Page 2 of The Dragon Queen

MygazegoesautomaticallytotheshatteredpiecesoftheShadowBracer,stilllyingontheground.

"I--it--"Ichokeonthewords,myeyesstinging,butI'mnotgoingtocry.Iwon't. "Idon'tknowwhathappened."Ilookupatmymates,whostarebackatmewithexpressionsofconcern,dismay,love. "Onesecond,Iwasontopoftheworld,andthenext..."

Withoutmynoticing,Rhiannon,hascomeovertojoinus.Grimly,shefinishesmysentenceforme. "Thebracerfailedyou."

That'sakindwaytoputit.

Deepdown,Iknowwhatthislossfeelslike.It'sthemomentStormdeniedmeandsaidthatIwasnothing.It'sthemorningIwokeuptofindoutmyfatherwasmissing--andthen,weekslater,todiscoverthatmymotherwas,too.

TheShadowBracerrejectedme.

EventhoughIhaven'tspokenitaloud,justthinkingthewordsendsashiverracingthroughme.Thetruthofitisoverwhelming.

"Butwhy?"Iask,lookingupatRhiannon,myheartsore. "How?"

Thebracerwasanobject,notaperson,butitsbetrayalcutsdeep.

"Idon'tknow."Rhiannon'suncertaintyisalmostasfrighteningasthebracer'sabandonment.Crouchingbesideme,shereachesfortheshatteredpiecesofblackmetal.Carefulnottotouchtheshardsthemselves,sheuseshersleevetosweepthemintoabagsheproducesseeminglyfromthinair.Flickingaglanceatme,shefrowns. "Thoughperhapsweshouldkeepthisdevelopmenttoourselvesforthemoment--untilwebetterunderstandwhat'sgoingon."

Mystomachsinks,evenasanxietyrisesinmychest.

Right.Bestnottoadvertisethefactthatthesourceofmymagicalpowersisbasicallyapileofscrapmetalnow.

Graspinghermeaningrightaway,Jianyutakesoffhisjacketandwrapsitaroundme.Itslongsleeveshavenotroubleconcealingmynaked,bruisedwrist,andIsqueezehishandingratitude.

Rhiannontucksthebagofshardsawayinahiddenpocketofherdress,justasAmy'snewlyEmerged,blackandwhiteandpinkdragondoesaloop-the-loopaboveourheadsandcomesinforanenthusiastic--iflessthangraceful--landing.

"Holyshit,"shegasps,launchingherselftoherfeet,coveredindustfromhercrashlandingbutbeamingfromeartoear.Shewhoops,loudandjoyful. "Holyshit!"

SherunstowardGrace,armsoutstretched.Graceapproachesherwithcaution,butAmyisn'tdeterredintheslightest.Amyplantsapassionatekissonhermouthbeforeleapingtothegroundandracingtowardme.

"Wedidit!"shecries. "Ineverthoughtwecould,butwedid--Ember--Itwasincredible,wasn'tit?Canyoubelieve?"

Herexcitementisinfectious.Thelossofthebracerisanunbearableweight,butforjustamoment,Ilettheexhilarationoftakingflightforthefirsttimeeclipsemydespair.

IriseandbracemyselfjustintimeforAmyhurltoherselfatme.Ihughertightly,laughing. "Ialwaysbelievedinyou,"Ipromise.

"It.Was.So.Cool."Shepullsawayandwavesherarmswildlyintheair. "Ifeltthemagic,andthenmydragonwasrightthere,andtheflames!Holycrap,theflames."

"Theywereamazing."Myeyessting,butinagoodwaythistime. "Theyworked,Amy."

"Iknow!"Gigglingmaniacally,shethrowsherselfatGraceagain,saggingintoherarmsinabsolutehappiness. "Icandomagic,andIcanfly.Whowouldhaveimagined?"

"Who,indeed,"Rhiannonmurmursdryly.

Amywavesalimphandathermomdismissively. "Oh,hush."

GracepatsAmy'shead,gingerlyencouraginghertostand.AssoonasAmyisuprightagain,shetakesasmallstepback,hervoiceunusuallyreserved. "Youneedasnack--andprobablyanap."

Ifrown.Graceisactingweird,especiallyconsideringsheandAmyjustexchangeddeclarationsoflove,like,fiveminutesago.ButIdon'thavetheenergytoconsiderherbehaviorrightnow.

"Youprobablyneedasnackandanap,too,"Jianyuremindsme.

They'renotwrong.TheexhaustionofEmerging--nottomentionsmackingdozensofShadowandAirDragonsoutofthesky--isnotajoke.

There'snotimetorest,though.

Asiftounderscorethepoint,Freya'sgleamingwhitedragonsoarsoverourheads,onamission.Ifollowhertrailwithmygaze,andmychestsqueezes.

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