but she’d seen his sword barely make a dent, which meant her daggers would be useless. And since she wanted to remain out of sight for as long as possible, Lyana decided to go for the wings first.
The dragon hitched its head, about to unleash its wrath.
Fully aware of how idiotic her actions were, and fully aware of the promise she’d made her brother, Lyana stretched her arm back and zeroed in on her target—the joint where the wing met the body. The spot was a vulnerable one for any flying creature, including her, and she’d seen how the dragon had skidded across the cliff face, scuffing its wings and scales. While there was no trace of blood, she was sure there had been damage done—damage she would use to her advantage.
Lyana released one of her daggers.
The blade landed true, as she’d been confident it would.
The beast roared in pain, head rearing as it shot a useless flame into the sky. Its neck whipped around, body following, and its wings flapped, one not quite as well as the other.
Maybe the eyes would have been better after all, Lyana thought with a gulp as a single ruby iris focused in on her. Her fingers shifted on the second dagger, moving into position as she drew back her arm again. Before she released it, an arrow landed with a thunk in the middle of that furious pupil.
The dragon shook its head as though confused at what had happened. Lyana, on the other hand, wasn’t surprised as Cassi soared into view, as lethal as she was silent, and shot a second arrow at the dragon’s other eye. The beast bellowed as the arrow missed its mark and ricocheted off its impenetrable scales. But while its mouth was open, Lyana threw her poised dagger toward its open jaw. The blade disappeared in the cloud of flames erupting deep inside the creature’s throat. It must have landed true, since the dragon took off into the sky, diving over the edge of the bridge and plummeting out of view before they had the chance to strike again.
Lyana’s lungs emptied with one strong whoosh as her friend landed on the sky bridge with an ominous thud.
Cassi grabbed her by the forearm, spinning her around. “Do you have a death wish? What were you thinking?”
“I don’t know,” Lyana confessed, head itching to turn and locate the raven. “I just had to do something. I had to help.”
“Help what? He’s already in his god’s arms, like we probably should be.”
“You don’t know that. Maybe there’s something we could do. Something I could do.”
Cassi’s silvery eyes darkened to hard iron, and her grip on Lyana’s arm tightened. “You can’t be serious.”
Lyana’s lip twitched with humor. “Now where have I heard that before?”
“He’s not worth the risk.”
Lyana glanced over her shoulder, finding the deathly still body, noting how the pool of blood around the raven's torso expanded. “My brother said the same thing about you once.”
Cassi sighed, loosening her fingers. A memory flickered in the corners of her eyes, one Lyana tried hard not to think about too often. She and Luka practicing swordplay in her room. The surprise of the door opening. The dagger slipping accidentally from her fingers. The blade sinking into Cassi’s gut. The pleading look in her friend’s eyes, as if she knew Lyana had the power to save her. The fear on her brother’s face as she exposed her deepest secret to an owl who was still in many ways an outsider—but who, after that day, became a sister.
Glancing away, Cassi broke the moment. “It’s not the same.”
“Isn’t it?” Lyana urged.
“We were already friends when you saved my life, and you were all I had in the world. He’s nothing. A stranger. And we have to go before his companion gets back.”
“No.”
Lyana wrenched her arm free and spun, daring her friend to stop her as she flew to the fallen raven and dropped to her knees beside him. His face was charred beyond recognition, pale skin turned to raw and melted flesh. But that wasn’t the biggest concern. A person could live with burns. Maybe not ones so severe, but it was possible. The gaping wound in his abdomen, however, was fatal—a fact confirmed by the blood spilling onto the crystal rocks beneath them.
Using another of her daggers to cut through his leathers, Lyana was careful not to slice his skin as she peeled back the soiled garments. She put her hands on his naked chest,