Page 98 of A Court of Wings and Shadows

I felt powerful.

Like the skies belonged to us.

Ashe.Zander lifted his hand, fingers curling into a signal I hadn’t seen him use before.

The response was immediate. Crownwatch peeled away from formation like a net tightening over prey, wings slicing through the cloud-heavy sky as they circled the rocky spit of an island beneath us.

You land with me. You can tend to Dorian’s wounds.

Okay,I sent back privately, my voice a whisper in the storm between us.I’ve got him.I had anticipated that and brought my pack with medical supplies.

Kaelith banked hard, her massive wings tilting to cut the wind. I stayed low over her back, fingers gripping the ridge of her neck until we touched down in a spray of sea-soaked mist. Hein followed close behind, the weight of him shaking the ground when he landed beside her.

And Kaelith… she didn’t pull away.

She leaned in.

Her wing brushed against Hein’s, slow, like a tentative hand reaching in the dark. Her tail flicked but she didn’t retreat. Her gold eyes locked on him, not with her usual suspicion, but with something soft.Worry.

She wasworried.

I hadn’t even unstrapped yet and she was watching Hein like she might lose him.

Slipping off her back, I gave her a final look and touched her flank.He’ll be fine. Stay close.

Zander was already moving. I followed him, boots scraping against the jagged stone as we ducked into the narrow mouth of the cave.

It wasn’t deep, but it was dark enough that my eyes had to adjust.

Foran lay curled near the back, wings tight to his sides like he was trying to make himself smaller, like he’d failed and didn’t want to be seen. His scales were dulled, one side streaked in dark blood, thick and tar-like where it dried beneath his ribs.

And his rider…

“Dorian.” The word barely made it past my lips as I rushed forward.

He was slumped against his dragon’s side, armor dented, pale skin mottled with dirt and blood. One arm hung limp across Foran’s foreleg, the other clutched his side where the fabric of his jacket had turned black and sticky.

His eyes fluttered open at our approach, just enough to see me.

“Ashe… Zander.” His voice cracked like the fire had gone out of it.

“I’m here brother,” Zander said, kneeling beside him. “We’ve got you.”

I dropped beside Dorian, hands already at his chest, assessing the wound. “What happened?”

“I tried to stop them,” Dorian rasped, voice low and full of pain. “Didn’t matter. There were too many.”

I pulled a healing draught from my satchel, cracking the seal. “Drink this, slowly.”

Zander was already unbuckling the straps on Dorian’s breastplate, his jaw clenched. “We need to move him. The longer he stays here, the worse this gets.”

“No.” Dorian reached up, grabbing my wrist. His grip was weak, but his eyes were fierce. “They’re coming. They know.”

“Then we hold them off,” I said, glancing back toward the mouth of the cave.Kaelith, prepare to fight. If anything moves, burn it.

The dragons outside stirred, a hum of tension vibrating through the cave like thunder rolling just beyond the cliffs.

And beside me, Dorian bled.