“I don’t know.”

“This is part of my soul,” I whispered. “I can’t just rip it out. I can’t just stop being what I am.”

“You were willing to give up your humanity. Is giving up your dragon soul so much worse?”

“Yes.” The word was a sob. “I’ve always loved dragons. I always wanted to be a dragon. From the moment I was born, my heart beat for them.”

“That doesn’t have to change. Look at your friend Ilina.”

I grabbed at my chest, choking on my own tears. All I could think about was LaLa, my perfect little dragon. Her shiny gold scales, her sweet eyes, and the way she snuggled on top of my chest at night so that our hearts beat together. She’d saved me today, back on Anahera. Though she’d been in the throes of horror and grief, she’d sensed my danger and risked herself to rescue me. Then she’d guided me to the dragon bones, knowing I’d understand her. And when I couldn’t go on, she’d grabbed me by the fingers and dragged me. A tiny gold dragon the size of a ferret, and she’d pulled me the rest of the way.

Our bond was everything to me.

She was everything.

“It wouldn’t be a sacrifice if you didn’t have to give up something precious.”

“I know.”

“You’ve always been willing to give up pieces of yourself for the betterment of others. Your voice, your freedom, your life. But there’s one thing you’ve never compromised on.”

Dragons. Fighting to ensure their freedom and safety.

She was right. It was the only sacrifice I could make that would truly matter.

“It’s time to decide,” she said.

“Can I say good-bye?”

“There’s no time.”

I wanted to collapse and cry, but she was right. The first moon pinched off the last of the sunlight, and everything went dark.

“It’s all right to be sad.” The first dragon hugged me. “It makes you human.”

My whole body trembled with sorrow and fear and all the uncertain days that loomed ahead of me. “I thought dragons weren’t meant to be comforting.”

The first dragon scoffed. “Don’t be silly. No one tells a dragon how to be.”

I wasn’t ready, not nearly, but then we were hurled out of the noorestone space, and I was in the dragon sanctuary once again. I stood where I’d been before, my hands pressed to the tower wall, but now every single noorestone was black, burned out, and my body buzzed with energy. Fire.

It was in me now.

But first . . .

The drone of bugs filled the cool air, and dawn seemed to shine from every horizon: from across the sea, from the abandoned city, and from the immense Skyfell Mountains. But above, stars glittered during full day.

And the sun— That was incredible. A halo of fire encircled the black moon, and strands of light arced out into ghostly filaments. I’d never seen anything like it before, this phenomenon of night during the day, and a glow on every horizon. I could have stared up forever, just being amazed, but before I’d had my fill, the island lurched and began to rise.