Warriors of Wind and Ash (Merciless Dragons #2)

“And wondering if you should believe me?” She catches one of the knives and jams it into the top of the dresser. When she yanks it out, the dark gloss of the wood is marred by a pale scar.

“Are you sure the dragon is female? It can be difficult to tell, for those unfamiliar with dragon anatomy.”

“She said her name is Nyreza. My friend has been doing experiments with her blood. Apparently she’s immune to magic. Entirely immune.”

Nyreza, Saevel’s sister. Suddenly it all makes sense. “Her fire never worked properly. I didn’t want to bring her to war with us, but her mother and brother begged me to give her a chance. If she’s immune to magic, that would explain why her innate magic was blocked.”

“I’ve never heard of such immunity. But if it’s true—what if my friend could use some of Nyreza’s blood to make an antidote, something to counteract the magical poison in the Princess’s veins?”

Hope brightens in my chest. “How fast could your friend produce it?”

“I’m not sure what he would need. It might require something from Serylla—a bit of her blood, tears, or spit—maybe strands of her hair or nail clippings. It’s too dangerous for me to send him a written message from here, but I could take samples from Serylla and go to him in person. I hate to leave you and Meridian and the others, but I don’t think there’s another way. I don’t trust anyone else with his location, and he wouldn’t let anyone but me through his protective barriers, anyway.”

“So you trust each other.”

Aeris squirms a little. “He and I used to be married. It was a stupid, impulsive decision. Didn’t work out. But we still care about each other. He has done things for me that no one else would.”

“You’ll get the samples from Serylla tonight, and leave now?”

“Or I could wait until Meridian gets back, and make sure he agrees with the plan.”

“I thought he wasn’t your leader.”

She rolls her eyes. “He insists that he’s not. But you’ve seen how our group works. What do you think?”

“Still, you don’t need his permission for this, do you?” I lift my head higher. “The sooner we can free Serylla from Rahzien, the sooner we can kill him. Meridian promised to help me find and rescue her, and in return I promised to help you destroy Rahzien and drive out Vohrain. Our goals are inextricably intertwined.”

Aeris lowers her voice. “Not everyone in this group believes we should wait to free Serylla before we take out Rahzien. We’ve never had this much access to him, and Odrash thinks we should take advantage of it, before we lose our chance. He likes Serylla, but he would consider her death to be an acceptable loss.”

A growl reverberates in my chest. “Until the poison within Serylla is neutralized, I will defend Rahzien from any attempts on his life.”

“But you can’t do that while you’re in dragon form,” Aeris points out. “Look, I’ll talk to Odrash again before I leave. I don’t think he’ll make a move without Meridian’s blessing. But when I’m gone, watch the others, and be cautious. If Meridian starts joking more than usual, yet at the same time keeping his distance from you, it means he has made a hard decision, one he doesn’t want to live with, but one he believes to be necessary. That’s when you should worry.”

She hops off the dresser and sheathes her knives. “I’ll go get the samples from Serylla now, and leave the city tonight. I have my forged papers that identify me as part of Prince Gildas’s retinue, so I should be able get back into the Capital, as long as the rest of you haven’t blown your cover by then. I’ll return as soon as I can, hopefully with good news.”

“With the antidote,” I reply.

“I’ll do my best.” She touches the door handle, then turns back to me. “Get some rest. I have a feeling tomorrow is going to be shitty for everyone.”

18

When the door to my room opens, I startle upright and scoot back against the headboard.

I thought Meridian had taken care of Zevin, that I’d be spared from entertaining the vengeful young lord tonight. My fingers wrap around the handle of the hairbrush under my pillow—the closest thing to a weapon I could find. Though I’m not sure I could bring myself to use it, after Rahzien’s threat against Parma’s life.

To my relief, the person who enters isn’t Zevin, but a young woman dressed in black, with a lithe build, tawny skin, and curly hair. Candles still burn on my bureau, and their light flickers on the twin blades in her hands.

“I see they haven’t replaced your guards yet,” she says without introduction or explanation. “Have you thought of an excuse for their absence? Other than Meridian killing them, of course.”

So she’s with Meridian, the red-haired pickpocket. Which means she’s also a friend to Kyreagan.

I lay down the hairbrush. “I’ll come up with a plausible reason why they left. But I’m more concerned about someone finding the bodies.”

“They won’t be discovered for weeks. Give me your hand.”

I narrow my eyes. “Why?”

“I’m going to find a sorcerer who’s caring for a wounded female dragon who just so happens to be immune to magic.”