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Thank the gods …

Rien ran up next to me, Serali on his shoulder, and Tye at his side.

"Hold on," he yelled as a vine extended to lift us all onto Tye's back beside Jaiel.

Serali dropped to perch on my shoulder, chirping worriedly down at Kaiya.

"She'll be alright, " I whispered, praying I was right. "She's strong. Whatever the Giant did to her will wear off soon."

The little dragon hopped down to Kaiya and gently nuzzled her cheek.

"You will not … have your third key … in me," Baerloe gasped through wet, labored breaths. I looked back to see him facing Frexin, his skin pale and beginning to pulse.

"Damnit, Baerloe!" Frexin snarled back. "If not you, then I will just find another! You only delay the inevitable."

"And … I … pray … it … was … enough … old … friend …"

Then the Giant let out a terrifying roar and began to shake … body twisting and changing until a mountain wraith stood in his place.

It lunged for Frexin, heavy footsteps shaking the ground.

She ran forward to meet him, stone exploding around her.

The two met with an enormous crash that set the trees swaying.

Gods, they're terrifying!

I tore my gaze away to check where the airship had crashed. Smoke and fire billowed from the tree line, and I desperately wanted to go to them. But Baerloe had sacrificed himself to keep Kaiya and Jaiel safe.

I looked back at my unconscious friend and winced. He really didn't look good. And from what he'd told meabout past hosts, it certainly didn't sound like something you could come back from.

Fear and sadness bubbled in my chest at the thought, but now wasn't the time.

"We need to get away! Hurry!"

Rien shook his head. "Airships and shifters approach. We won't make it on foot, even with Tye carrying us. We need to find another way out of this mess."

Serali let out a little chirp, and Rien looked at her, thoughtful.

"Yes, I think that might work. But you will have to pull on your bond for strength. Can you do that?"

Did he understand what her chirp meant?

The little dragon looked at Kaiya and chirped again.

My heart skipped a beat. "What are you doing? Don't tell her to do that. It will kill her!"

Rien met my gaze and smiled. "No, friend Liam. The little dragon is strong with Kaiya here. We all are."

Then Serali chirped, and the world went dark.

***

We fell several meters, landing hard. But I held Kaiya tight, even as we dropped, and Serali let out a triumphant chirp.

As I settled into the idea that we'd hopped and were allsomehowstill alive, I blinked up at the odd pink light of the sky where dragons flew in swirling patterns above.

Dragons?!I squinted up at them. Gods! They wereourdragons — the ones who'd fled Dragon's Peak when Frexin hadarrived!