I rush through the caves, following Amelia’s scent. It feels like since she arrived in my life, all I’ve done is chase her down. 

That, and mate passionately. 

She wasn’t at Celaena, of course. My mate flew the coop at the first possible opportunity. I can’t deny her tenacity. 

To my surprise she didn’t get lost in the many caves, but managed to find her way out. She’s more resourceful than I thought. I burst outside, following her tracks, shifting into my dragon form instantly when I have enough room. 

With my senses heightened, I see her instantly in a clearing down below, and my strong heart skips a beat. 

Three Qroqs have her surrounded, and they are inches away from touching her.

No!

My vision turns red, furious anger overtaking me. This time, I welcome it. It flows through my veins, making my claws even sharper, my breath even more powerful, my wingspan even greater. 

The Qroqs have no idea what hits them. 

I burst through the treetops. One Qroq is skewered by my talons, my claws piercing his chest, while I reach down and bite another in half with my massive fangs. 

The wretched taste of the acidic Qroq blood fills my mouth.

A single swipe of my tail takes care of the third enemy. He is launched against a tree and falls to the ground, coughing and hacking. 

The three dragons stand there frightened, my attack so sudden and quick they are spooked. Their riders are dead or incapacitated, in no state to threaten them into action, and they lay down flat on their stomachs in an act of submission. 

I turn towards the single Qroq still alive and raise my claw to strike him down when Amelia unexpectedly jumps in front of him.

“Stop!” she says, spreading her arms wide.

I can only narrowly avoid striking her. What in Avik’s name is she doing?!

“Please, stop!” she pleads.

Adrenaline is still coursing through my veins, the taste of blood in my mouth, but I will myself to calm down. Mustering every bit of willpower I have, I manage to shift back into my other form. 

However, I’m not any less furious.

“What are you doing?!” I growl with barely contained anger. The Qroq behind her is still gasping for air, scrambling to get to his feet. “Let me at him!”

“He’s wounded,” she says. “You’ve already won. You don’t need to kill him.”

“Were they not about to hurt you?”

“The other two were — not this one.”

“You are too compassionate,” I growl. “All Qroqs deserve death.”

“I hope I never lose that compassion then,” she answers. “I don’t see enemies everywhere, and I hope I never do. The bloodshed needs to stop. Back on Earth we have a saying: An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind. Killing him will change nothing.”

My fists are balled up in anger, the veins in my neck throbbing. My mate can be impossible. First she sneaks out, and now she pleads compassion for our tormentors?!

She wanders over towards the three dragons, which still have their bellies pressed flat against the floor in submission.

“Careful,” I say. “They are dangerous.”

Amelia runs her fingers across the dragon’s skin, gently patting him behind the ear. 

“Nonsense. They just need little warmth.”

She loosens the straps on the shock-collars, and the devices fall on the forest floor with a thud. Freed from their chains, the dragons kick off into the air and flee instantly.

My mate watches them go, and sighs. “Will they ever be regular Thalanil, like you?”

I shake my head. “Honestly… we don’t know. They are traumatized, damaged…”

Amelia turns back to me, looking determined.

“I have another plan, and this time, you are going to like it.”

“To hell with your plans,” I growl. “How many times have I saved you now?!” The gleam in her eyes stops me in my tracks. “What?”

“Remember the emperor?”

“Yes,” I answer. “The source of all this evil.”

“He’s at the Fortress, and he wants me. Isn’t that right?”

The Qroq behind her crawls to his feet, one hand resting on his cracked ribs. “Yes,” he wheezes. “Yes.”

My heart skips a beat.

Emperor Qotl. 

Here?

I rush towards the wounded Qroq and grab his neck. “Are you telling the truth?!”

“Y-yes,” he stammers. “Y-yes, m-master Thalanil! S-spare me, please!” 

“It’s too convenient,” I say. 

I can’t believe it. All my life, the Qroq emperor has been a specter. A ghost. An unseeable, unmovable force that has sunk his talons into my people. 

And now he’s come, and my claws are itching to sink into his chest and tear him to pieces. 

My mate places a hand on my arm. “What if it’s true?” she asks. “What if we can end it all with one great strike?” 

It’s risky. 

Hell, it’s a suicide mission.

But if we kill the emperor… 

Then it just might be worth it.