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It can be used to kill anything—even immortals, as you already know, Xira said in answer, and the memory of Niyx bleeding out in her arms flashed painfully across her mind.Not even draekons can withstand its lethal edge.His mental voice lowered until it was nearly inaudible as he finished,My mother included.

I’m so sorry, Xira, Alex said, knowing the words were insignificant but also knowing he’d be able to feel the truth of her empathy through their bond.

It’s been many eons since she passed, Alex. I’ve had a long time to move on from my grief.

Some hurts stay with us forever, she whispered back, knowing as much from her own recent experiences.

A long pause met her statement, until Xira replied, somewhat wryly,Niyx would have threatened to push you into a volcano for that comment, you know, especially if he knew you were referring to him.

A startled laugh left Alex’s lips, her melancholy dissolving.Not just threatened, she said.He would have done it.

He certainly would have tried. And I would have been forced to intervene, if only to save my own hide.

Alex made an amused hum of agreement.I still think you drew the short straw on the ‘I die, you die’ deal, Xira.

Tell me something I don’t know.

His repeat of her earlier words prompted her to laugh again, her mood having lightened significantly. Whether it was from being reunited with someone she loved or simply due to the liberating feeling of the flight and the healing words, it didn’t matter. Either way, Alex’s spirits soared as together she and Xira speared through the air and finally breached the clouds leading toLendasa Marna.

She hadn’t thought ahead to what she should expect upon returning to the Sky Kingdom, other than to assume the Tia Aurans would have been announced the clear victors of the race and her friends anxiously wondering where she was.

She was right about one of those, since her friends were clearly nervous as they searched the skies for any sign of her, for any hope that she was out there somewhere having pulled off the impossible.

The Tia Aurans, however, had yet to finish their circuit— but not for lack of trying. All six of them were struggling with their agitated draekons, who had halted in the air, their wings flapping enough for them to rise and fall in place as they resisted closing the distance towards the cloud island—and the finish point of the race.

Repeating Saefii’s earlier instructions in her mind, Alex recalled, ‘The first challenger who sets foot back onLendasa Marnaafter completing the circuit will be declared the victor.’

None of the Tia Aurans had set foot back on the island, meaning that none of them had won—and that was because their draekons weren’tallowingthem to.

I know you were curious about those extenuating circumstances I mentioned, the ones keeping me from returning to Medora as soon as I felt our connection again, Xira said before Alex could ask what was wrong with the flying creatures.So this is the part where I tell you that I wasn’t just the Heir of the Sky Kingdom in your world.

Alex stilled at his words. With Zaronia’s passing, he would have inherited her title as leader of the draekons. And apparently not just the small group who had resided in Medora, butallof them.

My kin will continue obeying my order to keep from landing, but their bondmates are becoming frustrated, so we should finish this quickly,Xira said.

Alex remained mute with shock at the knowledge that she was bound to the Ruler of the Sky Kingdom.

Put like that, itdoessound rather impressive.

Alex’s shock swiftly dissolved and her eyes narrowed.Quit reading my thoughts, Xira.

Quit projecting them, he fired back.

I’ve changed my mind—I haven’t missed you at all.

A rumbling mental laugh.You always were a terrible liar, Alex.

And with a mighty stroke of his wings, Xira pushed them away from her competitors, moving so fast that none of them would have been able to see anything but a hulking black shadow tearing through the air.

Alex felt a twinge of guilt at not being able to let her friends know she was safe, but she’d be able to tell them herself as soon as they completed whatever circuit they had to do.

I hope you know where you’re going, she said to Xira.Because this task didn’t come with dot-pointed instructions.

Don’t worry, Alex. I’ve got this.

And he did have it. He seemed to know exactly what he was doing and where he was going, flying them up and around the islands, surging through overflowing waterfalls, spirallingaround mountain ranges and other natural landmarks, and even snaking his massive bulk through pillars of the imposing fortress. His manoeuvrability was impressive for a creature so large—nothing had changed over the years except that he’d grown bigger, stronger, faster,better.

And when they finally circled back and came to land on the clouded island, Alex was met with stunned eyes from both humans and Tia Aurans as she slid down from his scales and placed her feet firmly on the ground ofLendasa Marna, effectively winning the race—and passing the Gate of Courage.