“So you said.”
“It’s not the same, you know? Like it is with you. He’s a part of us, but not like you are.”
“Are you hitting on me? I’m flattered, but I don’t know if now’s a good time. Oh, who am I kidding, it’s always a good time. Take off your pants.”
“Kevin.”
“Sam.”
“When did you become mine? When did you know?”
Kevin looked taken aback, like he hadn’t expected the question. He opened his mouth once, twice, and then sighed. He held me up until I was eye level with him. His teeth were razor sharp, but I didn’t fear them. I didn’t fear him. He was my friend, and I would do anything for him, just like he’d do for me. “You remember that night at my keep? After Ryan left with the Prince.”
I did. My heart had been broken. Everything felt like it’d been crashing down. I had kissed Ryan, and he’d kissed me back, almost with the same breath he’d used to tell me he couldn’t—wouldn’t—break his oath to Justin. The stars had been bright above.
Where did you come from?
Far away.
What were you looking for?
A place to call my own.
And I remember thinking how this creature—this magical, wonderful creature—infuriated the shit out of me. That even though it felt like I was bleeding out on the stones of the keep, he was being enough of a dick to help me forget how much I hurt.
I’ve seen things. Many different things. There are lands far away from here that you couldn’t even possibly dream of. I’ve seen cliffs of ice so tall they disappear into the clouds. I’ve seen flowers deep in jungles that eat everything that happens by them. I’ve seen the hearts of men, the darkness that lies within. I’ve been captured by wizards who wanted nothing more than to spill my blood to make their spells. I’ve seen people cower in fear at the mere sight of me. I’ve seen a city that floats in the clouds, and the beings that live there have translucent skin and cannot speak for they have no mouths. I’ve seen a volcano erupting during a lightning storm, ash in the sky as the mountain explodes. I’ve seen many things, pretty.
And I hadn’t understood him. I hadn’t understood what that had to do with me.
But he’d known that. Because he was far smarter than I could ever know.
I’ve seen many things. Both good and evil. Majestic and destructive. Stars falling from the sky and a man whose tattoos moved across his skin as if they were alive before he tried to rip one of my hearts from my chest. I have seen many, many things. But I have never seen one look at another the way the knight looks at you.
One day I’ll believe you.
And one day, maybe I could be there to tell you I told you so.
And he’d curled around me that night, holding me together even though I’d wanted to fly apart. I’d told him of the City of Lockes, and that night, when I’d dreamed of home, Kevin had dreamed along with me.
“You made me feel like I could belong,” Kevin said quietly. “I told you that I’d left to find a home. To find a place I could call my own. To feel safe for the first time in my life. You told me you wouldn’t hurt me.”
I smiled faintly at the memory. “Unless you tried to get all up in my business again. Which you totally do. Daily.”
“You like it,” he rumbled happily. “But I remember seeing how you and Gary and Tiggy were with each other, and I wanted that for my own. Desperately, in fact. I think that’s what I wished for. Under all those stars. That I could belong to you. That I could belong with you. And I think the stars granted my wish.”
“I’m not crying,” I said with a sniff. “You’re crying. Stupid dragon with your stupid fucking stories that make me want to punch your face and then hug you.”
“I love you too.” Kevin sounded amused. Then, “Do you think it’ll be like that for him? For Zero? Can you make him feel safe?”
I looked over Kevin’s shoulder back at the dome. I didn’t know if Zero heard us talking, but I had a feeling he was listening to every word. “I’ll try.”
“Good, pretty. That’s all I can ask for. Should we vomit more feelings on each other, or should we get back to the others? I’m pretty sure Ryan is about to shit himself with worry.”
“Right? He really needs to learn to calm down.”
“I’ve got a few ideas on that. Have you guys ever thought about couple’s erotic massage? It works wonders on stress.”
“I don’t even want to know.”
“I’m licensed in the City of Lockes to administer such massages if you wanted to consider it.”
“No. You’re not. That’s not even a real thing.”
“It totally is. I have a piece of paper and everything.”
“Oh my gods.”
“My malt brings all the boys to the vestibule.”
“What does that even mean? What the hell is you—you know what? I don’t even care.”
Kevin spread his wings and laughed as we left the island and the snake dragon known as Zero Ravyn Moonfire behind.
Chapter 21: The True Cornerstone
RETURNING TO Mashallaha went quicker than I expected it to. Maybe it was the fact that we’d succeeded in what we’d set out to do, that something had actually worked the first time we’d attempted it, even if it’d been a bit of a bumpy road to get there. I didn’t know what it was I’d expected, but I didn’t think it mattered. We’d gotten the desert dragon on our side. I had Kevin already. That was two out of the five. The Great White had said I wasn’t ready. The star dragon had said there would be a sacrifice. But we’d come out ahead so far. And Zero was right: stone crumbled. We would prove everyone wrong, like we always did. I didn’t care if the gods themselves decried us. We would show them. I had faith in those around me. I had faith in myself. I wasn’t going to be controlled by Vadoma. I wasn’t doing this for Morgan or Randall. I was doing this because it was the right thing to do. And I would do this.
Stone crumbled.
Ruv went ahead as soon as we’d gotten into view of Mashallaha, saying he wanted to report to Vadoma as quickly as possible. He snapped open his sailboard and took off down the dunes, the wind at his back. Before he got too far, he turned and winked at me.
“Reporting to Vadoma?” Gary asked. “That didn’t sound ominous at all.”
“He’s probably a spy,” Ryan grumbled. “Gathering intel to give to Vadoma.”
“You just don’t like him because Vadoma wanted him to be my cornerstone,” I told him. “If he was anyone else, you’d think he was great.”
“No,” Ryan said, lying through his teeth. “He rubs me the wrong way.”
“I could teach him how to rub if he’s doing it wrong,” Kevin said.
I ignored him and focused on Ryan. “You know it’s nothing, right? There’s nothing there.”
“Tell your magic that.”