Page 81 of Exquisite Monster

The sound he made could only be described as a grumble. He glided to the bed and dove under the edge of a blanket, spinning, so all I could see were his eyes peeking out. A laugh slipped out of me. “I’ll take that as a no.”

A small puff of smoke rose as he closed his eyes.

The clothes were dry, and it didn’t take long to get them on. Nerves clung to my lungs, but Zovai was right about more than one thing. I couldn’t stay afraid of going anywhere for the rest of our lives. With who I was and who they were, we would always have enemies. Always.

“Here.” Zovai came from the stairs, holding out a cloak with a deep hood. “Just because we’re accepting the risk doesn’t mean I’m not being careful. This will help.”

Another cloak was draped over his arm. Along with what remained of his clothing. I took it from him. “No need for you to carry this when you have me on your back.”

My mate paused and smiled. The small joy lit up my chest like a candle in the dark. That I would offer. That he had someone whocouldoffer. “Thank you.”

“Are you ready?”

“When you are,” he said. Only minutes later, I was on his back, the wind flowing through my unbound hair as the sun blazed its last bit of glory over the sea.

“I’d like to watch the sunset from the sky sometime.”

Or the sunrise. Both are beautiful.

“Either.”

It wasn’t long before I saw where we were going. Dragons flew around the buildings of the small, glowing city. I saw those in their human forms walking around too. Zovai flooded our bond with confidence and comfort before I even had the chance to feel nervous.

Ready, Princess?

“I don’t know,” I admitted. “But we’ll find out.”

My stomach swooped as Zovai swooped toward the ground, and I prayed that my nerves were for nothing.

CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

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SIRRUS

Endre paced the beach, looking out at the sinking sun. Lena and Zovai were on their way toSythal Itur. The dragon city wasn’t a far flight. We were all on edge, but with Idroal’s assessment, it was a risk we were willing to take. Zovai was aware of every possibility. If there was even a hint of danger they’d be airborne before Lena could take her next breath.

They felt far away, like an echo.

But Endre was close enough to feel. And we’d been bonded brothers long enough for me to understand theracingsensation bubbling in his thoughts. He was brooding and likely thinking of any way he could to get out from under the Elder’s thumb.

“Better get it out before she comes back.”

He snorted a laugh and shook his head, but he didn’t take his eyes off the horizon.

“Any thoughts you’re having that you haven’t had a thousand times before?”

“Yes.”

That stopped me in my tracks. “Like?”

“Gleym.”

My body went still, and my heart skipped a beat. “You think she can free you?”

“No.” He shook his head. “But she might have… ideas. About how to take them down. Maybe she’d even be willing to help.”

It was a fair point. A potential ally we hadn’t realized existed. But… “Andaros now knows there’s someone down there. There’s every chance he could send people back with the intention of killing her.”