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After another minute, Essabeth ended her nervous circling and slouched down in a chair closer to the fire. She held her cup in both hands, with her fingers wrapped tight.

“Senna knows Anneli Zayas is jealous,” she said.

“Everyone saw it. But Senna’s smarter than you think.

She told me what she had to do as Silk, the depraved things she learned from the worst of the worst. She talked about the Law of Loyalty and Law of the Unexpected: how one bold move threw an enemy off balance.

Maybe that’s why she went with Anneli, because no one expected her to do it, and it’s the best way to get answers. ”

Essabeth sipped her tea, then held the rim of her cup pressed against her lips. “Senna loves deeply and secretly and doesn’t quit, even when she should. She won’t betray her brother. Or Bogo. She won’t betray us, and we have to push through the worry and trust her.”

Thudding footsteps echoed in the hall before Otar burst through the doorway, breathing hard. “Draakon, you’d better come see.”

Torches blazed throughout the castle as we rushed somewhat unsteadily down the hall and through the front gates.

In the field below, the ancient signal pyres flamed, turning the night red—signal fires that had once welcomed dragons.

And through the smoke, Renwick’s white dragon descended.

Bailong. Then Fennor’s black dragon, Glaw.

Renwick’s shout of joy matched Fennor’s as both dragon lords charged down the hill.

The dragons were speaking to their riders.

Renwick wrapped his arms around Bailong’s lowered head.

The dragon was centuries old, but he’d come out of the eyrie where the old ones remained until they died.

Nearby, Fennor was on his knees, wiping his hands across his eyes, while Glaw wasn’t sure what to do.

He batted at Fennor with his snout, knocked him sideways into the mud .

Essabeth stood unmoving at my side, but her breathing grew jerky and she turned with her arms wrapping around my waist, her damp face pressed to my chest. I hugged her back.

“The dragons,” she whispered.

“They’re talking,” I agreed. “Don’t be frightened.”

“I’m…not.”

Her heart pounded. I stroked her hair, waited until her hold on me relaxed enough to turn her around.

“Renwick’s dragon is Bailong,” I said, keeping one hand on Essabeth’s shoulder. “Glaw is annoying Fennor, but that’s their game.” I pointed out other dragons as they landed in the field. Some had riders on their backs: dragon lords.

Thorne was riding Pazu. Cadoc rode Torm. I pointed to Maia. “She rides Vetra.”

Another dragon circled the field; his rider dangled, clinging to the neck ridge, and as soon as the dragon landed, the man slid to the ground amid cheers.

“That’s Ferindor,” I said, laughing softly. “A prime example of what happens to a man who doesn’t train for two hundred years.”

Essabeth’s lips trembled on a smile. “He’s gained a little weight.”

“Arthalan is annoyed.” I pointed to the dragon. “That little shake of his head tells you how he’s feeling. The neck spikes are straight up—the way a dog will signal alarm by bristling the hair along its spine. You can learn to read a dragon the same way. ”

“I almost lost hope,” Essabeth murmured, then turned to me. “I…could I?”

“Come on. I’ll introduce you.” I took her hand, walked toward the dragons who were milling around. Sarnorinth was not among them.

“Draakon,” Maia said as she walked toward me. “Vetra told me we needed to come. They’re talking again.” Her eyes glittered, and she grasped my hand in both of hers. “Thank you. I can’t…What they’ve asked you to do for so long…Thank you.”

“Did Vetra tell you more?”

“They’ve ended the schism.”

I searched the dark sky. “Sarnorinth?”

Maia did the same, then turned her head. I heard Vetra’s voice as the dragon said, He still searches.

“Does he know you’re here?”

Yes. Bailong’s deep voice. He needs time.

Dozens of dragons had arrived, filling the field. Dragon lords were assembling, greeting old friends, a blend of amazement and concern. Gratitude dominated, though. I walked with Essabeth, introducing her, holding her hand as if she was my daughter as well as Renwick’s.

The sensation felt odd, but also comforting. Essabeth extended her hand to each dragon she met, unafraid even when the dragons snorted or pulled their lips back to reveal rows of teeth.

I was proud of her when Renwick urged Essabeth closer to Bailong. The old dragon lowered his head, allowed her to touch his face. Essabeth’s lips moved as she spoke softly. She was curious about the dragons, asking what would happen if one chose to bond with her.

Although the hope was premature, Renwick was interpreting for Bailong when the white dragon answered her questions. But talking was not the same as choosing to bond, to re-establish the connections we’d once cherished.

Maia stood beside me and said, “She’ll make a strong dragon lord in a few years.”

“She needs a mentor,” I pointed out.

Maia frowned. “Red priests were at the castle and you were injured.”

“War is coming,” I agreed.

“Did the High Mage take the girl?”

“Senaria is Skyborne,” I said, staring at the dragons. “The Stone Tower claims her. I’ll need to strengthen the Wall. Increase the wards around Dangira.”

Warn the dragons if they didn’t already know. Discuss more protection around the eyries.

Maia murmured, “The dragons said we had to come, that you needed us to fight for you.”

“I don’t command the dragon lords.”

“They respect you. You are…”

“The almost king.” I stared at the sky, remembering the taunt in Senaria’s voice when she’d said those words.

Fighting the memory of firelight and a shared but chaste bed.

When she’d rubbed her finger over the worry lines between my eyes and asked for one more impossible wish before she’d let me sleep .

Maia pressed her hand against my heart, covering the curse tablet with her palm. “You are more than you think, Kion Abaddon. When we needed help, you sacrificed everything. Bound your future to the dragons. Spent lifetimes alone. Accepted every penance.”

“I have failed if our enemy lies dead in the field,” I said.

“You have saved us,” she countered. “And I know that something waits for you. Fate would not be that cruel.”

“She’s right,” Renwick said after Maia walked away. “Whether you like it or not, Kion, change is coming because of you and Senaria Wraithion. Whether you end up enemies or something else, you cannot stop what is happening.”

“She left,” I said. “That’s what is happening.”

“On the surface, perhaps,” Renwick murmured.

“But beneath, where you cannot see…Your fate changed weeks ago. When you went to Thales to find her. When she cut the rope restraining you, saved you from a sinking ship. And you breathed air into her lungs to keep her from drowning. The two of you changed destiny, and neither can stop it now.”

“You’re wrong, old man.”

“I am not wrong.” Renwick stared at his white dragon. Maia stood close to Essabeth while she stroked Bailong’s lowered wing. “You cling to the worst outcome because you fear the pain in pointless hope. But look around you, my boy. Everywhere, there is hope. All you have to do is see it.”