Asa’s eyes were red and swollen by the time he got home. He wasn’t ashamed of the fact that he had had to stop twice to cry. He was a strong warrior who led his men on raids and fought against other clans as needed without flinching. He knew that there was a myth among humans that strong men didn’t cry, but that seemed utterly ludicrous to him. Having strength didn’t mean that a man didn’t have a heart. And in this case, his heart was breaking.

He had read everything so wrong. He had been so certain that Willow felt the same way he did, but it was clear from what she had said that it wasn’t the case. So what choice did he have other than to accept what she wanted and let her alone?

After he stowed his bike away in the communal garage and started to walk away, he spotted two figures. Shante, her hands on her stomach, walked with Quinn beside her. His arms were wrapped around her. Asa’s heart gave a stab. He wanted to just turn around and walk away, but it was too late. They had already seen him and Quinn waved him over.

He bowed when he got closer. “My king. My lady. What brings you out here this late at night?”

“This child is close to being born,” Shante sighed. “Walking helps to ease my backache. And you? I thought you would be home.”

Quinn nodded with a grin. “Shante told me the results of her interview with your human. I thought that the two of you would be celebrating still.”

Asa blinked, then shook his head. “Why?” His voice was dull. “She decided she wanted to go back home. I just got back from returning her to her village.”

“What?” Shante stiffened. “She said she wanted to return to her home? What . . . ? Why?”

“She said that when you and she talked, she realized that she didn’t want to be here . . . with me.” Asa dropped his gaze to the ground. Surely Shante already knew all this? It was their talk that convinced Willow to leave. She would have known everything . . . Wait. Asa’s brow furrowed. Why didn’t she know what Willow wanted? “She didn’t express a desire to leave with you?’

Shante shook her head. “Quite the opposite, in fact. I have never seen a woman more dedicated to staying with her dragon. She had no doubts about your relationship. I can’t see how she would have once she left my office.”

“Then why . . . ?”

Sherwood. Asa’s breath caught in his chest and his fires roared. Even though he knew that there was no proof, there was nothing to say that the fairy was in any way responsible, he knew. He just knew. Sherwood had been unnaturally interested in Willow since she arrived, and he had gotten her into trouble once. Who was to say that the fairy hadn’t said something to her . . . .Or done something. Threatened her. Threatened the people she cared about.

“I have to get her back,” Asa blurted. “Something’s not right. My king, where is the fairy?”

“Sherwood? He’s...” Quinn’s expression darkened. “Shante, get back to your chambers. I will look for the fairy. If he’s betrayed us—”

Asa didn’t stick around to hear what else Quinn had to say. He raced back to the garage, collected his bike, and sped back towards Willow’s village. He drove far faster than was safe and nearly wiped out twice. He was only grateful that there was no other traffic on the road. As it was, it was already morning by the time he arrived. He drove his bike right into the center of the village and jumped off.

“Willow!”

People screamed and scattered at the sight of him. Many of them dodged into nearby buildings. Asa ignored the panic. None of it mattered. He didn’t even know what house belonged to Willow’s family. His heart pounded and his fires burned so hotly that he could taste them on his tongue. He looked around at the terrified people and chose one. He lunged, grabbing the tall, willowy man. It was one of the shepherds. Asa had seen him often.

“Where do Willow and her family live?” he demanded, keeping a tight grip on the man’s arm.

“D-down the alley.” His eyes were wide. “That way!”

Asa dragged the man along with him as the warning bells that signaled approaching dragons sounded. Great. Apparently, they had either recognized him or his bike. It didn’t matter. While the panic wasn’t going to help him with his goal, all he cared about was finding Willow – making sure she was okay and his darkest fears weren’t realized.

The shepherd led him to a nice house. When he burst inside, he saw Willow’s parents. They sat at the kitchen table, mechanically eating with blank expressions on their faces.

He’d never seen a fairy thrall before, but he had heard stories. Enough of them to recognize that was what was happening now. His heart jumped into his throat as he marched to Willow’s mother and shook her. There was no response. How long had they been under the thrall? When did they refuse to buy Willow back from him?

How long had Sherwood been putting the wheels into motion? What did he want with Willow?

Asa shook Willow’s father. “Where is he?”

“Who?” the shepherd behind him asked, voice trembling.

“Where is the fairy?” Asa peered into Willow’s father’s eyes. “Where did he take Willow?”

No response. Fine. He’d just have to find them the old-fashioned way. Asa raced back out of the house. There were some people hurrying into their homes. They screamed and bolted every which way when he shifted. He ignored them. If they couldn’t figure out that he wasn’t there for them, more fool to them.

Asa lowered his head and closed his eyes. His nostrils flared as he inhaled deeply, searching for Willow’s scent. It was here, but low, muted. Not in the way that it would be after her absence for so long. Rather, it was muffled, the same way sound was muffled if you put your hands over your ears while someone was talking.

Keeping his head down, Asa followed the scent. The smells from the frightened humans made it difficult to hold onto the muted trail, but once they finished screaming their heads off and had disappeared into houses or down the streets, it was a little easier. He slithered along the road, sniffing constantly so he didn’t miss her.

A gun went off. A sharp sting hit his flank and Asa’s head swiveled around. A group of half a dozen men stood in an alley. Sweat dripped off their faces as they aimed shotguns at him. One of them shouted and they all began to fire. Volley after volley flattened against his scales and he let out a warning puff of smoke. Their guns could, at worse, loosen his scales as they pinged against him. Perhaps if they aimed at his eye, it would hurt, like getting a grain of sand under the lid. But he was a dragon, and the only human weapons capable of causing actual pain were their bombs and grenades.

The firing volley stopped. Asa snorted at them and turned back to his mission. His head swung back and forth as he sniffed along the street, hurrying as Willow’s scent grew stronger. Twice the men fired their guns at him and twice he had to wait until the overpowering stretch of gunpowder faded so he could find the trail again. When he heard the gathering for a third volley he turned, smoke billowing from his mouth. If they weren’t going to leave him alone then—

Something sunk deep into his flank. Asa whipped away from it, knocking a wall out of the building he stumbled into it. Pain flashed up his body as he twisted. Sherwood smiled at him as he withdrew a long, thin sword from the dragon’s flank. Glowing blue patterns were etched into the hilt. A fairy blade. Great splashes of blood dripped from it and Sherwood held his hand out, catching a drop. Golden sparks burst from his hand and ran up his arm.

“Just what I needed. Thank you, my lord.” The fairy laughed. He flicked his wrist and the sparks exploded from him. They shot out every which way. When they touched a human, that human went slack. Their eyes glazed and they stood still, like zombies. Sherwood rose his hands into the air with a triumphant grin. “Now I have all my slaves.”

Asa snarled.

He tossed the fairy blade to one of the humans. “Kill the dragon.”

From all around him, humans started to swarm towards him. They burst out of their homes and came at him with bare fists, kicking and shouting. Asa twisted, reaching to snatch the fairy blade. A child threw itself into his mouth, hands clawing at his lips. Asa twisted this way and that, trying to reach the blade without hurting any of the humans.

From the corner of his eye, he saw her. Standing still, watching. Willow.