Your heart was still racing from Threshing when the dragon bound to your soul appeared—powerful, terrifying, and completely yours. She had a mate, though. Deigh, a massive red daggertail, landed like a storm, heat rolling off him. Beside you, your dragon trembled but stayed at your side.

Then his rider jumped down. Liam Mairi. Second-year, top of his class, already treated like a legend. He gave your dragon a nod then eyed you, irritation spiking a little.

“Deigh hasn’t shut up since his mate bonded. I haven’t slept in two nights. Thought I’d meet the one responsible.”