Page 40 of A Court of Wings and Shadows

I pointed to my temple, jabbing a finger like the truth might burn through my skull if I didn’t force it out. “Shewants me dead, Zander.Kaelith.She told me she decides when I die, and apparently, that day was today. You had no right to interfere. You’ve only stalled the inevitable.”

Zander folded his arms across his chest, eyes narrowed. “Really? And who do you think told me exactly where you were in that river?”

I froze, water dripping from my chin, hair clinging to my face. “You don’t talk to Kaelith.”

“No,” he said, voice low. “But all dragons are telepathically linked. Even if she won’t bond you, she still told Hein where to grab you.”

I shoved the wet hair out of my face, heart thudding painfully. “Why?” I whispered. “Why does she torment me? Is it because of the Order? Because of who my father is?”

The words cracked out of me, ragged.

“I had no control over who adopted me. It’s not like I was given a choice.”

Zander’s arms slowly dropped to his sides, and something in his gaze softened, though pain still edged his voice.

“You need to speak with her,” he said. “She’s landing any moment now.”

I turned, eyes scanning the skies. And I felt her before I saw her.

Kaelith.

Hein let out a quiet huff, and Zander stepped closer, voice barely a whisper now.

“No one knows about my intervention. Let’s keep it that way. The major will assume you completed the bond.”

He paused.

“Don’t say anything. One way or another.”

I nodded, throat tight.

Zander swung back onto Hein’s saddle in one graceful movement. The silver dragon launched skyward with a single sweep of his wings.

I didn’t watch them go.

Because the sky behind me split with the beat of familiar wings.

Kaelith was landing.

I turned to her as her massive violet form touched down, the earth trembling beneath her talons. The sound of her wings folding in was like the hush after a scream, but the ache in my chest was anything but quiet.

My voice cracked before I could cage it. “Why do you hate me?”

The air around her shimmered with irritation.

Is that any way to speak to your dragon? One who ensured you remained intact?

I stepped closer, fists clenched. “Skip the bullshit, Kaelith. You won’t let me die, but you won’t bond me either. We can’t go on like this forever. Just make a decision and do it.”

I held my hands out, bare, trembling. “I’m not impervious to dragon flame. My life is yours. Take it or leave it.”

She looked away.

For the first time since the day I met her, Kaelith, ancient, proud, untouchable, hesitated.

Not like she was calculating.

Not like she was testing.