Of Empires and Dust (The Bound and The Broken, #4)

by Ryan Cahill

“Draleid n’aldryr, unwë ayar,” the elf whispered, cradling him in his arms. “Din navn væra Varthear.” Dragonbound by fire, little one. Your name will be Varthear. More memories flitted through Calen, emotions crashing into him: anger, joy, fear, hope. His pulse raced, his breath trembled, his heart sank. Of it all, one thing rose above all else: Varthear’s love of her soulkin, Ilmirín. The Draleid had been fierce and strong, yet gentle. Wise and learned, but always willing to listen. It was his heart that had taught Varthear how to love, his soul that had shown her what kindness was. She would have given anything and everything to have kept him safe. She would have given her life a hundred times over, endured any pain the world could conjure… but instead, she had been cursed to watch him die. The world flickered, flashes of fire and lightning igniting the darkness around Calen. He was swerving through thick clouds, a storm raging on all sides. Panic and fear permeated every piece of his shared soul. A bright flash illuminated the sky before him, and he watched as a dragon covered in brilliant yellow scales ripped another from the sky, blood dancing with the rain. He swerved to avoid a column of dragonfire, its light burning through the dark. All around him, Draleid and dragons tore each other to pieces. Brothers and sisters, lovers and friends. Everything he had ever known was crumbling before his eyes. The world blurred and shifted once more, and now he was on his side, s...