Chapter Thirteen
Thonis
Thonis didn’t start worrying about Katrina’s absence until he learned that the atlas Anna had brought from Earth all those centuries ago was missing. They needed to send every single item that came from Earth back there in order to seal the portals.
When Katrina had walked back into the palace, he had thought that she was simply unable to deal with this development and needed privacy to break down. When he didn’t find her in her room, he thought that maybe she was still researching. A few of the researchers still in the library said she took a few books and left, so he thought she wanted to be left alone. When darkness fell, and he still had not seen her, he started asking.
And that was when he found that the atlas was missing as well. In a moment, he knew. Worry twisted his gut, and he sought out Audiv. She confirmed what he feared most.
“Yes, she came to talk with me. Wanted to know all the details about the bridging ritual. Kept saying that there had to be a different way. I tried to tell her that it wouldn’t work but…” Audiv sadly shook her head. “I gave her my notes and told her if she could come up with a different solution, I would be more than happy to hear it.”
Thonis’ stomach heaved. “She did come up with another solution.”
Audiv frowned. “What?”
He looked into her eyes and found himself unable to say the words. Instead, he turned on his heel and marched away. As soon as he was out of Audiv’s lab, he broke into a run. Where would she go? He had gone ahead and looked at what the ritual would entail himself… it needed anchoring points. Things steeped in history and magic.
The relic halls. Large rooms that housed items passed down from kings of old.
Thonis sped there, praying he wasn’t too late. When he burst in and Katrina screamed, relief flooded over him. She hadn’t tried anything yet. She clutched her heart, panting. On her back was a pack full to the brim, and all around her were empty display cases. They stared at each other for a long moment, neither of them speaking.
Eventually, Katrina cleared her throat. “You know I have to.”
Thonis strode forward. He was relieved that she wasn’t going to try to pretend she wasn’t doing what she was doing. “You can’t.”
“I’m not going to let families be torn apart. Mothers and fathers separated from their children, children ripped from their parents, husbands and wives never able to see each other again. It’s a risk I have to take.”
Thonis shook his head. “You heard Indulf. It will kill you.”
“It killed the child who was used as the bridge last time. A three-year-old child, who wasn’t even a dragon,” Katrina replied flatly. “I’m not a child. I’m a grown adult, and I’m a dragon. If anybody has a chance at surviving this, it’s me.”
“I can’t let you do this. If Indulf knew—”
“If Indulf knew he would stop me. I know.”
Thonis edged forward, concerned that he was going to startle her into running. She stood her ground as he got closer. “Out of loyalty to the king, I have to stop you. I have to do as my king would want—"
“No, you don’t. You have to do what you feel is right. For the kingdom. You serve the king, yes, but you serve the kingdom more. If Indulf ordered you to burn down a village, would you do it?”
“He would never…” Thonis trailed off. He understood what she was driving at, even if he didn’t want to. Her gaze was intense as she stared at him. “It will kill him to lose you.”
“No,” Katrina whispered. “It won’t. It will hurt, I know that. And I am sorry that it will hurt. But I have to do this. I have a better chance at survival, but even if I die… I have to do this. I’m the only one who can. For their sake. For the sake of all mages and dragons. For Earth. We lost magic and just look at Penny and Sylvia. They got magic back, and I know that it makes them feel complete. If we do as Indulf and Anna have decided, we will lose magic and we will lose our dragons. You told me before how hard it is not to have your fires on Earth. How empty it feels.”
“We can survive without being whole.”
Katrina closed her eyes, took a deep breath and opened them again. “Okay. You’re right. We can survive. And they’ll survive to lose their mates and children.”
Thonis thought of Warmund clinging to his father, whispering that he didn’t know how he’d survive if he lost Penny and his children. His stomach cramped as he closed the distance between him and Katrina. He wanted to take the items from her but couldn’t bring himself to do it.
“Earth and Byrelmore have become connected. Every item brought here from Earth has to be returned and vice versa. But is that even possible? Can you remember everything you’ve brought back over the years? And what about the food that was eaten over there and didn’t go through all the way until you were back here? Do we have to empty the sewers and parse out the Earth-poop to send it back? How do we know that it’s even possible to have a complete severing?”
He reached out, his fingers brushing against her cheekbone. She was so strong. So brave. Even though fear shone in her eyes, her determination was more powerful. She had made up her mind and come hell or high water, she was sticking to it. He loved that about her. Admired it. And right now, it made him want to shrivel up and die—because it meant he had a choice. Help her and risk losing her forever, or turn on her and know that she would never forgive him.
“I can’t lose you like this.”
Tears pooled in her eyes. “I know. I don’t want to lose you, either. Not after we just found each other. But I have to do this. For their sakes and my own. Thinking about never being able to see my parents again… I already feel like I’m being torn apart.”
Thonis pulled her into his arms. He could feel her heart beating wildly against her ribs, vibrating into his chest. He closed his eyes, drank in her scent and held her tightly as though that was all he needed to do. His fires were low, almost out.
“I would give up everything for you,” he told her. “I would give up being a dragon. I would give up my position, my wealth, everything. I’d cut off my right hand. What you’re asking me to do is to cut out my heart.”
Katrina buried her face in his chest and a choked sob that was half laugh thumped against his ribs. “You never told me you were rich. And your right hand? But not your left? Odd, considering that you’re right-handed—”
“Katrina! This isn’t funny.”
She pulled slightly back and shook her head. “I’m sorry. I’m just trying to keep it together. I know it’s not funny. I haven’t asked anything of you yet… and I hate having to. But… please help me.”
Thonis’ arms tightened ever so slightly. And here it was. His choice. Either way he risked losing her. One way guaranteed her survival. If it was the other way around and it was him who was the potential sacrifice, what would he want her to do? Would he want her to stop him, or would he want her to hold him as he gave his all?
The answer was simple. But it hurt like hell.
He kissed her hard, pulling her as close as he could. “I’ll help you.”
Katrina let out another sob and threw her arms around his neck. Their kiss deepened, and his fires stirred to life again. Her tongue thrust into his mouth, wild and desperate. He backed her against the nearest display, lifting her leg over his hip as he ground against her. His loins tightened as his heart beat harder. He was more than ready to take her right there.
But she turned her head breaking their kiss. Her fingers remained curled into his shirt and she panted, lips slightly parted and lust burning in her eyes.
“We have to get this stuff back to my room before anybody catches us here,” she told him. “The ritual has to be done at midnight and at the center of Byrelmore. I looked at the maps and I’m pretty sure the palace counts as the center. Just to be safe, though, it’s got to happen in the courtyard.”
Thonis nodded. Midnight. That was six hours away still. Six hours for them to be discovered. They weren’t closing the portals until tomorrow, though.
“I’ll take the relics to your room,” he told her. “You take the atlas to where they’re gathering the items from Earth. It’s how I knew what you were doing.”
Katrina frowned. “Why? It has nothing to do with the ritual.”
He shrugged, and a wry smile crossed his face. “Don’t ask why. I just knew.”
“Okay. I’ll take it back. But you must get these items to my room, okay? Don’t let anybody see.”
Thonis nodded once to show he understood. They kissed deeply again; he almost broke his resolve to wait. His hands roamed over her body, the beat of his pulse promising the rhythm of how he would fill her later. A promise of being entwined, joined, one of body and soul.
Perhaps for the last time ever.
It hurt to let her go but he did. He released her and took the items that she had collected. They looked so innocent there, but each one of them threatened death. Katrina brushed her fingers over his back one last time before she disappeared out the door with the atlas clutched to her chest. Thonis glared at the relics one last time before he picked up Katrina’s bag and headed for her chambers.
She had asked for his help, and he would see it through. Even if it killed him.