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Avera screeched as the monster yanked her from the wall. The latch of its teeth on her ankle shot pain up her leg. Unbalanced by its tug, she fell, hitting the cooling rock heap and then continuing to tumble, spawning bruises all over her body, but at least the creature lost its grip.

The bad?

As she pushed herself up to her hands and knees, she found herself facing off against the same lizard monster she’d encountered in Daerva, only this time there wasn’t a totem for her to smash, nor did she have a blade.

She possessed nothing but her courage and it faltered as the creature advanced on her, flicking its tongue.

As she eyed death in its beady red eyes, she prayed for a miracle…

…and got one in the shape of a dragon.

Like a streaking star, the pale dragon she’d saved from the collar suddenly swooped from above, wings tucked to its body, head down, mouth wide open. Somehow it managed to snatch the monster and tilt quickly enough to land on its hind legs. It sat there and crunched, humming, Mmm, tasty.

It took a stunned Avera a moment before she gushed, “Thank you for saving my life.”

You’re welcome. It would seem my arrival was fortuitous. This isn’t a safe place for humans.

“I’m aware, but I didn’t have much of a choice.” Her lips turned down. “I had to escape.”

Understandable.

“Not to sound ungrateful, but why did you return? Those who collared your kin are still here. I’d hate to see you caught as well.”

I came back for you.

“Why?” Avera blurted.

The so-called guardians have fled with my brethren, and I require your aid in freeing them.

The demand rounded her mouth. “Me? But how? Not to say I wouldn’t, only that their magic is mighty.”

So are you. And it’s not as if you’d be facing them alone. Your friends are eager to aid.

“What friends?”

Those who insisted we return to fetch you.

Her heart stilled. “Do you know their names?”

As if I paid attention. Easier if I take you to them.

Before Avera could ask anything else, the dragon reached for her.

Fighting would be an act in futility, and so Avera found herself wrapped in gentle claws.

None of them pierced her flesh. As the creature launched itself upward, a stream of the lizards came scuttling and hissing.

A tidal wave that showed she’d been doomed to fail from the beginning.

The pale dragon propelled them upward and as they emerged from the chasm, Avera startled at a new voice in her head.

I see you found the Voxspira female. Dangerous place for her to be wandering.

Agreed, but she did make great bait. The yummy crunchies came running for her instead of hiding in their burrows. The dragon holding Avera spoke and she cringed at being called bait. Do you have news of the guardians? Do we know where they’ve fled?

Alas, no. The little man left behind didn’t seem to know.

The dragon reached a height that dizzied, but the true shock came when Avera saw the second dragon. A massive beast several times the size of those just hatched. Where had it come from? Surely a dragon its size would have been noticed.

It took a moment before her mind clicked and she blurted, “You’re the dragon from Verlora.”

We meet again, Avera Voxspira.

“Did you come to save your friends?”

At the time, I didn’t realize they’d require assistance. I actually chose to leave my hoard so I might assist my new servant. He seemed rather determined to rescue you.

It could only be one person. “Griffon’s alive?”

He was when I last saw him, but that state will depend on the little man’s skill with a blade. They were preparing to duel as I departed.

“He’s fighting Titus?” Having never seen the emperor wielding a weapon, she had no idea if he’d be any good.

I don’t know if I’d call it a fight. The little man smells of cowardice.

“Because he usually gets others to do his dirty work,” she murmured.

That is often the way of tyrants, agreed the big dragon.

“You know my name,” she stated, “But I don’t know yours and I don’t think calling you Big and Little Dragon is appropriate.”

The pair of them snorted.

Accurate, though. The large one chuckled.

Not for long, promised the smaller.

I was formerly Verlora, but have since chosen to call myself Argent.

“Nice to meet you,” Avera politely said.

I have no name currently, said the smaller dragon. In my past life, I used to be known as Daerva, but with my rebirth, I need to choose something new.

“Your friends used names from the stories I told them,” Avera replied. “They chose Calixte, Lance, and Gunther.”

Fine names. Can you think of others I might enjoy?

The query had Avera wracking her brain. “When you appeared in the chasm to save me, you resembled a streaking star. Even now, you have the faint glow of starlight.”

Starlight, mused the former Daerva. I rather like that. Thank you, Voxspira.

“Please, call me Avera.”

That used to be one of my names many lives ago, Starlight replied. A fine choice for one descended from me.

Er, what? “You’re my ancestor?”

Oh yes. I can smell it in your blood.

She’s got a bit of me in there too, Argent declared. It would seem some of our blooded servants intermingled.

Related to dragons. Reading it was one thing, but to have them confirm… Avera wondered when she’d wake up.

The shrine grew large as the dragons made quick work of the distance she’d laboriously travelled. They aimed for the rooftop and Avera felt tears pricking her eyes as they neared and she saw Simhi and Monty waiting.

Those idiots had come to rescue her. It tightened her chest to know they cared. A lifetime of being shunned hadn’t prepared her for how it would feel to matter to someone. To several someones.

Starlight gently deposited Avera on the roof before perching nearby and watching as Simhi pretty much tackled and strangled Avera in a hug.

“I’m so glad to see you,” Simhi exclaimed.

“Me too,” a choked Avera replied. “I can’t believe you’re here.”

“As if we wouldn’t come to your rescue. Cap was right determined once he knew that twat of an emperor kidnapped you.”

“Griff’s alive?” The confirmation had her glancing around, looking for him. “Where is he?”

“Killing the little fuck which I don’t imagine will take?—”

“Avera!”

The bellow had Avera whirling and smiling so bright she almost burst. Tears tracked down her cheeks as brawny arms wrapped around and squeezed her tight enough she might have a few cracked ribs.

Totally worth it.

Especially since she also received an enthusiastic kiss.

She clutched at Griff’s head, her emotions roiling with happiness and relief at finding him alive.

“Damn this place stinks,” Kreed interrupted with a cough. “Don’t supposed we can finish this reunion somewhere with fresh air.”

“How did you get here?” Avera asked. “I didn’t think anyone could cross the lava plains.”

“We flew!” Monty announced. “Greatest thing ever.”

More like noisiest thing ever, Argent grumbled.

Seeing as how we now have five to transport, we’ll have to make two trips. I am not yet of a size where I can carry two humans at once, Starlight stated.

Argent sighed. I can carry four if one of them rides on my back. The large dragon eyed Griffon. But don’t think you can make a habit of it.

“Thanks for the offer, but that doesn’t seem too safe and it’s a long, skull-crushing drop if I fall,” Griff replied, still holding tight to Avera.

If you find some rope, we can lash you to my back. Or I could carry you in my mouth. Argent grinned with too many teeth and a huff of smoke.

“Yeah, no,” Griffon said with a shake of his head. “Let’s see if I can find something we can use to tie me on.”

They headed into the shrine, hunting for rope, and while they didn’t find any coils they could use, Avera did discover what happened to Titus. His head—and only his head—sat on the altar. Upon seeing it, Griff murmured, “By the way, you’re a widow.”

She smiled. “That is the best news ever. And just so you know, we never consummated.”

“Good. Because I’d hate to think I’d have to kill him again.”

She glanced at him. “Why would you care?”

“You know why.”

Her heart thumped faster. “Are you saying you like me, Captain Griffon?”

“More than like, or do you think I’d enter enemy territory, let a dragon fly me, and head for an active volcano for just anyone?”

“You’d do it for your crew.”

He arched a brow. “What I feel for you is nothing like my loyalty to them.”

“And what do you feel, Captain?”

His lips quirked. “Things no bachelor ever wants to admit.”

“I’m glad you came.”

“So am I,” he replied softly as he drew her close.

The kiss had Avera tingling head to toe and places in between that she never knew could tingle. When he pulled his lips away, she protested with a mewl of disappointment.

“Much as I’d like to continue, the others are waiting. Fear not, we will resume when we’re somewhere safe.”

The promise ignited an anticipation in Avera that had her practically floating up the stairs.

Upon returning to the upper level, they found an excited Simhi holding up a jumbled ball of leather straps. “Look what I found. I’m thinking we can use these to fasten Cap to the dragon’s back.”

They exited onto the rooftop where Griff presented the bundle to Argent. “We found something. Think we can make it work?”

It would appear you’ve found a harness specially made so the blooded can ride us like common beasts, Argent replied with a sour note.

“Hardly common,” Avera soothed. “And the sacrifice is much appreciated.”

Argent tossed his head. You are lucky I am magnanimous. Very well. Let us do this before I change my mind.

Once the mess of straps was untangled, it turned out there was a pair. Starlight graciously agreed to have one fitted for Avera, while Argent grumbled as they lengthened his harness by borrowing part of Starlight’s, the many buckled lengths allowing them to pull out sections.

As they readied to depart, Griff grabbed her close and whispered, “Ready to fly?”