Page 42 of Lady Dragon

She sheathed her sword, and started up the mountain.

Her boots slipped in the scree, but she gripped her thighs in her hands and used her arms to help push her legs upward.

Lava flows moved sluggishly past her, but she was gaining on them, at least, no matter how slow her climb felt.

Her lungs burned as she forced more acrid, searing air into them.

She wished for her indifferent dragon throat, wished she could exhale fire instead of inhale it.

It was then she began to transform.

As good as it felt—her weight sinking into the hillside, her claws gaining traction, her limbs elongating in a pleasant stretch, her wings spreading and tail whipping out, her lungs yawning in size, giving the air room to cool—she tipped her massive head back and roared at the dark, soot-streaked sky in despair.

This was the first time she hadn’t truly wanted it, but not for her own sake .

Where was Samansa?

Kirek leaped up and flew off without further thought.

Her wings carved the parched, scorching air as if they were fins in cold water.

Scanning the mountainside through the haze, she traced between veins of lava and clouds of smoke, following the vague tug in her chest, scouring the dark patches of earth in between for any sign of movement, hoping desperately she wouldn’t miss anything.

And there—much higher up the mountain, she caught a glimpse of yellow fabric through the ash and steam, like a fallen flag on a human battlefield, trampled into mud. If only this were mud.

At least the princess wasn’t lying in molten lava as Kirek landed next to her. The dragon immediately encased her in the shelter of her wings and nudged her with her snout.

Samansa!

The body on the ground stirred. Coughed. She was alive . She could even sit up, though it looked as if it took all her effort to do so. “Kirek?” she rasped. Her throat sounded raw.

I’m here, little one. And you can’t be here.

No matter how much Kirek wanted to stay this way, Samansa needed to change back. Now.

The princess wiped the hair out of her face with a shaking hand and smeared ash across her forehead. “I wanted to leave you, but I couldn’t. I felt a pull back toward you. It must be the Heartstone—this cursed Heartstone!” she cried. “Just leave me, like I left you.”

Kirek thought frantically about everything that made them transform.

When they lost sight of themselves, felt weak in whatever form, and another pair of eyes took over.

When they remembered and sank back into their true selves, or when the new side of them, gifted by the Heartstone, seized control and burst free.

It happened when they were asleep, at their most vulnerable, or awake when their emotions ran strongest, whether in rage or despair.

Kirek was awake, but she felt numb. And she was losing Samansa—not to the red dragon, this time, but to this horrid place.

Kirek had to provoke her. Make her angry in Kirek’s stead. Your leaving me only proved it. I don’t care for you! I never could have. You’re a weak, pathetic human who doesn’t deserve my loyalty!

The princess blinked, and stared at her with glazed amber eyes, now red-shot and lined in soot. And then her face screwed up and she started to cry, shoulders shaking feebly, barely enough water in her body to make tears. She curled in on herself, hugging her knees. “Just leave me to die.”

Samansa was already dying. There was no part of her, either conscious or asleep, that would rise to the challenge of this fiery graveyard.

Which meant that Kirek had to make herself vulnerable. Split open her armor and let herself bleed. Lower her walls and let the human side of her in . There was no other way.

You’re not weak, dragon. You are mighty , Kirek said, dropping her head to meet Samansa’s gaze. And I—I’m the small one, with my human feelings for you, feelings that consume me down to my bones. She wanted to look away, but she didn’t. I… I love you.

Samansa’s eyes widened, and her mouth fell open with a little gasp.

Kirek forced herself on. I want to touch you, despite what you may think, with every urging of my body.

I want to hold you in my arms—in human arms. I want to kiss you with human lips.

I want more , urges that I don’t even understand.

Give me the body to understand. A body that can touch yours, even if I can never reach you, at the heights you’ve attained.

Kirek ducked far enough down, tucking in her chin, to nudge the princess’s forehead with her own, practically folding in on herself.

If love makes me weak, so be it. I will be weak for you, and your strength will rise when I collapse under the weight of what I feel.

You are the strong one. Grant me the ability to indulge my weakness, even from afar.

Please, I beg. Make me human. Become the dragon to tower over me, with unassailable walls.

The dragon that I will bow before. Stretching out her back legs, Kirek laid herself entirely down before her.

The dragon that I will never be worthy of.

That will be worthy only of devotion—mine, and whoever may follow me, after I crumble.

Samansa had frozen, even her expression unchanged, her eyes still wide.

And then the amber turned to gold.

Kirek found herself once more lying face down, but at least this time she hadn’t fallen far. Because she’d already lowered herself. The red dragon towered above her, just as Kirek had begged her to.

Kirek drew herself tiredly onto her hands and knees, sitting back on her haunches. “Let’s end this, my princess—my queen—one way or another.”

It’s close now , the red dragon said. And because you have proved your devotion, I will take you.