Smoked - Mari Mancusi Page 0,101

glanced questioningly at Trinity, noting recognition in her eyes.

“Lyria!” she exclaimed before he could inquire. “Emmy’s mother,” she added in explanation to him.

Yes, the green and golden dragon agreed, sounding a little sad. Though, in truth, you were always more mother to her than I.

“Yeah, well, Emmy hasn’t exactly been a contender for mother of the year either,” Trinity remarked wryly. “Though she regrets it all now. And I’m pretty sure when she’s finally reunited with Zoe and the rest of them, she’ll be begging for forgiveness.”

“If things keep going the way they are, they might not have long to wait,” Connor muttered.

Suddenly he felt the dragon’s eyes on him. What do you mean? Lyria demanded. Is my Emberlyn in trouble?

Connor gave a reluctant nod, breaking it down for the dragon. She listened, wide-eyed and worried.

You must help her, she told Connor when he’d finished.

“Believe me, I would love to,” he assured her. “But it’s not that easy. The Dracken have an army of hybrid dragons at their disposal. They’re not going to give her up without a fight.”

Lyria ruffled her wings, looking offended. Well, then we should give them one. Emberlyn has thirteen remaining children on Earth, does she not?

“Who, thanks to me, are busy with their own apocalyptic crusade,” Connor reminded her bitterly. “Maybe if we had gotten the Nether dust, we could have brought them here to talk it through. Zoe could have convinced Zavier, and he could have talked to the rest of them. But now…”

Lyria seemed to consider this for a moment. It is true you cannot bring Zavier to the Nether. But what if you could bring Zoe to Zavier?

“How could we do that?” Connor wrinkled his brow. “She’s dead. We can’t just bring her back to life…” He paused. “Can we?”

There may be a way. But it would require some sacrifice.

Connor’s heart started beating fast in his chest. “Whatever it is, I’ll do it.”

Lyria gave him a solemn look. You have my granddaughter’s blood swimming through your veins. You’re not fully bonded to her—but you could be. And if you were, then you would share a life force.

“And if we did…” Connor bit his lower lip, realizing what the dragon was getting at. “Are you saying we could trade places? Like, I could stay here and she could return to Earth to talk to her brother?”

Yes. It would be possible. If you both agreed to complete the bond.

“Hold on!” Trinity interrupted. “Connor would have to stay here in the Nether so Zoe could be brought back to life on Earth?”

Lyria nodded. A life for a life.

“No!” Trinity shook her head. “That’s crazy. Connor, there’s got to be another way. You can’t just stay here forever.” Her voice broke. “That’s not fair!”

Connor sighed, reaching over to take her hand in his. He stroked it with gentle fingers. “No. What I did to her was not fair,” he said slowly. “And it’s the reason her brother is on his rampage now. Don’t you see, Trin? Once Zavier realizes I’ve sacrificed my life to give him back his sister, he will have to come around. Then he and Zoe can talk the others into saving their mother too.”

“But, Connor—”

He looked up at Lyria. “It’s perfect. Tell me what I need to do.”

Chapter Forty-Four

“Are you okay?”

Trinity looked up. Connor was staring down at her with worried eyes. His face was probably as pale as hers was, though not as tear streaked. Connor was the soldier. He wouldn’t cry. Even when he had every reason to.

“How could I be okay?” she blurted out. “In what world could I possibly be okay?”

She turned from him, realizing that this could very well be the last time they were alone together as they waited for Lyria to prepare for the bonding ceremony. And it wasn’t even as if they were actually together, not physically anyway.

The implications hit her hard and fast. She’d never get to hold him again. Never get to kiss his lips and trace his face with her fingers. Never get to stare into his beautiful eyes and feel his whisper in her ears.

Connor sat down beside her. “Honestly, I wasn’t sure if you’d even care,” he said quietly. “After all that’s happened…”

His words caused a fresh burst of tears as her mind flashed to all the fights they’d had. All the time they’d spent apart, time wasted on stupid arguments and egos. Time that could have been spent in one another’s arms.

“Of course I care,” she blurted. “I