Well she sure as hell wouldn’t go peacefully.
She called upon her dragon form, scales shimmering to life upon her skin as she threw back her head in a cry. Her claw-tipped fingers fisted Aevie’s mane, her legs wrapping tightly around his neck.
“I’m not going down without a fight,” she thought to him, the wind whipping past her face too hard for her to speak the words aloud. Aevie’s only response was a sharp nod of his head and then he pulled his wings in, plummeting into a sharp dive.
The Wyverns behind them shrieked. Wylde felt a rush of excitement as they dropped, dropped, dropped, the sand quickly rushing up to greet them. For a moment, she reveled in how simple it would be to merely fall to their deaths amidst the Vanla. How simple it would be to just…give in to the call. No more worrying about being mated off to Havoc and never loving him. No more worrying about her father’s fury.
And then she saw Kascien behind closed eyes, his impish smile, that sparkle in his green eyes. “Forgetting about me already?” His voice was a whisper on her mind and she smiled, tugging Aevie’s hair between her fingers, pulling up.
Her bond screamed and then they were floating on a thermal with two heavy flaps. “We’ve got company. I can’t out-fly them, princess. I’m sorry.” She reached out and stroked his scales as the fleet of Wyverns circled above them, deadly silent in their approach.
She didn’t see the gleam of gold and red scales, or the flash of her clan’s emblem. They would’ve called to her by now.
These weren’t her Wyverns at all.
“Land, intruder!” A harsh female voice called out just an ice-blue Wyvern dove, his wings slicing against Aevie’s, making the dragon flounder helplessly for a moment. They tumbled through the air for a moment before he managed to right himself.
He ducked his head, soaring low until his paws touched the ground. Wylde tightened her grip as his sudden rocky trot nearly jolted her from his back. He snorted and fell to a halt, sides heaving as he fought for breath. It didn’t stop him from spinning on the Wyverns as the small flight landed just yards from them.
Wylde’s heart skittered as she slid from Aevie’s back, her legs nearly buckling underneath her from exertion. He bared fangs at the strangers, but Wylde’s hand on his chest held him in check. Her gaze fell across the group, and what an odd group they were. They looked like warriors, scars and scales mingling on their flesh.
The woman who stood at the lead was tall and wiry, her skin dark and her hair pale and wind-ruffled. She stared into Wylde’s soul, her green eyes like diamonds, hard and sharp-edged. She stepped closer. The other Wyverns stayed back.
“Princess Wylde Debraux.” Her voice was as crisp as her eyes. “You seem to be a long way away from your Nest.” Wylde stiffened as the woman drew near, one hand on her hip while the other fingered the hilt of a sword.
“And you are?”
“Yuri Mallestrum. But I doubt you’ve heard of me.” Yuri’s lip rose up in a half-smirk, half-sneer. “I was banned from the Kiir’vanan years ago, when you were just toddling along in diapers, daft as a sandhare.” She leaned closer and Wylde took a deep breath, refusing to let herself be cornered. Refusing the lick of fear that edged up her spine like a flame taking to tinder.
Her father didn’t exile without good reason. This woman was probably a cold-blooded killer. She’d probably stuck a blade between the ribs of a Guardian. Perhaps she’d harmed a dragon, or worked with the Magi. She’d deserved exile, whatever she did.
“What did you do?” She puffed up, arms crossed over her chest.
“I stole from King Reitsch.”
That was it? Wylde’s brow furrowed. That couldn’t be it. Her father wasn’t cold enough to turn dragonkin away just for something as petty as theft. He would’ve given her punishment, sure, but exile?
“Why?”
Yuri rolled her shoulders. “My daughter was sick, too weak to even keep food down. A virus had spread around the clan, brought back from the Shining Cities on one of your precious Guardians. It only infected the weak…and my daughter had a low immune system. I petitioned your father to let me trade my wages for a Healer’s time. But I had no standing, no rank. Just another one of the herd. Excuse me, flock.”
She smiled slowly. “I stole an elixir from him to save my daughter’s life, and look where I ended up. Your father…he’s not a very nice man. He plays pretend to his court, but it’s not enough. A true king would love his people, not turn them away at their time of need.”
She spat on the ground at Wylde’s feet. Wylde only stared at it, shock and dread filling her at the woman’s next words: “Let’s see what he offers us for your life.”
At that, two of Yuri’s followers—were they exiles as well? Rogues living among the wilds of the desert?—stepped forwards, both men, both scarred, one tall and the other burly. Rough hands clasped around her wrists for a moment. Then the Wyverns jumped back, hissing at the burn of silver.
“She’s grounded.”
Wylde lifted her head at the voice, the familiar timbre, and found herself looking into the piercing blue gaze of her once-best friend.
“Bluff.” The word was a breath on her lips, barely uttered. The boy, years older than he’d been when she’d last seen him, froze and met her stare for stare. Her pulse pounded in her ears, white noise, as she looked at him numbly. She couldn’t believe what she was seeing. She’d always thought him dead, killed by the beasts of the Vanla desert. He’d been so young… How could he’ve survived exile on his own?
He was tall now, taller than her father even, with sharp features and an aquiline nose. His blond hair was tied back in a braid that ran down his back. He wore a black eye-patch over one eye. She reached for him and he didn’t move. He just stood there as her hand cupped his cheek, trailing down the stubble on his jaw line. “Bluff…”
“Bluff.” Yuri’s voice was sharp.
Bluff jerked away with a hiss of air between his teeth, pulling out of reach. He cleared his throat and wouldn’t look at her, instead staring at the hard-edged woman. “She’s grounded with silver, Yuri. Only one person would do that.”
“Reitsch bound his own daughter?” She barked a laugh. “Well that’s cruel and unusual. And what did you do wrong, nestling?”
Wylde huffed and stared her in the eye. “Call off your guard dogs and maybe we’ll talk about this like adults. I’ve abdicated the throne.” Her voice was hollow in her head, echoing, aching. There. She’d spoken the words she’d only dreamed of thinking, aloud.
A collective murmur spread across the Wyverns and she straightened up, pulling up her sleeves so everyone could see the gleam of silver at her wrists. “I helped a friend. I bound him to a dragon without my father’s approval and father grounded me so I wouldn’t go after him. He’s out here somewhere, alone. He can’t fly.”
“You abdicated…for a twinblood whelp?” Another girl strode up, her blade pointed at Wylde. Yuri snapped a glare to her and the woman dropped her arm, but didn’t back down. Arrogance bloomed off of her in waves, but beneath that was a layer of fear, hidden away from the surface by her cold mask.
Wylde’s heart picked up speed. They knew Kascien? Goddess, the way those women were glaring at her and she was one of them, what would they do to an enemy Mage? She felt her ire raise and dark scales covered her in a blanket of stars. “I swear to the Goddess, if you’ve laid even a finger on him—”
Yuri’s smile hitched up at one corner. “Looks like the princess is soft for the pauper.”
“I’m not your enemy, here,” Wylde said warily, wishing she’d brought along a blade of her own.
“Correct. Starting now, you’re our pawn. Bluff, I trust you can handle a grounded Wyvern?”
Bluff dropped his gaze and wrapped his fingers around Wylde’s forearm. He didn’t meet her eyes, even as she stared at him, imploring, pleading.
“You don’t have to do this…”
“Really, we do.” Yuri’s grin was wicked. “To the camp, people. Let�
�s go!” She gave a hawk’s shriek and leapt into the sky, her body liquid grace and onyx scales. The others flew after her, wing-beats causing the sand to stir.
Wylde looked at Bluff, pursing her lips together. “Bluff—”
He shook his head. “I’m sorry, princess,” he murmured, his voice dull as he changed shape and took to the sky. For a moment, Wylde hoped he would leave her stranded, but then he swung around, his talons clasping around her upper arms, hefting her into the sky.
Aevie let out a snarl, rushing forwards, teeth snapping together on air. Wylde’s heart constricted. “Go back to the keep, Aev,” she called down, but the big dragon shook his head, then began to lope after them, his strides short and uneven and Wylde forced breath through her nose, willing herself to be strong.
The Magi hadn’t broken her. Neither would they.
Chapter Sixteen
Kascien’s brow furrowed as he forced a trickle of magic through the wooden flute at his lips, the sound shooting up in a whistle. Castor leveled him a look that was clearly annoyed and Kascien ducked his head. “I’m trying, alright?” But his focus was everywhere but on his lesson and they both knew it.
His mind lingered with Bluff, to the stoic look on the boy’s face as he dove into the sky, wings unfurled. What could the scouts have found? A shiver of unease washed down his back, chilling him. What if the Sovereign had sent Magi after him? He was endangering the Jiria camp by staying here, but really, where else would he go? He sure as hell wasn’t going back to Albany without a fight. And he wasn’t strong enough to fight, not yet…
With a huff from the boy, magic shrilled the pipe once more before the notes became steady, slow and sweet and beautiful, a honey-toned melody. His gaze flitted up to see a grin quirk across his teacher’s lips just as the dong of a bell rang just outside the building.
Kascien started, glancing to Castor, whose brow wrinkled in a frown. “The group is back. The scouts found something.” He rubbed his chin in thought before he stood and walked towards the window. Kascien couldn’t help himself; he put down the flute and followed on Castor’s heels, peering through the gritty glass.
And ice touched the back of his neck, making the hairs stand on end in a single-file salute.
“I have to go,” he said, his voice hoarse, and he was already shoving past the Mage and through the heavy door before the man could deter him. Kascien’s feet slapped against the sand, driving towards the small group of Wyverns gathered in a cluster, growls and hisses uttered softly between them.
But he couldn’t mistake that head of short, dark hair, or the gentle curve to the girl’s jaw.
“Wylde!” The word leapt from his throat, excited and terrified. What was she doing here?
Wylde’s gaze snapped to him and their eyes touched, held, and locked. Her brows were wrinkled together in worry, her shoulders hunched. Bluff stood at her side, one hand clamped over a slender arm, as if he was afraid she’d make a break for it. She tugged out of reach, alarming the Wyverns around her. Mackie shrilled, but Yuri held her back.
Then Kascien caught Wylde in his arms, their bodies crashing together like waves upon the shore. His arms encircled her, holding her close, and her breaths were short and jagged against his neck. Pulling back, he ran his fingers across the short silk of her hair, cupping her chin up to look at him. She looked nervous, but the fire in her eyes was unmistakable.
“I thought I’d lost you…” She found her voice as her hands touched his face, fingers scraping down his jaw to tangle in his hair. Her smile beamed up at him, bright as a beacon, and he clamped her back to his chest in a hug. A laugh escaped him. His heart raced as he smelled the salt of her sweat and saw the tiny line of fear quivering through her aura like a virus.
Then she slapped him across the face.
Kascien stumbled back, wide-eyed as she puffed herself up, anger creasing her forehead. “Don’t you ever…ever do that again!” she said, the timbre of her voice charged with a dragon’s growl.
“Do what?”
“Go out into the Goddess-forsaken red desert alone! You could’ve been killed, you idiot! I told you I’d come back for you, didn’t I? Why didn’t you wait?” Her voice softened. “I was worried…”
He dropped his gaze, heat setting his face on fire. It flared and sizzled beneath his skin. She really cared. God, he’d nearly thrown it all away. Shit, fuck, damn… “I’m sorry. I just… I didn’t want your life to suck. Believe me, I’m the king of sucky lives and you deserve better than that, Wylde.” You deserve better than me, he thought, but his jaws were already clamped shut. He didn’t want to speak it, for fear it would be true.
He reached for her then, arms slowly opening. She pursed her lips, but walked into his arms and he wrapped them around her slender frame, holding her close, feeling the coolness to her skin against the burn of his.
“I’m sorry. But everything worked out okay, right? I’m here, you’re here. It’s all good, right?”
She let loose a choked laugh. “Nothing is good, Kascien. I’m not a guest here.” She backed away, shooting a glance towards the Wyverns, who had made a circle around their little reunion. She waved her hand and he glanced around to the group. Yuri was glowering, arms crossed over her chest. Halo and Mackie were silent statues. Bluff looked torn.
“I’m their slave.”
His jaw slacked. “What?”
His eyes snapped to Yuri, who met his gaze with vehemence. “What do you mean? Yuri, what’s going on?” His heart sped up in his chest, pinballing around between his lungs like a livewire. When the Jirian leader did little more than jut her chin out, dread welled in his gut. “Why?”
“The princess will be a good bartering tool. We’ll get supplies from Reitsch and he’ll get his daughter handed back to him, in one piece.” She showed a gleam of fang, daring him to push it.
He pushed it. “Bullshit. She hasn’t done anything wrong.”
“She’s his daughter. She’s done wrong enough.”
“You’re going to be petty?” Kascien sneered at her. He dragged heavy hands through his hair, pulling at snags, but the pain was dulled in comparison to his heartache. He wouldn’t lose Wylde again.
“You don’t understand. Princess or not, Wylde’s the reason I’m free from the Sovereign’s reign of terror. Hell, she’s the reason I’m alive. I owe her my life. She went behind Reitsch’s back, just to bond me to a dragon so the Sovereign wouldn’t cripple me with his magic. He was trying to kill me.” His voice trembled a little, but he forced it to be strong.
“I won’t let you hurt her.”
“And I already told you, I’ve abdicated,” Wylde said hotly.
Kascien’s gaze slammed into hers. “What?”
She hunched her shoulders in a quick shrug. “I don’t want the throne if it means he won’t let you back into the Nest. He says you’re dangerous, and besides…” She dropped her gaze and a tremble traced through her. “I’ve been betrothed to Havoc. My mating ceremony is only weeks away.”
Fire roared to life inside of Kascien’s stomach, anger rippling free “What?” The word was a hiss. Havoc’s smug smile filled his mind and the idea of Wylde kissing him, Wylde touching him, Wylde… No. He shook his head, lips lifted in a snarl.
Wylde rolled her eyes at his temper. “It doesn’t matter. I’ve abdicated. As of now, I’m just another Wyvern rogue.” Her voice was hard as she shot a glare at Yuri, her own eyes shooting red-hot lasers at the other woman. “Not princess of the Kiir’vanan. Sure, my father will pay richly to have me back in his kingdom. He’ll keep me under lock and key. He’ll keep me trapped until my ceremony, and then I’ll be stuck with a mate I don’t love.” Her smile was sad.
Then she stepped towards Yuri. Immediately, blades were lifted. Wylde raised her arms and let loose a dragoncry, piercing in its perfect clarity. “I’d rather die than go back.”
“Wylde!” Kascien cried out as Wylde lunged for the Wyverns, claws outstretched. He yanked Irianthe out of her duster and
flung himself amidst the suddenly sparring, snarling Wyverns. Wylde’s eyes were wild, but not frightened—just determined as she swiped her claws across Mackie’s fox-face. Mackie howled and swung her sword back and Kascien slammed into her.
They toppled to the ground and Kascien pointed Irianthe at the hollow of Mackie’s throat. “Stop!” He yelled so hard it hurt, his chest heaving, and everyone froze. Yuri stood tall, her eyes on his, dancing with excitement, twin flames. Halo had Wylde pinned to the ground and Bluff wore a grimace as he watched the scuffle, blade drawn defensively, as if he couldn’t bring himself to harm his once-best friend.
Kascien jabbed Mackie in the shoulder and the woman winced, then he scrambled to his feet. Standing tall, he swung Irianthe until she pointed level with Yuri’s chest. “I don’t want to fight you, but I will. Please, Yuri… Be sensible.”
Yuri threw her head back in a cawing laugh. “Never.”
His eyes narrowed. “Then I challenge you to a duel. You and me. Alone.” His voice was edged in ice and he swallowed back the nerves that threatened to melt it. “If you win…Wylde is your pawn. If I win, you release her to be just another rogue.” And if she won, Kascien would lose Wylde to Reitsch… To Havoc. A low growl seeped from his throat.
The Jirian leader stared at him for a moment, then grinned slowly. “Alright, kid. Fair’s fair, but know you have no chance in hell at beating me.” She barked orders to her group, who backed away, ringing a circle around them. Bluff pulled Wylde to her feet and she scowled, but let him. Halo and Mackie stood a little closer, hands at their hilts, anger creasing their faces.
Hell, even if he did manage to win, those two would protect Yuri with everything they had.
He was a dead man either way.
He nodded and took a step back, blade gleaming in the sunlight. Yuri offered a low bow, then unsheathed her sword with a chime of metal. Kascien watched her carefully, cautiously. Her face was void of all emotion and he knew she wouldn’t hesitate to cut him to tiny pieces if she got the chance.
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