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C ora was hauled to her feet by Fanon’s unseen tethers. The sudden movement piqued the dragon’s interest. Her pupils narrowed, and she slowly began to rise from her belly, planting her four slender legs beneath her. She splayed her white feathered wings before folding them onto her back. Her tongue flicked out several times, sending wisps of smoke curling into the air. The sun was climbing higher from the horizon, casting the gray landscape under a glow that did nothing to warm the stark appearance of the Blight. Nor did it thaw the ice in Cora’s heart.

“What are you going to do to me?” she asked, voice trembling.

Fanon gestured over his shoulder for the dragon to approach. With slow, slithering moves, Ferrah crept toward them. “Only the Morkara’s bloodline can bond with a dragon. Since I am Ailan’s consort, I can command them and hope they listen, but I cannot bond with them. If you’re truly of Ailan’s lineage, you’ll have no problem bonding with Ferrah.”

“That could work,” Garot said, expression brightening.

Etrix didn’t share his enthusiasm. “This is reckless.”

Fanon shrugged. “It’s the only way we’ll know for sure.”

Cora’s eyes darted from the approaching dragon to the three fae. She tossed Etrix a pleading look, but he gave Fanon no further argument.

Ferrah was just behind Fanon now, her slitted eyes locked on Cora. The creature was stunningly beautiful with her opalescent scales, her feathered wings, her long whiskers. She was a faerytale creature come to life. A fae she’d always fantasized about when she and Maiya had visited the hot spring caves. The Forest People’s stories insisted dragons had once lived in the caves, and that—over time—the creatures had turned into the bioluminescent worms that now inhabited them. She’d never been sure if she believed those tales, but they had been enchanting. Charming.

The dragon who stood before her now was anything but charming. Beautiful, yes. Terrifying, more so.

Fanon stepped to the side, leaving only empty space between Cora and the dragon. Her muscles seized up as the creature stared down at her.

“Go ahead,” Fanon said, a false smile tugging his lips. “Bond.”

“What the hell does that mean?” she ground through her teeth.

“She doesn’t know how.” Etrix shifted his jaw side to side. “All you’re doing is frightening her.”

“Oh, that’s all right,” Garot said, tone gentle. He took a step forward but halted in place when Ferrah swiveled her head toward him with a sharp hiss. “Sorry, Ferrah. Allow me to show your new mommy how all of this works.”

Cora paled. She didn’t want to be this creature’s new mommy . She already had a familiar.

Ferrah flicked her tongue at Garot a few more times, then took a step back. Cora noted the horrifying length of her claws, along with the deep gouges left in the soil where her talons had just been.

With slow moves, Garot shifted to the side, his gaze on Cora. “First, you’re going to bow. Dragons are proud creatures and will refuse to bond with anyone—even someone of the Morkara’s bloodline—who doesn’t bow first. After that, you’re going to hold your body as still as you can. One arm must stay loose at your side, fingers spread to show you hold no weapon. Your other must lift, palm forward, toward Ferrah.” He demonstrated but did so away from the dragon.

When Cora failed to mimic him, he gave her an encouraging nod. “Go ahead. It’s your turn. Face Ferrah and greet her.”

She gave him a pointed look. “I can’t move my arms at all.”

Something loosened around her, and she found her arms suddenly free. Her muscles ached from disuse. The only time she’d been free since Fanon had trapped her was when he’d forced her to walk into the misty wall. But now…she was truly free. Her fingers flinched, tingling with anticipation. If she wanted, she could reach for the collar, remove it, and access her magic. She could avoid this ridiculous ritual and be back home before she knew it?—

“Make any move but those Garot has shown you,” Fanon said, “and I’ll have your arms pinned in place again. Then you can be Ferrah’s snack instead.”

It took all her effort to keep herself from reaching for the collar regardless. But she knew removing the collar was only the first obstacle. She’d used her traveling abilities twice, and both times she’d needed time to tune in to her emotions.

“What are you waiting for, human?” Fanon let out a cruel chuckle. “Are you frightened because you lied? If you are the blood of Ailan, then you have nothing to fear.”

Her stomach tied itself in knots. She was of Ailan’s blood. Wasn’t she? Morkai had been so certain of who she’d been that he’d cursed her. It was still so much to wrap her mind around. So much to doubt. To fear.

But…

But she had to try.

If this worked, she could earn the Elvyn’s respect. Get them on her side. Encourage them to help her fight Morkai. Beseech them to find a way to reverse the blood weaving he’d placed upon her.

And if it doesn’t work, this thing is going to eat me . That she was certain of.

“The dragon or my blade,” Fanon said. “Choose which you’d rather greet. Now.”

Gritting her teeth, she fully faced Ferrah. Every muscle in her body quivered as she lowered her head into a bow. She held the position for several long seconds before slowly straightening to her full height. She bit back a scream as she found Ferrah’s face just a few feet from hers. The dragon studied her, shifting her head from side to side.

“Now lift your hand,” Garot called in a too-loud whisper.

She didn’t want to move at all, but she feared what would happen if she didn’t.

Breathe , she chanted in her mind. Breathe .

Air flooded her nostrils, steadying her nerves the slightest bit. The sensation would have brought more comfort if she could feel the familiar magical connection to the air element. Without it, it was just air moving through her lungs. Nothing else. At least it was something. Routine.

Finally, she forced herself to move. With one arm loose at her side, fingers splayed to show her hand was empty, she lifted the other, palm forward.

“Level with her snout,” Etrix said, but she couldn’t bear to look at him. Of the three, his emotions had proved to be the most rational in any given moment. If his eyes held fear, her terror would grow.

She raised her palm until it was just a foot away from Ferrah’s snout. Everything inside her told her to snatch her hand back. She yearned for her magic, yearned to feel the tingle of it surging through her palms. Then perhaps she’d know for sure whether she was doing the right thing.

Or if this was all a terrible mistake.

Ferrah flicked her tongue. Once. Twice. It tickled Cora’s palm, while steam wafted over her face.

Cora’s heart hammered so hard, she feared it would crack a rib. Her lungs constricted with panic.

Ferrah’s throat rumbled with something like a growl. Her scaly lips lifted in a snarl, revealing the pointed tips of her teeth. The breath that brushed Cora’s face became unbearably hot.

“It isn’t working,” Garot said, tone panicked. “Maybe her blood is too diluted. Maybe Ferrah doesn’t recognize her as Ailan’s kin.”

Fanon let out a dark chuckle. “What happened to your theory that the dragons had sensed some great awakening of Ailan’s heir? Here’s proof that you were wrong.”

Ferrah opened her mouth wider, revealing a bright glow at the back of her throat.

Cora stumbled a step back.

“No, Fanon,” Etrix said, tone laced with panic. “Maybe it’s the collar. It’s dulling the mora in her blood.” Then louder, he shouted at Cora. “Take off the collar!”

“Do not—” Fanon’s words ended with hiss as Cora reached for the collar with both hands. Pulling the two sides, she opened the cuff on its hinge and pried the tines from her neck.

Emotion surged through her in a rush. Warmth blazed from her chest, down her arms, filling her palms with a tingling heat. Fear echoed through her—her own mixed with Etrix’s and Garot’s. From Fanon, she felt anger and vindictive pride. And from the dragon…

Cora met her slitted purple gaze and was struck with the heat of Ferrah’s ire. Her annoyance. Her enraged confusion. Ferrah’s sinuous neck quivered with another growl, her breath so hot it scalded Cora’s face. The glow at the back of her throat grew brighter. Brighter.

It’s going to kill me . Cora was certain, whether from common sense or the return of her clairsentience.

To make matters clearer, a warning rang through her, filling her body with urgency. Run .

The dragon swung her head back and bellowed a screech.

“Get back!” Etrix yelled. He and Garot dove out of the way. Even Fanon looked panicked as he retreated several steps back. Ferrah lowered her head, but Cora didn’t wait to see what happened. Turning around, she kicked up her feet and ran as fast as she could.

The ground trembled behind her, and heat licked her ankles. A bright blaze flashed in her periphery—purple flames—but she forced herself faster. Faster.

She knew what she had to do. And now that she’d removed the collar, she could do it.

With a deep breath, she called the elements to her. Air in her lungs. Earth beneath her feet. Water in her blood. Fire chasing her steps. It wrapped around her, fueling her emotions. Fear. Terror. Worry. She sank into these feelings, affirmed their presence, their legitimacy.

The ground shook faster now, and another screech rang out behind her.

She closed her eyes and sought something lighter than fear. Something warmer than dread. Her thoughts immediately went to Teryn. A spike of worry surged through her, but she kept her thoughts on a softer path. A vision flashed in her mind’s eye, of her and Teryn’s kiss against the tree. Calm flooded her mind. Her heart. Her soul.

Yes .

That was where she could go.

She continued to run blindly, pumping her legs over the barren earth, trusting herself not to fall, and turned her thoughts over to Teryn. His lips on hers. His hands in her hair.

Her chest warmed. Her heart flitted.

She enveloped those emotions around her and visualized the tree under which they’d kissed. She saw its wide trunk, its bark, its bright green leaves. She saw the grass covering the cliff. Saw the wildflower meadow beneath it.

Every part of her felt like she was there.

Safe.

Home.

Heat scalded her back, but she ignored it, imagining it was sunlight blazing over the cliffside instead.

She sent a surge of magic into her feet…

And took a purpose-fueled step.

As her feet landed, the ground softened, the air shifted. She opened her eyes and flung out her hands, stumbling as she nearly collided with the tree she’d held in her mind’s eye. Night surrounded her, as did the scents of the familiar woods. She’d done it. She was here. A cry of relief escaped her throat, and she sank to the base of the trunk, arms curled around her knees as she caught her breath.

She sat like that for minutes on end. Sobs tore from her chest, erupting with the weight of her emotions, the return of her magic, the terror of what had just happened.

Once she could breathe easily again, she unhooked her arms from around her knees and rose to her feet. She brushed out the skirt of her robe, frowning at its singed hem. A tendril of dark hair caught her eye, and she saw it too had been singed. Only then did she note the faint smell of burning in the air. How much hair had she lost? Was the back of her robe intact?

She reached for the lock of hair but realized she still held the collar in one hand. With a glare, she shoved it into her robe pocket with far more force than necessary. Then, stepping toward the edge of the cliff and into the moonlight, she assessed the charred strand. She ran her fingers through her tangled ends, relieved to find most of her hair still there?—

Movement caught her eye from beneath the cliff. The moon illuminated the vast meadow below.

Cora bit her lip to smother her shout of alarm.

It wasn’t the tents that startled her. Not the makeshift camp that had invaded what she’d once considered her most favorite and sacred location.

It was the monster that emerged from the trees.