Page 38 of A Court of Wings and Shadows

The king was done waiting.

Major Ledor took to the skies on his massive green Catalan, leading the formation, and we followed, twenty riders strong, twenty dragons flying in formation above the kingdom.

It took time to fly over the forests of the Hallows and reach the mountains. But it was beautiful.

The River of Surrender came into view like a silver serpent through the forest. Wide. Fast. Ruthless. It cut through the land with the kind of power only nature or ancient magic could hold.

We landed on the stony bank, the roar of water thundering in our ears.

Kaelith shifted beneath me, quiet and calm, but her focus was absolute as I dismounted.

The river roared before us, wide and violent, a silver wall of thrashing water that seemed to stretch endlessly across the basin. Foam curled at the edges like snarling teeth, and the current pulled so hard the rocks beneath our boots shuddered.

Major Ledor sat tall on his dragon, voice booming over the thunder of water. “You are to cross the River of Surrender.Your dragons may use magic to aid you, but they may not physically touch you. If they do, your bond will be forfeit.”

The air crackled with tension as we stood lined along the riverbank, our dragons at a respectful distance, watching. Waiting. Twenty of us. Twenty trials.

Naia went first, her orange Swordtail’s magic surrounding her like a glowing halo as she stepped into the current. She vanished into the chaos of water and mist within seconds.

I was next.

I inhaled sharply, the reality of the moment pressing hard against my chest, and stepped forward.

That was when I saw him.

Perin.

Standing two bodies down in Iron Fang’s line, smirking like he’d already seen my corpse floating downstream.

I didn’t look at him again.

Instead, I walked straight into the river.

The cold slammed into me like a wall of knives.

The current seized my legs instantly, dragging me forward with terrifying force. I fought to keep upright, arms flailingagainst the sheer pull of the water. It was deeper than I expected, already at my waist, then chest, then neck in a blink.

Kaelith,I called.

I’m here,her voice echoed, calm and steady.

Power burst around me, harmless but warm, swirling with violet light. Her magic wrapped me like a second skin, strengthening my limbs, and calming my breath.

I swam, forced my body forward stroke by stroke, kicking hard as the current tried to yank me under. The water battered me from all sides, cold seeping into my bones, but I held on.

Minutes passed.

Then more. And more.

My strength began to falter.

I need more,I gasped in my mind.Kaelith, I need more magic.

The current pulled harder as the river narrowed, funneled between two jagged boulders, and dragged me beneath the surface. I surfaced again with a scream, coughing up water as I fought to stay above.

I’m giving all I can,Kaelith said, her voice strained now, distant.But I must pull back.

“No,” I whispered aloud, choking. “I’m going to die.”