Again he had me close my eyes as he told me to reach for the magic. With it coursing through my veins, it was easy to find, but harder to grasp hold of. It was slippery and whenever I thought I had it, it darted away, taunting me. Growling with frustration, I dove after it, refusing to give up. I wanted to prove Jaegger right; I wanted to be strong.
I wanted to be in control.
After a few minutes, with sweat dripping down my back, I finally seized onto it. Jaegger made a sound of encouragement deep his throat. “Now, let it go.”
“What?” I opened my eyes to stare at him. I’d spent all that time reaching for it, and now he wanted me to give it up, just like that?
He was amused by my reaction. “Maybe I should clarify: let it go, but on your terms.” Falling silent, he let me ponder that. On my terms? Was he talking about control again? Up until now, the magic had been controlling me, which is why I was in so much pain. I was letting it take over my body as it consumed me. But it was my body, just like it was my magic. I felt a flash of anger. How dare it try to control me! I may not want the magic, but I was stuck with it. For the rest of my life, it seemed. I wasn’t going to spend my days succumbing to the pain. No, I was going to show the magic that I was the one in charge. We would work together, but I was the one who made the rules.
“Yes,” Jaegger hissed again and I knew I was right about everything.
Shutting my eyes, I remembered what Vernen had said, about letting the magic flow out of his body and return to nature. Coaxing the magic forward, I imagined it pouring from my fingertips and toward the window, escaping into the night. I felt a rush, like my body was growing lighter, and then an intense fatigue as the magic left in a giant rush.
I slumped against the pillows, panting. Not all the magic was gone. I could still feel it buzzing in my veins, waiting for its chance to be used. And while I still ached, at least it wasn’t so overwhelming, threatening to rip me apart at any moment.
“And that,” Jaegger said, “is how you work with the magic.” Pleased, his tail swished back and forth. “Now rest, little bird. It’s been a long day, and we have much to do tomorrow.”
I peered at him. “Jae? What happened to the other dragon?”
His tail froze as his good mood vanished. Staring pointedly at the glass Jack had brought me, he said, “Drink your medicine.”
“But—”
“Drink it.”
Huffing as I reached for the glass, I said, “You better tell me tomorrow.” Drowning the contents in two swallows, I settled back down.
Jaegger stretched out next to me, his face nestled against my arm. “Maybe.”
Poking him, I closed my eyes, relieved I could finally put this day behind me.
WHEN I AWOKE, THE ROOM was awash in buttery yellow light and I was alone. I took a moment to assess myself, my eyes on the ceiling. My body was weary, exhausted, but my mind was alert and racing. Pushing aside all the dangerous thoughts that threatened to overwhelm me, I stretched, biting back a moan when even that simple act caused me pain.
No, I said, forcing the magic out of me. That alleviated some of the aches, but the rest was physical. My left hand, for example, was throbbing, and I was beginning to feel a headache forming. What I needed was more rest, but there was too much that needed to be done.
Get the stone back to Dusk, and then you can rest for a year, I thought, a bit hysterically.
Swinging my legs over the side of my bed, I stood slowly, my palm flat on the wall to keep me balanced. The world tilted sideways and I squeezed my eyes shut against the dizziness. I was filthy, sore, and hungry, not to mention completely overwhelmed. But Jaegger had said I was strong. I needed to show him he was right.
Hesitantly, I inched toward the door, opening it and stepping out into the hallway. Instantly I heard Elyse call my name as she rushed to my side, supporting me. “What are you doing up?”
“Bathroom,” I mumbled.
Eyes going wide with understanding, she guided me to the room next door, helping me take care of my essential needs as my cheeks burned with embarrassment. “You probably want a bath,” she said, eyeing my limp hair and dirty clothes.
“And food.”
She smiled at that. “All right. Sit tight and I’ll see to everything.”
True to her word, Elyse, with the help of Quinn, filled the large tub in the bathroom with heated water. After they helped me undress, I sank into the water, groaning with disbelief at how good it felt. I was careful to keep my bandaged hand from getting wet as I rested my head against the back of the tub.
It was nice having someone fuss over me, once I got past my original embarrassment over being nude in front of the others. Elyse shampooed my hair into a lather while Quinn procured a fresh change of clothes. “They’re Claudette’s,” she explained. I was grateful she and I were about the same size; my clothes had been on the destroyed stagecoach, gone forever. I thought about our driver, senselessly murdered by Aurora. Was he married? Did he have a family? My heart ached for those people I’d never meet.
Once the bath water turned cold, I emerged and toweled off before changing into the shirt and pants. Then Elyse had me sit while she combed the tangles out of my curls. When someone knocked on the bathroom door, Quinn went to open it. West and Jaegger stood on the other side; the dragon slipped in and was at my feet in a flash while West remained in the doorway, his hand over his eyes.
“What are you doing?” Elyse asked, pausing in her combing.
“Is Irina decent? I don’t want to accidentally see something I’m not supposed to see. The captain will kill me, even with broken ribs.”
Elyse huffed in impatience. “She’s dressed!”
“Good.” West crossed the room and cradled my left hand in his. “How’s it feel?”
“It’s throbbing.”
He nodded. “I’ll give you something for the pain. You just need to eat something first; you can’t take it on an empty stomach or it’ll make you sick. Are you up to eating?”
My stomach growled in response.
“I’ll take that as a yes,” West said with a smirk. “Do you want to eat downstairs, or would you like me to bring it up to you?”
“Can I eat… in Leonid’s room?” I asked in a small voice.
West’s expression showed no surprise at my request. “Absolutely.” He hesitated. “But I should warn you, he’s still sleeping.”
“How long is Fancy going to sleep, anyway?” Quinn asked. “I… miss him.”
I put my hand on her shoulder. “Me too.”
“It’s better that he’s sleeping,” West said. “He’s not in pain when asleep.”
Was it selfish of me to still want to see him awake, even after hearing that?
Elyse helped me to Leonid’s room, guiding me to the chair before she left the room to give me and Jaegger some privacy. Nothing had changed since I’d been there last night, except the window was open, letting in a surprisingly mild breeze. Vernen was nowhere to be seen and I sighed, the weight of everything that I needed to do pressing down on me.
I took Leonid’s hand in mine, like I’d done the previous night, searching his handsome face for any signs of discomfort. But his brow was line free, his breathing steady as he slept. Turning my attention to Jaegger, I asked, “Where’s the stone?”
“It’s downstairs, secured,” Jaegger said. “I put a barrier around it; no one can touch it. That’s what I was doing when you awoke. I’m sorry I left you, but it had to be done.”
“It’s fine. I understand.”
“How do you feel this morning, little bird?”
I knew he didn’t mean my hand or the other assorted bruises I’d suffered. “More like myself.”
“Good. But…” He gave me a long, searching look. “The person you were—before—is gone forever.”
“I know.” A sharp ached flared through me, but I ignored it. This may be a new version of myself, but it was still me. I refused to let the magic change me completely.
I wouldn’t be like Bantheir or Aeonia, drunk with power. Or like Parnaby, either. I would figure out how to coexist with the magic, without using it unnecessarily. I’d meant it when I told Jaegger I simply wanted to go home and live my life.
The door pushed open and I turned to see Vernen there, carrying a tray laden with a bowl, teapot, and cup. Avoiding my gaze, he placed the tray on the nightstand next to Leonid’s bed, his back to me. I saw his shoulders tense with anticipation as he came to some sort of decision.
Coming to my side, he knelt in front of me, his face displaying a myriad of emotions. Grief, worry, embarrassment, and even a bit of anger were all there, and Vernen swallowed a few times before reaching for my good hand and covering it with both of his. “You look better,” he murmured.
“I feel better.” I nodded toward Jaegger. “I’ll be joining you as Jae’s other pupil.”
Stricken, Vernen said, “I would never wish this life on anyone. Irina, I tried—”
“I know. But Vernen, she’s stronger than us. She has years of experience. We were no match for her or her sister.” They’d cut us down so easily; it was a blessing they hadn’t killed Leonid or Vernen during the exchange. Maybe they would have, if Claudette hadn’t shown up and said we were friends. Maybe Aeonia spared them because of that.
“But you did best her,” Vernen said.
“Not me. Claudette.” I filled him in on what’d happened, including how the magic had transferred to me. Vernen’s horror mounted with each word, his hands clutching mine tighter and tighter. “So you have Bantheir’s magic, and I have Aeonia’s,” I said. “Although mine is mixed with the stone, which probably makes it even worse than yours. Parnaby is going to be thrilled when we get back to Dusk.”
His blue eyes darkened, turning nearly violet. “We can handle him. Together.”
“Vernen,” Jaegger said sharply. He’d been quiet during my entire recount, but now he stood, pushing Vernen away from me with the force of his powerful, coiled body.
Off-balance, because he was still kneeling in front of me, Vernen crashed into the nightstand and the teapot rattled violently. He blinked, coming back to himself as he reached out and steadied the pot. Breathing hard, he said, “Sorry. I’m sorry.”
“It’s all right.” I reached for him, touching him on the arm. “Vernen, look at me. Let it out. Let the magic out.”
Nodding, his eyes took on a faraway look as he did just that. I gasped in surprise when I realized I could sense the magic flowing from him, finding another outlet.
And then it was over, and Vernen looked more like himself. A bit paler, with his forehead shining with sweat, but it was Vernen. Our Vernen.
“You should eat,” he said, reaching for the bowl and handing it to me, along with a spoon. Porridge again, but I didn’t mind as I dug in while Vernen poured me a cup of tea. It felt like ages since I’d last eaten anything. Vernen took the other chair, sitting across from me and Jaegger and rubbing his face tiredly.
“We’ll figure this out,” I told him between bites. “You’re not alone. You, me, and Jae—we’re in this together.”
“And what about me?” a tired, but achingly familiar voice asked from the bed.
I dropped my bowl with a crash, shards of porcelain flying everywhere. Ignoring the mess I’d just made, I launched out of my chair. “Leonid!” At the last moment I remembered not to touch him, my good hand hovering over his chest awkwardly as I looked him over. He appeared tired, the skin around his eyes tight with pain, but he managed to give me a small smile. Leaning forward, I kissed him. After nearly losing him, I wasn’t wasting any time.
“Ow,” he said. Then, when I went to pull away, “No, no, don’t stop. Please don’t stop.”
“Why am I not surprised to find you two kissing already?” West declared from the doorway where he stood with a stern look on his face. This time I did break apart from Leonid, sending West a guilty glance over my shoulder. “You’re going to injure him further, Irina.”
“She is not. Go away so she can keep kissing me.” Leonid started to sit up, but he let out a gasp of pain and collapsed against the bed. “What did you do to my body, West?”
“What did I do?” West repeated. He pushed aside some shards of porcelain with his foot and crossed his arms over his chest as he assessed Leonid in the bed below him. “Let’s see. When we first found you and Vernen unconscious in that field, I used one of my spare shirts to stem the bleeding. Then, with Aden’s help, we carried you into the stagecoach and I continued to put pressure on your wound as we raced to Fairfield.”
Leonid’s face paled as West spoke.
“Then, once our driver, whose name is Ben, by the way, brought us here to the house he shares with his brother, we carried you in here, and Jack—that’s the brother—and I stitched up your shoulder. After that we bound your ribs and hauled your ass up here, forcing some medicine down your throat to stave off infections and to help you sleep.” West eyed Leonid coolly. “That’s what I did to your body, captain. So could you please do me a favor and lay there for the next couple of days so I don’t have to worry about stitching you up again?”
Grumbling, Leonid stared at the ceiling. “Fine.”
“Fine what?” West asked.
“Fine I won’t move,” he said. “And… thank you.”
Shocked, West clutched his chest. “I think I’m going to pass out. Did you just thank me?”
Leonid scowled. “No, you misheard me.”
“That’s what I thought.” Coming around to the other side of the bed, West gestured to Leonid’s shoulder. “May I?”
As West pulled back the bandages, Leonid turned his attention to me and Vernen, who’d come to stand by my side. “You’re both all right? You managed to fight off Aeonia?”
I closed my eyes, weary at the thought of recounting what’d happened yet again. He needed to know, but did he have to hear it right now? I just wanted a moment with him, alone, but as Aden, Elyse, and Quinn gathered in the doorway, expressing their relief that Leonid was awake, I realized that was an impossible dream.
Overwhelmed, I sat down heavily and rested my aching hand on my thigh. Sensing my discomfort, Jaegger jumped into my lap, careful to avoid hitting my hand. Before he could speak, Leonid said loudly, “Wait a minute. He’s back?”
“He is indeed,” Jaegger said, grinning.
“You can’t just come and go as you please,” Leonid continued. “Do you know how upset Lark was? No, you don’t, because you weren’t here.” His voice had gone ice-cold as he practically spit out his words.
“Leonid,” I started.
“I know. I made a grievous error,” Jaegger admitted. “But I will spend however long it takes to fix what I’ve done.”
I could see by way his eyes darkened with anger that Leonid wasn’t mollified. “We were ambushed. We could have been killed. If you’d been there, instead of chasing after some other dragon, none of this would have happened!”
Expecting Jaegger to lash out at Leonid for speaking to him like that, I was surprised when the dragon jumped out of my lap and left the room wordlessly. “You shouldn’t have said that,” I said around the lump in my throat.
“Why? Did I say anything wrong? You were heartbroken after he left, Lark. You can’t expect me to watch you suffer and do or say nothing about it.”
This wasn’t how I expected our reunion to go. I never imagined this moment would be ruined by anger I couldn’t seem to control as I stood and snapped, “Well, I’m still suffering, and I need him to help me, so do me a favor and be a little nicer the next time you see him, if that’s at all possible, Leonid.” On the nightstand the teapot shattered, causing everyone—including me—to jump.
Leonid’s eyes traveled from the ruined pot to me, his mouth slightly open. “Lark?”
I clutched at my head, feeling dizzy. Vernen was saying something softly, but I couldn’t make sense of his words. The air in the room was too close, my friends’ gazes suffocating as they gaped at m
e. Shaking my head, I stumbled to the doorway, ignoring them as I went into the hallway and leaned against the wall, my breathing shallow.
“Oh.” Claudette paused at the top of the stairs. “Are you all right?”
I started laughing, and it came out all wrong. High-pitched and hysterical, quickly followed by tears. “I just yelled at Leonid moments after he woke up and made a teapot shatter with my amazing new powers. What do you think?”
She studied me for a moment. “I think you need some air. Come on.” Without waiting to see if I followed, she turned and went back down the stairs.
I followed her.
CLAUDETTE LED ME TO THE stables where Emile was already inside, brushing his horse. He glanced up when we walked in, his eyebrows rising when he saw me. “Should you be up?” he asked as I stumbled in, gripping a beam for support. The stable was large, with five stalls, although only two were occupied at the moment. I wondered if Jack’s brother housed his horses here when he wasn’t working. When he returns, I need to thank him for bringing Leonid and the others here.
“She’s fine.” Claudette procured a stool from one of the stalls and planted it in front me. “Actually, she’s not fine, but she had to get out of the house for a bit. She needed a moment.” Catching her brother’s eyes, she said, “You know what I mean.”
“I do.” He went back to brushing his horse and silence settled over us as he worked. The smell of hay was strong but also oddly comforting. I wished Jaegger was by my side, but I understood that he, too, needed space. When he was ready to return, he would. Leonid’s words wouldn’t keep Jaegger away from us; I knew that with all of my heart.
Claudette’s horse poked her head from her stall, whinnying until Claudette laughed and walked over to her. “I’m here, you brat. I don’t have any more sugar for you.” She rubbed the horse’s nose and was rewarded with a nuzzle.
“What’re their names?” All this time, and I’d never thought to ask that question.
“Angeletta,” Claudette said, giving her horse another pat on the nose.
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