::The biggest. The most powerful. And in my dream, I know that I need the bones before—before something.::

::Eclipse?::

“Yes.” I tucked our tangled fingers under my chin. “Before the eclipse.”

“But the bones are in the empire.”

“Maybe,” I whispered. “It’s just a dream. Maybe they’re not real.”

“Maybe they are.” He scooted closer. “Ask Nine.”

I snorted. “That won’t be strange. Hello, Nine, I know we just met and you don’t like me, but I’ve been having dreams about enormous dragon bones located somewhere in your vast and ever-growing empire. Can you confirm whether that’s true?”

The bed shook a little, and his breath hitched. He was laughing.

I grinned into the darkness. I couldn’t remember the last time he’d laughed.

After a moment, he pulled his hand free of mine and cupped my cheek. When the heel of his palm brushed my lips, we both went still. Didn’t move. Didn’t breathe. Then he whispered, “Thank you.”

I didn’t ask why, because we both knew. And I didn’t remind him that I’d been here this whole time, because that wouldn’t solve anything. Instead, I closed my eyes and kissed his fingertips one at a time. Then: “Let’s go to sleep.”

“Will you dream of dragons?”

“Listen and find out.”

THE DRAKONTOS CELESTUS

EVEN FOR DRAGONS, FLYING WAS INCREDIBLE.

The sensation of wind under wings, the feel of fire burning inside, and the absolute defiance of gravity: it was a new joy every time. Even the way shadows fell, like grounded echoes of clouds. Or dragons. These wings stretched wide, casting darkness over the world, one piece at a time.

And from above, everything looked small, like toys. The waves, ships, and even the islands themselves, if one could only get high enough. The whole world spread below, a map of everything that mattered.

A map of everything that would soon disappear.

CHAPTER TWELVE

THE MOMENT THE CURFEW WAS LIFTED, AARU AND I were out the door—hurrying toward the address Nine had given us.

Dawn hovered just below the horizon, purple and deep blue. Only a few people moved through the streets—fishers, bakers, cart vendors—but if they noticed Aaru and me, they showed no interest. They trudged on with heavy, downcast eyes, looking as wrung out as we felt. They probably hadn’t been up half the night looking for an imperial spy, but the need—real or manufactured—for martial law was taking a toll on everyone.

Nine had sent us to a shoe shop, one I’d passed by several times during my market visits, and even glanced into during the gown-shopping excursion with Ilina and Zara. It seemed like a strange place to meet a spy, but then again, what did I know about spies? Maybe this was perfectly normal.

Before I could try the door, Nine let us in. She wore regular clothes, rather than the guard uniform from last night. Eerie how easy it was for them to move among us, unnoticed.