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“In the old days, before the war, a battle like this would be spread amongst all dragon clans.” Valek pushes off the rail and starts down the stairs.

I back up. My dragon doesn’t argue with the distance.

At the bottom, Valek turns his face up to the sky and smiles at the hatchlings flying high overhead. I follow his eyes up, but I don’t smile.

“I didn’t want this,” I tell him.

“It doesn’t matter.” Valek keeps watching them fly. “Your dragon wanted this.”

He lowers his face and meets my eyes. “I cannot forgive the past, Ezra. What I lost⁠—”

“I know what you lost, Uncle,” I cut in. “My dragon has carried it since the day he woke in me. Everything the war did to your generation lives on in ours.”

Valek doesn’t turn away. His scent shifts, the smoke in it banking low. He’s been proud before and disappointed plenty, but he’s never looked at me like he gets it.

I raise my hands where he can see them. “You are everything to me, Uncle.” I step toward him. “I know what you gave up to keep this clan alive. I know your sacrifices. I see them even now as you stand before me.”

This time my dragon doesn’t fight me when I bend to kneel.

Valek puts his hand up. “No.” He keeps it there until I stop. “You are alpha now. You don’t bow to me anymore.”

I rise back to my feet. I want to answer, tell him again that I didn’t want this, but I say nothing.

Valek lowers his hand. “You are right, nephew. I have sacrificed my identity to keep this clan alive. It is ingrained in me. I don’t know how to rest. How to let go. I live in this constant fear that the bliss we’ve finally found will be taken from us again.”

He goes quiet and turns toward the village. The clan is coming to us. My father crosses the yard with Sam and Dominic, the rest of our dragons at their backs. They close a wide circle around Valek and me. None of them bother pretending they aren’t listening now.

Over by the pantry, Hazel stands with Aya and throws me a wink. She opens a portal beside the doors, its edges swirling blue and gold.

Aya backs up a step. “I’ll meet you there.” She breaks for the tree line behind our half-built cabin.

I want to fly over the forest and watch her run, but I turn back to Valek. This has to happen.

Valek looks around at the gathered dragons. “Prepare for the Passing of the Flame.” Then he raises his voice. “Finally, a new generation will rule over Ash Clan.”

Everyone answers, the males with their fists to their chests. “Ash Clan! Ash Clan! Ash Clan!”

In the crowd, I find my father chanting with the rest of them, his hand over his heart. He catches my eye and nods.

When Valek lifts his fist, the chant stops. All around us, the male dragons drop to a knee and give their alpha a final salute. The circle breaks apart, and everyone returns to their duties.

“Go enjoy your mate,” Valek tells me. “The exchange of power will happen in four days’ time.”

I nod as he turns away and slowly climbs the stairs. His mate waits in the doorway. When he reaches the top, she pushes the door wide for his big frame to step through. She glares my way, and I dip my chin to her. “Aunt Kenya.”

She huffs and goes back inside. I wouldn’t expect her to be so quick to forgive me, not after I nearly fried Valek with my lightning.

The village empties out, and the hammers start up again across the clearing. I’m left standing in the yard by myself. When I look back, my father is still behind me.

He tips his chin up to the darkening sky. “Those stars coming out watched your uncle’s first night as alpha too. They’ve watched him carry this clan for a thousand years. Tonight they get to watch you begin, son.”

“This doesn’t seem like a moment of celebration,” I answer.

“It is a celebration.” He squeezes my shoulder. “A new generation of dragons will finally take over. Better than the last.”

I stare at him, then turn my eyes up to the stars.

“Still, I can’t get Valek to forgive Stormscale,” I say.