Page 13 of The Reckoning of Starlight

Serenna’s heart slammed so hard it nearly staggered her.

Fenn’s Starshard.

He’d bound himself to the gem with blood, the same way Serenna had under Vesryn’s careful guidance. Ayla had mocked Serenna for chaining herself to a vessel she didn’t understand, ripe for anyone with the knowledge to claim her.

And now Taryn held Fenn’s leash.

Fenn jerked upright, his body bowing around an invisible chain drawn tight through his sternum. A snarl ripped from his throat, then died behind his clenched fangs.

Ayla gestured at Fenn’s wings. “Let’s start simple. How did you take the dragon’s power?”

Serenna swallowed.

Any answer would become a map, leading to Asharyn. To the hatchlings. To the druids who’d lived undisturbed for a thousand years.

Whatever came next, Serenna would endure it. She lifted her chin and gave Ayla silence.

“Very well.”

Ayla signaled to Taryn. Together, they stepped back, peeling away from the space between the cells.

Leaving Serenna facing Fenn.

Taryn kept Fenn’s Starshard clenched in her fist. He stood locked in place, wings shuddering, crimson eyes burning on Serenna as if he could shield her by looking hard enough.

Ayla’s fingers clamped around Serenna’s Starshard.

Serenna’s body convulsed.

Lightning kindled at her fingertips, her arm rising against every screaming nerve. She fought the forced motion, tried to wrench her wrist aside, aim the strike anywhere but at him.

It was pointless.

Her power no longer belonged to her.

Ayla’s voice slipped through the hiss of lightning. “Let’s see how much of your silence he can survive.”

CHAPTER 3

SERENNA

Serenna released a wordless scream as lightning tore from her fingertips.

The blast flew across the corridor and struck Fenn square in the chest. His scales should’ve risen, plating him in armor. Instead, they stayed trapped beneath his skin, the Starshard in Taryn’s grip holding him defenseless while Serenna’s lightning burned through his flight leathers.

Violet-white light devoured him. His armor charred in jagged streaks, seams snapping open from the strike. The reek of scorched hide and singed skin caught at the back of Serenna’s throat.

Fenn’s body bucked against his Starshard’s hold. His wings spasmed, their talons clenching tight as his fangs ground together around whatever sound tried to break loose.

Serenna’s hand stayed lifted, sparks skittering between her fingertips.

She lurched across the corridor toward him, but her Starshard snatched her by the spine and yanked her to a halt. Serenna strained to lower her arm, shaking as the gem in Ayla’s grip held her hand aimed at Fenn’s heart.

“Fenn,” she choked, his name torn raw from her throat. “I didn’t—I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

Ayla clicked her tongue and scraped one painted nail along Serenna’s gem. “Again? Or do you have an answer?”

Fenn’s snarl reverberated against stone. “Tell them nothing.”