Page 45 of Exquisite Monster

Karadi’s cropped hair was sapphire blue, and he had an easy smile. They both inclined their heads to me, andVaríflew over to investigate.

The shade of the trees was easier on my eyes. Everything was still too bright, too noisy, and tooalive.

Erryn took one of my hands between both of hers. “I hope it is all right that I came to help.”

“Of course. Thank you. I didn’t imagine I had so many friends.”

Belleo, being who she was, saw my overwhelm and pulled me over next to the fire. “Here. Sit. You can tell us what happened.”

Energy slithered under my skin. I didn’t want to sit. I didn’t want to be here at all. What I wanted was to be back on Idroal and flying toward my mates. “How long do we have to stay?” I asked quietly, shaking my head. “I need— I know we’re running out of time, and I can’t explain how I know. I just do.”

Idroal stepped up beside me and put their hand on my shoulder. “We will leave this evening as the sky darkens. We don’t want to be seen.”

“Even if they already know we’re coming?”

“Especially then.” Their voice was soft, but not out of pity. It didn’t feel like they were placating me or patting me on the head. Just a simple explanation. “If Andaros thinks there are dragons coming for the Heirs, he will prepare scalefire weapons that will knock us out of the sky.”

I nodded once. “Right.”

They gestured toward the seat Belleo had made for me. “Rest and eat. We are eager to hear your story, and I’m sure there is much you want to know about your mates and our tale. As soon as we can leave, we will.”

Settling on the grass, I set my bag beside me and strokedVarí’sspine as he curled up on my lap.

“After the circlet?—”

Idroal held out a hand. “If it is not too painful for you, we do not know what occurred after we were ordered away.”

I stared at them. “Then how did you find me?”

Their face was grim. “I would like to say it was skill or fate. The truth is that it was luck. All I knew was that Sirrus had called to me to help you. It took us far too long to find the Heirs themselves, and we will tell you everything. But if we had known, we would have come for you much sooner.”

It was all too much. One person wasn’t meant to bear this kind of weight. Anger and grief warred in my chest. Now that I was out of the darkness, it was so close to the surface. If I didn’t start speaking, I’d never get through it all. “I guess I’ll just… say it.”

All six dragons listened carefully as I recounted what happened that night. The Heirs being ripped away from me and given to Andaros as punishment. Bound not to fight back. Me being thrown over the cliff.

It felt like so much had transpired, but it didn’t take long to tell. Most days, if I could even call them that, had elapsed in the sameway. All I wanted to do was ask about my mates and what these dragons knew, but I didn’t yet. I was afraid of hearing the worst.

Varíwas now perched on my shoulder, and I tugged on his tail. “Will you get me a dart?”

He scurried to get it, dropping the stone weapon into my palm. “These are they. They can be lethal, and my skill is growing.”

“Skill matters little as long as you can stay alive,” Ravi said. “May I see it?”Varípicked it back up and flew it over to him. “Genius.”

There were so many questions I had, yet the same instinct that had been flaring for so long nearly leveled me. We were running out of time, if not already there. “The soldier said the Heirs were being harvested. For their fire.”

Silence fell around the fire.

“Yes,” Idroal said. “That is correct.”

Pain flared in my chest. “How do you know? Are they all right?”

Idroal held out their hand. “This close to thesheyten, I can show you, if you like.”

“How?”

“I can hear thoughts through the earth and stone, but with the nearness of the stone, I can both project and receive thoughts into someone’s mind. It is how I can communicate with the Elders in Doro Eche while in Skalisméra.”

That seemed faster and more immediate. I placed my hand in theirs and felt like I was falling down Evrítha all over again.