Page 11 of The Dragon Queen

Obviously,she'snot.It'splaintosee,justlookingather,andwhat'smore,wecanfeelherdistressinourbond.

Shedoesn'tseemtomindthefuckingobviousquestion,though.SheshrugsandsmilesatStorm.Whyshehassuchasoftspotfortheguywillnevermakesensetome,butifhemakesherhappy,I'llputupwithanything.

"Ijustneededalittlespace.Timetothink,andto..."Sheswallows,touchingthebareskinofherwristwherethebracerusedtobe. "Runalittleexperiment."

Thewordsaresobitter,thetugonourconnectionsodark,itmakesmewince.

Voicelevel,Malikasks, "It'strulygone,then."

Whatiswiththeseassholes?

Nodding,shebitesherlip,andfreshtearsstreamdownherface. "Ican't--Idon't--"Sheshakesherhead. "Themagicisjustgone."

"We'llfigureitout,"Jianyusays,strokingherhair.

"How?"sheasks. "Wedon'thavetime."

"Butwedon'thavetofigureitallouttonight,"Maliksaysquietly.

"It'snoteventonightanymore."Sheglancesatthehorizon,wheretheredballofthesuniscastingwarmraysoverthevalley.Icanfeelitsfireinmybones. "Iwastedanentiredaysleeping--"

Stormshakeshishead. "Youneededtherest."

"Ineedmymagic."There'sanedgetohervoice,athunderinhereyes.It'snotexactlylikethetimeshecalledourmeetingtoorder,backatRhiannon'shouse,butit'snotunlikeit,either.

IshareaglancewithJianyu,thenMalikandStorm.Weallhearit.

Shemayclaimhermagicisgone,butthere'sstillasparkofitinsideher.

Huffingoutabreath,shedeflatesbyafraction.Shepullsherkneesuptoherchestandhugsthemtight. "Ijustdon'tknowwhathappened."

We'reallquietforasecond,waitingtoseeifshe'llgoon.Therehasn'tbeenasecondtotalksincethebattle.Thebracershattered,andtheShadowKing'sforcesretreated,andthenextthingweknew,wewereevacuatingacity.SheandRookexpendedsomuchenergy,creatingthatportal.Theybothcrashedhardafterward.

Whilesheslept,herothermatesandIdideverythingwecouldtogetthepeopleofUnitysettledinthecastle.Malikrevealedthemagicallypreservedstoresoffoodandothersupplies,butevenwitheverythingweneededatourfingertips,wewerehard-pressedtohelphundredsofpeoplelandontheirfeet.WeendedupcrashingalmostashardasEmberdid.

Whenwewokeup,shewasgone--makingthishonestlythefirstchancewe'vehadtohearhersideofthestory.

Allweknewwasthatshewalkedthroughaconflagrationofblackflames,andthenherdragonwasEmerging,soaringintotheskyandrainingdownpurplehellfireontheinvaders.

Andthenshewasfalling.

Impatiencewellsupinme,butI'mnotgoingtobeanassandearnanotheroneofthoselooksfromJianyu.Exhalingdeeply,Imovetositacrossfromher.Igentlytouchherankle,andashiverofwarmthzipsupmyarm.AscalmlyandevenlyasIcan,Iinviteher, "Wanttotellusaboutit?"

Chucklingdarkly,shepushesherhairoutofherface. "Notreally,"shesays,butshe'slying.Something'sbubblingjustunderhersurface,andifshedoesn'tletitout,she'llexplode.

"Please."Malikmanagestoentreatherwithoutanykindofexpectation,whichisagoddamfeatofheroicstrength.

Anditdoesthetrick.

"Just--"Shethrowsherhandsupintheair. "OneminuteIwasthisfreakinggoddess.IdideverythingIwassupposedto--embracedwhoIam,gotintouchwithmyinnerShadowDragon,harnessedalltheelements,yada,yada,yada.Andthenbam."Sheclapsherpalmssohardthesoundechoesacrossthevalley. "It'sallrippedaway.Thebracer,like...rejectedme."

Attheword 'rejected',shehuddlesinonherself,andStormflinches.Whatevershe'sfeelingvibrateshisendofhermate-bondwithaforcethatresonatesinmine,too.

Ithurts.

"Idon'tthink--"Stormstarts,butEmberisn'thavingit.

"IknowwhatIfelt.Ican'texplainit."Sheshakesherhead. "Whenitfirstchoseme,therewasthisembracetothewayitmoldeditselftomyarm.Andwhenitbroke,itwasrecoiling."

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