Page 90

“May I?” I tap the scaly skin beside one of Cailleach’s cloudy eyes.

His confusion is palpable, yet I can also sense his trust.

He inclines his majestic head.

Gently, oh so gently, I press my tear-soaked fingers to the milky film covering one eye. For a heartbeat, I fear I’ve imagined the possibility.

But then the haze begins to recede, unveiling an unobstructed golden eye.

A sense of awe spreads through me. “By Zeru’s foot.”

The vision…it was true.

A myriad of emotions tangles me into knots, and I’m not sure how to react.

Bastian simply stares at me, his jaw hanging low. “What the fucking fuck just happened?”

I almost giggle. I think this is the most I’ve ever heard Bastian curse.

“The power of the phoenix resides in my blood.” I give him a very condensed version of my visions, and when he starts to pepper me with questions, I hold up a hand. “There’s no time now. I’ll fill you in on the flight home.”

Cailleach blinks, shock giving way to a joy so profound it buoys my spirit.

My own vision blurs again—tears of happiness now—and I dab them, eager to restore his other eye. “Here, let’s get you fully back in the fight.” My voice cracks with emotion.

With another careful touch, the second eye clears, and the ancient dragon roars a battle cry that shakes the leaves and the trees of the valley.

His gratitude is like nothing I’ve ever felt. He is no longer a burden to his kin, but a source of safety and…

And I feel it myself.

Not from Cailleach. Not as an echo. But bubbling up from my own heart.

I spent the first part of my life protected by others. Now I know my true nature, and it’s my turn to heal and protect my loved ones.

This changes everything.

Cailleach nuzzles my neck in a very un-dragonlike gesture.

I rub the silvery scales of the dragon’s cheek. “Go ahead, Cailleach. Show them what it means to mess with our families.”

With bloodthirsty amusement, he transmits the same feelings back.

He ascends with a powerful leap, abandoning the patch of dead grass where’s he’s lain for so long.

“Whoa,” Bastian utters beside me, his tone a mix of disbelief and admiration. “That was incredible.”

“Right?” I can’t help the grin as I project a wave of need through the bond I share with the dragons. Within moments, the loyal beasts swoop down, landing with heavy thuds that kick up dust around us. “We need to leave while the troops outside are distracted. We’ll be going out the back door while they try to kick down the front.”

“I just can’t get over the fact that you just healed a dragon’s eyesight.” He reaches out, fingers brushing my cheek. “It’s…wild.”

“Tell me something I don’t know. We can talk more once we get the hells out of here.”

That snaps Bastian into action. “What’s the plan?”

“Up there.” I point toward the gleaming ice cap. “We’ve got ourselves an escape route through the glacier. But it’s going to be colder than the three hells freezing over, so we’ll have to create a heat barrier for protection.”

Bastian clenches his jaw, determination etched onto his features. “If we’re trying to be sneaky, that may be tough. I think we should both ride on Kaida together. That way Nailah can fly tucked in beneath him if necessary without us worrying about me getting crushed. We can combine our heat that way too.”