Ash barely felt the warmth of the rising sun against his skin. His body was still aching, his mind clouded with exhaustion, but for the first time in days, he wasn't running for his life.
He lay motionless on the bed in the small rented room of the inn, staring at the wooden beams above him, listening to the muffled voices of the morning crowd outside.
Even though he had escaped, danger still lingered. The dragon hadn't vanished.
Every now and then, a deep roar would echo through the city, making the walls tremble ever so slightly. The beast circled above Longhua Castle, never attacking but never leaving.
Its presence alone was enough to keep the people restless, their whispered fears spreading through the markets and taverns like wildfire.
Maya sat across from him, casually sharpening her dagger. Though her posture was relaxed, her gaze flicked toward the window each time the dragon's shadow passed over the rooftops.
