Page 30 of The Dragon's Promise

The water rippled, and the shape of a sea maid disembarked from the whale and began swimming toward us. When I saw who it was, I tensed reflexively.

Seryu, on the other hand, shot up. “You were supposed to stay in the palace. What are you doing here?”

Nahma opened her palms, and Kiki burst out, flying into my face. “A little bird showed me the way.”

“Kiki!” I cried. I pressed my bird to my cheek and stroked her beak. Tears of relief welled in my eyes.

“She’s a clever bird,” allowed Nahma. “She swallowed the elixir, but managed to keep it lodged within her throat. She wouldn’t wake until I eased it out of her.”

It was Seryu’s idea, said Kiki. I’m better at keeping secrets than you think.

I didn’t understand. “Seryu’s idea?”

The dragon wouldn’t look at me.

I pursed my lips tight, not knowing what to say to him—or to Nahma. I regarded Nahma first. “I thought you’d betrayed me.”

“My deception was a necessary one,” she replied. “It’s taken me centuries to earn Lady Solzaya’s trust. I could not risk her discovering that I was helping you.”

“You’re sure you weren’t followed?” Seryu asked her.

“I’ve been slipping out of the palace since before you were born, Seryu,” chided Nahma. “Don’t forget I’m your elder. And as your elder, I suggest you take Shiori to Elang. He can save the boy. More than that, he will know where to find the Wraith.”

“He won’t help us,” Seryu scoffed.

Nahma reached into her cloak for what looked like a pewter plate. No, a dragon scale. “Show him this.”

Seryu’s eyes flew up in disbelief. “You have his token?”

She merely nodded. “He will not be able to refuse. Use it to help the boy.”

After some hesitation, Seryu took the scale, then nicked off one of his own and placed the emerald scale into Nahma’s waiting hands.

“Your token is exchanged for mine in thanks,” he said, uttering words I assumed were part of a dragon tradition. His lips drew thin and tight. “A favor for a favor.”

Nahma pocketed the scale and made a low call for her whale.

“Wait,” said Seryu. “You won’t make it back to the palace undetected. The search storms will find you, and Grandfather will punish you.”

“Come with us,” I said. “Come with me back to the surface.”

“I can’t.” Nahma smiled kindly. “I would not leave my children. I have two—both dragons like their father. Besides, I belong here now.” She touched my arm, then buttoned the collar of my dress the way a mother would. “The Westerly Seas are cold. Go swiftly and be safe.”

She turned then to Seryu. “As for Nazayun, he won’t believe I helped you—if you make it convincing enough.”

Seryu seemed to know exactly what that meant. “Back away, Shiori.”

As I obeyed, he wrapped his tail around his aunt’s neck and touched her forehead with a claw. Immediately Nahma went limp, falling into the seagrass with a soft thud.

Kiki gasped. Did you kill her?

“Of course not!” said Seryu, clearly offended. “It’s a simple sleeping spell. An old dragon trick—works best when it’s not anticipated.” He flashed a wicked grin at me. “You should test it on Kiki when she gets seasick.”

Don’t you dare, Kiki warned.

“I need you awake, silly.” I lifted Kiki by the wing, setting her on my shoulder as I hopped onto Seryu’s back. I pressed a kiss on my bird’s beak, then tapped Seryu’s head to get his attention.

“I’m sorry I didn’t trust you,” I said.

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