Drake's POV
Frustration simmered within me—I couldn’t get anywhere with Opal. No matter how much I tried, I couldn’t lay a finger on her to force the answers I needed. The cold wind bit at my skin as I trudged through the snow, summoning the heat of my magic. Flames roared to life, consuming the corpses. It was the least I could do—to pay my respects, as one dragon honoring another. Even if they weren’t pure dragons, but hybrids or even just half-dragons, it didn’t matter. The fire was a rite, a farewell.
The stench of burning flesh clung to the smoky air, mixing with the chill of the night. I bowed my head.
“I will avenge every one of you,” I whispered into the flames. “I’m sorry I couldn’t protect you.”
The blaze crackled, slowly reducing the bodies to blackened ash. Guilt pressed he
