For a moment, I wasn’t sure how I was supposed to land, or if I even could, but the dragon part of me knew what to do. I found the Star-Touched and set myself down, careful of the sails and lines and delicate people. I was immense, but I made myself as small as possible.

And that was all.

The burning wings vanished. The fire in my throat went out. And I was just a girl clutching the damp bones of the biggest dragon that ever lived.

I thought I’d feel weak, my human muscles trembling after the strain of clinging to the first dragon for hours. I thought I’d want nothing more than to sink into the nearest hammock and sleep for a decan. But instead, I felt strong. I felt good. I felt hopeful.

The imperial gown tore as I climbed down, but I didn’t care. I landed on the deck with a thump, and then my friends were rushing toward me with questions and exclamations and more questions, and then Aaru wrapped his arms around me and squeezed.

“You did it.” His words were soft against my cheek as he kissed me. “You made it.”

I hugged him back, feeling the thump of my heart echo his. “Thank you for trusting me.”

He pulled back and cupped my cheek, so gentle. “I always have.”

I lifted my face and touched my lips to his. Softly, quickly, because everyone else was coming toward us, but enough that he understood I intended to kiss him more thoroughly later.

“Good work, Fancy.” Gerel looked up at the circling dragons, almost wistfully. Chenda took her hand.

“I can’t believe . . .” Zara glanced at the first dragon and shook her head. “Mother will be so furious.”

“I know.” It was a risk, but I hugged my sister, fully expecting her to pull away. Instead, she tensed, like a cat not sure whether she should run. “I’m sorry about all of this,” I murmured. She hadn’t asked to come along, and she was right that she’d been in more danger than ever. But she’d been helpful, and mostly, I was glad she was here. With me.

At last, she relaxed into my embrace—“It’s not your fault,” she whispered—and then pulled away.

I wanted to say something else, tell her how much I really cared, but we weren’t that close, and with the eclipse just days away, I didn’t think we would ever be. I wished I’d made more of an effort earlier—taken the time to understand her and get to know her. But if one of the last things I had as a human was a sister who sort of liked me . . . that was all right.

Ilina and Hristo had the raptuses cradled in their arms as they came forward. “That was incredible,” Ilina said. “And I have a lot of questions.”

“I’ll try to answer them. But first we need to go. I don’t think Apolla’s ships will come after us, but I still want to get away from here as fast as possible.”