And then it winked out, and brought the darkness with it.
* * *
Tyrez saw a small black form shoot up out of the boulders and rocket toward Rindek and his Wyvern.
Black wings—a Dragona.HisDragona.
He’d launched off the ledge before he’d even finished that thought. Razir yelled something to him, but he was beyond hearing. His entire focus was on the tiny black form now entangled with the Wyvern.
Energy coursed from Rindek into her. Burst after burst, as she climbed the flailing Wyvern to reach the Archmage. It set her aglow, until her wings appeared to burst into green fire.
She yanked Rindek from his mount. They tumbled from the air, but Tyrez was too far away—too far away to get to her.
NO!His heart shattered when they plummeted to the ground in the middle of the battle.
The impact released a supernova.
The pressure wave from the energy burst knocked everyone flying. The Sabres and Dires and Zach on his crazed horse, all disappeared in a tumble of flying dirt.
Almost out of his mind with rage, Tyrez fought through it with powerful wingbeats and blasted by over their heads, past where Dani had fallen, and he swooped down on the enemy Dires picking themselves up out of the dirt. He opened his jaws and unleashed his inner fire.
The Dires screamed and writhed and died. Tyrez banked and then came at them again. And again.
On the other side of the rock ridge, Rindek’s main army was in chaos. There was no sign of Demeti or the other Wyvern rider. Without their Torshin generals, many Dires fought on, but their confusion was clear. Instead of surging forward, they were starting to fall back.
Suddenly, the air was full of Dragons. Or rather, Dragonas. They swept down from where they’d hidden in the mountains, and set Rindek’s army on fire. A few darts flew toward them, but the Dire army flinched away, before they broke and ran.
Tyrez registered it, but he was too busy scanning the torn ground on the other side of the ridge. He spotted the Wyvern body crumpled among the grasses. Frantic, he examined the ground to each side. Where had she fallen?
A tall, thin body lay half-covered in dirt. Tyrez hovered over it, noting the torn throat and crimson eyes staring up at the sky.
Rindek wasn’t just down. He was dead.
Near it, something small and dark moved.
She’s alive.Ash’s mindvoice was at once contrite, and not.
Tyrez fought his despair and anger as he thumped down beside her.No thanks to you. Why didn’t you tell me?
Because this was her destiny. If you had interfered—the timelines told me she had to do this alone. Anything else led to darkness.
She didn’t have to do this alone,Tyrez raged.
She wasn’t alone. I was with her.
Tyrez leaned over the form lying in the dirt—he’d never seen anything like what Dani had become. She’d hit hard—one wing and the foreleg on that side were clearly broken. She had a bleeding gash across her temple, and blood trickled from her nose.
He darted her too. We’ll have to check for parasites. I can bring Cara to her.
By the tremble in the mindvoice, Ash was barely able to carry himself. And with Rindek’s Dires in retreat but still around, he wasn’t risking leaving her here for another minute.
No, stay there,Tyrez snapped. Get Cara. I’m bringing her to you.Tyrez slipped his forelegs beneath Dani. The big Dragon lifted her with infinite gentleness, cradled her against his chest, and rose into the air.
44
Deep within the Gryphons’ mountain, Ash rested a hand on Dani’s foreleg as Cara bent over her.
Ash couldn’t stop staring at the creature that Dani had become. Her face and neck were Dragon, but the sleek black scales that chased along her jaw and cheeks gave way to fur along her throat. A mane of long hair almost hid her crest spikes, and her distinctive white streak ran straight through it.
