Page 85 of Once the Skies Fade (Immortal Reveries #2)

Chapter 85

Calla

W e wasted no time. Once we were back out on the terrace—with Niko, Sasha, and several of their family watching—the Starck brothers shifted into their dragon forms. Isa and I worked together to get their saddles in place. My gut twinged uncomfortably at the memory of Matthias mocking Asher, goading him over whether he gave rides. When Asher had chased headlong into the forest after him, I’d thought surely that would be the end of the mouthy male suitor. Somehow, though, he had won over my dragon friend to the point he’d carried him through the forest and hunted down a gold coin to save not only his life but also his place in the tournament.

And now he was here, risking his own life to save him again.

Not only that, but he’d convinced his brothers to join in the danger.

Asher raised his foot to give me a lift into the saddle, and as I settled into place, wrapping the harness around my waist, I wondered what I’d do if any of them fell tonight. Could I survive that guilt?

Don’t think about that.

Save Matthias.

That’s all you need to worry about.

They know the risks.

My blood churned in my veins, a tempest of nervous anticipation and foolish hope, when Asher ran to the edge of the terrace and launched us into the air. Beating his wings, he took us higher, following the rise of the mountain slopes around us. For a moment after we slipped into the gray clouds that hovered around the peaks, I wondered if I’d put too much faith into these dragons’ abilities to hunt gold. We couldn’t see more than a few meters in front of us. How would we even be able to avoid flying straight into the other mountains?

The dragons flew slowly at first with Asher in the lead, his head turning this way and that, pausing every so often before shaking his head again and looking elsewhere. Craggy spires of black rock appeared seemingly out of nowhere, stealing my breath and holding my lungs hostage until Asher soared by each.

The sun’s light began to fade, and hope of finding Matthias today waned with the wind rushing past me, like a mountain eroded by centuries of storms. In the growing darkness, I could barely make out Isa atop Dax. Leaning forward, I rapped my hand against Asher’s neck to get his attention.

He had half-turned to peer back at me when he abruptly stopped, his snout dipping down toward the ground hidden far below us. Beneath me, every muscle in his back tensed. He didn’t bother to confer with his brothers before sending us into a steep dive. The cold air stung my face and hands, and I shifted as best I could, trying to turn my cheek to lay against his scales and guard my eyes from the frigid gale. Looking back, I realized Dax and Kai had changed course along with us, holding their tight formation.

When we dropped out of the clouds, my heart sank.

Dark canyons and crevices wove an intricate web of rock. The humans were here. Somewhere. I couldn’t sense them physically, but somehow I knew.

We drifted downward on silent wings, gliding through the unnervingly still air.

My nerves had already started to fray with worry when a scream rent the silence.

Agonizingly horrible, it stabbed my heart, freezing the blood in my veins.

My mate.

My mate was dying.

I couldn’t breathe.

I couldn’t move.

He roared another scream, this time stronger, defiant, like he was daring to call out to me, to pull me toward him, to beg me to slaughter everyone who tried to keep us apart any longer.