A Fire in the Sky

by Sophie Jordan

No corner of the Crags was overlooked. Not a hollow or gully or wood left unexplored. No resource untapped. Soldiers ferreted out and slew every pride until the last winged creature was erased from land and sky. Until their fire was snuffed out for good. Until none remained. Except one.

Turning, I made certain the painting was back in place with no hint that it had been disturbed. Satisfied, I turned around and walked directly into a wall. A hard wall with arms and hands that came up around me. A wall that possessed a deep, growling voice. “I see this palace comes equipped with spies.” The Beast.

Then the brute lifted a hand. I flinched. He paused, his eyes communicating something to me. I could not say what, but I eased slightly. He waited a moment longer and then brought his big hand closer, touching a lock of my hair, rubbing it between his fingers gently, experimentally. I felt a rumble then, and realized it was inexplicably coming from me, from my chest.

He made a sound: part laugh, part growl. “Oh, sweetheart, you’re someone . . . something.”

It was indeed a marvel that I bore no scars, a fact I did not like to call attention to, for it was something that had bewildered the lord chamberlain. More than once he had accused me of being a witch—specifically a blood witch, notorious for their flame-red hair, possessing the darkest and most powerful magic. He had warned the king and queen that I had been planted in their midst to bring forth ruin.

Her gaze glided over my shoulder and then returned to my face. Leaning in close, she whispered, “You have more power than you know.”

“And know that if you ever step foot in the Borderlands, you will not take what is mine. If you even try, I will end you.”

She looked at me again and winked, patting my hand like one would stroke a pet. “We must stick together.” We? I stopped short from asking what she meant by that. Likely she meant we as in women collectively. How else could we be alike? “My name is Thora.” “I’m Tamsyn.” “Lady Dryhten,” Fell supplied. “My wife.”

Thora’s low voice wove through my mind as if she was still before me, her words a soft rasp in my ear: Take heed. He will not tolerate the likes of you. He would sooner see you dead.

Arkin was right. There were many dangerous things in these woods. I just never realized that I could be one of them.

Dragon.

I knew it

My skin snapped and contracted, a chill consuming every fiber. My body twisted and contorted, my back straining, muscles tugging. I didn’t understand the pain. I had not even hit land yet. I wasn’t dead, but I felt as if I were being pulled apart. I fought through the pain, writhing, slapping, and clawing against the agony.

What the heck hes a dragon too?!?!

He flew directly to me—for me. Close enough for me to see his eyes. Those familiar frosted eyes. Fell.

“Welcome home . . . brother.”

Alright you got me i'll read the next one lol