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“Then speak, you disgusting coward,” Phillippe said, his arms crossed in front of his chest.

“She's coming here to the Snow Lands. She might be on her way now already. She wants her daughter back.”

Grayden growled again, and this time Cyrus came over and put a gentle hand on Grayden's shoulder. “She's not going to take her again, son. I've made sure of that. I'll protect her with my life.”

“I will too,” Grayden replied, grinding his teeth. He hated relying on Cyrus's magic for everything. He wanted to protect Renya himself, protect his lands and people.

“Is she bringing her army?” Cyrus asked Brandle. He shook his head no, and Grayden felt a bit of the tension leave his body.

“She must think she can come in and grab Renya and leave,” Phillippe said, still eyeing Brandle carefully. “Are you sure your magic will hold up?”

“It should,” Cyrus said. “It’s weaker than it's ever been, cloaking two separate areas, but it should hold for a little longer. We need to start making plans, though. I can feel myself weakening.”

“Just in case, I think we need to restrict everyone in the village and have them shelter inside, and I want everyone in the lodge to wait her out in the sublevels.” Grayden looked at Phillippe, and he nodded his agreement.

Just then, a loud roar echoed throughout the lodge, terrifying and deep. Grayden’s heart sank. She was already here.

“Stay with Brandle,” he ordered Sion. “And don’t kill him,” he added, knowing Sion wanted him dead just as much as he did.

“Grayden, go to my daughter,” Cyrus instructed. “Don’t let Renya anywhere near Cressida, and don’t let her out of your sight. You know how she is, she’ll want to sacrifice herself.”

Grayden nodded, but hoped in his heart that Renya’s last promise to him was enough to deter her from that. “Phillippe, I want you to go outside and protect the village. If Cyrus’s magic holds, she shouldn’t be able to see anyone.”

Phillippe left without saying a word, and Grayden headed in the direction of the stables. Renya was often there during the day, stroking her new filly and talking to Beauty. Grayden was almost certain that the dragon understood every word and command Renya gave her.

He rushed up the stairs to the main floor, issuing orders to every servant he met to stay inside the lodge, before leaving through the back door. He trudged towards the stables, the heavy snow making it difficult to move quickly.

Another roar, followed by deafening silence. Grayden looked up, and saw Cressida on the back of one of her dragons, only a few yards away from the lodge, circling in the sky. He stopped, feeling exposed in the middle of the snowy field. But Cyrus’s magic held, and she circled around and around, irritation easy to read in her posture.

He heard a loud roar from inside the barn, and knew Beauty was agitated. Ignoring Cressida above him, he ran for the stable, throwing open the door and closing it against the cold air.

“Grayden!” Renya exclaimed, and quickly ran to his side, fear in her eyes. “She’s here!”

“Shhhh, it’s okay. She can’t find you. Everything looks abandoned. Cyrus told me that she doesn’t know of this type of magic, so she won’t even suspect that we are hiding in plain sight.”

Renya nodded, her fear preventing her from speaking. Grayden grabbed her hand, holding it in his. Her hand was cold, and she was shaking. He wasn’t sure if it was from the temperature or fear.

“She won’t take you from me again, Renya.”

Her bottom lip trembled, and Grayden knew she was trying so hard to be strong. He understood her fear, because it was the same as his. His dreams kept him up at night, horrible nightmares where she was ripped from his arms. He often awoke, covered in sweat, breathing unevenly until he found Renya next to him. He held her tight in those moments, not wanting to wake her, but needing the comfort her warm body provided him.

He did that again now, covering her body with his, feeling her tremble beneath him. He kissed her hairline, trying to comfort her the best way he knew, and in turn, comforting himself as well.

Beauty continued roaring, but it was a panicky, throaty roar. Grayden wasn’t sure if she was picking up on Renya’s nervous energy, or if she could sense the other dragon.

Renya sighed from inside the protective cocoon of Grayden’s arms and then carefully untangled herself. Grayden watched her walk towards the stall that held Beauty, and undo the iron latch keeping her contained. She comforted Beauty, making soft crooning noises, and the dragon began to settle.

“Do you think she’s gone yet?” Renya asked him, her eyes moist with unshed tears.

“I’ll go check,” Grayden said, walking towards the door. He opened it, and peered outside. The snowstorm had picked up, and visibility from the barn to the lodge was poor, but he didn’t see any sign of her. He stood at the door for a few more minutes, making sure she was really gone before heading back to Beauty’s stall.

“I think she’s left, Little Fawn.”

Renya exhaled, looking at Grayden, and then ran over to him. He pulled her into his arms again, and held her for a long time, listening to her heartbeat against the howling wind outside.

“I think we need to make our move now,” Renya said, her voice strong and steady. Grayden watched on with pride, glad she was asserting herself and becoming the leader she was meant to be. “She’ll only keep searching, and next time, I imagine she’ll bring her entire army.”

Tumwalt, Almory, Phillippe, Agatha and Sion all joined them in the cabinet room. After Grayden and Renya left the stables, they immediately called a meeting. It was time for them to stop planning and start acting.