“I’ve got you,” he mutters, voice rough with effort, and I can feel the truth of it in his hold. Even with the storm raging, even with the odds against us, he won’t let me fall.
But it’s taking its toll. I can see it in the lines of his face, the tension in his jaw. His wings are trembling now, fighting every inch of the way, and I know we’re running out of time. The storm is relentless, but so is Daed—and in the distance, Pariseth gleams brighter, calling to us like a promise, a sanctuary hidden within this nightmare.
Daed grits his teeth, and with one final push against the spiral of rain and wind, we break through the storm wall with a violent thrust, like bursting from the depths of the sea into air. Daed’s wings fold tight around us, and we plummet toward the ground. I squeeze my eyes shut, bracing for the impact, and a moment later, we crash into the earth with bone-rattling force. The air is knocked from my lungs as we tumble, Daed still holding me tight against his chest, cushioning the fall.
For a long moment, I don’t move. My chest heaves, each breath ragged as I fight to fill my lungs. The roar of the storm still echoes in my ears, but it’s distant now, a memory of violence that feels so far away from where we are. Slowly my eyes open to find Daed gazing at me, the two of us cradled within the darkness of his wings.
“Are you alright?” he asks.
I nod. “Did we make it? Are we in Pariseth?”
Daed’s wings slowly unfurl, and I roll away, collapsing onto my back beside him. I’m reminded of the serpentine vine in my arms, and my eyes shoot down to check on her. Thank the Souls, she’s survived too. My body feels heavy, weighed down by exhaustion and the lingering tension from the flight. My heart still races, my fingers trembling as they splay against the ground, searching for something solid to remind me we made it.
I hear Orios groan somewhere to my left and Solena’s soft gasps come from somewhere beyond him, and for a moment, we are all just there—four bodies sprawled in the aftermath of survival, too tired to speak, too grateful for the solid earth beneath us to do anything but breathe.
And then, slowly, I feel it. The warmth. The soft touch of sunlight kissing my skin, gentle and unexpected. I blink against the sudden brightness, raise my head and realize… the early morning sun is shining.
I sit up, disbelief flooding through me as I look around. The storm, that relentless fury we battled moments ago, is still howling beyond the edge of this island, a wall of darkness circling the horizon. But here, inside the eye, everything is calm. The sky is a soft, brilliant blue, with the sun sitting high above us, its rays pouring down over the land like a blessing. It’s warm, the kind of warmth I haven’t felt in so long.
I’m lying on the softest, most vibrant green grass I’ve ever seen. It cradles me like a bed, lush and thick beneath my fingers. Flowers, bright and colorful, dot the landscape around us, their petals glistening with dew. The air smells sweet, fresh, and alive, completely different from the salt and damp of the sea.
I push myself to my feet and look up. In the distance, beyond the field of flowers and trees, a castle emerges. It rises from theearth with quiet majesty, its pale stone towers reaching toward the sky, gleaming in the sunlight like a beacon.
A river meanders alongside it, clear and sparkling as it winds through the land. Its gentle murmur fills the air, soft and soothing—a serene melody that’s a world away from the violent crash of the waves we left behind.
I glance back at Daed, still lying on the grass, his chest rising and falling as he catches his breath. His eyes are half-closed, but there’s a peace in his expression, a rare softness that I rarely see. When his gaze finally meets mine, there’s a flicker of surprise there, as if he, too, is stunned by the sudden shift from chaos to serenity.
“We made it,” I whisper, more to myself than anyone. The words seem too small to encompass the relief, the awe, of where we are now. But they’re all I have.
Daed’s lips curve into a tired smile, and he nods, his voice low and rough as he murmurs, “Yes. We did.”
I arch a brow as I look at him splayed across the grass. “You look so pale in the sunlight.”
Solena releases a giggle, but quickly clamps her hand over her mouth to silence it.
Daed exhales deeply, dragging himself to his feet and shaking off the remnants of damp grass that cling to his soaked trousers. “Sorry to disappoint you, wife,” he says, his voice laced with sarcasm. He turns his head toward the castle, his eyes narrowing as he assesses the distance. “Among my shortfalls, I’m also in need of dry clothes.”
With a soft grunt, he arches his back, the movement emphasizing the strength that lies beneath his wet clothes. As he rotates his shoulders, his magnificent wings unfurl with a graceful snap, the feathers trembling as they shake loose the excess water. A few droplets glisten in the sunlight, catching the light like tiny jewels as they fall to the ground. The sight is bothawe-inspiring and strangely intimate, and I can't help but feel a flutter of warmth at the sheer beauty of him.
“Come,” he says, holding his hand out to me. “We will fly to the castle.”
I take a step back, and he arches a curious brow at me.
“We mustwalk,” I say, as if it’s obviously the wisest decision. “I have had nothing but rain and rock for so long. I’m not about to throw away the opportunity to feel the grass beneath my feet.”
I balance on one leg, hopping in place as I yank off my waterlogged boot and hurl it across the field. The Fae stare at me, bewildered, as I do the same with the other. The moment my bare toes crunch against the grass, a wave of dizzying bliss washes over me, and I can't help but throw my head back and laugh, earning concerned frowns from my companions.
“Your Highness,” Orios coughs, drawing Daed’s attention. “We are to... walk?” His voice lingers on the last word, as if it were some strange concept beyond comprehension.
Daed watches me twist into the dirt, giggling as I wriggle my toes into the earth. A grin threatens to pull at the corners of his mouth, even as he tries to suppress it. “Yes. We walk.”
Orios rubs at the point of his ear, the very idea seeming so utterly foreign that I can almost hear the wheels turning in his head. To show him, I take my first step, my heart soaring with every movement. I begin to walk, humming a carefree tune with a smile plastered across my face. Each stride through the grass feels like a joyous dance, the blades swishing against my skin, sending shivers of delight up my spine. The sun kisses my cheeks, and the world around me brightens with every step I take.
Eventually, the skeptical Fae follow as we make for the castle in the distance, and I watch Daed closely. His brow is furrowed, lips pressed in a tight line as he looks down at the ground. He’s not used to this—walking instead of flying.
“Take off your boots,” I say, nudging him with a playful smile.
He raises an eyebrow, clearly unamused, but I can see the curiosity flickering in his eyes. “You cannot be serious.”
