Lorcan’s hand landed roughly on my shoulder, yanking me back. Trees rustled. Tovian and Keryn brought their weapons up. He carried a long spear; they held a frighteningly large blade. I shoved Lorcan away and took two steps forward before dropping into nothing.
I didn’t have time to scream. My pack snagged on something and my fall stopped short, a jerk that left me dangling over the open jaws of a very, very large dragon. Its tail thrashed.
Should’ve kept the paint and Ansi clothes.
Keryn’s massive sword swung in a blurry arc. The huge dragon shrieked, its fetid breath rattling the foliage. The pack gave way with a rip. Earth and greenery rushed up at me. I landed with anoofin the berm below. On the bridge above me was a flurry of activity—silver blades flashing, a spear poking at the creature’s snapping mouth. I scrambled away, grabbing the strap of my pack as I tried to avoid being trampled or whipped by its tail.
Gasping, I kicked backward, right into Lorcan’s chest.
Lorcan got one arm around my waist and dragged me into the brush while the other three drove the animal away. I’m not sure how he got down from the bridge. Jumped, probably.
As furiously as we’d been arguing, he didn’t hesitate to come after me.
“It’s all right,” he murmured, but he was as rattled as I was, his arm an iron band around my middle and his breath an unsteady pant against my temple.
Tovian reached one hand down and yanked me up the steep bank. Lorcan needed no such assistance.
“That was a big dragon,” I said, inanely, chest heaving, trying to recover my composure. My white clothing is now streaked with dirt and greenery. I picked a piece of fern out of my hair.
“Big Ada. He’s been around since my mother was a child,” Tovian said by way of explanation. I realized belatedly that he actually said “eater,” likeate-uh. Not Ada. Still, the name stuck in my mind.
Tahra watched the trees for any sign of movement, bowstring taut.
“You’re not hurt?” Lorcan asked. He hasn’t budged from my side. This is a mirror to the day in Edinburgh when he fended off my attackers. That day brought us closer together. Today, his reassuring presence at my back only reminded me that we have months more of this to get through, before he’ll be gone.
For good.
I refuse to admit to how hollow that makes me feel.
I’m not the one screwing this up. It’s him. All him.
“A few bruises. I’ll be feeling my own carelessness.”
Okay, maybe it’s not entirely him. Had I attempted to blend in with my environment instead of standing out, none of it would have happened. I let my bruised feelings endanger a rare animal; I vowed to get a handle on them for good.
“Let’s keep moving,” I said, shouldering my pack by the one usable strap. I wish I didn’t need Lorcan so badly. Once October comes, and he’s gone, I’ll be trapped back in my castle. Again.
“Zosia.”
I paused, waiting.
“If you want me to give up all my female friends, I’ll do it.”
He meant Tahra.
As though it would solve anything. If I can’t trust him any time he’s out of my sight, then this won’t work. Ever.
Yet, he didn’t do anything, no matter what Tahra wanted. I saw that with my own eyes.
I hated the way my father watched me, and yet I’m doing the same thing Lorcan.
“That isn’t what I want,” I said, turning away. “Please use more discretion. That’s all.”
I don’t want to make my father’s mistakes. Clinging to my old hurts because I can’t figure out how not to. We’re both screwing up this second chance at a life together. It took nearly being eaten by a dragon to realize that.
“I will. Zosia. I’ll speak with Tahra myself.”
When we reached the edge of the jungle, my four companions took several minutes to scrub the handprints from their skin with the astringent. They dressed in ordinary travelers’ clothing. As much as I despise being the weak link in this highly-skilled group of warriors, there is no mistaking the fact that I can barely wield a weapon, and I am the only person in soiled garments.
