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Chapter Forty-Three: Fireworks

The fireworks show was impressive and mostly a way for the brothers to one-up each other. Eamon was drawn in to it, and North enjoyed it all. Toward the end of the show, Orin stepped forward, and with a grin, unleashed a shining green and gold dragon that whooshed through the sky and exploded in a shower of sparkles. Everyone clapped, and North made the appropriate sounds of appreciation, but she was secretly chilled.

The dragon made her think of Pytor, which drew her back into the dark place, where she worried about falling into his hands, or back into her birthparents’ clutches. She didn’t want to be a tool they used to conquer and control others, but she wasn’t confident she had the strength to fight them if they laid hands on her.

She was lost in her turmoil, so it took a moment to realize the others had dissipated, leaving just her and her six men on the roof of the castle. She was trying hard to fight back the fear that threatened to steal her joy