A chill passed through me, and then I looked at Aaru.

It was good that we were in front of the crowd, because if anyone else had seen the naked longing in his eyes, we’d have been caught. He’d have been identified as Idrisi, and questions would have come from all directions.

But when I checked around, everyone who might be able to see was staring west, or looking at the nearest flower box.

The sun was sinking behind Idris, its rays growing longer and warmer. I lifted my hand so my knuckles brushed his, soft little bumps of contact. Take my hand, I wanted to say, but it had to be his decision.

Then his fingers twitched, stretched out, and threaded with mine.

::You are not alone,:: I tapped. ::You are not alone. You are not alone. You are not alone.:: Again and again I told him, until the sun disappeared beneath the horizon, and the city let out its breath. Life rumbled again, and the high magistrate beckoned people toward the ballroom for the rest of the night’s activities.

All around us, people began to move, but Aaru stayed put, slowly erasing the anguish from his face.

I hated myself for saying it, but . . . ::We have to go. We need to get lost in the middle of the crowd.::

Aaru sighed. Nodded. And together, we slipped around the passionflowers and dragon tongues and went back into the Red Hall.

Now to find Nine.

THE DRAKONTOS CELESTUS

THE FIRST DRAGON WAS BORN DURING AN ECLIPSE.

Two moons passed over the sun, one after the other, and in those moments of held-breath darkness, with dawn hovering on all horizons, the first dragon burst through the crust of the still-molten land. It was a triumphant moment for the Fallen Gods—their first and most favored child—and they painted her with gold and silver stars, a reminder of the sky on the day she came forth.

One by one, the seven gods blessed her with all their gifts.

She was fierce and fiery, yet loving and warm. She could fly across the world as a silent shadow, and from her, all other dragons would be born.

Then, as the gods finished bestowing all their love upon her, the light returned, and the eclipse was over.

CHAPTER NINE

THE BALLROOM WAS ALL COPPER AND RED, LIKE WALKING into a fire, and far too loud, filled with voices, footfalls, rustling fabric, and music.

I glanced over just in time to see Aaru’s expression crumple under the onslaught of Too Much. It was subtle—just his eyebrows drawing inward, the corners of his mouth dropping, and a tightening around his jaw—but if I saw it, others would, too.

There couldn’t have been fewer than two hundred guests inside, far more than had come to the memorial. Several were already dancing to the music of a small orchestra, even more had descended upon the buffet tables, and the rest were prowling the floor like predators looking for prey.