Fireside and Shadow by K.E. O'Connor

Author:K.E. O'Connor [O'Connor, K.E.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-03-30T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 12

Seraphina paced the forest floor, her hands clasped together. She’d covered the same path for twenty minutes, alternating between gripping her hands tight and scratching the already red, flaky skin.

“They’ll be here soon,” I said.

“They’re late. What if something’s gone wrong?” Seraphina stopped walking and peered through the trees.

“They’d let us know if there was a problem getting away from Wild Wing,” I said.

We received word that Juno, Zandra, and Cinder were on their way, so we made preparations to meet them in the hidden glade, allowing Cinder to be reunited with Juniper.

“Don’t be so sure. Lady Isolda has spies everywhere. Someone loyal to the royal family could have snuck into Wild Wing. Your friends may be captured. Cinder could be in trouble.”

“Juno has a dragon-sized ego, but she’s not foolish,” Hodgepodge said. “She’d fight her way out of any situation. Zandra is powerful, too. Trust them to bring us the dragon.”

“I have no choice. We’re so close to success, but it makes me sick to my stomach to think anything could go wrong at the last minute.” Seraphina returned to her pacing.

I stepped in front of her and rested my hands on her shoulders. “You’re exhausted and anxious. And the way you’re still scratching suggests you’ve been clumsy with the healing potions again.”

Seraphina hid her hands behind her back. “I am tired, but I can’t sleep. Every time I close my eyes, hundreds of thoughts race through my head. And I still feel guilty about betraying Emberthorn and Stormwing.”

“They’ve forgiven you.”

“I’m not sure Stormwing has,” Hodgepodge said. “He gets extra gassy when you’re around. And that gas is always aimed in your direction.”

I wrinkled my nose. The healing potion Seraphina gave Stormwing didn’t agree with his digestion, and whenever I visited, I had to massage his stomach to release the trapped wind. It was a necessary but deeply unpleasant experience for everyone standing downwind.

“I’ll spend the rest of my life in their service,” Seraphina said. “I’ll prove I’ve changed. I’ve matured. I acted like such an idiot, thinking the Ithric family would look after me. All they wanted was my knowledge. Then they trapped me in the castle. Not that I had anywhere else to go. It was a prison of my own making.”

“Things are changing,” I said. “Leave the past where it belongs. When Juniper gets Cinder back, it’ll unite everyone. Stormwing may even smile. And I’m sure a young dragon will inspire Emberthorn to be a little more enthusiastic.”

“He always was lazy,” Seraphina said with a shy smile. “Don’t tell him I said that.”

“He is borderline useless,” Hodgepodge said. “I figured he was sleeping so much because he needed to heal, but that’s all he does. The last time we were all together, Stormwing bit his tail to get him to rouse.”

“Sleeping is his favorite hobby,” Seraphina said. “Always has been.”

“And it’ll be yours soon too,” I said. “Once Cinder is here and safe, the other dragons will focus, and you can complete their healing. A few more steps, and we’ll get them back where they belong.

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