“We can do this,” Kerrigan said to Tieran as she stood at his side in the arena.

You are incredibly optimistic. It would be endearing if it wasn’t so ill-advised, Tieran grumbled.

“Thanks.” She rolled her eyes at her dragon.

Seriously, how had they ended up together? Not that she wasn’t a sarcastic jerk sometimes—a lot of times even—but Tieran took it to the next level.

Now, if Alura could just show up and tell them what they were all doing.

The trainees hadn’t been given any directions the rest of the weekend. Kerrigan had spent it sleeping and trying to forget the Season party that had ruined her life. She only left to eat, making sure to do it at odd hours to escape the others. Which worked. She didn’t even see Fordham, who must have been avoiding her to accomplish that. He always seemed to have a sixth sense to her movements.

Then, this morning, she’d woken up to a note slipped under her door that said to meet in the arena. So, here she was. The dragons were already waiting for them when the others trickled in as well.

Audria was paired with Evien, a majestic purple-scaled dragon, who Kerrigan used to sneak out with at night to fly. Roake had the sapphire-blue dragon, Luxor, who had never understood Kerrigan’s sarcasm or really any figures of speech. Which might have been a problem for Kerrigan, but seemed to suit Roake just fine. Noda’s dragon, Avirix, had seafoam-green scales that nearly matched the various patterned teal headscarves she always wore. Avirix was the largest of the lot. Not as large as Gelryn, who was the size of a large house, but hardly as small as Tieran.

Kerrigan tried not to look to where Fordham stood with Netta in all of her ruby-scaled glory. She didn’t want to know what he thought about March. Or maybe… didn’t think about March.

Roake tapped his foot. “Is she ever going to appear?”

She must, Luxor said evenly. She is duty-bound.

“She’s taking her sweet time,” he grumbled.

“She’s allowed to do what she wants,” Audria said.

Indeed, Evien said. But maybe we could fly around the arena while we wait.

Tieran nudged her. Maybe we cut a break.

Kerrigan rolled her eyes. “We’re not that lucky.”

Tieran couldn’t even argue.

Noda was the first to see her. She gasped and pointed to the skies where Alura soared in on her dragon, Gemina. She was a stunning metallic blend of silver, gold, and bronze. Her scales almost matched the silver metal armor that Alura had fastened down her front. She looked like an avenging goddess from legend.