Page 32 of Exquisite Monster

I threw another dart while she was focused on me, using the same target a second time. It hit the center, and I blew out a breath. Throwing these every day for weeks had made me improve more than I thought possible.

Varíchirped and growled softly.

“He says he’ll retrieve them for you.”

I whipped around to look at her. “No.”

“Why not?”

Holding out my hand to him, I letVaríclimb along my arm until he perched like a bird of prey, and watched him. “I’m training to use these in circumstances that are dangerous. Beyond dangerous. If I’m throwing these at someone trying to kill me, I amnotsending you toward the threat to collect them.”

Smoke puffed out of his nostrils and his scales darkened to adeep, rusty red that reminded me of the moment I first met him. He growled again. “It’s not because I don’t think you can. It’s that I don’t want you hurt.” Without looking away, I directed my words towards Gleym. “Do you think there’s any way I could retrieve them without putting him in danger? Or that I could make more?”

“No. I’m sure your mates could make more. It is a small magic. As long as there is a source.”

Small magic. I blinked.

Dragons had their specific powers, but they could also do other things. Those things might look different, depending on where their power flowed from, but it made sense. Like when Sirrus marked Soza with the traitor’s mark. That wasn’t wind, though he had used the air to create the power.

“So only use them when absolutely necessary.”

“Let that teach you restraint and the value of perfect aim,” Gleym said. “But do not concern yourself with it now. I haven’t spent time trying to keep you alive only to thrust you into the world defenseless.”

Hard not to worry about it. All I had time to do was worry. “All right.”

Varístill clung to my arm, the red in his scales having faded into purple while he sulked and stared at me.

“Go start the third potion.”

I set the darts down and obeyed. The last few days I had not put up any fight. Because I wanted to get out of here as soon as possible, and the only way to do it was to follow her orders.

“You’re angry with me,” I said toVarí.

He flew off my arm as soon as we entered the brewing room and sat on the table, facing away. His little pouch sat between his wings. It was still the one that matched my destroyed dress, worn and dirty as it was now.

“I want you safe,” I said. “I want you to help me, and I know you will. But I don’t want you to get hurt because of me.”

Tilting his head back, a stream of fire blew into the air. Like he was showing me exactly what he could do.

“Varí.”

He didn’t turn around.

“You were there when I made the vow.”

His head tilted, though he still did not turn.

“I can’t—” my words choked with emotion. “They’re already gone because of me. Please don’t ask me to risk you too.”

Vari’stail flicked back and forth, and he huffed out a breath before turning to me, scales flowing through multiple colors before settling on a faded green. Coming closer, he pushed his head into my waiting hand gently.

“You’ll be able to help,” I whispered. “I promise. I just don’t want to throw you directly into danger without reason.”

He huffed a final breath, but he didn’t disagree more, instead moving to the edge of the table nearest the cauldron—where he normally sat and helped while I brewed every concoction under the sun.

The third potion in the book was a potion that could paralyze temporarily. I would need to be very, very careful.

“Ready?” I asked him.