Cerys dropped from the palace roof like a meteor falling from the sky. Smoke and drops of lava trailed behind her as she flew over the city, heading east. Beneath her, stone cracked under the heat radiating from her scales. Thatch roofs ignited in an instant, and the flames spread hungrily across wooden beams and dried grass.

  Jesup stood atop the wall, digging his claws into the crumbling stone. His wings spread wide, and the electricity crackled around him as he watched the red and black dragon approach. Lightning danced along the golden horns lining his spine as his body coiled, tensing in anticipation.

  The moment Cerys came in for an attack, the prince reacted instantly. Electricity radiated from his chest to his wings as he surged upward, avoiding her first strike. Cerys slammed into the wall where he had been only moments before, melting the stone from the heat of her body. Lava dripped from her jaws as she turned, hissing as it hit the ground below.

  Jesup twisted through the air, rising above the battlefield. Smoke seeped from the cracks between his dark blue scales, surrounding him in a cloud of darkness. Cerys pushed off the broken wall, beating her wings as she pursued the prince, but the smoke had shielded him from view. She slowed down, circling warily around the unnatural storm clouds he created.

  Then, Jesup shot out on a bolt of lightning above the princess. His claws sliced across her shoulder, cutting through her scales with a loud hiss. Sparks exploded from the tips of his wings, creating a blinding light that allowed him the chance to vanish once more into the smoke.

  Cerys let out an ear-splitting shriek as pain radiated across the right side of her body. Her wings faltered momentarily, causing her to land back down on the rubble below. Within seconds, the prince emerged from his smoke, circling above her. He released a bolt of lightning from his throat, sending it toward her like a thrown spear. It struck her wing, creating an explosion of light and heat.

  But the princess only roared in response, charging after him while spewing lava into the air without a care for who was around. As her wings lifted her off the ground, Jesup went higher up into the sky. He led her away from the gate and the field where his soldiers waited.

  Cerys, though, didn’t care about what was going on below them. She was too focused on fighting—on wanting to turn Jesup to ash.

  She lunged toward him, but as the prince rolled to dodge her claws, and only the edge of her wing scraped across his side. Heat pierced through his scales, and blood seeped from the wound. He grunted, but didn’t stop. Instead, he rose higher into the air, baring his teeth as a way to keep the princess’s attention on him.

  While Jesup dealt with Cerys, Zayn sprinted across the battlefield toward his father’s side. Yasir stood protectively over the soldiers, shielding them from stray drops of lava despite the two bolts buried deep into his back. When the Drurus princess was far enough away, Zayn motioned to some of his men.

  “Come help me get these out!” He shouted.

  Without hesitation, a handful of soldiers rushed forward, surrounding their wounded Crown Father. Zayn grabbed hold of the shaft of one bolt, grunting as his muscles tensed.

  “On my count,” he said through clenched teeth. “One, two, three. Pull!”

  The men pulled until the first bolt tore free. Yasir hissed in pain as dark blood spilled down his scales. Still, he didn’t move out of fear of accidentally hurting his soldiers.

  However, the second bolt was lodged higher up, buried between two ribs. Even when Yasir lowered himself to the ground, the angle made it nearly impossible to get a grip. Zayn climbed on top of his father as he shouted for more help.

  “We need more hands! Get over here!”

  Just as the men rushed in, the air rippled across the battlefield. Every soldier turned, drawing their weapons as they looked toward the dragon. But it wasn’t an enemy. Rhett had seen Zayn struggling and shifted into Silas without needing to be asked. The younger dragon approached them, towering over his uncle.

  Silas planted one paw beside Yasir before wrapping the other around the bolt. His claws hooked onto the grooves of the metal, allowing him to tighten his grip. Yasir braced himself, but Silas waited for him to exhale before yanking the bolt free.

  The Crown Father of Riven thrashed beneath the younger dragon as pain radiated across his back. He snarled instinctively, snapping at the air. After a moment, he stopped, twisting his long neck so he could lick his injury, but the angle made it impossible.

  Within seconds, Zayn was at his father’s side.

  “Are you alright?” He questioned, looking over the dragon’s wounds.

  Yasir stood there, panting for a moment before finally nodding.

  “Good,” Zayn smirked. “Because you can’t rest until this fight is done.”

  Yasir snarled at his son’s remark, but Zayn was already walking away. The king of Riven raised his arm and motioned for the soldiers to back away. Once the space around him was clear, he closed his eyes and shifted. His dragon looked like the surface of the water on a moonlit night, and his body was more slender than his father’s.

  Silas was the first to take to the air, followed quickly by Zayn. Yasir trailed behind them slowly, flying unevenly due to the hole in the membrane of his right wing. Something caught their attention as the trio flew over the city walls: two dragons taking off from the palace.

  Kendra was the first, gathering pockets of wind beneath her with every flap of her wings. Behind her, Arnav rushed skyward as lava bubbled in his throat.

  Rhett didn’t hesitate—he angled his wings toward Arnav, ready to intercept the Drurus King. Zayn veered to the left, ascending fast and drawing Kendra’s attention. She responded immediately, slashing her wings through the air and sending gusts of wind toward him, each one sharp enough to cut through stone.

  Yasir hesitated for a moment, shifting his gaze between the dragons. However, rather than joining in on the fight immediately, he held back, waiting to see who would need his help.

  The king of Drurus attacked first, spewing molten rock from his throat toward Rhett. It rained across the sky in thick globs, missing the young king and setting the city on fire instead.

  Yasir responded with a roar, diving down closer to the city. He opened his jaws and unleashed waves of water, dousing the flames wherever he could. At first, the people of Dunstead screamed in fear, thinking he was attacking them—but as they realized the dragon was helping rather than hurting, they began to shout and point, guiding Yasir to the fires.

  High above the city, Kendra snapped her wings toward Zayn. The air howled around the Riven King as she sent blast after blast of wind toward him. Some of the hits landed, slamming into his side. Each time, it would take from the air from his lungs, making it difficult for him to keep flying. After another gust of wind struck him once again, Kendra lunged forward, digging her claws into the blue dragon.

  Zayn twisted in her grip, and when his gaze finally met hers, he screamed.

  It wasn’t a roar, but a high-pitched shriek. The sound echoed across the sky, splitting the air like a knife. Kendra jerked back, screeching as the scream momentarily stunned her. Her wings locked up, her muscles tightened, and her body plummeted.

  She crashed through the rooftops and stone walls, leaving behind a trail of shattered homes and businesses. Dazed and disoriented, Kendra finally lifted her head and let out a desperate cry. Arnav, still battling with Silas midair, heard her. His attention snapped to the city below, but the moment of distraction was all Silas needed.

  The younger dragon collided into Arnav’s side with a brutal strike, sending both of them tumbling through the air. Arnav roared in frustration, unable to immediately break free from Silas’s grip.

  On the ground, Kendra was vulnerable. She was covered in dust and debris, and her body felt sluggish when she tried to lift herself up. Above her, Zayn was descending quickly with his claws out.

  But before he could attack, Cerys came down from the sky like a meteor. She slammed into the male dragon with her claws extended and her scales searing everything she touched. The heat around her was unbearable, and her sudden arrival threw Zayn off course, forcing him to break away to keep from being burned.

  Cerys hovered protectively over Kendra, shielding her from the others. The Riven King circled once before reluctantly ascending again.

  Above the city of Dunstead, flames, lightning, wind, lava, and water collided. But Rhett’s army stood outside the walls, watching the dragons fight. Many watched in horror, frightened by the sight.

  Except for Walden—his attention wasn’t on the chaos above him, but on the Drurus soldiers retreating further and further into the city like cowards. The grip on his sword tightened as his eyes narrowed on the broken gates.

  “Look at them,” he muttered to himself. “Tucking tail and hiding behind their walls…”

  He spit into the dirt, then turned to face the Ruggeweyn soldiers behind him.

  “I’ve had enough of standing around like a statue,” he said, pulling his sword from its sheath. “I say let’s go into Dunstead and finally take down the Drurus army!”

  His men shouted their agreement, banging their fists and shields against their armored chest plates.

  “But listen well!” Walden ordered, raising his sword high. “The King’s word still holds—we do not kill the innocent. If they bear no weapon, they are not our enemy. We fight soldiers, and soldiers alone!”

  With that, he gave the signal. The company of men from Ruggeweyn rushed forward, pouring through the broken gates. Once inside, Walden divided them quickly—three groups of roughly one hundred soldiers, each one going in their own separate direction to cover more ground.

  “Shields up! Watch the windows of homes!” He shouted as he led his group through Dunstead. “We don’t know if these cowards are hiding inside.”

  The streets twisted between buildings, leading them deeper into unfamiliar territory. Then, as they went down a narrow road, a makeshift barricade of carts, crates, and overturned barrels blocked the path.

  Before Walden could give an order, shouts went out. Drurus soldiers came out from alleyways on either side with their weapons drawn.

  But the Ruggeweyn men were ready.

  They didn’t flinch or scatter. Instead, they rushed toward their attackers. Swords clashed against swords, and within seconds, the road was filled with the cries of war. The Drurus soldiers fought desperately, but it wasn’t enough. They were outnumbered and overwhelmed.

  Within minutes, it was over. A dozen Drurus men were scattered across the street, and Walden didn’t even break a sweat.

  “Clear the barricade! We keep moving!”

  Walden’s company pushed deeper into Dunstead. With every street cleared, they got closer and closer to the palace. But the further they went into the city, the more dangerous things became.

  Above them, dragons were fighting in the sky. Lava rained down onto the ground, dripping from the jaws of two of the creatures flying overhead. Twice, Walden’s men had to scatter to avoid the droplets, but a few weren’t fast enough. The globs seared through armor like it was paper, burning into the flesh and bone underneath.

  “Everyone to the walls!” Walden shouted to his men. “Shields high and eyes low! If lava hits your shield, drop it and share with your neighbor!”

  Without hesitation, the soldiers obeyed and rushed to take cover along the sides of buildings. Just as the last of the wounded were dragged beneath stone awnings, another wave of lava rained from above, sizzling as it struck rooftops and the street.

  Walden ducked under a crumbling archway, cursing under his breath. But as he watched the orange globs rain down, something caught his attention—someone stumbling through the street.

  It was a young man, barely more than a boy, barefoot and terrified of everything happening around him. He wasn’t in armor or a soldier’s uniform. He was just a peasant caught in the wrong place at the wrong time.

  The boy tripped, falling hard onto the cobblestone just as a glob of lava landed nearby.

  “Eena’s wrath,” Walden scowled.

  He rushed out from under his cover, holding his shield above his head. Grabbing the boy by the back of his shirt, he hauled him upright.

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  “You die on your feet,” Walden snapped, as if he were addressing a soldier. “Not crawling in the dirt.”

  The boy didn’t answer; he just gasped and stumbled alongside Walden as he was pulled under the archway. Once there, Walden shoved him firmly against the wall.

  However, when the captain looked at the kid, he noticed he was shaking and in tears. Walden sighed, then softened—just a little.

  “What’s your name?”

  “C-Cason, sir,” the boy stammered. “Are… are you going to kill me?”

  “If I was, I wouldn’t have pulled you out of the way of the lava,” Walden said flatly. “Now listen. Are there any places underground nearby? Somewhere deep where you and others can hide?”

  “I think so,” Cason sniffled, nodding. “There’s a cellar under the old pub. The one where the man distills his liquor.”

  “Good,” Walden said, turning to the nearest soldier. “Krish. Take twenty men and get him there. Don’t come back. Instead, sweep the city—warn any townsfolk you find to take shelter underground.”

  “Understood, my lord,” Krish nodded before kneeling slightly to meet Cason’s gaze. “Come on, lad. Show us where.”

  Cason was hesitant at first, but then he moved, pointing toward an alley up the street.

  “It’s just there,” he said shakily. “Past the corner.”

  “Then that’s where we’ll go,” Krish stated as he held his shield over the boy’s head.

  The men waited along the walls until the rain of lava stopped. Krish and his men took Cason, escorting him toward safety. However, before they could reach the alleyway, they saw the shadow of a dragon flying overhead. They huddled around the boy, shielding him from harm.

  But instead of fire or lava, a burst of cold water drenched them all. A Riven dragon. It was a moment of luck, and when Krish looked up, his helmet dripping with water, he smiled.

  “Thank you, Avion, for blessing dragons,” he muttered before motioning to the others. “Let’s get moving!”

  Above them, Yasir flew low over the city of Dunstead. Despite the pain in his wing, he focused not on the dragons but on extinguishing the fires. With every breath, he unleashed torrents of water, dousing rooftops and city streets. He could have remained grounded, safe among his own soldiers, but Yasir used his abilities to protect the innocent people.

  However, Kendra had been watching the older dragon. Once she was back up in the sky, the dragoness hovered like a hawk. She saw his weakness and the sluggish tilt of his right wing. And when the opportunity presented itself, she attacked.

  The Queen of Drurus snapped her wings forward, sending a gust of wind outward. The blast hit like a punch, slamming into Yasir’s wounded wing. It caused the wing to bend forward at the joint with a loud crack.

  The older dragon’s roar echoed across the city as his body spiraled downward. He slammed into a large manor before finally skidding to a halt in the courtyard. His body was bloodied and motionless, but within seconds, the dragon vanished. Now in his human form, Yasir laid broken and bruised among the rubble. Barely breathing—but alive.

  From the air, Zayn saw it all. He growled, spinning around mid-flight. His heart pounded as his vision narrowed in on his father’s unmoving body. He landed with a crash beside him, stretching out his wings to shield Yasir.

  Zayn’s muscles tensed up as he breathed heavily. He couldn’t risk moving his father—not here. Not when they were so deep in the city of Dunstead. Not when dragons were circling overhead like vultures.

  But then the thundering of boots against pavement caught his attention. Ruggeweyn soldiers rushed through the manor gates, led by a broad, short man with striking red hair. Walden.

  However, Zayn was still on edge and let out a low, threatening growl. His wings arched wider, and his tail swished against the ground.

  “Hold!” Walden shouted, halting his men with a raised hand.

  He stepped forward, slowly sheathing his sword before raising his hands toward the dragon.

  “Easy,” he said calmly. “It's Walden. From Ruggeweyn, remember? I’m here to help.”

  Zayn’s eyes narrowed. The man smelled of smoke and blood, but there were no lies in his words. The dragon king hesitated, then gave a stiff nod and stepped aside.

  Walden turned to his men.

  “Get the Crown Father! Carefully!”

  The soldiers hurried forward, forming a protective circle around Yasir as they lifted him from the rubble. Zayn watched quietly, keeping an eye on his father as they carried him toward the city walls.

  Once they were out of sight, the Riven King lifted his head toward the sky.

  Kendra…

  She hovered high above him, circling like a vulture. Zayn snarled as he launched himself into the air. But before he could reach the Drurus Queen, a blur of heat slammed into him from the side.

  Cerys.

  The dragon princess clawed at his back legs before sinking her teeth deep into his wing. Zayn let out a pained growl as they tumbled through the air. He twisted around, shooting out jets of water. Steam erupted with a hiss from her scales, creating a trail of mist as they continued to tumble through the air. But Cerys refused to release her grip on him.

  With a deep breath, Zayn let out a piercing cry that echoed across the sky like a thousand ringing bells. The vibration hit Cerys hard, rattling through her bones. She recoiled with a shriek, clawing at her head in an attempt to get rid of the sound that echoed inside.

  With the princess momentarily stunned, Zayn whipped his tail forward, striking her across the chest. The blow threw her off-balance, and she dropped several hundred feet before regaining control. But the Riven King was already on her again. This time, he opened his jaws and sent out a wall of water.

  It hit Cerys like a tidal wave, sending her spiraling downward. She crashed into the remnants of an open-air market, crushing stalls and snapping wooden beams like twigs.

  Zayn hovered above her, panting. He could end her now… one more strike would finish it. But his gaze shifted to the other dragoness in the sky.

  High above the palace, Kendra was fighting Jesup. The Drurus Queen spun around wildly, slicing her wings desperately through the air as she tried to escape the prince. But Jesup was relentless with his lightning. Electricity shot out from his throat and wings, licking at her tail as she attempted to flee. He chased her through the skies, dodging her frantic attacks. The prince was waiting for the right moment to close in the gap and strike her hard.

  But before that could happen, Zayn interjected himself into the fight. He came up from below, grabbing onto Kendra’s tail with his jaws. Without slowing down, he yanked her upward as he continued to rise, flipping her upside down. The queen shrieked, flailing as her body twisted in the air—leaving her face-to-face with Jesup.

  The Riven prince didn’t hesitate. He lunged toward her, grabbing onto her throat. The moment his teeth pierced flesh, lightning exploded from his mouth. The electric current went through her body, causing her to convulse. Kendra tried to unfold her wings in an effort to free herself, but Zayn and Jesup didn’t let up.

  Together, they went higher into the sky, dragging the helpless dragoness with them until her limbs went limp and her head slumped over.

  Only then did they release her, sending Kendra falling down thousands of feet toward the ground. Her eyes fluttered open, barely conscious and unaware of what was happening around her. The only coherent thought she could form in her mind was to call out for Arnav, but she couldn’t make a sound before her body crashed into the mountainside.

  Zayn went down to her body, kicking up dirt and debris as he landed beside her. Her scales were shattered like glass, and blood leaked from her mouth.

  But he needed to be sure…

  He slashed at her with his claws, carving a hole in her chest. He tore through flesh and bone until he finally located her heart. With a roar, he ripped it free. However, he didn’t eat it. Instead, he flung it aside with disgust, leaving it for the animals to find.

  It took Zayn a couple of minutes to gather himself. He panted heavily, staring down at the blood on his claws. Only when the anger finally dulled slightly did he turn his gaze toward the city.

  That’s when he saw the fire and lava exploding through the clouds, colliding against one another as two dragons wrestled in the sky. Silas and Arnav twisted and clashed high above the city, sending out shockwaves that rippled through the air.

  Silas let out a loud roar as he unleashed another blast of fire from his mouth. The flames spread over Arnav’s face, momentarily engulfing the older dragon’s head. But the King of Drurus wasn’t even thrown off the attack. With a growl, he pushed away from the larger dragon, sending his tail in a wide arc upward. Lava slashed across Silas’s chest, painting a bright, glowing line from his collarbone down to his ribs.

  The Sylvaris king screeched as the molten rock seared through his scales, burning the flesh underneath. Pain radiated through his body, causing him to falter—but just before he started to fall, Silas forced himself to keep going. He couldn't give up, no matter how painful it was to move. They had to stay alive...

  Arnav twisted his body, aiming to strike with his tail again, but this time Silas was ready. He flew straight through the stream of lava which only added to his wounds. However, it allowed him to attack while Arnav was still mid-twist, giving Silas the opportunity to grab onto the older dragon's wings. With a rough yank, the two of them plummeted, falling through the clouds like falling stars.

  As they tumbled, Silas clamped his teeth deep into the back of Arnav’s neck. Lava gushed from the Drurus King’s mouth, and his body thrashed desperately—but Silas didn’t let go. He tightened his grip, wrapping his wings around Arnav’s body like chains. Then, with a snarl, he twisted his head, breaking bones until there was a snap.

  Arnav’s head fell back, limp, and his body was suddenly motionless. Silas released him midair, watching as Arnav’s corpse continued to fall. He crashed into the rubble of the ruined city below with a loud impact, shattering stone and sending a wave of dust outward.

  Silas hovered in the air, panting from exhaustion. He glared down at the lifeless body of his enemy, unaware of the dragon rushing toward him.

  Cerys… She had watched the fight—watched her father die. The princess collided with Silas at full force, biting down on his wing. At the same time, she vomited a rush of lava across his body, coating his already-burned flesh with fresh wounds. Both dragons crashed to the ground, sliding through the broken stone and blood-soaked dirt.

  Silas roared as he quickly rose to his feet. He lunged for the princess, slashing at her with his claws. Cerys snarled, spreading her wings as she fought back, but the size difference made it impossible for her to get the upper hand while on the ground. Even wounded, Silas was twice her size.

  He pinned her beneath him, pressing his claws into her shoulders. Cerys thrashed as she tried to snap at his face, or tried to spit lava at him, but Silas was too fast. He forced her jaws open with his front claws and inhaled deeply.

  Then, he unleashed a stream of fire from his throat—hotter, brighter, and more concentrated than anything he had ever made before. It wasn’t just his normal orange-red flames. It was white-hot and searing.

  The fire poured into her mouth, burning her from within. Cerys’s body was soon overwhelmed by the heat that surpassed even her lava. Flames came out from her nostrils, from the corners of her eyes, and from the holes in her throat. She couldn’t scream from the pain—the only sound came from her body as it slowly melted away.

  Silas didn’t stop until there was nothing left. When the fire finally died down, he stood above a pile of smoldering ash and half-melted bone. His claws released the badly seared flesh of her jaws, and he stepped back from the corpse without a word.

  Silas spread his wings, intending to take to the skies again, but the moment he stretched them wide, pain shot through his chest. He hissed, staggering slightly as the wounds inflicted by Arnav and Cerys screamed in protest.

  With a growl of frustration, he lowered his wings and instead turned his gaze to the city around him. Everything felt quieter now as he stared at the ruins of Dunstead. Under the midday sun, he could see that the capital of Drurus was now little more than broken stone and smoldering wreckage. Streets were blackened with soot and ash, littered with debris and corpses. Fires still burned in the distance, sending plumes of smoke into the sky.

  And for a long time, Sials didn’t move. Then, with a shaky breath, he let his body collapse inward until moments later, only a man remained.

  Rhett stood in the rubble—naked, bloodied, and covered in ash. Lava burns marred his chest, the wound still fresh and steaming. But he didn’t look at it. He didn’t care. His eyes stayed fixed on the destroyed city.

  After a while, the wind shifted, and a shadow passed overhead.

  Jesup landed beside him with a low grunt. His dragon form sparked briefly before he shifted as well. He was in no better shape than the king of Sylvaris—one eye was nearly swollen shut, and a long gash crossed his ribs.

  Moments later, Zayn crashed down beside them, landing less gracefully. He hit the ground hard, tired and exhausted. Steam rose from his back as he shifted, and once he was human, his skin was covered in sweat. His legs wobbled, but he managed to stay standing.

  The men stood in silence for a second before embracing one another. It was clumsy and painful. Rhett hissed as Jesup’s arms accidentally brushed against the burns on his chest, but no one pulled away. They held each other for a while longer, more for reassurance than celebration.

  Zayn was the first to chuckle, followed by Jesup, and finally Rhett. They laughed wearily and in disbelief. They were still alive…

  But then came the sound of boots. The three tensed up immediately, turning toward the noise. Within seconds, soldiers emerged from around the corner, with their weapons drawn. Relief went through the three dragon shifters when they recognized the dark green of Ruggeweyn’s crest. At the front of the group was Walden, his armor dented, and his hair covered with sweat and soot. He pushed past the soldiers with a stunned expression.

  “Blessed Creators,” he gasped as he hurried forward. “I thought there were still dragons fighting in the streets.”

  “Not anymore,” Rhett murmured, glancing over his shoulder at the charred remains of Cerys.

  Walden followed his gaze, flinching at the sight.

  “Are they all dead?”

  “Arnav and Cerys are,” Rhett confirmed.

  “Kendra, too,” Jesup added.

  Rhett narrowed his eyes as he turned, scanning the horizon again.

  “Where’s Yasir?”

  “My men carried him to our healers outside the city walls,” Walden explained as he turned his attention to Zayn. “Last I heard, he was still breathing.”

  “Thank the Gods,” the Riven King whispered, pressing a hand to his chest.

  “Go on and check on your father,” Rhett said, resting a hand on his cousin’s shoulder. “If he’s stable, have him brought to the palace. He’ll recover better there.”

  “Has the palace been secured yet?” Jesup inquired as he looked down at Walden.

  “Not yet,” Walden shook his head. “Every time we tried to move toward the mountains, we were forced back due to you dragons fighting above it.”

  “What of the city? Did your men handle the rest of the Drurus soldiers?” Rhett questioned.

  “For the most part,” Walden nodded, crossing his arms. “We fought against any we came across, but we spent most of our time trying to get the people of Dunstead down into cellars for safety.”

  “Good man,” Rhett said with a tired smile before patting Walden’s head.

  The young man scowled as he slapped the hand away.

  “King or not, I’ll break your fingers if you touch me like that again.”

  “Fair enough,” the young king chuckled softly before becoming serious again. “Do you have the men to spare to escort Zayn to his father?”

  “Sure do,” Walden nodded, snapping his fingers to his soldiers. Several of them stepped forward, bowing to the men. “Take the king of Riven to our camp outside the city. Protect him with your life.”

  “You know I can walk alone,” Zayn growled as he glanced at his cousin. “I don’t need an escort.”

  “Yes, but you’re tired and injured...” Rhett said, unwilling to budge. “Just accept the help and go check on Yasir.”

  Zayn grumbled before heading off, followed quickly by a group of soldiers. Once he was gone, a man approached Rhett and Jesup, carrying clothes in his arms.

  “Sires?” He said, bowing his head. “We’ve gathered some clothes that look like they’ll fit you.”

  Rhett gratefully took the trousers, slipping them on as Jesup did the same. Neither of them accepted a shirt, preferring not to put something on their wounds.

  Together, Rhett, Jesup, Walden, and a large group of soldiers began the slow march across Dunstead. Word had already spread—of Drurus’s defeat, of the fall of its dragons, of the dead king—and as they moved through the streets, people began to emerge.

  From shattered alleyways and half-collapsed buildings, people came out to look at the men who captured their city. Most were covered in soot, injured, and weary, but everyone stared in fear and awe. Rhett’s bare chest caught their attention immediately. The scorched trail of lava cut a path down his body, leaving many to wonder how he survived.

  After a while, the men made it to the far western edge of the city. The palace gates were torn open, barely hanging on by broken hinges. As they ascended the steps toward the main courtyard, Jesup got Rhett’s attention.

  “Kendra’s over there,” he whispered, pointing toward the mountains to the north.

  They couldn’t see her from where they stood, but Rhett could smell the blood in the air. It was strong, and he could only imagine the damage that had been done to the former queen. Without another word, they continued walking.

  Once inside the courtyard, Rhett finally stopped. He turned, looking out at the ruined city below him. The war was over. The city was theirs. They had won.

  But the victory didn’t feel as good as he had hoped.

  Rhett’s throat was dry, and his heart felt heavy. The cost of winning had been steep—his father, murdered. His brother, gone. His and Amara’s unborn twins buried beneath the ground. He had killed countless people… including Arnav and Cerys.

  At the very least, their deaths should have brought Rhett relief or satisfaction.

  But instead, there was only emptiness.