I think she might be as nervous as I am.
Not that I’mnervous, but concerned about the recovery of the heart.
Elizabeth Chadwick’s helping us,Phileas says.Be patient and see what she can do.
I hate every single second ofwaiting—doing nothing as the seconds pass and pass and pass.It feels like time has slowed down until it’s barely passing, but eventually, the sun climbs to the highest point in the sky, and she’s still not here.
That’s when I start to make circles around the mountain.I do spot a few humans, but they’re fairly easy to hide from—none of them are looking for a blessed, thankfully.By the time the sun has fallen low in the sky, I’m genuinely agitated.Her failure to appear puts our plans to recover the heart at risk in a real way.What if the other humans recognized her and the military came to take her?I spread my wings.We should fly into the settlement and look for her.
She’s a warrior,Phileas says.There would have been a big fight if the military humans came for Liz.
We’re on the opposite side of amountain,I say.We would neither have seen nor heard it, which is the point.Her caution leaves her entirely vulnerable to their attack.
She’s not vulnerable,Agrippa says.She’s one of the smartest, most resourceful beings I’ve ever known.
That’s hardly reassuring.One tiny human can’t fight the spears and troops and war machines Hyperion told me they have—they used them tokillme.We need to go right now.I crouch down, preparing to leap into the sky.
If you’re this worried about her, why didn’t you just bond her?Agrippa asks.Then you’d already know whether she was okay.You’d know exactly where she was.
I couldn’t risk it,I say.The humans used her to weaken me last time.She’s destined to go back into the volcano—if she died, that could weaken me yet again, right when the blessed need me to be strong.A weak leader can’t defend their people, and my entire life’s purpose is to redeem ours.
Then let me bond her,Agrippa says.
My reasoning on bonding Liz being a risk is solid, but the idea of her being bonded by someone else?It makes me want to melt my two earth blessed subjects into goo and return to Iceland without them.The blessed are possessive, and Liz used to be mine.I’m sure that’s why.No one can bond her.What’s true of her weakening me is true of any blessed who bonds her.
I disagree,Agrippa says.We can test whether earth blessed can bond humans, and I’m willing to risk being weak if she dies.I really like her.
As do I.Phileas says.We can ask her when she returns which of us she’d rather?—
She doesn’t likeyouat all,Agrippa says.She almost started crying when she was with me earlier, talking to me about Gaia’s loss.
You make her cry,Phileas says.That’s hardly a good thing.
You know nothing about humans.Agrippa’s practically snarling.We became friends when Liz saved us from the humans, and I hear she’s the reason the earth blessed are stronger.I owe her my life for that already.
What did you hear about her connection to the earth blessed’s strength?
Agrippa turns toward me slowly, her eyes wide.Nothing substantial, but the earth blessed are speculating.
About what?I arch one eye ridge.
You were exposed before she went into the volcano—Azar and Axel.It was...quite the secret, and you shared it for her.Then when she went into the volcano, the earth blessed all became...more.Stronger.Agrippa shrugs.Perhaps it’s wrong, but it seemed like she did something to keep you safe.If you’d seen how distressed, howbrokenshe was when she thought you were dead...
I was dead,I snap.
As the sun begins to set, I’m done waiting.I’m going to find her.
At least wait for nightfall,Agrippa says.Fewer people would see us.We shouldn’t risk the humans discovering us without real cause.It could do the opposite of what you want and endanger her.
The fury inside of me about Liz’s absence swells with nowhere to go, and I shift into Azar, heat building, and I open my mouth to roast Agrippa.
Do you hear that?Phileas asks.
I freeze.Hear what?
Humans approach.
I’ll check it out.Agrippa eyes my massive, bright red form and shakes her head with disgust.You just can’t help yourself.
