Page 58 of A Court of Thralls and Thorns

My veins burned, molten and searing, crawling under my skin like liquid fire.

A ragged breath escaped me as pain unlike anything I had ever felt consumed me.

I reached for Kaelith, desperate, pleading.

She didn’t answer.

The fire raged hotter.

Zander’s voice cut through the roar in my skull.

“Meri!”

The healer was already moving, her white robes billowing as she rushed to me. The moment her hands touched my arm, the pain snapped back like a rubber band.

Coolness poured through me, a soft, soothing wave of relief rolling over the fire in my veins, quelling it before it could consume me completely.

My breath shuddered out, my forehead damp with sweat.

“Thank you,” I whispered.

Meri’s gentle grip tightened, her gaze steady as she leaned in slightly.

“I feel your power,” she murmured. “You have healing ability.”

I hesitated but nodded. “I—I’m not sure I was supposed to be a rider.”

Meri studied me for a long moment, then shook her head.

“Once a connection is made to a dragon, it cannot be broken. At least, not by a halfling.”

I clenched my jaw. “I can’t get Kaelith to accept the bond.”

Meri’s expression turned grave.

“You must. Or you will die.” She helped me to my feet. “Eventually, even my power won’t save you.”

I barely had time to absorb that gut-wrenching fact before laughter snapped through the air.

Perin.

I whipped toward him, breath still ragged, but he was grinning cruelly.

“You are pathetic, Rebec,” he sneered.

The laughter from Iron Fang’s squad rippled through the air, but no one else was laughing. The other squads remained silent, watching.

Perin stepped forward, his smirk widening. “What’s wrong? Did the big, scary dragon reject you? Guess even the beasts know your kind doesn’t belong here.”

Before I could lash out, Naia cut in first.

“You got a problem, Perin?” she asked sweetly, stepping between us.

Perin snorted. “More than one.”

Naia’s eyes narrowed, her stance shifting dangerously.

“Then let’s settle it in the ring.” She tilted her head, feigning innocence. “Unless, of course, you’re too much of a pussy.”