Kenna has been inconsolable. I’m not much better. We’ve gone out every day, flying as long as Kenna can before resting at night. There’s no sign of her. Through the bond, I have moments where I can feel her for a short period of time. That is usually followed by pain and anger before the tether to the bond weakens and I can barely feel it. It’s making me crazy. I know Troy is hurting her, I know she and my son are at risk, but I can’t find her. The only thing keeping me sane is that I know she’s alive. I would never have guessed that I’d appreciate Avani and his help, but he’s been great. He helps to calm Kenna when she starts to get out of control and he is there, quietly letting us grieve, helping us to search every day. It’s later than usual this morning when we get up. We were out late last night trying to find Tana, thinking we’d found something. Ishir had given us some intel that we had followed up on, but it wasn’t Tana. It did look like an old laboratory, maybe a place they

I wake, jolting up out of bed. I’m ready to fight, to get myself and my son away from these monsters. "Shhh, I’m here. You’re safe. You’re at home, you and Liekki.” I feel Cedric’s arms wrap around me. I turn, curling up against him, letting him comfort me. He kisses the top of my head, his hands running up and down my back. “Is he okay? Liekki?” “Yes. Jena and Palila have been wonderful.” I have to smile at that. “They helped me a lot when I first had Kenna. I had no idea what to do with a human child. They taught me how to nurse, how to change a diaper, how to be a good parent. Seriously, without them, I don’t know what I would have done.” “How are you feeling?” He asks me. I take inventory of my body. “Weak. Why am I weak?” I ask him. “You lost a lot of blood, Tana. Both Kenna and I had to heal you. Plus I have no idea what they injected you with.” I hear him swallow hard. “I almost lost you.” I wrap my arms around him more tightly. "I'm right here." I tell him, holding ont

After kissing Liekki and Cedric goodbye, I shift and lower my wing for Bastian to climb up. I watch as he kisses a tearful Jena before awkwardly climbing up my wing. “Goddess, Cedric makes it look so easy.” Bastian says. “He was meant to be a dragon rider, you weren’t.” I say and Cedric chuckles. “What did she say?” Bastian asks. “She said to hold on tight.” Cedric tells him instead. I chuckle as I lift off. Bastian is even worse than Ishir. He’s wobbling all over the place and I’m terrified he’s going to fall off me. “Next time, I’m carrying you in my claw.” I grumble and Kenna chuckles in the air beside me. “You know I can’t understand you.” Bastian yells as Ishir barks at Kenna. “I’ve told your mother, that’s very uncomfortable when you do that Kenna.” My daughter and I share a knowing look. We fly as close as we dare to the arena before landing. Once Bastian and Ishir are off our backs, we shift. Both of us use our human voices to send our dragon call. As we wait for Kayla

The next morning, we’re all up early. The pack is split in half, half coming to attack the arena and the other half staying to protect the pack and pack lands. Kenna and I shift, and Cedric and Ishir grab their bags of grenades. Cedric has his sword thrown across his back as he puts the harness on me. He grabs his bag then walks up my wing, getting himself settled on my back. The pack members coming with us shift, grabbing their bags and begin running to the arena. Once Cedric makes sure everyone is shifted and on their way, he gives Kenna the signal and she lifts into the air. Once they are far enough away, I lift up and we begin making our way to the arena. About halfway there, we meet up with Avani and Kaylani. I notice the Avani has a female on his back. I’m surprised, but I don’t have time to wonder about it. We lift up higher into the air so that we can see the arena from high above the clouds. We watch for Cedric’s pack and when we see them getting closer, he gives the signal.

I only watch Cedric fighting Troy for a moment. Kaylani and Avani both still need help and Cedric looks like he’s holding his own against Troy. I turn back to Kaylani. “I’m going to shift and try to pull the harpoon out.” As I shift, I see hunters fighting past the pack. They are trying to get to me and Kaylani. I begin throwing fire balls at them, setting them on fire. They begin shooting at us and while silver doesn’t impact me, I know the paralytic will. I’m sending more fire balls at them, but there are too many. I’m standing in front of Kaylani who is using her water where she can, but she doesn’t want to douse my fire. Suddenly, I see the hunters start going down on my left. I turn, focusing my attention to the hunters getting through on the right. Cedric emerges on the left from the smoke and fires still burning the flesh of the hunters. He runs over to me, dropping his sword and grabbing my arms, looking me over. “Are you alright, Tana? Are you hurt?” “No, I’m okay.” “Wh