Kerrigan was drained from the vision, but she had enough energy to drop back into the spirit plane one more time. She sat on the mossy ground with her back to Black House, closed her eyes, and pulled herself out. She had no idea of Tieran’s signature. But she knew Tieran now. She knew the heat of his breath on her neck. The sarcastic tone he used when she said basically anything to him. The relief in his body when she’d found him that day in the mountains. The smile he sometimes shot her when they succeeded in duping Alura. The feel of his warm body beneath hers as they soared around the arena. The gentle pressure of him speaking in her mind. Tieran belonged to her in a way that had nothing to do with the bond.

And so she reached out with her spirit magic for the essence of him. She had no idea where he was. Did the dragons stay in for the Night of the Dead? Or did they go out? She couldn’t remember.

It didn’t matter. All that mattered was that she needed him. And there was no bond to connect with.

She didn’t know how long she sat there, reaching out for him in the spirit plane. It could have been hours or minutes, but time ran differently on the plane. Finally, she smelled baking cinnamon and hearth fire. The scent and warmth curled around her. Familiar. It knew her.

With just a brush, she eased against that signature and drew Tieran into the spiritual plane.

The dragon looked at her in astonishment. Kerrigan?

She breathed a sigh of relief. “Tieran, I need you.”

How have you accomplished this?

“Surprise. I have spirit magic.”

His golden eyes blinked at her slowly. And you were able to find me in the spirit plane?

“I was working with Zina tonight, and she mentioned that every person has their own signature. I thought about what I know of you and searched for that signature. I’m at Black House, and I don’t feel safe walking home. Can you get me?”

You know what this means, don’t you? He grinned devilishly.

She smiled at him in that liminal space, relief flickering between them. “We’re going to pass our bonding test tomorrow.”

31

The Celebration

Alura was baffled.

And it was glorious.

“You pass,” Alura said. She shook her head. The little metal beads she’d braided into her hair clacking against each other. “I don’t know what you did over the weekend, but you pass.”

Kerrigan grinned from ear to ear.