Page 64 of To Fight and To Fold

Behind them, shouts of dismay went up, and Thea stiffened, setting the book down. "I didn't discard you, Aaryn. I'm here, aren't I?" Upon that revelation, the moment seemed to pause before Thea shook her head. "I cannot linger. Decide now. Will you return with me?" She held out a hand, and Aaryn… stared.

Dare she leave everything she knew, walk into the grasp of the druids, alone? With the very person who had lied to her, used her?

"Why do you not take me against my will?" Aaryn asked.

Thea tilted her head. "That's not our way. And we're out of time."

Thea took a step back, and Aaryn wanted to follow, but she was… scared.

Everything she'd been taught warred with what she felt in this moment; she didn't know if she could trust herself.

"You've made me a liar to Starspark," Thea said. "I told him I would bring you back to him. Until I see you again, look, Aaryn. For the truth."

Aaryn's heart leapt at the last uttered words. She even took a step forward, but Thea placed a foot on the ledge of the window and… leapt out.

Aaryn gasped, rushing to the edge, but Thea had vanished from thin air.

And as she looked down to the training field, it seemed that so, too, had Carissa and her dragon.

15

NEW RELIGION

The party around Thea raged on.

Carissa and Rolim were dancing, arms hooked as they laughed and spun in a reckless circle. Everyone had welcomed Carissa with open arms, and she had adjusted quickly.

Days had passed since they'd escaped Evergale Castle’s trap.

Since Rolim had begged Carissa on the battlefield to come with him, here, where it was safe, where they could be together freely.

Since Carissa had agreed, falling into his arms and taking flight on the dragon while the druids blinded the guards.

Since Thea had seen Aaryn.

Her fingers flexed around the tankard she held, just like Aaryn's hand had flexed around that dagger, the only thing that had separated them. She'd never even felt the sting of the sharp blade thanks to her scaled armor. Now she wished it had left a mark to remember the moment by.

Thea lifted the drink to her lips and swallowed sweet mead.

She'd relived the night over and over again, telling Starspark the tale from the beginning. Every blush on Aaryn's cheeks, the way her eyes had widened, deliciously titillated as they'd danced across the room, their only music the tension between them.

The nervous way Aaryn had glanced at the door, as if afraid of tipping off her stubborn guard.

At the very least, Aaryn was warming up to the idea. Maybe.

She was looking for her own answers, even if those answers were skewed and full of lies. But the deeper she sank into their facade, the more Thea was lost on what to do to convince Aaryn to come with her.

Starspark had eaten that one time, and not since. He wasn't cooperating with any of the Awakened and actively growled if any other dragons got near him. He was going feral. Which usually only happened if… if a dragon lost their Awakened. The separation between Aaryn and Starspark wasn’t good for either of them.

And Thea had failed again.

Starspark would be happier if Aaryn were here.

Maybe he's not the only one, she thought, swirling the drink in her cup.

"Thea, right?" a feminine voice asked, and she glanced up.

Carissa, face flushed from dance and drink, stood before her, the firelight making her peach hair glow.