Iron Flame (The Empyrean, #2)

by Rebecca Yarros

After a minute, I find the strength to hold the blanket myself. At least my muscles are working again. Longing rips through me as I stare up at the tree, its wide trunk, which I know bears the scar from two knife marks. I want Xaden. It’s illogical. He couldn’t have stopped Varrish. I don’t need his protection. I don’t need him to carry me back to the dorms. I just…want him. He’s the only person I want to talk to about what happened on that mountain. “I think we need to get her back to the dorms,” Imogen says. “I’ll handle it,” Bodhi promises, capturing my gaze. “This won’t happen to you again.” “Tell the humans that I will handle dragon matters,” Tairn says. “How—” “You will trust me.” It’s an order. “Tairn says he’ll take care of it.” I rock forward and force myself to my feet. Bodhi catches my shoulders gently, wincing when I grimace. “I’m ready. Let’s go.” “Can you walk?” he asks. I nod, looking past him to the tree. “I miss him,” I whisper. “Yeah. Me too.” No one carries me. They simply stay at my side, step by step, as we make our way up the hundreds of stairs that spiral through the foundation walls and back to the dorms, our footsteps the only sound breaking the silence around us. Because no one wants to say what we’re all thinking… If Andarna doesn’t show up at the next formation, Varrish’s second punishment might just kill me.