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“I hoped they would not follow because the Wild Mountains are supposed to be impassable. It was the only option I had.”

“And you were able to locate our lake again?”

“I’m afraid my recollection of those moments is hazy. I was out of power, and we were both injured. I thought I saw it and headed toward it, but I think we crashed. I don’t remember coming in to land.”

“I see. Well, we thank the Goddess you survived the ordeal.”

Zaria nodded.

A male leaned forward, eyeing us closely.

“Hadeon,” Zaria told me, mind to mind.

“Tell us how you knew your brother was in such danger from the other side of the realm?” he asked at length.

I sucked in a breath. We had known this was a possibility, and we discussed how we would handle it. I could not break my vow, but we could not allow a secret to be the reason they would not let us leave.

“I vowed to my father I would never speak it.”

The council seemed to collectively hold its breath.

“Why would you vow such a thing?” Hadeon asked, confusion clearly written on his face.

“The fact that you ask the question shows that you hold a theory,” Zaria said carefully, clearly not trying to out my secret. “If the council cannot make a decision on our fates without this information, then ask it of me so that Nyx will not have to break his oath to his father.” She glanced at me. “I hope this is okay?”

“We have to get to Kol. I don’t care what it takes if he’s alive.”

Hadeon seemed impressed by Zaria’s protection of my promise. “I suspect that Nyx and his twin share a twinship bond.”

“You are correct,” Zaria said, and her words were like a hammer.

I held my breath, my chest aching as the truth I’d kept secret so long was revealed.

The elders exchanged glances and whispered words. We waited.

When the whispering died down, the head elder spoke. “This kind of bond is common in the kingdoms?”

“No,” I corrected. “To my knowledge, they died out after the kingdoms united.”

The leader of the elders nodded as if expecting my answer. “Our defenses are made to keep out all who observe the rule of the kingdoms. We’ve discussed this at length, and we suspect that your twinship bond may have identified you as one of us and allowed you to pass over the Wild Mountains unharmed because it’s an older kind of magic. The Goddess bestowed this gift upon you for a reason, Nyx. Why would you wish to leave this place now that you’ve found it?”

“I have a duty to my kingdom. I cannot remain here while they are under attack. I am bound by blood to lead their dragons and protect my kingdom. I take this responsibility very seriously. Keeping me here will cause so many to perish. And my twin is still in danger. He’s unconscious but not dead. I must save him, and I must return to the First Kingdom.”

“You’re sure he lives?”

“I am. Our threads have not broken.”

“Threads continue even in death.”

“I can feel him alive.” I knew he was. I wouldn’t let them convince me otherwise.

The fae sitting next to the leader leaned over to whisper in her ear.

“If he is with the undead, as you say, his fate is sealed. Allowing you to go to him will be allowing another dragon to die at their hands.”

“If my brother is to die, then I don’t know how I will live. I have to try and save him. I can’t do nothing!” I yelled. Zaria took my hand to bring me down, and I drew from her calming energy. “Every hour I put off returning, my brother could be suffering. I cannot sit by and leave him in their hands. You have my word; I’ve sworn it. I will perform the blood oath to keep the secret of this place. Let me try to save him. I beg of you.”

“And then what? Whether you can save your brother or not, the fact remains that war is coming, and the kingdoms no longer have the magic to fight off this foe. You would be safer here. We could use a dragon like you.”