Page 118 of Exquisite Monster

This crater felt familiar.

Though there were no trees and no river, it wasn’t much different from the one we’d visited with Idroal. A stone taller than five men stood tall in the center, jutting from the earth like one of my darts in a piece of wood. The top was jagged and cracked, and around it… large boulders that were clearly part of the broken stone.

We met the rest of the group in Zastea before flying up the coast. Their retrieval had been less eventful than ours, and like Dalas, when Arris heard what happened he swept Isaelle into his arms while his friend watched.

I gave them the privacy they needed and rested with my dragons as they slept a few fitful hours.

The afternoon sun was waning as we laid out all the pieces of thesheytennear where it had been broken. The side of the central stone looked like a second star had crashed into it and punctured a hole. Sharp and faceted, but with clear edges. No dust, just like they’d promised. Everyone scattered to fetch food and relieve themselves before we started mending the world.

“You know, this isn’t so far from Rensara,” Zovai said, coming up behind me.

“I know.”

“Do you miss it?”

“No.” I shook my head. “I would like to know how my friends fare, and if my departure impacted their lives.But it never truly felt like home. Now I know why.”

“Now you know why.” He kissed my neck softly, just above the chain of my necklace. “I wish I could have met your grandmother. Without her, we would not be here. You might have hated us. You might not have tried to touch me.”

I slid my hands over his where he held me. “She’s found her peace in the stars. So one day you will meet her. But not yet.”

“Not yet.” I felt his smile.

“Here.” Ravi appeared with metallic chunks in his hands. “To bind it together.”

I blinked. “Did you find that?”

“I did on the way. Easy enough.”

The other humans stared at him in shock. They didn’t know about dragons’ unique abilities, and now wasn’t the time to explain.

I wrapped my arms around Endre’s waist. “How do we do it?”

“It’s mostly theory,” Idroal said, “but… we should have to do very little.”

They took a large piece of what looked like silver from Ravi and approached one of the large boulders. “Your Highnesses, it should be one of you.”

My hands flew to my stomach at their sudden sickness. They felt about unleashing their fire like I felt about the underground. My fear was still dire, but it wasn’t apartof me.

Sirrus stepped away from everyone and shifted. I stared at him sparkling in the sun. He was so fucking beautiful.

He laughed softly in my head and flared his wings, which only made them glitter more.I will always show off for my mate.

Idroal placed the chunk of silver on top of the boulder, and Sirrus unleashed his flames.

As soon as they touched the shattered fragment, a familiar hum began. It felt like thesheytenI already knew. The boulder the size of a horse shuddered and lifted into the air and moved into place on top of the broken stone.

“It’s working,” Isaelle said, voice full of awe.

I closed my eyes against the flash, and when I could see once more, there was a thin, shimmering line where the crack had once been.

Everyone moved at once, pairing bits of silver with broken pieces both big and small, and one by one Sirrus fired them. EvenVarídid his part. Thesheytencalled to its own and every piece fit like it had never been damaged. Though we would always be able to see the cracks and remember its history.

The last tiny sliver cemented into place with a glimmering spark.

“It is complete,” Idroal called.

Every head turned and looked. The stone itself looked whole. Its surface was smooth with the occasional divot and marking. If you didn’t know the power it could hold, it would seem like a mere marvel of nature and nothing more. But it didn’t hold any power yet. I could feel it.