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“We don’t want him scared!”I throw her a warning glare. “He’s a friend. He’s safe.”

Archie screams and charges toward Daeja with hobbled steps as he pulls another dagger from his side, waving it in the air.

“Archie,stop!” I dash in front of him, blocking his path to Daeja.

He pauses, his hand still raised with the dagger. Those brown eyes flick between me and Daeja. “What are you doing!”

Daeja stalks forward from behind me and lowers her chin onto my shoulder. Watching Archie, I reach a hand up and pet Daeja’s cheek.

Archie’s eyes grow even wider, and he drops the dagger. “You…you have adragon!”

“Daeja, meet Archie.”

Daeja’s black tongue licks over her muzzle in anticipation. Her intentions are as apparent to me as if they were my own.

“No, no. Meet—not meat.”

“A clear misunderstanding,”she grumbles.

“And Archie, this is Daeja. I need you to swear you won’t tell anyone—”

“How did you even...why—” He sighs and takes a slow step backwards, betrayal glistening in his brown eyes. “I thought we were friends. How could you not tell me?”

Something inside my chest weakens as I recognize his misery. I dare a few steps forward and reach out for him. “We are friends, Arch—”

He takes another step back to avoid my touch, shaking his head.

“Please. Don’t tell anyone,” I plead again, my voice weak.

“I-I can’t…”

Daeja chuffs from above me. “I’ll eat him. No body—no worries.”

“No eating, Daeja! You’re not helping!”

“She’s just a baby. I’m taking her to the Dragon Lands to be with her kind. I’m going to set her free,” I explain.

“A baby? How is she considered a baby, Kat?” He motions up toward her.“Look at her!”

He has a fair point. She’s not as small as she used to be, and I could only guess how much bigger she will get.

My heart pounds in my ears, my fingers fidget around his dagger I confiscated earlier. “Archie, please. I’m begging you.”

The memory of the two men hanging from the tower replays in my mind. How they begged to explain their situation. I couldn’t imagine it would have been as damning as the one we’re in now. The fate of those two men would become my own. Possibly, even Archie’s demise, if he was found to have kept Daeja a secret. By his calculated focus and rigid stance, he’s weighing it, too.

Shit, I didn’t want any of this. Maybe we should go now, save all of us from the impending possibilities. Forget the map.

Archie shakes his head. “Who else knows?”

The question has me dumbfounded. If he finds out Cole knows, will he be more convinced to keep Daeja a secret, considering Cole saved his life? But I can’t risk Cole—I can’t pull him into this. If Archie decides to report us to the King, at least Daeja and I can fly to the Dragon Lands. But Cole would be stuck here and executed for treason.

Yet, lying to Archie, my friend, feels traitorous in itself. I can trust him…can’t I?

“Nobody,” I answer.

“Nobody?” he challenges.

Daeja leans forward and snorts, the air blasting Archie’s hair out of his face. It’s enough to distract him from my inability to answer his question.