Page 3 of The Dragon Queen

ThetownofUnityliesinruins.Thedustisstillsettling,theairchokedwithsmokeandash,buttheonce-greencentralsquareisamessofbrokenearthandshatteredconcrete.Buildingsallaroundtheareahavebeenlaidtowaste,reducedtopilesofrubble.Halfofthemarestillsmolderingorpouringdeeppurplesmokefromsmashedwindows.

Andthentherearethepeople.Irecognizesomanyfaces--Amy'sfriendsfromtrivianightatthepub,regularcustomersofRhiannon'sshop.Wolvesandbearsanddragonsalikepullthemselvesfromthewreckage,bruisedandbleeding,theirskingraywithdragonfireandash.

Therearebodies,too.

Myvisionblurs,adeepguilttearingatmychest.Thisisn'tmyfault.Butitismyresponsibility.

"Wehavetohelp,"Imutter,lurchingforward,butmykneeswobble.Jianyu'ssteadyinghandonmyarmistheonlythingkeepingmefromfallingassoverteakettle.

"Onit."Malikhasbarelyfinishedspeakingbeforehe'slaunchingintotheair,hisdarkskingivingwaytogleamingturquoisescales.

Rafeisn'tfarbehindhim.Stormlumbersintheirdirectionforafewsteps,butwhenhetriestoshift,thepainradiatingallalonghissideoverwhelmshim,sendingcrushingwavesofdistressthroughourbond.

Jianyuisitchingtogobeahero,butheglancesbetweenmeandStorm. "They'vegotit,"heassuresus.

"But--"Istart.

"There'llbeplentytodo,"Rhiannonassuresme,rollingupherownsleeves,surveyingthebattlegroundwithagrimdetermination.

"Oh,shit,"Amymurmurs,butthere'snoneofthejoyfromearlierinhervoice.

Itrackhergazetowhat'sleftofherandRhiannon'shome.Mythroatgoesdryatthegiantholeinitsfacade.Theonlyblessingisthattheshopisunharmed.

Actually...

Inarrowmyeyes.Themagicshopissuspiciouslyunharmed.

"Geez,Mom,"Amygrouses,basicallyconfirmingmysuspicions. "Youcouldn'textendtheprotectionwardsanothertwentyfeetorsototheright?"

Rhiannonshootsheranunimpressedlook. "Nexttime,you'rewelcometohelpmecreatethem."

Amyrollshereyesbutconcedesthepoint. "Iguessitwasmoreimportanttoshieldtherareandpowerfulmagicalartifactsthanmyshoecollection,butstill.Theyweresomeprettygreatshoes."

"Theywere,"Iagree.

"Oh,well."Amybrightensupfractionally. "Shoppingtrip!"

Ichuckle,butIdon'tfeelanyhumorinmyheart.Shoe-shoppingisthelastthingonanyone'sagendarightnow,andAmyknowsit.

Myattentionispulledfrommyfriendandherfamily'slossesbyadarkcloudgatheringoverJianyu'ssideofourmate-bondconnection.Ireachoutforhimmentally,andhesettleshisgazeonmine.

"We'llhelpwiththerescueeffort,ofcourse."Heletsoutaroughbreath. "Butyouknowthatwecan'tstayhere."

Theinsideofmychestconstricts.

Ilookaroundatthedestruction,andmyeyessting.ThistownistheclosestthingI'vehadtoahomeinsolong.

Buthe'sright.Foroursake--andforeveryoneelse's.

Mythroattight,Inod. "Iknow."

"No."LordRookstumblesovertowardus,dirtonhisface,andfavoringhisinjuredsideevenmorethanhewasbefore. "Youdon't."

Instinctively,ItugdownthesleeveofJianyu'sjackettoconcealmywristevenfurther.

"Rook,"Rhiannonwarns.

Rookshakeshishead,histonegoinggravellyandforeboding. "TheShadowKingknowsyouwerehere.HeknowsyourdragonhasEmerged,andthatyouaremorepowerfulnowthanevenhefeared."

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