Page 146 of Under Restless Skies

Past me would tell him that he doesn’t need her authorization, but if she’s more than a boss to him, it makes sense.

“I’ll talk to her.”

I descend the ladder thinking that perhaps I should just leave him here, happy. There is a path for me where I can leave things as they are, where I’ll be sure not to harm my betrothal…

Where Ava and Vos die.

I feel like I’m holding jars, and there’s no way to keep them all. Some will have to fall. But not the little dragons, no. Not my brother either.

Laristella’s standing in the kitchen, waiting for me. “Come to my room.”

We cross the restaurant, then enter the little bedroom where she sleeps and does some of the accounting. She closes the door, leaving us under the light of a faint lumos jar.

“The walls are well insulated here,” she says. “Now tell me. What’s going on?”

24

My heart thrums as I stare at the woman who raised me, trying to find the right words to explain the mess I got myself into.

Perhaps no words will ever be right. “I… made some mistakes.”

“Everyone makes mistakes. What do you need to fix them?”

“A boat?” My voice cracks. Maybe it’s the desperation, the fear, or the fact that I’m finally opening up to her. “To take me to the Kingdom of the Riders?”

She tilts her head and narrows her eyes. “Why do you want to go there?”

“Can you keep a secret?”

“Of course. Now, your brother, I’m not so sure. He’s too young. But you can tell me.”

“I stole two dragon eggs.” It sounds like a strange lie, impossible words that shouldn’t be true.

She doesn’t blink, doesn’t stutter, doesn’t even widen her eyes. “How?”

“A long story. There was a boat. A bottle of dragonbane. I was with Alayel, the⁠—”

“Bastard prince?” Her eyebrows finally shoot up. “Are you really betrothed to him? Because I heard some rumors, and⁠—”

“Yes. We’re together. But I have bigger problems.” The words drop out of my mouth like in a deluge. “So I brought the eggs, and they hatched. They’re the cutest, most loving, sweet little dragons. I call them Ava and Vos. It’s a boy and a girl. I know they’re our enemy, but they’re innocent, and I shouldn’t have taken them. If I don’t get them out of the kingdom, they’re going to die. Auranius is going to eat them, but I’m thinking that if I can take them to the Riders’ Sea, a dragon will see them and take them where they belong. And then I’ll be able to live with myself again.”

Her expression is focused, but she shows no sign of fear or shock. “All right, let’s go part by part. Is the prince willing to help you?”

“No.” Odd that the admission doesn’t stab my heart. “I haven’t told him. I’m afraid he’ll stop me. Also, there’s something else. Do you know Commander Mallor?”

“Yes. He’s come to the restaurant a few times. Asked a few questions. Always paid generously. Why?”

“He’s our father. I just learned it the other day. Did you know that?”

“I… suspected it, Mayara, but I wasn’t sure.”

“It’s why you never told us.”

She tilts her head. “That, and I figured that if he wanted to let you know who he was, he’d do it himself.”

“Well, he finally did,” I say. “Maybe it slipped. But what matters is that he can help Kaio find an apprenticeship. Soon.”

Laristella’s expression turns grave. “Does he know about the little dragons?”