21. Chapter Seven
Chapter Seven
I jolted awake, pushing my body up. I felt the wind rush over my face. Baron urged me back down, placing a wet rag over my forehead.
“Oh, thank gods.” His voice shook, and I could feel the fear radiating down the bond that tethered us. He thought he was going to lose me. Emeris purred low and soothingly as we soared above the islands. Every breath burned as my body tried to recover from the smoke.
I leaned up slowly. This time, I glanced alongside us, seeing more dragons carrying our soldiers, our people, but so many faces were missing.
I closed my eyes, my brow furrowed as the image of Ravi sat in the forefront of my mind.
What was I going to tell his wife and daughter?
I was sure his wife felt the difference in the air, the break in their tether, as soon as he took his last breath.
A sob croaked out of me as tears slipped down my face.
Baron sat behind me. He wrapped his arms tightly around my chest, holding me against him as if he could mend all my broken pieces back together again.
My body shook as I gasped and heaved through my tears.
If he was crying too, I didn’t know, but his breathing was uneven against my neck as he let me weep.
I turned to face him. Our eyes matched with the same sorrow.
I’d failed Baron, my people, the dragons. We’d lost our home.
“I’m sorry,” I rasped. “I failed us.” He cupped my ash- and tear-smeared face.
“No, we never fail, love. We either win or we learn.” His lip trembled as he placed a soft kiss on my forehead before leaning his against mine.
I glanced down at the Espien Islands, now engulfed in flames.
A figure stood on the shores, her dark hair lightly shifting in the warm breeze.
Val stood there watching as we flew through the skies.
Her chest heaved from exhaustion from the amount of power she had used.
But I could’ve sworn she carried a wicked, victorious smile on her face, knowing she had won this battle.
My heart became determined, seared with the loss of my people and home. The silence of death hung in the wind as I made a promise to myself. We’d lost this battle, but we would be there for the end of this war. And we would find peace again.
To be continued…