Page 48 of The Dragon Queen

Butinsteadofthewarmcaressofherconsciousnessbrushingtheconnection,there'sashockofcold.

Ilunchupright,andmyeyessnapopen.

"Ember,"Igasp.

Painlancesthroughmychest.

ButIforcemyselftobreathethroughit.Itapintoourbondagain--morecarefullythistime.Itrytosoakineverybitofinformationpossible.

She'ssafe.Uninjured.Unafraid.

That'sgood.

Butshe'snotallright.She'salone.Exhausted.

Andonthecuspofbreaking.

Icursebeneathmybreath.Iwastheonetobackherup--toinsisttotheotherguysthatwewerestrong,andwecoulddothis.Whatever'shappeningtohernowismyresponsibility.

Iputthekeysintheignition.Icanbeattheborderinafewhours.

ButIhesitate,myhandonthegearshift.Shehasn'taskedmetocomeback.Whatsheaskedmetodowasgooutintotheworldandgatherourallies.Istillhaveworktodohere--ahalfdozenothercontactsIwasplanningtomeetwithtorecruitmoreforcestojoinus.

Weneedeverydragonwecanget.

I'mstillsittingthere,arguingwithmyselfaboutwhethertoputthecarintodriveorreverse,whenmyphonebuzzesinmypocket.Idragitout.

There'satextfromBrynn.WhenIreadit,theiceinmyheartexpandstofillmychest.

It'sEmber.Something'swrong.

Chapter

Fifteen

MALIK

I'veneverflownsofastinmylife.

NeitherhaveEmber'sothermates,apparently.

AsIapproachtheoutskirtsoftheoldWaterKingdomcapital,Storm'sicebluedragonisswoopinginfromthewest.Jianyu'ssilveroneandRafe'sfiery,crimsonformarebrightstreaksintheskytotheeastandnorth.

Intheend,Stormwinstherace,butonlybyafraction.

Allfourofusalightonthestonecourtyardoutsidethecastleinourhumanforms.It'sscarcelydawn,andexceptforafewguards,theplaceisclearlystillasleep.Butourarrivalhasn'tgoneunnoticed.

Freyastridesthroughthedoorstomeetus.She'sdressed,butherhairisinaloosebraid,likesherolledoutofbedatthenewsofourapproach.

Myvoicecomesoutwithagrowl,mydragonstillclosetothesurface. "Whereisshe?"

"Inbed,Iimagine,"Freyasaysdryly,raisingherbrows.

"Goodtalk,"Rafesays,clappingheronthebackingreetingaswesurgepasthertothedoor.

"Welcomehome,"Freyacallsafterus,andapleasedshiverrollsthroughme.

Home.Ilikethat.Afterspendingadecadeinhiding,thisplacewhereIgrewupstillfeelslikehome.

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