Page 47 of The Dragon Queen

"Youmissyourmates,"Amysaysgently.

Thepaininmyheartisasharpache.

Inod. "Somuch."

Brynnpatsmyhand. "They'llbehomesoon."

"Iknow."Butit'sjusttheothersideofthatsamedouble-edgedsword.Ican'twaitforthemtogetback,butIalsoneedmoretimebeforetheDragonMoon.Myeyessting,andIswabatthem,mythroatcatching. "It'ssohypocritical.Ineedtimetospeedupforthenextfewdays,andthenIneedittostop."

Amyfixesmewithasympatheticsmile. "Stupidspace-timecontinuum.Alwaysmessingeverythingup."

Mylaughterthistimeislesspained.

"Suchabitch,"Iagree.

Brynnpullsaway,butasshedoes,hermouthtugstotheside.Sheglancesatmybasicallyuntouchedcupofcoffeebeforedirectinghergazebackatme. "Yousurethereisn'tanythingelsegoingon?"There'sashadowofconcerntohertone. "Youjustseemsorundown."

Iamrundown.HowcouldInotbe?Thelastfewmonthshavebeeninsane.I'mstressedoutandlonelyandresponsibleforthefateoftheentireworld.DoIreallyhavetocomeupwithevenmoreexplanations?

Iletoutaroughsighandtrytoforceasmile. "I'msure."

EvenasIsayit,theacheinmyheartgrowssharper.Icanfeelmymates,halfaworldaway.Thepiecesofthemselvesthey'veleftwithinmeburnwiththepainoftheirabsence.

Shivering,Iwrapmyarmsaroundmyself.

Oncethey'reback,I'llsleepbetter.I'llhavemoreenergy--andbecomemoreconnectedwithmygrowingmagicagain.

Wecanhandlewhatevercomesnextwhenitcomes.Together.

Oratleastthat'swhatItrytotellmyself.

STORM

"Whenyoureachthewaterfall,you'llfeelthewards,pressinginonyou.Sirenswillblare."ImakedirecteyecontactwitheachoftheAirDragonRoyalGuardmembersinturn. "Keepgoing.ThetalismansI'vegivenyouwillallowyousafepassage.Whensecuritycomesouttogreetyou,tellthemthatIsentyou.Youunderstand?"

"Yes,sir."

"Good.I'llseeyouthere."

Withthat,Itakemyleave.

Thepastweekandahalfhavebeengrueling.I'vetraversedtheAirKingdom,hidingfrommyfather'sforceswhilealsoseekingthemout.

I'veheardterriblestories.

IntheshorttimeI'vebeenaway,myfatherhastightenedhisgriponthenation.He'simprisoneddissenters,andShadowDragonshavebeguntoshowtheirfacesopenly.Everyonelivesinfear.Findinganyonewillingtoexpresstheirdiscontenthasbeenachallenge.

Buttherearepocketsofresistance.Enclavesofpeople,loyaltotheideaofapeacefuldragonworldandwillingtodefytheirking.

ThemenandwomenI'vejustrecruitedaregoodsoldiers.They'vefoughtundermeinthepast.Whenthetimecomes,they'llfightbesideusagainsttheShadowKingandhisforces.

Withmyday'sworkdone,Islipbackintothedarkness.Ican'tbetoocareful.EverydragonIapproachcouldbeanagentofmyfather's.There'sabountyonmyhead--andonEmber's.

Iswallowhard,mythroatgrating.

I'vebeenawayfromhertoolong.IthoughtIcouldhandleit,afterourpreviousseparation,butnowthatwe'remated,it'sdifferent.Ifeelmoreconnectedtoher,butherabsenceisaholeinmyheart.Everyfiberinmybeingcallsouttobereunitedwithher.

AsIgetintotherustbucketofacarI'vebeendrivingaroundthekingdom,Itakeamoment.Iputmyhandovermyheartandshutmyeyes,reachingoutthroughourbond,needingtofeelcloserightnow.

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