls and picking away at the matted section. “When was the last time you brushed your hair?”

I rolled my eyes as Ata chuckled from her corner of the lavatory, shuffling her tarot cards with a book strewn open across her lap and watching in amusement as both women pulled my body in multiple different directions.

“I went flying this morning with Nithra”—another hiss of pain seeped between my teeth—“I forgot to braid it.” I reached up totouch my head where I could have sworn she just ripped out an entire clump of curls, and her hand slapped mine away.

“I come bearing gifts!” Pri’s voice boomed through the bathing chamber as she materialized into the center of the room. All of our heads collectively shot toward her as she grinned at me, swinging two bottles of wine through the air.

This was a modest-sized home, big enough to be able to meet with everyone like we had last night, but not too large that I felt swallowed up in it. I felt that way sometimes in Locdragoon—in that castle. Like if I wanted, I would be able to roam the halls for days and never run into another person.

The bathroom however, was much smaller than the one at home and with five of us now occupying the cramped space, I was only seconds away from suffocating.

My hand shot to my chest as my breathing started to become rapid, the sound of my heart drowning out the flurry of conversation and laughter flowing throughout the room.

Ata’s hands clapped together, the sharp sound silencing into the room as my eyes shot to her.

“Everybody out,” Ata commanded, standing from the small stool she was perched on and snapping her book shut.

“Bu—”

“Out,” Ata commanded again, her voice sharper now as she cut Cai’s protest off before it could begin.

Cai let out a frustrated grunt as she pushed from the ground beside the tub and my eyes caught Ata’s as she held the door open for everyone to shuffle through. I silently thanked her as she gave me a small smile before exiting the room behind Calista.

A groan rolled from my throat as I leaned back into the copper bath and lowered myself until the water kissed the underside of my jaw.

In just three hours, dusk would be dripping into the sky, and the ceremony would be completed. A smile slid across my face at the thought, the anxious anticipation turning to excitement as I lifted myself from the bath and wrapped a towel around my body.

I was going to be a wife.

I was going to behiswife.

I’d never known exactly what my life would be—never really planned for anything outside of leaving the academy. Truthfully, I didn’t think I would live long enough to make it to Locdragoon. But this, this was more than I ever could have dreamed for myself.

Even if I did not live through this war, I would go to my grave knowing I had a love that would stay as an echo throughout history.

I swung the lavatory door open and the grin plastered across my face disappeared as my eyes landed on the mess of white fabrics hanging over the back of the couch.

“What in the seven Hells is that?” I asked, my face twisting in panic.

“I-it’s your dress,” Cai said, her cheeks flushing a shade of red as she lifted it from its place.

I tried to smooth out my expression, to hide the utter shock at just how absurd it was. My eyes flashed to Pri and Ata snickering in the corner, their hands pressed against their mouths in an effort to hide their amusement, and glared at them.

“It is an absolutely vile, atrocious thing,” Calista snapped, snatching it out of Cai’s hands. I gave Cai an apologetic smile as she slumped down onto the couch watching as Calista tossed the dress into the corner.