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"Not always. Just with you and that body mage," Rien chirped. "She puts off many mating pheromones when he appears." Rien sniffed the air. "Though, she is doing the same right now. Perhaps her mating ritual is to be mean to those she wants to —"

I choked on a berry and began coughing.

"Haha," Liam interrupted with a forced chuckle. "Good one, Rien."

Managing to swallow, cheeks aflame, I crawled deeper under my comforter.

Those two had no idea what they were talking about. I was just mean to people who didn't listen to me and were assholes.

It had nothing to do withmating!

Serali snoozed beneath the cover at my side, and I pulled her in closer. "Those men are the worst," I cooed. "You'd never tease me like that, would you, Serali?"

The little dragon rumbled sleepily, then nudged me with her snout as if agreeing.

"Wait —" Liam said, voice full of excitement. "Did you say,Serali?"

The little dragonling yawned widely, green eyes swirling before she nudged the blanket off us both so she could see Liam and give him a warm chirp of hello.

"Traitor," I hissed.

"Dragon's breath!" he said. "Itisyou! What are you doing here? I thought all the dragons got away that day!"

Serali trilled happily in response.

"They did," Rien explained. "But Serali refuses to leave Stryek."

"Stryek is still here, too?" Liam's fingers whitened around the bars. "Where?"

"He is stoned and locked away with me in rooms below the stronghold."

"Damn." Liam's voice was gravelly, his expression serious. He shook his head, then turned to me. "Thoughthat's yet another reason you should listen to what I have to say, Kaiya."

I narrowed my eyes, but he continued undeterred.

"I found them," he said, voice barely above a whisper. "I know where Gram and Mirrim are."

I sat up straight, and Serali jumped away at the sudden motion. "You did? Are they okay?"

His expression tightened. "Well, I haven't exactlyseenthem yet. I just know where Frexin locked them up. And —" He held up a ring of small metal keys. "I can get us in."

My heart sank, and I slumped back onto the bed, grabbing a few more berries. "We've already been over this, Liam. I can't risk it. And you shouldn't either. Not unless you want to lose even more of your people. I'm going to visit neighboring strongholds and find more volunteers tomorrow. Once that's done, she'll let everyone go. You just need to be patient and wait a few more days."

"Patient?!" he snapped. "Kaiya, you know her. Do youreallythink she's going to let us all walk out of here?"

My chest ached and part of me said he was right, but I ignored it. I had to. There were no other options …

"I can't wait for her to betray you." He leaned closer to the bars, expression tight. "And you shouldn't either. If we free the bonded people, we can get them out of Frexin's hands and away from whatever she's planning. That's theonlygood option."

"Liam, I want to but —"

Don't think. Don't feel. Just obey.

"It's not like I'm saying we do everything tonight. I just" — his voice broke — "Ineedto see them, Kaiya. Please."

My chest ached, and I desperately wanted to give in — to go with him and find his family and fix the messI'dmade.

But the image of Frexin holding up that bloody knife filled my mind, and this time the people kneeling before her — throats slit — were the Harlsteds, Jaiel, Liam, and everyone else I cared about.