Page 31 of Dragon Blood (Dragon Island #3)

A stred’s fingers slid over the stone hidden under the scales on her chest while those of her right hand drummed her knee. Still six hours before they reached the North American east coast, and still more after that to Aeleftheria herself.

Kai’s warm hand enveloped hers, calming the staccato of her hand and that of her pulse. His palm tingled against hers, soothing.

He was her sanctuary.

She looked up from their joined hands at him occupying the seat beside her, and Bayn beside him, offering both a wan smile.

“You know, I hate planes.”

He leaned close, “I haven’t met a flighted dragon that doesn’t.”

“Apparently Jori Mountainside loves them. The smaller and deathtrappier the better.”

“I heard he was late to dragonhood, and doesn’t know any better.”

She laughed, shaking her head. Too much idle time, trapped, forced to listen to her thoughts, doubts and fears.

She rubbed the hidden amulet again, whispering, “Every time I close my eyes, all I see is the vision of the meteor streaking through the sky, obliterating everything around it.” Dropping her head back against the seat. “I don’t know why I feel compelled to bring it back, when logically it’s likely the worst thing to do.”

Kai’s finger squeezed Astred’s. “At least the seals are safe. No one but the queen can awaken the Mother.”

She nodded, dropping her free hand to scrub at a loose thread on the hem of her shirt. “There is that. But nor can anyone awaken my mother.”

“May be that is for the best. It keeps her out of this fight.”

“And what if she’s the key? What if we need her in this fight to win? I’m more than capable. I trained with the others, but I don’t have her power.”

“Perhaps, but you have a link with her?”

“At one time, yes. Other than that one dream message, not since I was a youngling.”

Kai remained quiet as she turned pensive.

The amulet had called to Astred. Time and again she’d dismissed the idea.

I’m not a Steelscale.

But she had bonded with Kai.

A blood exchange, cementing their spiritual magics to one another.

We’re part of each other.

The images of the vision came more often, shaking her resolve, seeing nothing else when she closed her eyes.

Destruction and desolation.

With the thing hidden against her heart, her pulse surged, racing and slowing erratically, causing her emotions to swing wildly, pushing her to the brink.

She’d never felt so out of control.

Her throat clenched as her chest tightened. “I just hope our luck hasn’t run out, Kai… that we make it in time to stop whatever The Consortium are planning. I should be there—I should have been there from the start, the whole time. I never should have run away.”

“It wasn’t without purpose, Astred. The vision—”

Her voice hissed between them, “What if it was never anything more than a dream and a hallucination?”

“I was at the Nexus. I saw everything that you saw.”

“Shared hallucination. We both drank whatever the witches gave us. Who’s to say…” she threw up her hands.

“Don’t do this, Red.” Kai’s gaze searched hers. “This kind of self-doubt doesn’t serve you.”

“And what about you and me? After this, when—if there is an after.”

He drew back a few inches. “What about us? We said we’d figure it out, and we will.”

She released his hand, rubbing her palms up and down her thighs. “I’m going crazy here, in this contraption.” She turned blurred eyes up to him as the fear and pressure within her expanded again. “I can’t lose her. I can’t lose them. Not my people, not my crew.”

He flipped up the armrest from between them, pulling her into his arms.

She let him, curling into his chest, ear to the steady beat of his heart, and closed her eyes to stop any tears from escaping.

No weakness.

She wouldn’t fall apart. Not now.

Hopefully not ever.

He kissed the top of her head, stroking her hair and cheek.

Astred pressed her ear so that the sound of his heartbeat filled her consciousness, lulling the raging storm within her.

We’re coming, Mamma.