AERYN'S POV

A pair of talons landed on my shoulders and wrapped under my armpits, lifting me from Serene's neck. My legs dangled as I latched onto the dragon's feet in fear it would let me go. The talons opened and released me as I clawed at its feet, nails scraping along the smooth scales as I was dropped from its clutches. My stomach flipped as I free fell through the air and my lungs burned as I screamed, wind whipping around me as it stole my breath.

Misty yelled my name, and I plunged a hand into my pocket, using the other to pinch my nose as I rubbed the surface. Yellow and green gas exploded around me as Rays flew out from the poisonous matter, ducking beneath me. I landed on his rigid back and grappled to stay on, stretching for the raised scales running along his spine. I managed to grab onto one of the spiked scales and drag my other hand to a second one as I hung off the side of his torso.

Serene's iridescent scales zoomed by as she dashed underneath us. My hands slipped, skin tearing on my fingertips as I lost my grip on the tough scales.

Another pair of claws dipped under my armpits and pulled me off the dragon. I withdrew the dagger from my thigh sheath and jabbed it at the dragon over my shoulder.

One claw jerked away from my arm and wrapped around my wrist, stopping my attack as my body swung sideways in the attacker's single-handed grip. I craned my neck to find a heated pair of emerald eyes sending their own daggers down at me.

"Stay on your dragon," Zoran snapped, amending, "or dragons."

He flew above Rays and Serene, and held me out in front of him with stiff arms as if he couldn't stand to be touching me. Catching up with Rays, he dropped me on the yellow dragon's neck, parting with, "You're dead without your dragons, so don't fall off them."

He streaked away in a blur of black wings as Rays and Serene met Misty and her purple dragon.

"We need to get to the scale," she said, eyeing Rays with raised brows.

"Do you have any idea where we should look first?" I wondered, sheathing the dagger.

Misty shrugged, scanning the mountain. "It's hidden somewhere on this mountain, so maybe we should try the mining tunnels in Haddington."

"Good idea," I said, guiding Rays toward the mountain as a flurry of snow started to fall.

Two dragons, one blue and one black, swooped in front of us and I halted Rays. The blue dragon sent a cloud of frost at Misty who ushered her dragon in a sharp dive as the blast flew over her, just missing her. The black one was the same size as Rays and leveled its gold eyes on us as its summoner shoved his fist in the air and opened his hand. A torrent of green liquid gushed from his palm as his dragon opened its mouth, boiling slime climbing up its tongue.

The dragon spit a glob of the scalding liquid, smacking Rays in the ribcage with it. He roared in agony and blew a jet of gas at the opponent, submerging them with the noxious vapor. The dragon and its summoner braced themselves as they inhaled the fumes, knocking them out. The dragon's wings paused, and the summoner fell back against the dragon as the two dropped ten feet to a narrow ledge, snow billowing around them from the impact.

"Frotak is out!" Reishell announced.

I sighed, relieved I wouldn't have to kill him to eliminate him. Frotak would just be unconscious for an hour or so, then he would be fine. I was grateful the competition was an aerial challenge that required us to be airborne and we'd be disqualified if we touched the ground at any point - death was not a requirement.

But it was an option.

I pulled on Rays' horns and Serene followed as I found Misty nearby. Her dragon sneered, snapping its fangs at the blue dragon just below them. I led Rays to them and forced him to pull up right alongside the frost breathing dragon and its summoner.

"Get closer," I commanded through clenched teeth as I drew him next to the dragon to the point where the tips of their wings met. I pulled back and directed him a little higher until we were just overhead. Releasing his horns, I crouched and tried not to think about how dangerous and reckless this stunt was going to be.

Before I had time to reconsider the absurdity of what I was planning to do, I fisted my ruben-infused dagger and jumped off the dragon's neck, dropping to the blue one's back. Its scales were smooth and flat, and my feet slid out from underneath me as I landed. I fell on my tailbone and bit my tongue, cringing as pain ricocheted up my spine. 

I slipped down its hind leg and plunged my dagger in between the scales on its thigh, hoisting myself up high enough to grab onto the raised scales in the middle of its back. I used the dagger as a step to climb up as the summoner twisted around and lifted her hand, curly brown hair blowing back from her dark skin as her palm glowed blue around the ice wielding Insignia. The ruben paralyzed the dragon's leg, but there wasn't enough of the liquid to immobilize the entire dragon. I reached down and yanked it out, sheathing it back on my thigh.

Well, Calandra and the frost breathing dragon were meant for each other, I supposed.

An icicle poked from her palm as I removed one of Racquel's topaz knives and drew my arm back, disappointed when it was one of the blades that did not have any more droxin in it. Unlike the other Draconians who could rely on their powers, I had to use makeshift weapons with unique abilities in place of my absent Insignia. 

The spear of ice ejected from Calandra's hand and flew at me as I ducked, hurling the knife at the summoner.

The icicle whizzed over my head, dripping freezing droplets onto my scalp as I dodged it. Calandra let out a yelp and I picked my head up to see her clutching her hand in shock as Racquel's knife protruded out the back of her hand, plunging right through her Insignia. The topaz rendered her power useless, snuffing out the blue glow of her essence as long as it remained wedged in her hand.

"You witch!" She screeched, blood pooling around the wound.

"Is that any way to speak to a princess?" I asked, prowling after her as I flicked out a throwing star from under my sleeve.

Calandra backed up as far as she could, leaning against the back of her dragon's head as I tiptoed across the dragon's neck, careful to be cautious of the slippery scales.

"Tap out," I said. "You can't use your power with that knife in your hand, and you can't remove it without a medic nearby to stitch the wound."

Calandra's lips thinned and she rolled her eyes, tapping twice on her dragon's head. "I'm out," she conceded.

"Calandra has been eliminated!" Reishell echoed.

"Nice shot," Calandra said, reaching out her uninjured hand. "That was actually impressive even though it hurts like a bitch."

I shook her hand, an appreciative smile spreading across my face as I thanked her. "Thanks, your ice wielding power is cool. No pun intended," I joked with a wink.

Calandra rolled her eyes again, but this time she sported a grin, saying, "I'm going to keep this knife."

"It's all yours."

Rays pulled up beside us and flicked his head, motioning for me to get back on him. I saluted Calandra and skidded down her dragon's front leg, free falling onto Rays' neck. He brought me back to Misty who gushed, "That was sick! Your aim is incredible."

I blushed, waving a gloved hand. "Oh, don't boost my ego," I said, smile widening. "Actually, yes, please tell me how awesome that was."

Misty giggled, saying, "Alright, let's go find that scale for real this time."

"Okay," I agreed, "I just need to do something super quick. I'll meet you in Haddington." 

She nodded and took off along the side of themountain as I directed my dragons to Tauren's fallen body hundreds of feetbelow, just on the outskirts of the Yurich Forest in Clear Water where it wassafe to land. Rays and Serene settled on either side of the red dragon who did not even lift his head at our arrival. His sad eyes watched as I leapt from Rays and walked over to him.

The dragon's arm came around Tauren, pulling the deceased Draconian closer as steam exited his nostrils in warning.

I showed him my empty palms and cooed, "I'm so sorry. Tauren is – was – a strong summoner."

The dragon nudged Tauren with its nose, lamenting the loss of his summoner.

I approached them, keeping my hands out in front of me to show I did not mean him any harm. "I'm just going to reach into his pocket right there," I said, pointing at the one on the outside of Tauren's pants, "and take out your scale. You're injured and need to rest."

The dragon growled as I got closer and laid my fingertips on his summoner's trousers.

"What's your name?" I asked, trying to make conversation as I kept my eyes on the dragon. I inched my hand into the pocket, wrapping my fingers around the scale.

Tanwen.

I jerked my hand out of the pocket and blanched, clenching my fingers around the scale.

"Did you just speak to me? In my head?"

Yes.

"Can everyone communicate with their dragons?"

Yes.

"You're a dragon of such few words. How am I hearing your voice in my head?"

I am unbonded now. My summoner is dead.

"How come Serene hasn't spoken to me?" Or Rays?

You are powerless. The Insignia completes the bond and binds our essences so we can speak to each other.

"Oh. But you're not bonded to me," I realized. "Yet you're talking to me."

Your bond with Serene is technically unfinished without your power. You can communicate with all dragons.

"How did I not know any of this before?"

Because this has never happened. All Draconians bond at age twenty when they acquire a power. Your essence developed at that age like everyone else's, but something is holding it back.

"What do you mean? What's holding it back?"

I do not know. I am your third dragon now. Recall me to my realm so I can rest and grieve Tauren's death.

My mind ran in circles as I rubbed the scale. Tanwen's body dissolved into silver sparkles as his essence flowed into the red scale.

Three dragons. I had three dragons.

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