Chapter 92

There’d been some casual references to this. “A blast” and “parachute p>

Dex had assumed those were exaggerated. Metaphors soldiers used after a long night.

They were not metaphors.

His wolf was not pleased.

Aegon: What the actual fuck is wrong with these people.

He saw Velkaris flip over and dive for Serena, who didn’t have a parachute. But instead had an arrow aimed.

She fired.

It intercepted an arrow coming straight for Taren, shattering it off course mid-flight.

Aegon: Okay, I see it. She’s good.

Velkaris caught Serena and tossed her in the air, where she landed on his back standing.

“Good job, buddy. You were so fast!” Serena praised. He huffed in agreement.

She scanned.

She saw a spotter aiming for Gav and didn’t hesitate, shooting another arrow off course.

He looked over at her.

Gav: That’s it. I’m trading spotters.

Serena rolled her eyes and shook her head.

Serena: You couldn’t afford me, Gav.

Lunaris: He can’t afford me either.

Laughs came through the mindlink.

Gav: One battle. And now you are cocky. Elara warned us.

Taren: She’s allowed to be.

Silas: Neither of those count as hits, Serena. If the fey doesn’t explode, then no point.

Taren: Lean on technicalities to win. Fitting.

Lunaris: She still has four. You all have two.

Silas: So do you.

Gav: We’ve been out here for ten minutes. Don’t make me turn this parachute around.

Dex was livid. Fuming.

Why did anyone think this was okay? She had no experience training with them. None. What they were doing was dangerous. She was good, but talent doesn’t trump experience. And they were all just encouraging it.

How much had he missed in one battle? The mindlinks made his mood worse.

Aegon: You are upset because you weren’t the one to train her.

Dex: What training? Her first day was a battle with exploding fairies.

He landed on Velkaris a moment later.

“Serena. What the hell,” he started, turning to her, fully prepared to yell at her for not making a parachute for herself.

She cursed, knocked him flat, and landed on top of him just as a gold orb formed around Velkaris. It shattered on impact, absorbing blasts from three water dragons at once.

Velkaris disappeared like a phantom, doing another Truebond Veil.

Dex’s arms went around her protectively.

He was surprised by how aggressively she made that call and knew what to do.

But then he realized he finally had her back in his arms. Where she belonged.

He felt sparks everywhere. An emptiness that had hollowed him was lifting. He had a frog in his throat, swallowing down emotions.

She moved to get off of him, but his arms were still around her and he wouldn’t let her.

“Serena,” Dex breathed, his voice pained.

“Let me up,” she demanded, fighting tears that came out of nowhere. “I can’t spot us p>

“Yes, you can. You can feel their energy. You don’t need line of sight p>

“I don’t want to do this,” she whispered, her voice cracking. “Please. Let me up p>

Dex spoke in her ear, not letting her go until she heard him.

“Serena,” Dex began, the words tumbling out fast now, unpolished and raw. “Agnes injected me with something called Viper’s Kiss. It blocks the matebond and the thing the person loves most. You were both p>

She stiffened. Dex waited for acknowledgment. None came.

“She mixed it with False Mate Tincture,” he continued. “Also black magic. It forces attraction. I was never attracted to her p>

Serena swallowed hard.

Was that what everyone had been avoiding telling her? Was he lying?

Gav had said Dex didn’t lie, but she had seen him with Agnes. Had felt the intimacy of it burn into her chest. She didn’t know what to believe.

“I’m sorry for what you saw,” Dex confessed, his voice breaking. “I don’t remember it yet. But when I do… I know it’ll haunt me for the rest of my life p>

His grip tightened on her.

“I swear to you,” he vowed hoarsely, “I never wanted to hurt you. Ever. I love you more than anything p>

Silence pressed in, thick and dangerous.

“Serena,” Dex whispered. “Please. Believe me p>

“No. You don’t get to do this,” she snapped, pushing herself off of him. Hard. She would rather fall off a dragon than do this.

His grip broke, and he let her go.

“I need space. Don’t touch me,” she said, louder than she meant to. Just as Solara, Kronk, and Zenith came into formation. No doubt it was heard by the other riders.

Dex looked like a wounded animal.

King Tiberon’s voice broke the tension.

King Tiberon: Status.

Dex’s response was delayed.

Dex: All units recovered. In formation.

King Tiberon: Hits.

Dex: Ten spotters. Storm dragons.

They went again.

Round after round.

Until every spotter and rider was shot.

Dex’s heart still dropped with every explosion anyway.

Every blast, every violent lurch of air, his arm snapped out and hauled Serena back against him like a reflex he wasn’t going to apologize for.

She was beyond annoyed.

He could feel it. Loudly.

“Sorry,” Dex remarked cheerfully as another explosion rocked them and he grabbed her again, “but you are not making parachutes for yourself p>

“So I don’t get shot,” she snapped, trying to shake him off.

“And you’re fine with the rest of us getting shot p>

“Velkaris catches me every time p>

Dex snorted. “Great. Love that for you p>

Another blast hit.

His arms tightened around her.

“And now,” he added smoothly, “I’m catching you p>

She glared up at him with a look that could murder.

“Dex p>

“Yes, love p>

“I can manage p>

“Oh, I’m sure you can,” he replied, tightening his hold anyway. “Still not letting you swan-dive off a dragon in the middle of a war p>

“Let go of me p>

“Hard no p>

Another explosion rocked them sideways.

He braced, one arm locked around her, grinning like this was mildly inconvenient turbulence.

“Face it,” Dex declared over the roar. “You’re stuck with me. I’m your emotional support idiot p>

She crossed her arms, infuriated.

It was adorable. It was so adorable that Dex laughed.

That made it worse.

Worth it.

Absolutely worth it.

They were back on Velkaris. All spotters and riders were down. Dex let out a long breath of relief.

Thank the gods. It’s over.

Then it happened.

Serena jumped.

Dex didn’t even process it at first. He was still mentally celebrating when his brain caught up to the fact that she was no longer on the dragon.

“Serena p>