Chapter 7
I’d kept my mental gates on lockdown since the moment I woke up. Just like Rhodes, I knew Lakota would stand by me after everything that happened. But during one of my classic moments of self-destruction, I was able to physically kick Rhodes out of my space.
Lakota, though—that would’ve been impossible. Our bond allowed us to communicate mind-to-mind, no matter how far apart we were. It was an unbreakable connection that let us share feelings, emotions, and even a sense of location.
That was how I found him so easily in an unfamiliar mountain stronghold—with the help of a kind villager who had given me a map of Hollow Summit, an item Mageia had forbidden.
The Hollow stretched for miles in every direction, its heart centered around the small hut I then occupied.
The village wound through the mountains, carved into natural caverns and nestled between towering peaks.
On the map, there was a cluster of larger huts in the southern region marked Command, and a shaded area in the northwest labeled Golden Crest. The Golden Crest Rhodes mentioned during his visits lay about a mile past the last row of huts in this civilization.
To reach it, I had to cross four swaying bridges stretched across the peaks, finally arriving at the entrance to what they considered this place’s version of Dragon Valley.
And this place’s version of a pest.
Lakota was growling at a young man as he guided a herd of sheep further into the crest. The shepherd cowered, arms raised over his head, while Lakota glared at him as if he were a snack. My bonded dragon was so focused on the man that he didn’t notice me approaching.
“There’s not enough protein in him to satisfy your hunger.” I crossed my arms and raised a brow—like a mother scolding her child. “I’d say I caught you red-winged, but that would just be too good of a—”
Before I could finish, Lakota pounced on me, knocking me flat on my ass.
I leaned back on my hands, staring up at the majestic beast towering over me.
He stood firm and regal, just as he had during our first true introduction.
Sunlight gleamed off his deep crimson scales, and his massive wings arched high into the air as though he might take flight at any moment.
He lowered his muzzle closer, narrowing his eyes as if locking in on prey. Flames ignited behind his teeth, and even though I was immune to his dragon fire, a flicker of panic prickled across my skin. Pure malice raged in his stance. I drew back, meeting his stare.
A low growl rumbled from him. “Do you have any idea how insufferable it is to remain here with these two-legged sheep who limit my food while I resist the temptation to burn them alive and eat them instead?”
“I—no, Lakota. Eating humans will get us sentenced to the Barren Watch.”
He huffed dramatically, lifting his head into the air. “I must be hallucinating… from my insatiable—” huff “—hunger.”
The sight of this enormous dragon throwing a tantrum in front of me had a grin spreading across my face. I whispered, “I missed you too.”
Lakota curled his leathery wings against his body and settled back on his hind legs, his long, spiked tail resting lazily in the lush grass. I pushed myself up, taking a moment to absorb our surroundings.
The Golden Crest was the only place I’d seen grass since venturing onto that mountain.
The landscape stretched out like a vibrant valley of greenery, with towering peaks forming a natural barrier.
It was clear why the Hollow had marked this as their Dragon Valley—the grass was plentiful enough to keep sheep and other livestock well-fed.
The area lived up to its name with its enchanting atmosphere.
Shielding my eyes with my arm, I gazed past Lakota to the peaks beyond.
The sunlight in that part of the mountains played a trick on the eyes, one you’d have to see to believe.
In the distance, a quad of dragons soared, their silhouettes fading as they disappeared behind a peak dusted with what looked like golden snow.
“We need to get out of here,” I said.
Lakota pivoted his head over his shoulder.
“No. There’s something familiar about this place.
Other than the two-legged sheep, the humans here look at me with recognition.
That must mean something, right?” He faced me again.
“And my Wylder boy needs help with the other Wylder boy. Things aren’t right back at Mageia.
Being within the Hollow’s borders feels like where we ought to be. We can help. We have family here.”
Family.
The word felt like a knife to my gut. I closed my eyes, chest tightening, breath shallow, knees trembling.
Lakota’s guilt rang through me. “I missed you, too.”
I opened my eyes.
“These people recognize me. I can see it in their expressions when they visit the crest. That must mean I can recover missing memories here. Even if we have to put up with your evil twin.”
The thought of a mountain-sized dragon using playful banter to cheer me up tugged a smile to my lips. I didn’t try to fight it.
“She’s not evil.”
Lakota rose, stretching his wings wide. “You think that now, but have you met her? Her wolf is insufferable.”
I frowned, my mind drifting back to our earlier encounter. Lakota’s claws scraped against the ground, snapping me back.
“Where are you going? I just got here.”
“Noemi said the two-legged sheep is herding more edible ones into the open land. We’ll talk later—when I’m not hungry. I’m glad you’re awake. Go find Rhodes.”
And just like that, he was gone, soaring toward the golden, snow-dusted peaks.
Adamant about defying Lakota’s suggestion, I took an alternate path back to my hut.
After the cruel words I said to Rhodes, I couldn’t bear to face him now.
Seeing him, smelling him, just being in his presence would make my decision to push him away shatter to pieces.
And that is something that needs to stay broken.
He doesn’t deserve my darkness, and I’ll never deserve his light.
I wove through narrow alleyways between the huts, ducking past windows to avoid being seen. The dirt paths were empty, save for deep paw prints embedded in the hardened earth. I kept my pace slow and steady, seeing that I had nowhere to be anyway.
But when the sound of cheering echoed from up ahead, curiosity got the better of me, and I quickened my steps.
I emerged from the narrow paths into a large crowd gathered around a small, circular arena enclosed by a low wooden fence.
The villagers chanted and clapped, exchanging bets with coins and goods.
I pushed my way forward, standing on my tiptoes to get a better view.
My breath hitched as I stumbled onto the rail, the only thing keeping me upright.
Blood sprayed in an arc as Fallon elbowed Rhodes in the jaw. The crowd roared as she darted back, feet light on the ground, fists raised and ready to strike again. Rhodes turned his head, spitting a stream of blood into the dirt. Slowly, he straightened, his violent gaze locking onto Fallon.
Who was smiling like a lunatic with blood-covered teeth.
Maybe she really was my evil twin.
They were both covered in dirt and blood. Rhodes stood shirtless, his toned torso glistening with sweat. Fallon wore leathers identical to mine, though she’d shed the jacket—left in a sleeveless tunic, strands of her braid plastered to her face with sweat.
A tall, dark, and muscular man hollered from the sidelines, his deep voice cutting through the noise of the crowd. With a slight toss, he sent a long sword to each of them. Fallon and Rhodes both caught their swords by the pommel without taking their eyes off one another.
Fallon lunged forward with a sudden, fluid motion, slicing through the air aimed at his midsection. Rhodes quickly sidestepped, deflecting her blow. Fallon grunted. The two circled each other, boots scraping the dirt.
“This is child’s play for her,” a villager laughed next to me.
The lump in my throat grew large enough to cut off my airway.
Rhodes struck, and Fallon spun out of his reach, their blades ringing through the air.
He shoved her off his sword, her feet scraping the ground as she slid toward the wooden rail at the edge of the arena.
Their swords clashed again and again, each strike harder than the last, until Rhodes forced Fallon into a corner, her back pressed against the rail.
He loomed over her, his blade crossing hers.
The crowd drew back, giving them space for the duel to play out.
The muscles in his arms, shoulders, and back tensed like stone as he drove all his strength into her, but Fallon didn’t give in. Their dirt-smeared faces hovered inches apart, teeth gritted as they strained to overpower each other.
Fallon’s exasperated expression melted into a wicked grin. With a gleam in her eye, she whispered something only Rhodes could hear.
Whatever she said, it distracted him just long enough. Fallon gritted her teeth, broke the lock, and twisted her sword aside, forcing him to step back. She spun, bringing her blade toward his exposed side. He deflected.
The next few moves blurred into slow motion.
They rallied, strength meeting strength.
Rhodes swept his blade in an arc, and Fallon ducked beneath it.
She sidestepped quickly, grabbed his outstretched arm as he overextended, and used his momentum against him.
With a sharp twist, she forced his arm behind his back and swept his legs in one fluid motion.
Rhodes’s feet lost traction. He crashed to the ground, his sword skidding away as he landed hard on his back.
Before he could react, Fallon stood over him, her blade at his neck. She pressed until a trickle of blood welled. The crowd erupted.
“Stop!” I screamed.
Silence fell. Fallon laughed, dropping her sword beside Rhodes’s head before walking away, leaving him sprawled. Rhodes pushed himself onto his elbows, scanning the crowd—
Until his stormy eyes crashed into mine.
“Come out, come out, wherever you are!” Fallon sang, wiping sweat and dirt from her face with a towel.
She shook hands with the man who’d tossed the swords, then spread her arms wide as Rhodes stood behind her.
“Looks like you got your wish, Wylder. A little faster than expected. I know. I’m impressive. ” She laughed maniacally.
My feet moved before I could stop them. I stormed into the ring and shoved my sister. “What the fuck is your problem?”
The crowd roared with excitement.
Fallon smirked, twisting her tongue between her teeth before she pounced, shoving me back. I landed hard on my ass, and she laughed, her amusement ringing out. Rhodes stepped forward, offering me his hand to help me up. I smacked it away and stood on my own, fury bubbling under my skin.
She waved her hand dismissively. “Now, it’s time for my end of the deal.”
Rhodes rushed forward. “Not here. Not now.”
I shoved past him, planting myself firmly between the two of them. “What deal?”
Fallon ignored me, her attention solely on Rhodes. “Nah, nah, nah,” she clicked her tongue. “Nowhere in our agreement was it stated when or where.”
I glared at Rhodes, smacking his chest with a growl. “When or where for what?”
His jaw ticked. Hatred burned in his eyes, aimed straight at my sister. The villagers whispered around us, eager for something more.
“We made a deal,” he sighed, voice heavy. “If she helped me get you out of your hut, I’d let her take over your combat training.”
“Not with that evil twin,” Lakota growled.
I slammed my mental gates shut, locking away everything around me so I could process what Rhodes had just admitted. Fighting the hole that my anger was burning through my chest, I tuned out everything around me.
I recognized the feeling. Numbness was settling in—but not from sadness or despair this time. This numbness burned, and its heat warded off the chill in the air.
It was pure fucking rage.