Dragon spurred Carellian, following from above the rapidly dimming winged figure that hurtled faster and faster down the flank of the ridge.

Two shots were fired before the assassin and Jade spiraled into a deadly descent toward the jagged rocks below and the dangerous waters of the Green River. Dragon caught a glimpse of red mist haloing the hugged bodies as they plunged, but he couldn’t tell if she was wounded.

His heart beat fast against his ribcage at the thought that Jade could be mortally shot. A void ate at him from the inside as if he were losing part of himself at the mere speculation of losing her.

At his mental command, Carellian pointed his head down and flattened his wing to the side. A moment later, they entered the canyon between Sol Palace’s ridge dome and one of the six surrounding it. Narrowing in places and with jutting terraces popping out around hairpin corners, the geography of the ravine was prohibitive for the large body of the draglet. Dragon guided his steed with soothing commands, even if he wanted nothing more than to throw caution to the wind and hurry to the bottom of the canyon. The waters below dragged everything toward Rainbow Fall, and the clockwork wings of the assassin would drag both him and Jade down to a certain death.

If Jade was still alive.

But she must be, he chided himself. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have jumped. And she’s an assassin. If anyone can survive that fall it’s her. If she hasn’t been shot, his treacherous mind added.

With an enraged roar, he urged Carellian around a tight bend, fighting his feelings and relegating his fear deep inside his heart. Skirting an edge, his draglet followed an aerial path that progressively widened until he could spread his wings. Finally, the assassin’s mechanical wings came into view as he broke the river’s surface. Even from a distance, Dragon heard the ominous sound of crushing bones and machinery.

He watched without breathing as the slender body of his mercenary detached from the assassin. The dark waters dragged both man and gear under, and they disappeared a few seconds later. Jade started swimming against the current, but her movements were sluggish and too slow to gain any distance from the incoming doom.

Although rain season had just passed, every lake and river on the planet was pregnant with an abundance of water. Rainbow Fall was at its most dangerous, the river feeding the waterfall with enough aquatic energy to power the entire valley for the rest of the year. Not even an assassin could survive unbridled nature.

Dragon’s next roar tore at his heart, freeing the fear he had carefully stored there, and Carellian responded to his anguish. The draglet flattened his body parallel to the river, his wings catching a thermal as he gained precious time in their quest to reach Jade before the current dragged her over the cliff. Dragon let his dragon talk directly to Carellian, relinquishing authority.

Jade’s attempts at moving toward the riverbank grew feeble.

As if suspended in time from a few meters above, Dragon watched the edge of the waterfall approach. He glided to the side of Carellian, his arm dangling, his fingers reaching for the water, ready to grab Jade. Her head bobbed up and down a few times and finally slipped under the surface.

Almost there, almost touching her, but the current transported her to his left, forcing Dragon up again and down the other side of Carellian. Under the current, Jade’s eyes were closed. The raging waters dragged her under and toward the edge of Rainbow Fall at the same time, making Dragon’s mission to save her impossible from atop his draglet.

Dragon’s massive build didn’t make for a graceful swimmer, but he didn’t think twice as he hurled himself off Carellian.

Cool water engulfed him. His dragon came from an aerial dynasty and didn’t like any aquatic environment. As a result, Dragon’s senses were dimmed in the liquid environment that sapped his strength. Fortunately, he could hold his breath for several minutes without the need to break the surface for oxygen.

He dove, searching the churning water for Jade. The edge was closing upon him when he finally caught the white of her hand floating away from him. He pushed his body to its limits, swimming after her, his outstretched hand grasping at her fingers. He missed once, twice.

Close to the fall, water roared loud, swirling fast around them. His legs pushed against an invisible wall and propelled him forward. The hood of Jade’s leather vest came close to his hand and he seized the opportunity, closing his fingers on the fabric and pulling it toward him. Her body smashed against his, and he hooked his arms around her waist, anchoring Jade to him as he directed both of them up.

It was too late. They were falling already. From top to bottom, the jump was two hundred meters.

Still holding his breath, Dragon closed his lips over hers and pushed air into her mouth as they were pulled down toward the basin. United in a never-ending kiss, their bodies were jerked in every direction, but he kept Jade close, his arms crossing her back, creating a shield against the rocks jutting from the vertical wall of the fall.

When the basin water finally met his feet, he took most of the impact, then released her and hoisted her up a moment before he too reemerged. Sputtering and dragging air into his lungs, he swam toward the shore with one-armed strokes as he kept her afloat.

Carellian flew down the fall, mournfully whining, and circled above Dragon, following his progress toward the edge of the basin. A narrow sandy shore smoothed out of the low wall of rocks that bordered the pool. Dragon pulled himself out of the water, heaving Jade onto the stretch of soft ground. Carellian landed on soft legs on a nearby boulder, his long neck craning toward Dragon.

“I’m okay,” Dragon reassured his draglet, who softly bumped his feathery head against his shoulder.

The animal’s large, button eyes were filled with worry, and he patted Dragon a second time, then pointed his triangular, flat nose at Jade.

Dragon’s hands were already pressing on her chest, then he pushed air into her mouth. He could hear the faintest of heartbeats, but they were dimming, and her lungs didn’t move. A mortal pallor had bleached all the color from her face, making her look like a porcelain doll.

“Jade!” He filled her lungs with his air once more, then waited. “Jade!” His emotions were a tangle of rage and despair. “Jade—” More an anxious cry than an angry shout. He didn’t stop trying to revive her, but breathing for the two of them, he forced her lungs to receive his air.

“Dragon,” Valerian’s voice resonated close, from somewhere behind him.

Dragon kept trying to revive Jade, long after her last heartbeat drummed ever so softly against her ribcage.

“Come back to me,” he whispered to her cold lips.

“Dragon—” Valerian called.

Dragon held Jade’s too-light body against his, his arms crossed over her back. “Come back to me.” He rocked her softly.

His mouth sought hers for one last kiss.