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Most of them wear prosthetics—each one custom built to fit them. One juvenile barrels into another, and the pair tumble head over tail through the grass.

I grin, grateful I built those wings to withstand precisely this sort of thing.

“Looks like they’re holding up,” Micah says.

“Aye.” I can’t help the pride swelling in my chest. “Made ’em sturdy.”

The dragons continue wrestling, their wings bending and flexing with every tumble.

I glance at Micah and catch him smiling.

He raises two fingers to his lips and whistles. The sharp sound cuts through the quiet meadow, echoing off the mountain peaks.

I hold my breath as we wait.

Then, a shadow sweeps across the meadow.

I look toward the treetops where a small shape bursts through the branches.

Maple comes soaring over the trees, her ruby-red scales gleaming in the sunlight. Her wings beat steadily against the air, the prosthetics carrying her higher and farther than she ever could have flown before.

She’s bigger than the last time we saw her. Her little body has grown, her muscles stronger, her flight steadier.

And she’s coming straight for us.

“Goddess,” I mutter.

Micah laughs. “Maple!”

She swoops lower.

I barely have time to brace myself before she slams directly into both of us.

“Whoa!”

Micah and I tumble backward into the grass. Maple lands on top of us, her tail wagging furiously as she chirps and squeals. Her tongue flops out and licks Micah across the cheek.

“Hey, girl!” he says between laughter. “We missed you too!”

She turns toward me. I barely get a breath in before she plants another slobbery lick across my face.

I burst out laughing. “You’ve gotten bigger,” I tell her.

Maple chirps proudly, her tail thumping against the grass.

Micah reaches over and scratches beneath her chin.

My chest tightens as I look down at our little dragon.

It was difficult to release her months ago, but we both knew it was the right thing to do. She belongs here in the wild. To our relief, she’s had no trouble fitting in with the others, learning to hunt and play alongside them.

But Micah and I will always be here.

We’ll never stray too far. We’ll make sure she has everything she needs to live the happy, fulfilling life she deserves—one where she’s free to soar, surrounded by her own kind, and never again made to suffer because of someone else’s cruelty.

“Brought you a treat,” Micah says, reaching into his pocket.

He pulls out a piece of bacon.