by Allison Rose
“That was fast.” Lex told her, awe coloring his voice. “Faster than he even accepted me.”
Sevelle raised her brows at him as relief began to replace her fear. “Really?”
Lex nodded. “Ash disliked me very much at first,” he explained, running his hand down the side of the beast’s neck and relaxing his back against it. “I grew up in the mountains. There was this particular ledge I used to fly to when I wanted to be alone. It had the most beautiful view of the sunrise. Ash liked to occupy the same space and refused to give it up. So we tolerated each other. And then I started talking to him. He got extremely annoyed at that.” Lex’s blue eyes took on an amused faraway look. “I don’t know what eventually endeared me to him, but one day he decided he liked me enough to let me into his mind.”
“Amazing.” Sevelle reached her hand out to lightly touch her fingertips to the creature’s wing. As she did, she felt something settle over her. It was a little like the magic Verity used to bind the oath. It felt warmer though, comforting.
Then, without warning, an image flashed across her vision. It was similar to the one Verity had placed on her tree at the court. Only this time Lex was crouching on a mountain ledge. His brows were creased with worry and his hand covered his mouth. But the most startling thing about it was the swirl of darkness visible at his core.
The vision was gone a moment later. Sevelle blinked in confusion, staring at the halkyr.
What was that? Did he do that?
“You have gone soft, winged one,” Couren’s taunting voice broke her out of the moment as he joined them.
Sevelle snatched her hand back as Ash turned to hiss at Couren, who merely smiled back at the creature, unimpressed by his threatening display.
Ash ruffled his feathers and hopped toward the water.
“What sort of magic do halkyr have?” she asked, trying to make her voice sound nonchalant. A quick glance at Lex’s core showed her nothing.
Not that I would be able to see anything anyway. We are not potentials. If Jae were here…
Lex explained, giving no indication he knew what had just occurred, “Halkyr have a little magic of their own. They communicate in images. Though you cannot call to him like one with a beast affinity, he can place the images in your mind if you are open to it. Given that he has already chosen you as a friend, he probably will eventually.”
Sevelle stared at the great creature, now splashing and preening his feathers in the water as if all was right with the world. Her chest tightened.
I have so had enough of visions.
Chapter 22
Jae met Morlan’s level stare from across the training room. Once they had ducked through one of the large openings and landed on the floor, he had given her the spear and calmly stepped back.
She secured it back over her shoulder. There was silence as she caught her breath, her wings and muscles throbbing, the ache in her core more pronounced.
“Say what you wish,” Morlan finally said, spreading his arms wide.
But that will be giving you what you want.
She swallowed her anger and willed her insides to turn to ice.
“Why did you come after me?” she asked as calmly as she could.
“Did you even think about what you would have been giving up?” he asked with a perplexed expression.
You truly don’t understand, do you?
Jae’s already stiff shoulders tensed. “Did she put you up to this?” she fired back.
Morlan cringed, and then anger hardened his features. “I do not let The Glorious dictate my feelings, Sanjae.”
Without a thought, her hand flew on its own, striking him across the cheek. He was startled into stumbling back a step.
“So you do not wish to be called by your full name?” he said, eyes widened slightly. There was a mocking undertone to his voice.
Breathing hard, Jae hissed, “She gave me that name.”
Morlan raised both hands, palms out in a gesture of surrender, head bowed. “I apologize.”
Jae breathed out slowly.
What do we do now?
She longed to go back to the way things had been—when they had ignored the fact that they could even have a future together.
She supposed, to the outside observer, they were perfect for each other. They matched each other in cunning and strength. They practically knew each other’s thoughts. And yet in her mind they always stood on opposite sides of a line, neither of them willing to cross it. He served The Glorious. And Jae pretended to.
But is that the truth now?
“All this time, have you been preparing me to rule? Did you one day hope to rule beside me?” she asked him.
“You did that yourself. I only opened the door.” He regarded her with a level stare and ignored her last question. “It was wrong of The Glorious to do that to you. But you have blossomed despite it.”
Jae flinched at his bluntness. “Do not suggest she actually did me a kindness.”
He at least had the decency to nod and drop the subject. Taking a step closer, he said, “You still have not answered my question.”
“And you did not really answer mine.” She held her ground as he stopped close enough that she had to look up slightly to see his face.
He smirked. “Is that it then? We are too stubborn for each other?”
“Maybe,” Jae conceded. His heat was not unpleasant. But it did not stir the feelings within her that Lex’s proximity did.
Morlan remained close, but made no move to touch her. “I realize much had been revealed to you in a short amount of time. I only wish for you to consider all of your options.” He paused. “And for you to know that I am still here.”
If only those words came from different lips.
Without warning, Morlan leaned in close. His lips met her cheek as his hand, the one concealed between their bodies and the wall, captured hers.
“Think hard before you act,” he whispered.
Jae watched him fly out of the training room, her cheek burning from the kiss.
Mere moments after he departed, The Glorious breezed into the doorway so suddenly Jae flinched.
“My chambers,” she commanded before leaving.
Jae let out a long breath as her shoulders sagged.
I should’ve fought Morlan. I shouldn’t have come back.
But she straightened and strode from the room.
There is no going back now.
Chapter 23
Despite Sevelle’s worries, the feeling of air rushing past her as they flew north was amazing, freeing. They kept close to the treetops along the Great Divide, ducking and weaving between the branches and then risking open air when it was safe from the patrol of the Nym who might recognize Sevelle. Couren and Verity took turns leading. Surprisingly, the commoners barely gave their group a second glance as they passed over.
“We will get as far north as we can in the next few days,” Lex had said.
Sevelle’s attention was soon consumed with pushing her tired wings against the increasing winds and trying to keep up, as well as avoiding branches whenever they had to duck into the treetops to avoid patrolling Nym.
By midday, she had fallen back and lost sight of Couren a few times. Lex slowed with her and pointed one finger toward the ground, sounding out a low whistle for the others.
Gratefully, Sevelle folded her wings and let herself drop through the branches, then spread them wide again to slow her descent. Her landing was a little hard, and she almost fell forward. Sevelle winced as she righted herself, her body stinging in various places where the branches had torn her skin. Her muscles protested every movement.
I should just tell them to go on without me.
“The worst is over.” Lex nodded his head toward the river.
He cupped his hands in the water for a drink, and Sevelle dragged her tired body over to do the same. As she did, she checked his core out of the corner of her eye. Still nothing.
Maybe it was nothing. Just a ha
lkyr playing games? Or my imagination?
“If they are not going to teach you to use your affinity or to fight, they should at least teach you to fly properly,” Couren said. His tone was more thoughtful than mocking, but she felt the sting all the same.
Great. Now he knows, too. Guess nothing is kept secret in this group.
“Try learning to fly when it is forbidden and all of the court is watching,” Sevelle shot back.
Couren’s features creased in guilt. “My apologies. Sometimes I forget I was lucky to grow up in Muren.” He nodded at her and wandered over to a thick section of bushes sporting bright red fruit of some kind.
Sevelle looked at him curiously, her irritation fading.
“What was it like in Muren?” she asked.
The northernmost village of the Day territory had always intrigued her. Taria was the overseer her mother most despised, yet the village thrived, producing some of the most talented Nym. Though Taria refused to send them to the court, claiming operating out of Muren gave them better access to the north. And for some reason, Sevelle’s mother let her.
“I enjoyed my childhood as the adopted son of Mistress Taria.”
Sevelle’s eyebrows rose. “You are her son?”
“Adopted,” he corrected, then continued. “I was given every opportunity to shine. I learned my skills in the gardens of Muren. I excelled in my trials, but was thankfully—no offense—hidden from the court’s clutches. And when I was old enough, I followed my parents’ footsteps and trained to become one of the Nym that operated out of Muren.”
Sevelle opened her mouth to ask about his parents, then thought better of it.
“Then why did you become a rebel?” Sevelle prodded instead.
Hands full of fruit, he turned and handed Sevelle one the size of her palm. She didn’t recognize it and waited for Verity to take a bite of hers before she bit into it. The taste was surprisingly bitter, but she knew she would need all the strength she could get.
“Someone needs to stand up for those less fortunate,” Couren answered. “I could have easily been in their position when my parents died. I joined the rebel group that traveled south. And then I ran into this one by chance.” He gestured to Lex, who had wandered a little ways down the riverbed and looked to be conversing with some unseen beast in the trees.
Couren tossed one of the fruits over at him and continued, “Verity was already traveling with him at that point.” He looked over at Verity, who gave him a warning look.
“He sought me out, actually,” Lex broke in as he rejoined them, consuming the bitter fruit with grace.
“Only because I knew who your parents were,” Couren agreed.
His parents. Sevelle looked at Lex, wondering if he would tell her about them. The thin line his lips were pressed into suggested otherwise.
“We still have a ways to go,” Verity pointed out a little loudly. Then she looked Sevelle up and down.
Sevelle lowered her eyes to the ground as her cheeks burned.
Lex cocked a sideways grin, all traces of tension suddenly gone. “Luckily, we have a winged friend who can help.”
Sevelle stared at him a second before she remembered Ash. He flew a different route than they did, whether because he was still half wild beast or because Lex did not want to draw attention to the group, she did not know. Her stomach sank. Interacting with the halkyr was one thing. Flying on him was quite another.
If he will even let me, she thought.
Lex raised his eyes to the sky and hummed that magic note that made her own nerves sing.
She crossed her arms against the sensation and looked around. No one else seemed as affected as her.
Is this some sort of sign that we are connected somehow? That the vision was real?
Ash landed next to Lex in a gust of wind. Sevelle wondered how the great beast avoided hitting the branches and trees as she raised her arm in front of her face. When she lowered it, Ash was peering at her with unnervingly sharp eyes. His beak was inches from her face.
“What?” she asked the creature, annoyed.
Lex offered his hand to her. “It is time for some flying practice.”
Sevelle’s wings flicked involuntarily at the suggestion. The muscles in her back still ached fiercely.
“Ash will carry you up,” he explained. “Just so you get used to it.”
Sevelle took his hand, and with his other hand on her waist, he threw her up onto Ash’s back. She gripped feathers as she wobbled and almost fell off again. She was sure the others were smirking.
“There is a band around his neck,” Lex called up to her. “Tuck your wings in and hold on tight.”
She barely had time to find the band of cloth with her fingers before Ash took off into the sky. She swallowed a yelp at the speed. Eventually the fear gave way to elation as she experienced something very few faeries had done. The air was cooler and fresher up here, whipping the hair out of Sevelle’s face. There was a loud rushing in her ears, but she didn’t care. Sevelle refused to close her eyes as she beheld Faerie without having to worry about keeping herself aloft. It looked even more magnificent than before, and the mountains to the distant north were stunning, if not slightly foreboding.
Evidence of the blight and lack of Nym tending to the land could be seen even from above. Some sections of forest were overgrown, mostly closer to where faeries dwelled, while other areas looked wilted and dry. Runa shared the sky with them, but the other beasts were scarce, only occasionally popping out from the thicker vegetation.
Maybe they all moved to better cover. Hopefully this will all be over soon.
She quickly tightened her grip as Ash suddenly descended.
Upon landing, she found Lex alone—aside from a pinote who, surprisingly, had trotted all the way up to Lex and let him place a hand on its muzzle. It startled at the sight of the halkyr. The shy four-legged creature bounded back into the wood on long graceful legs, hooves barely making a sound.
“Sorry,” Sevelle said to Lex as she watched the retreating pinote. She frowned and slid to the ground, almost falling upon her shaky legs after the drop.
He held out an arm to stop her fall with an amused look. Warmth spread through her at the touch.
She looked down—and swallowed a gasp when the dark swirl of energy appeared suddenly at his core. It roiled and twisted, though he still didn’t seem aware of it.
It’s real.
Her hand lingered on his arm as her heart pounded. She looked up at him, suddenly noticing tired lines around his eyes.
Is it from the darkness?
How can I even see it? Do the others know? Does Lex even know?
“Sunny?” Lex peered down at her with a perplexed frown. They were close, and Sevelle suddenly found it hard to breathe.
“Uh…yes, my apologies.” She steadied herself and stepped away, thoughts reeling.
She caught Ash’s eye as she turned, and she could swear his expression willed her to do something.
But what can I possibly do? she thought to the beast, as if he could hear her.
He only shook his feathers and began to preen.
With a small sigh, Sevelle turned back to Lex. He was regarding her expectantly.
“Flying with Ash is amazing, but maybe I’m more tired than I thought,” Sevelle said in a rush.
Lex nodded. “Are we forgiven then?”
“What?”
“For taking a swipe at you back at the court.”
Sevelle blinked. I had almost forgotten about that.
“I suppose,” she told them lightly.
His answering smile was radiant, containing a bit of relief.
He truly was worried I was angry. Jae is lucky to have such a faerie as a potential.
Jae.
Sevelle shook her head and stepped back. How could I have forgotten?
Lex stepped away, too, eyes scanning the wood beyond. “We should be moving.”
As if on cue, Couren emerged from the trees up ahead and poi
nted up. Lex turned back to her, but she used the band around Ash’s neck to vault herself up this time. He gave her a nod, and they took to the skies.
Chapter 24
The Glorious led Jae to her chambers on the second floor rather than the Throne Room. Jae walked past the balcony leading onto the garden and into the large anteroom. A canopy of deftly woven cloth, usually adorned with Telk stones, blanketed the ceiling over the covered wooden chairs and benches that surrounded a circular table.
The Glorious herself, Jae noticed, was missing some of the Telk that usually adorned her body as well. She sat delicately on the edge of a bench.
Jae waited, a current of nerves sparking through her.
“Lightbringer,” The Glorious greeted her as if she just hadn’t ordered Jae to come before her. Then her eyes narrowed. “What news did you have of Sevelle and the rebel?”
“They escaped,” Jae answered dully.
The Glorious nodded, as if that was to be expected. Alarm wound through Jae’s thoughts.
“No matter.” The Glorious waved off her news with one hand. “They will not succeed in whatever path they have chosen.”
She is so certain.
“How can you be so sure?”
The Glorious only gave her a cunning smile. “You look tired, Sanjae.”
Of course I am tired. Jae glared. Suspicions rose to the front of her mind, but eclipsing them was an overwhelming need to be alone with her thoughts.
The Glorious sat back, then fluttered her fingers. “Rest,” she said dismissively.
Jae immediately turned on her heel and left the room.
They all think to use me. I need space to think.
She rounded the corner of the hall and nearly groaned out loud when she saw Mera standing near her door.
I will not have peace, it seems.
“Sevelle is gone,” Jae called to her. “She escaped the Night.”
A frown pinched Mera’s features. “She is safe?”
“I do not know,” Jae muttered as she opened her door and strode inside. She collapsed on the bed, not caring that Mera still hovered in the doorway.