Dario stepped forward, his arms raised high. He signaled to the first gryphon. “Volara!” The gryphon, barely visible underthe spell, began to run, roaring as its wings flapped, taking flight and soaring over the tops of the trees.
He signaled again, safely sending all but two gryphons out. Then he climbed up onto the one we’d designated for him, alongside Aiden, Jules, and Meera.
Aiden glamoured them all, and within seconds, my friends and Lyr’s family faded from vision.
Then Lyr climbed up onto the red gryphon, and I followed, seating myself behind her, my hand wrapped around her waist.
“I’ll see you on the other side,” I called out.
“Keep them safe, Dario,” Lyr yelled.
“On my life,” he called back, and though I could barely see him, I knew his fist was at his heart. Then he cried out, “Vra! Volara!”
Wind gusted through our hair, pulling the hoods of our cloaks back. I couldn’t see the moment my friends took off. But I could see the wind bristling through the leaves, and hear the flapping of wings.
And then it was just me and Lyr.
Her back heaved against my front as she breathed deeply. Then she turned around, pulling my chin to her, kissing me softly, and then pointing her stave between us.
“Ready?” she asked.
“I’m ready.”
We disappeared.
Chapter
Forty-Four
LYRIANA
My heart pounded a heavy rhythm in my chest as I soared through the sky, flying over Glemaria. I nestled back against Rhyan, grateful I had him to hold onto.
On top of not loving flying on gryphons—though, the animals were starting to grow on meslowly—this flight was extra strange. The glamour magic meant I could hardly see the red gryphon beneath us. He was anything but red at the moment. I could barely see my body, or Rhyan’s. We blurred into the sky, and the mountains, and sometimes the leaves of the trees as we passed them.
Rhyan remained mostly quiet as we flew, and I didn’t want to say much to disturb his focus. I knew this was hard for him. There were so many moving pieces, and at the end, he’d face his father. Something I knew he still feared, still dreaded. So I mainly leaned back against him, stroking his hand which rested against my belly.
The flight was expected to take hours. We had to cross to the other side of the country, heading all the way north, and then east.
The arena known as the Pits was located to the west. But we weren’t heading to the Alissedari.
Thanks to Kenna, we’d learned Devon had become aware of Sean’s movements north. As had word of my presence in Korteria. Thanks to that Godsdamned innkeeper. But it was a blessing, in the end, because it allowed us to realize what he had been planning.
The entire tournament wasn’t just a distraction for his people against a failing reign. It was a trap for all of us.
He wasn’t going to be at the arena today. He was hiding in Seathorne, in his fortress.
By the time we would arrive, our soturi would have infiltrated Seathorne, making a path for me to easily reach Rhyan’s father. Then I would bind him. Jules and Meera, guarded by Dario and Aiden, would locate the box that contained Rhyan’s magic and bring it to us. Then, his magic restored, Rhyan would be able to reveal the extent of his crimes to the Council, and Glemaria would finally be free.
The hours passed more quickly than I would have thought. And I knew my time with Rhyan, just flying, alone, and momentarily safe, was about to come to an end. Rhyan’s breathing quickened as the gray stone towers of Seathorne atop Gryphon’s Mount finally came into view. Out on the cliff just beside it, lay the white seraphim. Asherah’s tomb.
My tomb.
He released a shaky breath, then leaned forward, ordering the gryphon to land.
“Dorscha,” he commanded, making sure to reach past me and touch the gryphon’s head so our descent wasn’t at the usual speed—the one that felt like a gryphon crashing out of the sky. I’d had enough of that for the next two lives.
I held onto Rhyan and the gryphon’s claws touched down just outside the promenade.
