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The dragon’s forked tongue flicked out to lick his lips, and those flaming eyes focused on me again.

Uh oh.

Maybe I should have let Frankie come after all, as backup. I hoped Dominic, Jou, and I were strong enough together to stop a rampaging dragon on the loose. We had to be.

Right?

Just when I thought I would follow in Ichiro’s crunchy footsteps, I watched this massive beast bow his head before me. My eyebrows shot toward my hairline.

Thank you, a deep and very loud voice rumbled through my skull.

Surprised, I clutched at my head as though that would somehow help.

"What’s wrong? What’s he doing to you?" Dominic stepped toward me, equal parts worry and anger on his face.

I waved him away. "Nothing bad. He’s just loud."

Dominic’s eyebrows shot up. "He’s talking to you?"

My apologies, she who smells of the ocean, the dragon said, much quieter this time. His forked tongue flicked out as if tasting the air.Centuries have passed since I last uttered a word to another. I am called Pomï.

"No apologies needed, Pomï," I said out loud for Dominic’s benefit. "I’m sorry you’ve been silenced for so long. I’m Bree."

The depths of my gratitude for what you have done today cannot be expressed in any tongue, Bree,the dragon said.I had resigned myself to a lifetime of never truly feeling alive again.

My heart ached for this magnificent creature. I’d experienced exactly what he described but for a fraction of the time as a captive. I wouldn’t wish that life on anyone. It was so lonely. I wondered how many of the dragons felt the same way.

As if reading my mind, the dragon said,Very few as old as I remain, those of us who remember the days before humans. Not even this fierce warrior.His fiery gaze fixed on Jou, who responded by crouching low in deference.

As much as I yearned for a chance to stretch my solid bones in the sky one last time, there is a great comfort in being attached to a human. Just not Ichiro Sato.Pomï’s lips pulled back into a vicious snarl, sparks flashing between his teeth.Already, he gives me heartburn.

I couldn’t help the laugh that bubbled out of me. Although Dominic’s tensed muscles finally relaxed a smidge, he looked between me and the dragon with a raised eyebrow.

"Ichiro’s not the best meal," I explained. "Too acidic."

He grinned, and my stomach did a little flip-flop. "That’s not surprising."

I recognize you from your duel against the mighty Red Dragon, Pomï said.You fought well. He will be a good match for you in life.

Heat flushed across my cheeks, but it wasn’t from embarrassment. I hoped I would get the chance to find out if his words were true, and my bodyreallyliked the idea of finding out. With any luck, soon.

I must go, little fish, the dragon said, saving me from having to reply.I have a great urge to feel the wind and sky against my scales.

"He has to go," I told Dominic.

Dominic bowed to the dragon. "Thank you for not letting my grandfather harm this woman." His eyes widened, and I assumed the dragon must have spoken to him as well.

A series of expressions flashed across his face, too quickly for me to identify or process. When his gaze met mine with smoldering intensity, I had a feeling Pomï had suggested something similar about me to Dominic.

The dragon shifted his weight onto his hind legs.

"Wait, where will you go?" I asked.

Home.

With that, Pomï launched into the air. His sinuous body spiraled upward, and right before he would have crashed into the ceiling, he dissipated into a cloud of embers and sparks.

CHAPTER 31