Weysh’s footsteps echoed on the stone, and the shadows from the roof fell over him like black lace. He knelt before the altar and prayed. First he renewed his vow to Byen to serve as his divine warrior. Then he entreated Byen to lift the curse upon him.

Kindly Watcher and ruler of the worldly domain, I seek forgiveness for my sins and the sins of my father now visited upon me. Help me understand the woman you have seen fit to bless me with as Given.

Weysh frowned. Why did his words feel so empty? Perhaps because Yenni did not feel like a blessing. She was pain, and frustration, and endless humiliation. Suddenly his townhouse on Lor Street seemed impossibly small. How was he supposed to convince her to leave a palace to live there? He wasn’t even sure what compelled him to keep going, praying to the almighty for her acceptance. Was it simply the Given bond? Well then, perhaps he should be praying to be released from it instead.

Weysh sighed and continued. If I am not yet the man who can be Yenni’s perfect match, then help me to become him. Byen watch over me.

He ended his prayer and stayed at the chapelle for a while in solitude. It was usually only dragonkind who visited here. Few were willing to make the hike up the mountain, especially when there was a larger chapelle at the base. This place was perhaps the closest thing he’d seen to heaven. From the summit the world seemed suspended between twin voids of azure sky and navy sea, and it was easy to pretend, even for just a while, that there was nothing else.

He had been enjoying the quiet for near an hour when he heard wingbeats and a familiar rusty scent hit his nose. He forced himself to stand slowly, turn calmly, and nod his greeting. “Noriago.”

Noriago stood at the top of the steps, his hands jammed into his pockets. He gave off the scent of triumph—sunny, sweet, and rich, like the juice of an orange. It clashed unpleasantly with his natural metallic sharpness. “You look like you’ve been living on the streets, Nolan.”

Weysh scowled. He hadn’t been paying as much attention to his appearance of late, it was true, but he’d had more pressing matters on his mind.

“What do you want?” he snapped.

“I’ve been hoping to catch you alone like this for a while. I want to talk, dragon to dragon.”

“What about?”

Noriago started toward him. “What you said about how we’ve been through similar hardships.”

“So you’ve come to accept the truce?”

Noriago kept coming closer. “When my father was disgraced we lost everything, my brother and me. We lost our mother.”