Ryan gave a shout of surprise as we watched Myrin slide down the Star Dragon’s translucent throat, his singed hair floating around him. When he reached the dragon’s belly, the stars began to shift, alighting on his skin and covering him completely. At the last moment, awareness seeped in and I swore Myrin looked… relieved.
And then he burst brightly.
I shielded my eyes as the clearing lit up around us.
Eventually, it faded.
I dropped my hand as I looked back at the Star Dragon. Two lights burned within him. One a sickly yellow, and another that felt like home.
“You have done us a great service, Sam of Dragons. You have sacrificed much. Your heart is as wild as it was the day Morgan of Shadows found you in the alley. And for that, we will bestow upon you one wish. Choose wisely, child, because once done, it can never be undone.”
I didn’t hesitate. “I wish—”
I GASPED as I opened my eyes.
The sky above was clear, the storm past. The stars shone brightly, David’s Dragon the brightest of all.
I sat up, groaning at the stiffness in my back. I looked to my left, where Ryan was grunting, blinking rapidly. “Did that really just happen?”
“I… think so? I mean, I feel like I’ve had the shit beaten out of me, so I—”
Myrin.
I looked toward where I’d seen him last in the alley.
He was gone.
I sighed in relief. “Fuck. Dude, I think we won.”
Ryan pushed himself up, his armor dented and scuffed. He picked up his sword and frowned at it. “I just stood in the presence of a god.”
“Yeah. Made a good impression too.”
“Shut up.”
“It was, like, my fourth or fifth time, so that’s why I was so smooth.”
He shook his head. “I don’t know if I’d call you smooth.”
“Bullshit. I’m awesome. I just totally saved the day and stuff.”
He snorted. “And stuff. Maybe you need to be reminded that it was me that stopped you from going all psycho villain.”
I grinned at him. “Because of your love for me. You saved me with the power of your love.”
“So dumb,” he muttered, but he was blushing, so I knew he was full of shit. “I don’t… what happened? In the end. I didn’t hear what you wished for.”
Oh fuck. “We gotta get to the castle!”
He blinked. “What? Why? What’s going—”
I stood up quickly, looking skyward. “Kevin!” I bellowed as my magic burst.
I heard the answering roar of a dragon.
“Huh,” I said. “I didn’t think that’d work. Neat. Why are you just standing there? We have to go!”
“I just helped you face down the biggest Dark wizard of all time. I think I’m allowed to stand still for a little bit—and what in the fucking fuck is that!”