Dreamfire: Nayis Trilogy, #2

By Krista Walsh

Far from her home and her family, Naya Reed seeks out the legendary dragon messengers to secure her bond with the dragon Dunyari.

Once she arrives, however, no warm welcome awaits her. Instead, Naya finds herself having to convince the village elders that she's worthy of staying—a challenge made difficult because of the complex state of her dragonbond and her even more complex feelings for Pertali-born Felix Tamley.

While her days are full of intense training, Naya's nights are haunted by dreams of the woman who nearly tore the world apart. But any hope Naya has that she'll soon be ready to face Sera vanishes as new threats arrive that put her future—and her life—in jeopardy.

Beaten down by heartbreak, rejection, and the growing distance between herself and Dunyari, Naya must summon her courage and stand her ground to prevent all she's gained from being consumed by dragonfire.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Krista Walsh
• Release date: Oct 31, 2019
• ISBN: 9781393690801

Book preview

Chapter One

Naya Reed scanned the sides of the road as she passed under a thick, leafy canopy. The shade was a blessed reprieve after hours without cover. Sunshine spilled between the bowed branches to cast speckled light across the dirt road, and wildlife chattered and chirped from the shadows of the woods.

After everything Naya had seen and experienced in the last three months, she still couldn’t believe the world had returned to such a state of normality. No sign of the seams that had opened in the fragile Veil, no people getting trapped inside the invisible layer that lay between all possible worlds, the source of all magic.

As though none of it had ever happened.

Her battle to repair the Veil hadn’t even left any visible marks on her body. To anyone passing them on the road, she appeared to be a normal seventeen-year-old city girl who just happened to be riding beside a young man with unusual eyes. Chatham and Barnes, the two guards travelling as her escort, marked them as upper-class, but nothing revealed the fact that she had so recently saved the world from destruction.

It helped that her brain had behaved on this trip. So far, at least. No hint of visions or seizures, which had been a big concern for her parents—and for herself, though she would never admit it to them.

Though what the lack of visions meant, Naya wasn’t sure. Was it because Dunyari, the young dragon she was bonded to, was keeping his distance, or because the danger still looming over her shoulder remained a distant concern rather than an immediate threat?

She reached her mind towards Dunyari, cautiously stretching her consciousness out of her body to touch his, and he responded with a gentle nudge before pulling away.

Naya smiled and shifted her attention to the other riders sharing the road. When her gaze lit upon Felix Tamley, her heart’s steady rhythm wavered. His wheat-blond hair fell between his broad shoulders in a tight braid, and rough stubble lined his jaw. The sway of his hips matched the easy gait of his horse, and his calloused hands rested gently on the reins. Her appreciation of the man who’d changed her life was cut short when he glanced at her over his shoulder. His eyes locked on hers, the golden irises catching the light in a way that brought out the glints of copper and steel, and she returned her attention to Rhylla’s ears as her cheeks grew warm.

She had hoped her time on the road with Felix would give them a chance to get to know each other better. From the moment she’d run into him on a mountaintop, clad only in her nightdress, their connection had deepened into one of mutual respect and, she believed, attraction. But in the eight days since they’d left the palace, despite all the clarity she’d gained on her own feelings, she was no closer to understanding his than she’d been before they’d left.

Based on everything she’d read about love, from essays and philosophical texts to novels borrowed from Brianna Stanwell’s library, she was pretty sure she was well on her way to being in that state herself. The private joy she only felt in Felix’s presence, the spark under her skin whenever his fingers brushed against hers, the warmth in her chest when his gaze lingered on her—all the signs and symptoms were there, and she’d spotted enough smiles and sidelong glances from Felix to suspect it wasn’t all one-sided.

Whatever she’d hoped might happen, however, was barred by a sense of…distance. As though there were a chasm between them and she couldn’t find the bridge to cross it.

Time, she told herself. All they needed was time to get to know each other without the end of the world hanging over their heads.

He’d come into her life after a vision from his bondmate, Pelihat, had sent him halfway across the country to find her. He’d arrived determined to teach Naya how to communicate with Dunyari so she could prevent the Veil from unravelling. As one of the Nayii, the dragon messengers of legend, he had been the perfect person to show Naya how to reach her bondmate’s mind, the path that would take her there safely. She’d hoped that when the threat ended, they would have resumed her lessons, but to her disappointment he’d told her he didn’t trust himself to take her any further than he had. Not when her last attempt had nearly killed her.

Was that the reason for the awkwardness between them?

Sometimes she thought it might be, yet she often suspected there was something he wanted to tell her. Something that had been on his mind ever since she’d first voiced an interest in joining him on the road. So far, however, he hadn’t made any attempt to broach the topic.

She wished her best friend were here to help her interpret it all. Mhairi had a knack for navigating social situations. Naya, on the other hand, perceived social situations to be as navigable as a stone wall. Something she had to awkwardly manoeuvre her way around to get to the other side.

So instead of discussing her feelings with Felix—the prospect of which never failed to make her palms sweat—she’d taken the time to prepare for her arrival in Pertali, hoping the information Felix gave her would settle her nerves. She’d been wound up tight ever since she’d made the decision to accompany him home.

Understandably, as far as she was concerned.

For one thing, she had grown up in keeps and palaces, raised among courtiers and soldiers. Now she was throwing herself into small village life without any real knowledge of what she might expect.

Worse, she would be presenting herself as a novice Nayis. A woman born with a dragonbond in dire need of training. Training that needed to move swiftly if Naya wanted to be ready for the likely return of the woman whose power had danced like flames around her in the Veil. Sera. The woman who had threatened to come after Naya as the first step in her plan to protect her dragons.

Around and around, her thoughts flitted from one stress to another, each one building on the last, then circling back to start again. For a brief flash, she found herself wishing that one or both of her parents had joined her—Brady and Jasmine Reed had always been pillars of capability and pragmatism—but she buried the regret under a cushion of stubbornness. Whatever came, she could handle it. Nothing had been heard from Sera since she and Naya had worked together to seal the Veil that Sera herself had accidentally torn. As the woman’s initial attempt to kill her had failed, Naya could only assume their paths would cross again. But not yet.

They had time.

Right now, all she had to do was make a good impression on the Pertali elders so they would accept her for training.

Her stomach roiled.

Is everything all right? Felix asked, breaking the silence that had ridden with them in the sunshine for the better part of an hour.

Perfect, she said. She ran her hand over her mare’s neck to ground herself in the present. Rhylla snorted and tossed her head, then continued her steady plod down the road. I was just enjoying the afternoon. The sun is so warm. She gave him an exaggerated frown. Not that you would notice the difference.

Felix chuckled and shrugged in feigned apology. As a fully integrated Nayis, he rarely worried about being cold. High body temperatures, golden eyes that could see deep into the night, and the ability to interpret messages from dragons: those were the gifts of the Nayii.

That last gift was the reason why Naya was making this journey. Despite her fears of being so far from home and among strangers, a thrill ran through her at the prospect of mastering her bond. To gain unobstructed communication with her bondmate, to get close enough to be in each other’s mental space without the risk of breaking her mind. At the moment it was a far-reaching goal, but thanks to Felix, she had faith it was possible.

She sensed Dunyari pacing on the outskirts of her mind, eager to make contact with her but too afraid to come closer in case his presence overwhelmed her and pushed her into another seizure.

Although Felix’s lessons and her weak bond with Dunyari had made it possible for her to access the unravelling Veil when no one else could get close, the attempt had been too much for her. It had stretched her mind past its safe boundaries and almost left her body an empty husk. Dunyari’s quick thinking in casting her mind out of the Veil had saved her life, but she couldn’t risk what might happen next time if she didn’t gain better control over herself. She couldn’t always rely on him to protect her.

Until they learned how to find a better balance between them, the chance of snapping her mind was too great. Her hope was that the Pertali elders would know how to help her.

It wouldn’t be too long before she found out.

It’s a shame we didn’t come through here at a better time of year, she said, frowning into the trees. I would have expected the forest to be lusher than it is right now. We must still be a few weeks early.

Naya stared upwards through the canopy of branches. Compared to the forests around Feldall’s Keep as the spring came in, the trees were showing definite signs of sluggishness.

I don’t think it’s a seasonal issue, Felix said. Not around here, anyway.

The calmness in his voice tugged Naya out of her worrying.

What do you mean? she asked.

He shrugged. It always seems to be this way around the Nayic villages. Maybe it’s the dragon presence, the smoke of their breath or the heat they produce, but the greenery around Pertali is always somewhat…lacking. I really noticed it when I was in the capital. I don’t think I’d ever seen anything so green.

Normal. Everything is normal.

Naya forced herself to relax. She was seeing monsters everywhere.

You’re as tense as a statue, Felix said. What has you so worried?

Dark braided hair over a pair of golden eyes stared at Naya from the recesses of her memory, and for a brief moment the wind in the trees morphed into a taunting laugh. The woman had her jumping at shadows.

Nothing, she said. I know it’s nothing. I just can’t stop thinking that Sera is going to leap out of the bushes and try to kill me again. Or that her next plan to save her dragons will succeed before we even know what she’s up to. If only we knew where she was.

Her Majesty’s soldiers won’t give up, and once we let the elders know to be on the lookout, she won’t have many places to hide. The dragons will find her. The country is only so big.

The world is a great deal bigger, Naya thought, but she replied with an encouraging smile. There was no harm in believing Felix was right. After all, it wasn’t like she was in a place to go after Sera herself. Not yet, anyway. Until she sorted out her situation with Dunyari, she had to trust that Queen Ansella and her soldiers would stay on top of the hunt for the Nayis woman. Momma and Poppa would also have their eyes open throughout Feldall territory in case Sera tried to pass through the south.

Naya hoped that would be enough to catch her, but this was a woman who had remained unseen all her life until she’d come after the Veil. If Sera really wanted to find her, Naya had to assume she would.

She tried to convince herself she was being self-involved, that the woman had no purpose in trying to hurt her now that their business together was finished, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that Sera still meant her harm. Not only because she had outright threatened Naya, but also…Naya couldn’t explain why, exactly. Never in her life had she been as terrified as when she’d faced off with Sera, but despite her fear of confronting her again, Naya couldn’t drown out the voice echoing through her bones telling her that she had to be the one who brought Sera down. That what they’d experienced in saving the world had left them as inextricably linked as she and Dunyari were.

Only time would tell if she was right.

I’m curious to know if High Elder Safia has ever heard of Sera, Felix said. Either way, she’ll want to know everything we’ve learned.

At the mention of the high elder, Naya trembled. How much farther, do you think?

I would put us at maybe a two-day’s ride, he said. Maybe a day and a half. We could get there this evening with a faster pace, but I’m not in a rush to lose you to the routine of the village. The smile he gave her banished some of her fears. I’m thinking we spend one more night on the road and arrive tomorrow evening when most people will be at dinner.

Tomorrow.

Naya suddenly felt very far from home and way out of her depth.

That sounds like a good plan, she said. Her mother had always taught her to feign confidence when her courage wanted to hide in her boots. Her Aunt Venn, on the other hand, had told her feigning confidence was stupid—that her time was better spent learning how to stab anyone who looked down on her. For now, Naya would follow her mother’s advice. It was less likely to instigate any diplomatic nightmares.

The softening of Felix’s smile told her she still had some work to do on her feigning skills.

There’s really nothing to worry about, he said. Some of the elders might not be thrilled at the idea of taking a city dweller on as a student, but they’ll take it out on me, not you.

You’re sure we were smart not to write to them in advance? You’ll be a nice surprise for them to receive. I, however, will just be a surprise.

Felix’s face brightened. I think there’s a saying about asking for forgiveness instead of permission, isn’t there? High Elder Safia would have been quick to turn down my request if I’d written to her. In person, once she gets a chance to meet you, she might actually give herself time to think it over.

It seemed like a big chance to Naya, but Felix knew his people a lot better than she did, so she would follow his lead in spite of her churning stomach.

Any strategy you suggest we take on this? Anything I should say or not say?

Felix steered his horse closer to Rhylla and reached out to take Naya’s hand. At the feel of his warm, calloused skin, the muscles in her stomach contracted and butterflies spiralled throughout her body, a few getting caught around her heart. He stroked his thumb over her palm and gave her fingers a squeeze. If his intention had been to soothe her, he’d failed. Instead his touch shot sparks through her blood and sent her heartbeat racing faster.

She looked at him, hoping he would say something to accompany the gentle caress, but a glimmer of uncertainty passed over his eyes and he looked down at his horse’s ears as he let Naya go. She wished he’d held on a little longer. The fact that he didn’t only added to her growing frustration. He’d had no trouble taking her hand at the palace, so why was he being so hesitant now? She doubted it had anything to do with Chatham and Barnes riding behind them. The guards were there as security, not morality minders.

Underneath her dissatisfaction lay the memory of his gentle touch, and at the lingering tickle in her stomach, she brushed her curls behind her ear.

Speak from the heart, he said. You know why you’re here. There will be elders who respond well to your determination.

Exactly how many elders will I need to convince? She pictured herself up on a stage, speaking to a room full of stern golden gazes, all judging her, watching closely for a reason to throw her out.

Seven in total, Felix said. The number did little to remove her trepidation. It just shrank the room in half. Six elders and High Elder Safia. Some of them were opposed to my going to find you, Safia included, so they might need a bit more convincing, but they’re not unreasonable. There are three who were eager for me to go—Elders Bernard, Meena, and Tess. I’ll point them out to you. Elder Cor has a lot of sway with Safia, so if you can convince him, which might be a bit of a challenge but not impossible, then you have a higher chance of convincing Safia. And once you have her say-so, Frank and Kurt will fall in with her.

Naya’s stomach played loop-the-loops as he spoke. This was just like her diplomacy lessons at Feldall’s Keep, preparing her for when she inherited the territory. Which families supported them, which resented them. Which lords had stopped speaking with each other, which could form an alliance to stand against them. Now she would be putting those lessons into practice and she didn’t know if she was ready for it.

You’re going to be fine, he assured her. They’re not monsters, just people looking out for Pertali. Training a new Nayis, one from a different bloodline, can only be a positive move. Most of them are bound to see that. Everything is going to be all right.

The encouragement in his eyes worked wonders to relieve some of her doubts, and she tried to convince herself it would all play out as he saw it.

She hoped he would say more, keep showering her with assurances until the rest of her frayed nerves settled. Those hopes rose when he took a breath and opened his mouth as though to speak, then crashed when he closed it again and shifted his attention to the forest.

I’m not imagining it, she told herself. This wasn’t the first time he’d cut himself off, but always his focus had been grabbed by something else, or he’d hastily said something that she swore wasn’t what he’d originally planned.

She wanted to shake him until he finally revealed what it was. She’d been patient, believing he would open up once they got closer to Pertali, but now they were two days away and his obvious uncertainty involving something about this trip was too much for her to bear. If she was going to live among these people for any length of time, she wanted to know as much about them as possible before she arrived.

Felix, what—

A bone-chilling cry cut through the forest, drowning out all sound and thought. Naya’s blood turned to ice and instinct urged her to get off the road and take cover. Rhylla reared and nearly threw her off, but Naya held on and steadied the panicked mare. At her side, Felix rose in his stirrups and stared up through the trees.

What in the nine gods’ names was that? Chatham demanded, speeding his horse towards them.

Dragon, Felix said. And not a happy one.

The soldier paled to a sickly grey and followed Felix’s gaze upwards. You’re shitting me.

Unfortunately not, Felix said. Move.

He nudged his horse into a gallop, and Naya didn’t hesitate to follow. More hoofbeats sounded behind her as Chatham and Barnes sped their horses to keep up with them. The four flew down the road, pressed hard to outrun the dark shadow that swooped overhead. The deafening whoosh of heavy wingbeats stole Naya’s breath.

A dragon?

She didn’t know why she was surprised. They were approaching a village where every resident knew how to communicate with the beasts. Why was it so impossible to believe one would be scouting the road?

We do not know this dragon. Dunyari’s voice slipped into her mind, his language translating itself somewhere along the way, his words sharpening her fear.

An unfamiliar dragon. An angry unfamiliar dragon. Naya flinched as another cry cut through the air, the high-pitched shriek blending with the deeper growl, slicing through her nerves and turning her insides to water.

Watch out! Felix shouted, and Naya dodged to the left to avoid a ball of fire as it burst through the trees. Screams echoed behind her as Chatham was caught in the flames, and her heart ached that the first news she would send home—if she made it out of here—would be a death notice. But they couldn’t stop to see if he’d survived.

She urged Rhylla faster. The mare foamed at the lips, her neck slick with sweat, but she hadn’t gone wild in her terror, trusting her rider to guide her out of harm’s way. Naya prayed her horse’s faith wasn’t misplaced.

Hard right! Felix shouted.

Naya glanced upwards as she followed his orders, wondering how he could possibly know the dragon’s intentions. Then it dawned on her—Pelihat. Was she nearby? Would she arrive in time to help them?

Up ahead, Dunyari said. He is coming.

Naya’s heart jumped into her throat. How were they going to get out of this? They could only go as fast as their horses could carry them, which wasn’t fast enough.

We are coming, Dunyari said.

Relief eased the fear choking her lungs. They wouldn’t be in this alone. Not for much longer.

She, Felix, and Barnes rounded a corner in the road, then jerked the horses to a hard stop.

Their way ahead was blocked, and Naya could see no way around. The dragon, large and blood red, had landed in the middle of their path. Its sharp tail, tipped with a crest of spikes, swung lazily back and forth as its golden eyes assessed the trio. The tail swung out and struck a tree, taking it down as though it were no more than a twig.

The dragon opened its mouth to reveal a set of yellowed fangs, and Naya gaped into the black hole of its throat, imagining the horror within.

Could they back up and flee the other way in time? She was tempted to try, but Felix made no move. Had he frozen?

She couldn’t hear anything over the racing of her heart, but even that erratic thud faded as all focus homed in on the bright light glowing deep in the dragon’s chest. The beast snorted and let out a bloodcurdling shriek that shook the ground beneath them and caused Rhylla to fight against the reins in an attempt to escape her terror.

The glowing ball had now risen into the beast’s throat, inching towards its mouth.

Naya squeezed her eyes shut and waited for her world to burn.

Chapter Two

A blast of heat brushed Naya’s cheek, but the agony of fire never reached her. The moment she braced herself to be reduced to ashes, another shriek pierced through the pulsing in her ears, this one not nearly as bone-shakingly deep.

Terrified of what she would see but unable to resist, Naya opened her eyes—just in time to watch a hill of brown scales barrel into the mountain of red. The sunlight hit both dragons, casting ruby and topaz reflections across the dirt road.

Dunyari!

He was barely half the red dragon’s size, his form nimble and lithe next to the behemoth’s bulk, and Naya watched in horror as Red turned on him. Before the giant’s jaws could close down on Dunyari’s leg, the smaller dragon darted out of the way and zipped upwards.

A third dragon circled above them, larger than Dunyari but still not as colossal as Red. As it approached, it threw its head back in a scream that raised goosebumps on Naya’s arms. Amethyst scales sparkled and gleamed, all beauty and menace, as the dragon nose-dived with open jaws towards Red’s head. A snap, a shriek, and then Red was on its feet and in the air, snapping back at the amethyst dragon while Dunyari flew low, lunging at Red from underneath.

It’s not going to work, Felix said, drawing his horse close to Rhylla. He closed his eyes, eyelids moving as his gaze followed something unseen.

Naya looked from him to the amethyst dragon and knew as surely as if he’d told her that this was his bondmate. Pelihat was stunning in her fully matured colours, so different from Dunyari, who still bore the fragile browns of youth.

Through her awe, Felix’s words sank in. She focused on the dance happening above, Red gaining the advantage only to have Pelihat strike its face with the serrated edge of her wing while Dunyari snapped at its feet. Why not?

The red dragon is too old. Too strong. Pelihat might stand a chance for a while, but if he’s smart, they’ll tire out before he does.

Naya swallowed hard, her dry mouth textured like sand. What do we do?

Felix opened his eyes and watched Pelihat zip through the air as she circled back to tackle Red again. We run.

Naya required no extra direction.

Stay safe, she sent to Dunyari, hoping he would listen. Then she gave Rhylla free rein to fly down the road. Barnes stayed close behind her, risking everything to guard her from an attack he would never be able to fend off.

Sweat dripped down her back as great streams of fire scored the clouds overhead, drying out the air and painting the bright afternoon sky with sunset hues. Rhylla ran hard and sure, until her flank foamed with sweat and her sides heaved. Naya lost her grip on the reins and leaned forwards to grab the mare’s mane. Her heart kept time with the racing hoofbeats on the packed earth, and as her vision wavered she prayed to the nine gods she wouldn’t faint before they reached safety.

She had no idea where Felix was leading them. How could they escape a dragon? Did he simply hope to get far enough away that Red lost interest?

If that were the case, he had to be disappointed. The thrum of heavy wingbeats warned that the great dragon was giving chase. His layered cries—ear-splittingly sharp offset by the deep rumble of his age and size—pierced the air, and, through Dunyari, Naya sensed the beast’s determined anger.

The shadow swooped a few metres over their heads, the force of the gust knocking Naya out of her saddle. She tumbled to the ground, landing with her arm crushed beneath her, and Rhylla tore into the trees. Beyond, she spotted Barnes. His horse had fallen along with him, and the two were trapped on the road in a tangle of saddle and harness, unable to find their footing.

The dragon didn’t give the others a second look, remaining fixated on Naya as he beat his wings to hang in the air above her. Dunyari tore out of the sky to slam into Red’s side, throwing him off balance, but Red snapped back and caught Dunyari’s leg. Sympathetic pain shot down Naya’s calf, as though the teeth had speared her flesh too, and Dunyari’s scream melded with hers as he retreated, leaving Pelihat to take his place. She circled around Red, her tail whipping at his snout and torso, but he lashed out with his foreclaw and swiped at her chest. She backed off, giving him enough time to turn back to Naya, and his heavy jaws closed with an echoing snap.

Felix shoved Naya out of the way, sending her sprawling across the dirt road before the dragon could take another crack at devouring her. He rolled towards the treeline and landed on his feet, and Naya watched in horror as Red targeted him. Felix’s brow furrowed with concentration, and Pelihat flew in for another attempt to draw the beast away.

Naya wanted to call to Felix, but the dragon screams drowned out any chance of being heard.

On Red’s other side, Dunyari had recovered and was coming up behind him. He never got the chance to get close. A second bright glow appeared deep in Red’s chest, and Naya scooted backwards to get as far as possible from the flames that burst from between his jaws and arced in the air towards both Dunyari and Pelihat. Their only option was to retreat to evade the fire.

Felix was right. It was two against one, but they weren’t strong enough to take him down.

She knew she should get back on her feet, make another attempt to run, but resignation settled over her as Red landed on the road once more. His long face swung from Felix to her. Barnes, still caught under his horse down the road, didn’t appear to register in the dragon’s mind.

Red stepped forwards and the heat from his scales washed over Naya, drying out her skin and singeing the hair on her arms. The ground beneath his feet burned bright with embers, then cooled, black as charcoal.

He snorted and puffs of smoke drifted towards the sky. For a moment he did nothing but stare, and Naya could do nothing but stare back. If this was how she would meet her end, so soon after venturing beyond her routine life, then at least it would be quick.

Killed by dragonfire on her way to strengthen her dragonbond. Who said fate didn’t have a sense of humour? She wished Felix were close enough for her to take his hand, but he was somewhere behind her. She hoped he was far back enough to be protected from the blast.

But as she stared deep into the dragon’s eyes, it occurred to her that fate might have nothing to do with it. What had Dunyari told her? He didn’t know this dragon. This creature wasn’t from his territory. So what was he doing here? Hunting? Possible, but such an old dragon would have staked out his own territory ages ago.

And the way he’d targeted her and Felix, ignoring the horses, easier prey, suggested he wasn’t after food.

Sera?

Naya’s heart stopped, and she curled her fingers into the dirt. Had the woman in fire tracked her down to carry out her threat? Was she about to finish what she’d started behind the Veil?

Felix, get back! someone shouted from down the road. Her voice cut in and out under the rustle of dragon wings, as though she were calling from the other side of the Veil.

Naya whipped her head in the direction of the voice. A dozen horses rode hard towards them, accompanied overhead by a herd of dragons, twelve in various colours and hues, with a burgundy beauty leading the charge. Dunyari and Pelihat fell into rank alongside them, and at the fresh onslaught, Red screamed and leaped into the air. The other dragons bore down on him, not giving him time to prepare his defenses. They pushed him across the sky, and every time he tried to turn, they shepherded him onwards.

Naya’s attention jumped from the dragons to the people, all of whom had dismounted and organized themselves into a defensive formation. In what felt like a heartbeat, she had gone from being dinner to witnessing a beautiful dance. At first she didn’t understand what they were doing, but the longer she watched, the clearer it became. The humans were divided into three groups, those in front flicking their fingers and weaving their arms in a faster motion than those in the rear, and each movement mirrored the patterns of the dragons. The steps were subtle, graceful, focused. Felix fell in line with his kin, guiding Pelihat with the same types of gestures as the others, putting physical motion to their mental direction.

When Naya returned her attention to the dragons, she realised the only one flying without any clear direction was Dunyari, by his scales the youngest among them. He flew at random, often getting in the way of the other dragons, creating openings Red used to land the occasional strike that would have been blocked if Dunyari had paid attention.

Follow their lead, she sent to him, and winced at the returned pressure in her mind as he acknowledged her message. But although she watched him try to mimic the other dragons, he was erratic, confused, unwilling to step back and give up his part in the chase.

One bad turn smashed him into the burgundy dragon leading the way, and the two tumbled out of the sky. Red let out a cry and released a fire burst that scattered the other dragons, and curses echoed among the ranks on the ground as they hastened to mitigate the damage. Burgundy snapped at Dunyari, and he flew, cowed, to the back of the line.

Embarrassment and sympathy filled Naya’s heart as she watched her beautiful dragon fly circles on his own, unable to help because he didn’t know how, just as she was sitting useless in the dirt while the Nayii saved her life.

Finally Red sounded his retreat with a stuttering scream and flew off, shrinking until he was just a blood speck among the clouds, and then he vanished.

If Sera had been behind Red’s attack, she had failed—again—but Naya couldn’t relax. What would she try next time? And why had she come for her now?

Naya lowered her gaze to the road and found herself shaking from head to toe, her fingers still clawing the earth.

Pebbles crunched beside her and she flinched, bracing for more pain. When she caught sight of Felix’s blond hair, she cursed her nerves.

Are you all right? he asked, crouching beside her.

His hand trembled as he tucked her hair behind her ear and brushed his thumb across her cheek to wipe away what might have been dirt or tears for all she knew. Concern for her shone bright in his eyes, in the creases between his brows, but she was unable to find the words to reassure him. What could she say? She had nearly succumbed to death by dragon. Chatham was dead. A whole group of Nayii had witnessed her inability to guide her bondmate.

For a fleeting moment, she wished Red had succeeded. Anything would be better than having to face a group of strangers in her current condition.

I’m fine, she said.

Felix offered his hand, and she set her fingers on his, regretting the dirt that smeared across his pale skin. He held her tightly as he helped her to her feet, and she wavered where she stood, her knees debating whether they wanted to hold her weight.

She looked down the road to where Barnes had been trapped, and instead of the tragedy she feared, she found his horse had regained its footing and Barnes himself was approaching her, leading their three horses behind him.

Thank you, Naya said, taking Rhylla’s reins from him as he guided the piebald towards Felix. I appreciate you tracking her down.

I’m sorry it was all I was able to do, Miss Reed, he said.

Naya mustered a smile. Frankly I’m relieved you were otherwise occupied. I don’t think Ansella will begrudge you for not running in to protect me. I’m glad you’re all right.

He bowed and stepped aside, his focus now on the strangers up ahead. Naya put off acknowledging them herself just yet and stroked her mare’s neck to soothe the tremors that mirrored Naya’s own.

When she was sure she’d regained enough composure, she turned towards the people to whom she owed her life.

Your timing was superb, she said. Thank you.

The group arranged themselves around a young woman who looked to be around the same age as Naya. Her dark hair was tightly braided and pulled away from her darker skin, and her golden eyes were stern. She stood with her arms crossed and her feet placed wide and sturdy, as though she were just as ready for a fight on the ground as she’d been for the airborne battle. In comparison, Naya felt dirty and small and wobbly. She wiped her hands over her stained skirt, which seemed far too impractical for the road next to this woman’s leather trousers and thick hide vest.

You were lucky we were out this far, she said, and her voice was rich—gentle, but with a hard edge that no doubt made people snap to attention when she wanted them to. She turned her gaze on Felix and quirked her eyebrow. The elders will be interested to know you’re home. We haven’t heard from you in weeks.

Felix bowed his head. Sorry about that. I thought speed was more important than advance notice. I have news they’ll want to hear.

No doubt. The woman’s gaze settled on Naya before returning to Felix. I’m glad you’re home safely.

Me too, he said, then cleared his throat. Kamara Mosley, this is Naya Reed.

Naya readied herself to shake the woman’s hand, but Kamara didn’t move from her position. Kam, she said, correcting Felix. So you’re the unintegrated Nayis. The elders will want to meet you, I’m sure.

"The elders? Dragon’s blood, I want to meet her," another female voice said. A shorter shape pushed her way to the front of the crowd. Wild brown hair stuck out in all