"Ouch."

"Stop moving," Serafina ordered, gently pulling away the last of the bandages. She sat back and frowned at Wade, drops of water sliding between her fingers as she harnessed her magic.

Wade made a face and leaned against a boulder, trying to ignore how icy the air felt against his skin. He stole a look at his chest, eyeing the dark line between his ribs. That was where the sword had exited his body. He could still feel the burning lines of pain the metal had traced, even after two days of Serafina's diligent care.

"It looks so thin," he said quietly.

"It does. But the internal damage..." Serafina grimaced and leaned forward, holding one hand against Wade's ribs. He flinched as freezing water raced across his skin, washing away the dirt and dried blood that had collected there. "Wade?"

"Yeah?"

"Try not to get stabbed again. For both our sakes."

Wade stifled a laugh; he'd grown to learn that simply breathing too deeply was an excruciating mistake. "I'll do my best."

Serafina wordlessly moved to his other side and began cleaning Wade's back. Biting his tongue against the resulting stab of pain, he lifted his eyes to the open sky. It was a deep, pure blue, traces of read spilling across the western half as the sun hesitated above the horizon. For once, branches and leaves didn't obscure the view—a few hours earlier, Aurum had led them up the base of one mountain, where rocky soil and slabs of stone replaced the endless sea of trees. They'd just taken a short break at the edge of a cliff; Wade had an excellent view of the forest, though since they had shed their leaves the trees had lost much of their grandeur.

I hate being so exposed, Aurum interjected. He was pacing along the ledge some distance away, his sharp gaze flitting between the mountains surrounding them. A soft growl grew in his throat, and his wings twitched. We should be very, very close now. I'm going to look around again.

Wade began to protest, but Aurum had already leapt off of the cliff. He drove his wings down and shot toward the darkening sky, scales glinting in the ruddy light.

Serafina let out a long sigh; Wade felt her breath brush against his neck. "Aurum's getting nervous."

"I don't blame him," Wade muttered. "He left his family for a year, and now he's coming back with a group of humans. Not the best situation for a reunion."

Serafina hummed her agreement and lowered her hands. She moved back into Wade's field of view, gathering the discarded bandages from the ground. More water gathered around her arms; she ran her hands across the cloth, her eyebrows drawn together.

Wade studied her face while she worked. The blue in her eyes seemed so vivid, a perfect mirror of the sky above. She hadn't bothered to tie back her hair; brown curls spilled across her shoulders, messy but beautiful nonetheless. Yet he couldn't help but notice the bags under her eyes, or the weariness that weighed her shoulders down, so heavy it was almost visible. She'd taken great care of him and Aurum over the past few days—thanks to her, Wade could stand and even walk on his own.

He just wished that she didn't pour so much of her energy into it.

She won't stop, Aurum observed, his words tinged with sadness. I've tried.

Oh. Wade glanced up, quickly finding the dragon's distant figure. You're still listening.

You rarely try to hide your thoughts, so I usually am.

Fair enough. Wade sighed. Aurum, should you be flying? I know you were hurt worse than you let on.

Aurum snorted. You worry too much. If I couldn't handle flying, I wouldn't.

Wade frowned, but he saw nothing but simple honesty in the dragon's mind. Another sigh brushed past his lips. Fine. I trust you.

If you didn't, you'd be very, very stupid.

Oh?

...Do you know how many opportunities I've had to kill you?

Wade snorted, then cut himself off. Wait, have you been keeping count?

Yes. Amusement burst through Aurum's mind as he examined Wade's thoughts. You are far too gullible, Wade. Of course I haven't.

"Hey." Serafina snapped her fingers in front of Wade's face, jolting him back into his body. She lifted the now-clean bandages, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Mind helping me with these?"

"Sorry," Wade replied, his cheeks warming. He took one end of the cloth and awkwardly helped her rewrap the cloth around this chest. When they'd finished, Serafina sat back and nodded.

"That should last you for a while."

"Thank you, Serafina," Wade said, holding her gaze. "For everything."

Serafina's smile was tinged with confusion. "Where did that come from?"

Wade shrugged. "I've been meaning to say it for a while."

"Well." Serafina sat back, running a hand through her hair. "In that case, you're wel—"

Serafina's voice was drowned out by a sudden rush of wind as Aurum raced past their heads. Wade jumped; he hadn't noticed the dragon descending again. He and Serafina watched in silence as Aurum twirled around and landed, as light as a feather. The dragon ruffled his wings, pleased with himself, and looked between the two of them. Are you ready to go?

Wade bit his tongue. While Serafina cleaned him up and allowed him a moment to rest—for though he was doing better, Wade struggled with the brutal pace they travelled at—she'd had his father and Kira ride ahead on Ember. She'd promised that Wade and herself would catch up atop Aurum: after all, he was far faster than a horse.

Wade hadn't been thrilled with the idea. Surprisingly enough, he still wasn't.

Serafina helped Wade up, laughing softly at his expression. "Wade, you won't fall."

"But I could," he muttered. Step by painful step, he hobbled to Aurum's side and lifted himself onto the dragon's back.

"But you won't." Serafina helped push Wade up before slipping in place behind him. "Besides, I'd catch you."

As she wrapped her arms around Wade's waist to keep herself steady, he had a hard time disagreeing.

I'll be gentle, Aurum reassured him.

Wade leaned forward in response, burying his face into the dragon's cold scales. He cast a single glance at Serafina as Aurum raised his wings, suddenly realizing that she hadn't ridden him yet. Her eyes practically glowed with excitement: if not for how tightly she was holding onto him, Wade would have thought that she wasn't nervous at all.

Aurum jumped. The world jerked upwards; Wade closed his eyes and tightened his grip, his stomach heaving. Serafina's startled yelp was quickly replaced but a rush of air as they sailed above the cliff and tilted upwards, quickly leaving the rocky mountainside behind.

True to his word, Aurum quickly leveled off and began a gentle glide north. Wade hesitantly tore his eyes open, trying to shield them from the fierce wind. Aurum was scanning the land before them, no doubt searching for the others.

I already found them. Aurum's tone was smug as he tossed his head. Wade followed his gaze, spotting a few faint wisps of smoke a mile or two away. A fire. I just want to—

Wade lurched to the side as Aurum swerved suddenly, shock and confusion flooding his thoughts. Serafina screamed, her arms tightening around Wade's waist lest she fall.

"Aurum!" Wade cried, gritting his teeth as he redoubled his grip around the dragon's neck. Fresh pain tore through his ribs, woken by the sudden movement.

Aurum clumsily fell back into place, briefly twisting around to ensure neither of them had fallen. Then they were rocketing upwards; before Wade could even ask what was happening, they had reached the clouds.

Frigid mist encased Wade for a brief moment. Then the sky burst into view, a dark, star-speckled void above a floor of clouds. Aurum hovered there, every beat of his wings sending wisps of mist spiraling through the air.

Wade's mouth fell open. Only a dozen or so yards away, another dragon stared back at them. It was smaller and thinner than Aurum, with sharp amber eyes and dark scales. Their color shifted even as Wade watched, glinting various shades of blue.

Serafina swore softly. Wade awkwardly twisted around, grasping her forearm to keep his balance. She briefly met his gaze, the fear dancing in her eyes painfully clear.

The blue dragon's eyes slid from Aurum to Wade to Serafina, flashing between a dizzying mix of emotions—sorrow, joy, fear, confusion, rage. The latter finally won over, and a slow snarl broke across its face. Wade flinched and reached for Aurum, but the dragon had closed himself from the bond. He could faintly sense Aurum speaking to the other dragon, his thoughts scattered and unfinished.

Without warning, a presence roughly pushed into Wade's mind, similar to Aurum and yet utterly foreign. Wade recoiled as it surrounded his thoughts, sharp and clear. He was dimly aware of Serafina holding him steady, her voice laced with panic as she tried to rouse him.

Who are you?

The thought was distinctly feminine, laced with a strange, enraged hiss. It took Wade a long moment to translate; finally, he lifted his head and met the blue dragon's eyes. A friend.

A snarl erupted from the dragon's throat, and she pressed harder, clawing through his thoughts for a shred of dishonesty. Wade swayed, a whimper escaping his lips. It felt like plunging into an icy river—not painful, exactly, but horrible nonetheless.

Then the dragon vanished, as abruptly as she had appeared. Wade gasped as he was thrown back into his own body, raising a hand to his head.

"Wade!" Serafina's voice came into focus, right next to his ear.

"I'm fine," he replied, dazed. The dragon turned her attention to Serafina, and before he could cry out a warning the girl's arms loosened around him. Wade reached out and grabbed her before she could fall, his heart twisting oddly.

Wade! Aurum said, his worry suddenly bursting through the bond. Are you alright?

For a moment, rage flashed through Wade. No! Don't let her hurt Sera!

She won't, Aurum replied, but doubt laced his words.

Tell me what's happening, Wade snarled, his thoughts blending together in his rush.

This is... this is my sister. Aurum's mind drifted when he thought of the blue dragon, a strange, wordless medley of emotions and images taking the place of her name. Wade paused, unable to fully decipher it, and angrily shook his head. This wasn't the time to get distracted.

Serafina jerked suddenly, a curse slipping past her lips. Relief rushed through Wade as she shifted into a more secure position behind him.

"Are you okay?" he whispered, glancing over his shoulder.

"For now," Serafina mumbled, blinking a few times. "She doesn't like me."

Right. She was a magi. Wade's heart skipped a beat, and he turned back to the blue dragon. If she attacked...

She would not do that, Aurum replied, shocked at the mere thought.

Wade bit his lip, somewhat reassured by Aurum's flash of confidence. I hope not.

A rift opened in the clouds below them, revealing the dizzying drop to the rocky ground. The blue dragon looked down and stilled, dropping a few feet as she missed a beat of her wings. Wade tried to follow her gaze, but was forced back by his own fear.

The blue dragon suddenly dived down, so swiftly and silently Wade hardly saw her move. Alarm rang through Aurum's mind, and the world tipped sickeningly as he followed. Wade shouted and clung tighter as they plummeted through the clouds.

She's heading toward the others, Aurum explained as he steepened his dive. Wade closed his eyes against the bitter wind, imagining that thin trail of smoke.

What's she going to do? he managed to ask.

I don't know... Aurum loosed a roar of frustration as they lagged behind the blue dragon. Through the bond, Wade could see what the dragon did; the distant figures of his father and Kira, cantering up a rocky slope atop Ember. They were exposed; they wouldn't make it. Panic surged through Wade, and for once it had nothing to do with the ground below. He and Aurum watched helplessly as the dragon fell into place directly above them, so that their forms were lost in her shadow.

Wait. Aurum levelled off sharply, nearly sending Wade and Serafina flying yet again. Wade swore loudly and opened his eyes, looking for the blue dragon. Even as he found her, she circled around and shot back down the mountainside, her scales glinting in the dim light. He followed her path and spotted a small group of figures near the base of the mountain, half-hidden in a cluster of trees. Aurum tipped into yet another dive, a low snarl building in his throat.

The blue dragon circled once, twice over the group. Aurum soon fell into place beside her, only a couple hundred feet away from the ground. Wade risked a glance downwards and noticed that they were only three, mounted atop horses. One figure stood apart from the other two, her deep red hair writhing in the fierce wind like flames as she looked up at the circling dragons.

It's not her, Aurum said, sensing Wade's growing fear. She's younger, and her eyes are blue.

The blue dragon suddenly broke from Aurum's side, racing toward the group with a bloody snarl. Asher horse skittered backwards, the woman raised her arm, eyes narrowed. Silvery liquid shot from a flask at her side, coating the dragon's shoulder and wing before she could try to dodge.

Aurum roared the same moment as his sister did, a flash of frenzied rage bursting through the bond as he shared her pain. Below them, the blue dragon swerved just before colliding with the group, wings beating the air desperately. Wade watched, confused and worried, as she crashed into the rocky mountainside, sending up a cloud of dirt.

What happened? he asked, trying to grasp Aurum's attention.

Acid. His snarl deepend; Wade could tell that he wanted nothing more than to attack, but his riders held him back. After a moment of hesitation, Aurum dove down to his sister. Wade's stomach lurched as the dragon landed roughly, shaking his wings out. Get off and stay here.

Before Wade could protest Serafina was pulling him away, helping him climb down the dragon's side. The blue dragon lifted her head as they both collapsed on the ground, dazed and weak. Smoke rose off of her side; Wade could hear the faint hiss of the acid. Serafina whipped her hand around, sending a wave of water across the dragon's scales.

Aurum snarled, tensed but not yet ready to pounce. Wade glanced down the slope, where the trio waited only a few dozen yards away. With a start, he recognized the other two—Eva and Dean, if he remembered correctly. The bandits who'd shot Asher. They were both watching Aurum, their faces twin masks of fear.

Serafina muttered a curse. Wade glanced over the blue dragon's side and grimaced: many of her scales had been corroded, revealing the burnt flesh beneath. A good section of her wing was ruined as well, scattered with ragged holes and tears. The dragon still pulled herself upright, however, baring her fangs as she prepared to fight.

The pounding of hooves drew Wade's attention back to the bandits. The strange woman had broken from the bandits, one hand raised with her thumb and first two fingers extended. A temporary truce. Aurum twitched, and Wade hurriedly relayed the meaning of the gesture.

That is worthless to me, Aurum snarled back, but he hesitated. The woman drew to a halt just out of reach, her pale eyes flicking between the four of them. Her horse was shaking, eyes wild, but held perfectly still as she dismounted.

"Sera," Wade hissed. "Those are the bandits. And that woman looks a lot like Idris..."

Serafina stiffened and stepped forward, resting one hand on Aurum's side. "Leave us. Now."

The woman waited a long moment before speaking, tugging at her right sleeve. Wade's eyes lingered on her forearm. There was no doubt about it; she was a Valkir. "We will. I only ask that you don't follow us or attack while our backs are turned."

There was a stunned silence. Wade exchanged a look with Serafina, seeing his own doubt reflected in her eyes. He looked back at the woman, clenching his hands into fists. "Who are you?"

"Rhea."

Wade bit his lip. "Why?"

"Because I like being alive," Rhea snapped, rolling her eyes. Wade blinked, more than a little surprised at the sudden burst of emotion. She wasn't very old, either—twenty-one at the most.

"So do I," Serafina growled.

"I won't come back," Rhea said plainly.

"Others will take your place."

"Perhaps. I cannot stop them." Rhea's eyes flashed as she shrugged. "But you'll get extra time."

Serafina closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "Is this a trap?"

"No."

"Do you mean us any harm?"

"Right now? No."

"I don't believe you."

"You know I'm telling the truth." Serafina started, and Rhea nodded. "I can feel that magic, you know..." she heaved a long sigh. "Please. You're a smart girl. I don't want to fight you. That's all there is to this."

Serafina pointed toward Dean and Eva, still lagging behind. "What about them?"

Rhea shrugged. "They're here to give me directions. Scared out of their minds. I don't think they'll bother you again."

"This is absurd." Serafina laughed hollowly, then looked back at Wade. He nodded reluctantly. "Okay. Go. I hope we never see you again."

Rhea nodded, relief softening her expression for the barest moment. Then she stalked back to her horse and was gone, cantering back down the mountain. Dean and Eva eagerly followed her, and within minutes the three were lost in the shadows of the woods.

They're leaving, Wade told Aurum, hardly believing it himself.

I know. I was listening. Aurum slowly moved toward the blue dragon, lowering his head to examine her wounds. His sister staggered a few steps back, narrowing her eyes at Wade and Serafina. After a moment, her presence reentered the bond, strange and slightly muted.

Thank you.

Serafina nodded; Wade sensed the dragon retreat slightly as the two spoke. When she came back, her guard had dropped a little—Wade could feel the pain that laced her body as if it were his own.

Follow me.

With a flick of her tail, the blue dragon turned and began walking. Aurum jumped to her side, letting her lean against him for support as she limped along. Far above, Wade saw his father and Kira running down, apparently having abandoned Ember.

"Do you think she'll come back?" he finally asked Serafina, starting after the dragons.

She let the silence stretch out, heavy and full of confusion. "No. No, she wasn't lying."

"She could've tricked you."

"I would've felt it."

Wade stared off into the distance, holding one hand to his aching ribs. "Strange."

"Indeed."

There wasn't much to say after that. They kept walking, with nothing but the dragons' scales to guide them in the descending darkness.