Page 109 of The Dragon Queen

Thintendrilsoflightdrawfreefromeachofthefallenmonarchs.Theyresist,growlingandroaring.QueenDahabsputters,andZephyrrages,clawingatthesky.

"Youhavenopowerhere,"Irepeat.

Iyankharder.

Spectraldragonstearfreefromeachofthem,crimsonandiceblueandsilverandaquamarine.Andithurts--evenwatchingit.

Butthere'snodoubtwithinme.

Itearthedragonfromeachofthem.Theytwistandthrash,butwithinmoments,allfourdisgracedmonarchsarefloating,humaninthesky.

"Befree,"Iwhisper,andthespiritsofthedragonsdissolveintothemagicaletheroftheworld.

Isettheformerkingsandqueendownontheground.

KingAedengraspsathischest.Hiseyesblaze. "Witch."

"Queen,"Rafecorrectshim.

"Whathaveyoudone?"QueenDahab'swordsarefrantic,desperationandterrortwininginhereyes.

"Youarerelievedofyourcrowns."Themomentthewordsleavemymouth,thecrownsontheirheadsgoupinsmoke.

KingHayou'sgazeismurderous,buthe'sshaking. "We're--"

"Human,"Iagree. "Andsoyouwillbeallowedtoremain."

KingZephyrcrumblestotheground. "Impossible."

Butthetruthcannotbedenied.

"Ember."Stormputsahandonmyshoulder.

Godlypowerstillfuelsme,andIturn.

There'ssadnessinhisgaze--deepgrief,butalsojoy.Ifollowwherehe'slookingandfindPrincessAria,blinkingandsinkingtotheground.She'spaleandfrail,anddrowninginaseaofglitteringblackfabric.

"Storm?"sheasks,hervoicealmostchildlike.

Herushestoherside,helpingherstandagain.

"Whathappened?"sheasks. "It'slikeI'vebeen--inadream?"Sheshudders. "Ormaybeanightmare,or--"

"It'sokay."Heholdshissisterclose,hisgrayeyesshiningashepullsherintohischest. "Everything'sgoingtobeokay,now."

Mythroatbobs.Stormspentsomuchtimetryingtoprotecther,andhecarriedsomuchguilt,believingthathefailed.Itallfadesawaynow,leavinghisauraclearforthefirsttimeinIdon'tevenknowhowlong.

"Youjustmightberight."Jianyu'stoneisfullofwonderashegesturestowardthesky.

WithouttheShadowKingtotiethemtogether,goadingthemtowarandsuffusingthemwithhispower,theremainingShadowDragonshaveturnedtailandfled.Theiraccomplicesfromtheotherfourkingdomshaveabandonedthefight,too.Offinthedistance,IspotFuryandJasmine'sdragonsretreatingwithspeed,andthat'sfine.Iletthemgo.

Ourfriendscometolandontherock.Myheartclenches.Amyclutchesherarmtoherchest,clearlyinpain,andFreyaisstaggering.ButGraceisatAmy'ssideinaninstant,andJettisalreadyholdingFreyaup.MariutzaandDelaynietouchdown,collapsingintoeachother.Mariutzaholdshergranddaughterasshecrieshappytears,thebonesoftheSorceressnowscatteredattheirfeet.

HighPriestessFanglandselegantlybesidethem,theEnchantressandtheapprenticeWitchandthejuniorOracleatherside.Iwanttolaugh.They'reanunlikelybutpowerfulteam.

Fangnodsatme,brushingherhairfromherface,streaksofdirtandbloodmarringhercheek.Herwhitegownisintatters,butthathardlymatters.

Myowneyessting.Myfriends,ourmotleycrew.Everyone'salive.Battered--maybeworseforthewear.

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