“What choice do we have?”
“There’s always a choice, Sam. We could turn around right now. Walk away. Go back to Castle Lockes. We don’t need to be here. We don’t even know if Vadoma’s telling the truth.”
“But what if she is?” I scrubbed my hands over my face. “Look, I get what you’re saying. I do. But Ryan, even if we think she’s full of shit, what if she’s not? I can’t take that chance. Not now. Not since we’re so close.”
“I’m not scared.”
“I know.” Because he really was of the fearless sort.
“I’m worried.”
“I know that too.”
He jerked his head. “Keep on?”
“Keep on.”
“Keep on,” Tiggy agreed.
IT WAS in the center of the dome. I figured it would be. There was a circular opening at the top of the dome, and when the sun was at its peak, I was sure the light shone straight down inside. But it was past that already, for better or worse.
And I thought it was probably worse.
Because before us was a large circular hole dug into the earth and rock.
Like something big had burrowed down deep underground.
“That’s a big motherfucking snake,” I breathed. “This can’t possibly be good. We can probably go home now.”
Ryan and Tiggy crouched near the edge and peered into the hole. There wasn’t enough light to see very far down, so it was impossible to tell just how deep it went. But I’d seen how large the cavern that surrounded the island was now that the sand was gone. The pillar had reached all the way to the bottom. For all I knew, there were multiple tunnels dug through. Which meant there could be other holes somewhere in the dome.
Ryan and Tiggy looked up at the wheezing groan that came out of me. I waved my hand at them, trying to get them to ignore me, but Ryan stared at me expectantly.
“What?” I said, trying not to sound irritated. I didn’t think I succeeded.
“Do your thing,” he said, standing up. “You know. Like, magic. Or something.”
“Like magic or something,” I repeated flatly.
He shr
ugged. “You gotta call the dragon up somehow, right?”
“Why do I have to call it up? You call it up if you want to see it so bad—wait. Right. Destiny of dragons and all that. My bad. Still hate that word, by the way.”
“You okay?”
“Fine,” I said. “Just fine. So what if you want me to call up a gigantic snake dragon monster thing whatever just to watch it slither around all unnaturally.”
“Sam scared of snakes,” Tiggy said helpfully. Like an asshole.
“I’m not scared of snakes,” I said. “I would just like it if they never existed near me at all. Or anywhere ever. I don’t think that’s too much to ask.”
“But it’s not a snake,” Ryan said. “It’s a dragon.”
“Thank you, Ryan. That was very helpful. I truly appreciate it.”
He squinted at me. “Why didn’t I know this about you? It’s a little adorable. You’re trembling.”