The Tethering: The Complete Collection

35. What is Coming

35

What is Coming

There’s magic in the wind. That’s what Ms. Gray always said. As the wind whipped around him, Dexter hoped she was wrong. The only magic that could be in the wind tonight was the darkest kind. The freezing current bit his flesh, and he knew it would only get worse.

Her arms tightened around his waist. It was time. Dexter kicked off hard and felt the broom lifting them off the ground. He didn’t look back as they flew away from Mount Graylock.

Larkin shook behind him. She was too weak to use any magic of her own.

“Alavarus,” Dexter murmured, and the air around them warmed. It wasn’t much, but hopefully it would keep his hands from freezing to the broom―assuming the broom didn’t fall apart and drop them out of the sky. Dexter had found the broom in the Pendragon’s collection of relics. It was a Salem original. And nothing but sheer desperation could have convinced Dexter to ride it, or to risk Larkin’s life flying high over the trees.

Dexter gazed up at the stars, following the constellations home. He had always hated learning astronomy. The only part he liked was keeping his arms wrapped around Emilia.

His throat tightened. The Grays might kill him on sight. He deserved it.

He aimed for the Mansion House. He didn’t know where else to go. If the Dragons caught them…

Dexter pushed the broom faster. Falling off the broom was a better fate than being caught.

Hours passed. The broom swung suddenly to one side as Larkin slumped over, hanging dangerously in the air. He grabbed her wrist and tried to tighten her hold on him. He felt her jerk awake.

“Hold on, Larkin. We’re almost there.” The wind carried his words away, and she showed no sign of having heard.

Dexter flew over the lights of a town. In a few miles, they would reach the house. Dexter dipped the broom, flying as low as he dared over the tops of the trees. There were no lights coming from the Gray’s house. They would be blocked from view by the fortaceria. Larkin should be able to get through Ms. Gray’s spells, but not him. Not anymore.

Dexter landed the broom outside the gates. Larkin’s legs buckled beneath her. He dropped the broom and caught her around the waist.

“Thanks, kid,” she mumbled, trying to push the matted blond hair from her eyes with the back of her trembling hand.

“Go up to the house.” Dexter helped Larkin to the gates. “Find Ms. Gray. Tell her to let me in.”

Larkin placed her hand on the wrought iron gate. It shimmered and swung open. She stumbled down the dark drive without looking back. Dexter sunk down in the snow next to the wall. All he could do now was wait.

The Dragon Unbound

Book Three