Page 14 of The Dragon Queen (Ember: Queen Of Dragons #6)

EMBER

The next morning, High Priestess Fang joins me, Amy, Rhiannon and Rook in the open field beyond the castle walls. While Rook barks at me about embracing my inner Shadow Dragon, Fang reminds me to feel the solidity of the earth beneath my feet.

The dull gray bracer on my arm is quiet as I try to listen to both of them. The ring in my pocket is, too.

But somewhere deep within me, there's a spark.

The next day, the Fire Kingdom's Enchantress finds her way to the field, too. Not to be outdone, an apprentice witch from the Water Kingdom and a junior disciple of the Air Dragon Kingdom's Oracle tag along the morning after that. They coach me on harnessing my inner fire, letting my magic flow like a river, tapping in to the whispers in the currents of air.

Each one helps.

But each one also makes me miss my mates more. I reach deep inside myself to touch my elemental magic, and all I can think about is the touch of Jianyu, Rafe, Malik, Storm.

I try so hard not to get distracted with my pining.

But it's impossible.

By day, I train. In the evenings, I spend time with my friends and talk with the people of Unity and the gathering numbers of newcomers who have come to join our cause. I pore over maps and ancient texts, looking for clues about how to claim the Crown and stop the power-hungry machinations of the Shadow King.

At night, I return, exhausted, to my bed. Time zones are a bitch, and I struggle to find opportunities to talk to my mates. I'm reassured by the warm, vibrant hum of my connection to each of them, but it's not enough.

They're doing important work. Risking their lives to travel in secret to their homes. Traversing vast lands in a mad bid to gather our allies.

And I'm grateful--so grateful.

But I also ache inside. My skin is on fire, my untouched body crying out, and my soul withering alone.

But I can do this. Our bond is strong.

So I lie there, waiting. Sleepless.

Counting down the days until they return.

"YOU LOOK like you could use this," Brynn says, setting a cup of coffee down on the table in front of me. She pats my shoulder before sliding into the seat beside mine. "Don't worry--it's decaf, so it won't keep you up all night. But it still helps."

I shoot her a grateful smile and pick up the cup, letting its warmth soak into my hands. "You're the best."

Amy and I have been hard at work in the library for hours now. My eyes hurt from staring at tiny lines of cryptic, hand-written text.

Or maybe it's just from the lack of sleep.

"Any progress?" Brynn asks as she reaches for a folio of her own.

"Let's see." Amy starts listing options on her fingers. "The crown is either on a mountain in the Air Kingdom, lost at sea a few miles off the coast from the Water Kingdom's sacred pools, in a Fire Kingdom volcano, or a mile under the Grand Stone Temple."

"Or somewhere in the Shadow Kingdom," I remind her, "or in an unclaimed territory."

Brynn blinks and comments dryly, "Glad we're finally narrowing things down."

I scrub my eyes. The insides of my lids feel like sandpaper.

I bring the cup of coffee to my lips and take a sip, but my stomach is queasy from exhaustion. I set the cup back down with a sigh.

Gesturing at the pile of scrolls and books and papers splayed out across the table, I shrug. "We're still trying to cast a wide net. We need to know all of our options. Then we can compare notes and cross ideas off our list."

Brynn and Amy share a look that I don't like.

Delicately, Brynn nudges my knee with hers. "We don't exactly have a ton of time."

My heart leaps, but my stomach sinks.

My mates are scheduled to return in a few short days. I can't wait to see them. My insides flex at just the thought, heat blooming within me.

But their return marks the halfway point of our stay here. The Dragon Moon is just around the corner.

Brynn is right. We have to figure out our next steps soon.

"I know." I rub my eyes again. Fatigue has seeped all the way into my bones. "But I don't know how to prepare any faster. We're already working ourselves to the bone."

They share another glance, and a ripple of unease passes through me.

It's Amy who speaks up this time. "Maybe you're working too hard."

I want to throw my hands up in the air. "Which is it?" I point to Brynn. "First you're reminding me that we don't have any time." I shift my finger in Amy's direction. "Next, you're telling me I need to relax."

"Not relax," Brynn rushes to correct me.

"Though you could probably stand to do that, too," Amy interjects.

"But seriously." Brynn's knee presses more firmly against my leg. "When was the last time you got a full night's sleep?"

I can't help it. I laugh.

They don't laugh with me, though, and I stop, awkwardness pressing uncomfortably on my chest. "Look, I'm not trying to burn the candle at both ends. It's just been hard. I'm under a lot of pressure, and..."

A pang fires off behind my ribs. The sudden wave of longing makes it hard to breathe for a moment, and I squeeze my eyes shut before forcing myself to open them again.

"You miss your mates," Amy says gently.

The pain in my heart is a sharp ache.

I nod. "So much."

Brynn pats my hand. "They'll be home soon."

"I know." But it's just the other side of that same double-edged sword. I can't wait for them to get back, but I also need more time before the Dragon Moon. My eyes sting, and I swab at them, my throat catching. "It's so hypocritical. I need time to speed up for the next few days, and then I need it to stop."

Amy fixes me with a sympathetic smile. "Stupid space-time continuum. Always messing everything up."

My laughter this time is less pained.

"Such a bitch," I agree.

Brynn pulls away, but as she does, her mouth tugs to the side. She glances at my basically untouched cup of coffee before directing her gaze back at me. "You sure there isn't anything else going on?" There's a shadow of concern to her tone. "You just seem so run down."

I am run down. How could I not be? The last few months have been insane. I'm stressed out and lonely and responsible for the fate of the entire world. Do I really have to come up with even more explanations?

I let out a rough sigh and try to force a smile. "I'm sure."

Even as I say it, the ache in my heart grows sharper. I can feel my mates, half a world away. The pieces of themselves they've left within me burn with the pain of their absence.

Shivering, I wrap my arms around myself.

Once they're back, I'll sleep better. I'll have more energy--and become more connected with my growing magic again.

We can handle whatever comes next when it comes. Together.

Or at least that's what I try to tell myself.

STORM

"When you reach the waterfall, you'll feel the wards, pressing in on you. Sirens will blare." I make direct eye contact with each of the Air Dragon Royal Guard members in turn. "Keep going. The talismans I've given you will allow you safe passage. When security comes out to greet you, tell them that I sent you. You understand?"

"Yes, sir."

"Good. I'll see you there."

With that, I take my leave.

The past week and a half have been grueling. I've traversed the Air Kingdom, hiding from my father's forces while also seeking them out.

I've heard terrible stories.

In the short time I've been away, my father has tightened his grip on the nation. He's imprisoned dissenters, and Shadow Dragons have begun to show their faces openly. Everyone lives in fear. Finding anyone willing to express their discontent has been a challenge.

But there are pockets of resistance. Enclaves of people, loyal to the idea of a peaceful dragon world and willing to defy their king.

The men and women I've just recruited are good soldiers. They've fought under me in the past. When the time comes, they'll fight beside us against the Shadow King and his forces.

With my day's work done, I slip back into the darkness. I can't be too careful. Every dragon I approach could be an agent of my father's. There's a bounty on my head--and on Ember's.

I swallow hard, my throat grating.

I've been away from her too long. I thought I could handle it, after our previous separation, but now that we're mated, it's different. I feel more connected to her, but her absence is a hole in my heart. Every fiber in my being calls out to be reunited with her.

As I get into the rust bucket of a car I've been driving around the kingdom, I take a moment. I put my hand over my heart and shut my eyes, reaching out through our bond, needing to feel close right now.

But instead of the warm caress of her consciousness brushing the connection, there's a shock of cold.

I lunch upright, and my eyes snap open.

"Ember," I gasp.

Pain lances through my chest.

But I force myself to breathe through it. I tap into our bond again--more carefully this time. I try to soak in every bit of information possible.

She's safe. Uninjured. Unafraid.

That's good.

But she's not all right. She's alone. Exhausted.

And on the cusp of breaking.

I curse beneath my breath. I was the one to back her up--to insist to the other guys that we were strong, and we could do this. Whatever's happening to her now is my responsibility.

I put the keys in the ignition. I can be at the border in a few hours.

But I hesitate, my hand on the gearshift. She hasn't asked me to come back. What she asked me to do was go out into the world and gather our allies. I still have work to do here--a half dozen other contacts I was planning to meet with to recruit more forces to join us.

We need every dragon we can get.

I'm still sitting there, arguing with myself about whether to put the car into drive or reverse, when my phone buzzes in my pocket. I drag it out.

There's a text from Brynn. When I read it, the ice in my heart expands to fill my chest.

It's Ember. Something's wrong.