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But it wasn’t enough.

He was adragon. They were invincible. And he had wings, even if one was torn.

Hehadto fly.

Wake up.

My words—which had briefly returned to me in time to issue death threats—were gone again. But it wouldn’t have mattered if I’d spoken out loud anyway, there was no way I’d be heard above the raging winds. My fingers hummed as my eyes burned.

We weren’t going to make it out of this alive.

I opened my mouth, but no sound escaped.

Please wake up.

But why, maybe it was better for him to be unaware when it happened. He didn’t even believe he could fly, but when was the last time he’d even tried?

And why hadn’t his injury healed? Shifters were supposed to have superhuman healing abilities. Or maybe it had, and he didn’t even know. He could be okay now.

“It’s not a normal injury.”Finally, Mu’s voice stirred in my thoughts. “Being grounded is his penance.”

What?

My vision blurred further as my eyes widened.

Penance?

My eyes itched with dryness as red skies, death, destruction—the bloody remnants of battle lay scattered throughout the valley. The world lay at my feet, and my weapon was a comforting weight at my hip.

But this was no time for close combat. Even the bow in my arms felt heavy, and I was already losing too much blood. Despite having the high ground, I was still hopelessly outnumbered.

Maybe this wasn’t my brightest idea.

Jin told me this would happen. He’d asked me to wait, but I didn’t listen.

He was going to be very unhappy with me.

I looked past the battle—somewhere past the trees, he was coming, but was still too far to be heard. But I had to hold on, because once he got here, the tides of battle would shift in our favor.

I was losing altitude, and when I fell to the ground, it would be over. I wouldn’t survive hand-to-hand combat in this state. Huo’s demons crawled over the earth, shooting at me the same way I was them. But I’d become numb to the arrows that did manage to pierce through my armor, though each one was another deathly blow.

At least I’d downed some of them, but it was growing more difficult to hold the horde at bay.

Where was he? He should be here soon.

Then Huo wouldn’t be far behind.

Another roar rang through my ears. Jin was growing closer, I could almost see him, but he was still so far. My bow fell from my fingers. A darkness was seeping into the corner of my vision, and it was taking everything in me to stay.

This time, the dragon screamed—and the sound pulled at me.

It was taking too long. They wouldn’t make it. Jin was so close, but he wouldn’t be here in time. This wasn’t good—he’d probably blame himself.

It was growing colder despite the sandy, dry air, and I could no longer feel my wings. The piercing pain of my many wounds was growing too difficult to ignore, and I was losing too much blood. My body ached, and the promise of a blissful, painless sleep grew more tempting with every moment. The swarming visions of demonic faces faded from my sight as my vision tunneled to the ground.

My fingers prickled as rock and sand rose to meet me, but I didn’t feel the bone-shattering impact I expected.

Strong, steady branches cushioned my fall, wrapping themselves around me. The tree grew rapidly, flexible branches seemingly grasping me out of the air, and leaves wrapped around me, hiding me from view, as I curled into myself, seeking solace.