Chapter Twenty-Two
Hua
It happened like the dream Hua remembered so clearly, and she was powerless to stop it. Locked in the mind of the dragon, she hammered against its defenses, trying to free herself.
Blood soaked through the bandage on Jian’s arm, but it didn’t stop him. He picked up a halberd and sprinted through the dust and debris.
The dragon didn’t move. It didn’t jump into the sky to look for more enemies. If it truly were a protector, it would have chased the army in the mountains.
But it hadn’t. Instead, a city lay in ruins. It didn’t matter to Hua that Kanyuan surrendered to the enemy, not when she’d watched families die under the weight of their own homes, mothers and children burned beyond recognition.
And Jian.
Heat corded along her skin, rising from the depths of her
