Page 103 of A Court of Wings and Shadows

They’re avoiding you,Zander said through the bond, frustration laced in his voice.I think they have orders not to kill you.

Guess that first guy didn’t get the memo,I replied dryly, gripping my reins tighter.

But his words settled something dangerous in me. If I wasn’t a target… maybe I could be a shield.

If they can’t kill me,I said,we should put Dorian on Kaelith. Foran’s recovering, he can fight if he’s free.

Kaelith didn’t wait for Zander’s response. Her voice echoed like thunder through my mind.

I have already told Foran. He approves.

Below us, Foran’s massive form shifted through the air, blood glinting against his blue scales. He was flying better now, his right wing holding steadier, his growls sharpening into something hungry.

How do we make the transfer?I asked, watching him bank closer.

Leave that to me,Kaelith replied.

She dipped sharply, her body folding inward as she spiraled beneath Foran. The wind screamed around us, but she held firm as the blue striker adjusted his flight path to match hers.

Foran descended just enough, wings taut and level, and I caught sight of Dorian leaning forward in the saddle. His armor was dented, blood drying at his collar, but his eyes were clear.

He didn’t hesitate.

He jumped.

Dorian slipped from Foran’s saddle like it was just another drill, dropping nimbly onto Kaelith’s back. His boots landedbehind me with a solid thud, and he immediately sat down and grasped my waist, steadying himself with practiced grace.

“I’m never going to live this down, am I?” he muttered into my ear.

I couldn’t help the grin that cracked across my face. “Not if I can help it.”

Above us, Foran let out a roar that shook the clouds and dove straight into the nearest black dragon, claws tearing across its shoulder with brutal precision.

Dorian sighed, the sound wistful. “I swear, my dragon gets to have more fun than me.”

I laughed, shifting forward slightly to adjust for the extra rider.

Kaelith,I called.Let’s show him we can do more than run.

With pleasure,she purred, and we dove back into the fray, flame curling at her jaws and the wind screaming with us.

Kaelith’s wings thundered through the air, her body coiled with tension beneath me. I could feel her frustration, not fear, but restraint. The Blood Fae still weren’t engaging her directly. Every time one of their dragons came close, they’d veer off at the last second, like something unseen pressed them away.

They’re running from me,she snarled in my mind.

I didn’t answer, watching as the swarm of black dragons began to pull back, retreating in staggered, careful lines. The last few made a few probing strikes toward Crownwatch, but none dared cross Kaelith’s path.

Then, just as suddenly as it had begun, a black cloud billowed out of the air above them.

It didn’t drift or pulse like a real storm. It held in place, dense and perfectly still, like it was waiting for something.

The remaining Blood Fae dragons dove into it, one by one disappearing into the smoke. And seconds later, the cloud dissipated, as if sucked into the wind.

They were gone.

I stared at the now-empty sky, adrenaline still buzzing in my veins.

“What kind of cloud is that?” I asked, twisting to glance at Dorian behind me.