“You didn’t even let us rest,” I muttered under my breath, but Zander heard it.
He stepped forward, his voice rising. “We just came from a battle, Theron.”
Theron’s smile didn’t reach his eyes. “You care too much for one soldier.” His gaze flicked toward me without an ounce of subtlety.
Inderia smirked behind her fan, her gaze sliding over me with undisguised disdain.
Heat rose in my chest, fury sparking at the edges of my exhaustion.
Theron rose from his chair with fluid ease, descending the few steps to stand in front of Zander.
“You left a mess near the road. You need to rein in your beasts. We still have an image to maintain.”
I bit down hard on the retort, burning my tongue, but I couldn’t stop myself from asking.
“How do you even know about the attack or the dead?” I asked, forcing my tone to remain respectful.
Theron didn’t bother to hide his annoyance. “You’ll return to your squad immediately,” he said, voice cutting like glass.
He waved a hand in dismissal, like brushing aside an irritating insect. “Your failures reach the castle faster than you think, rider.”
Dismissed.
He turned his back on us without another word.
Kaelith rumbled low in my mind, her anger a slow, simmering fire.
I caught Zander’s eye.
We didn’t need to speak.
We knew exactly how deep the rot had spread. He had wasted our time on purpose. And dismissed us as soon as I questioned his motives.
Chapter
Four
The wind cut colder on the way back.
Kaelith’s wings moved in steady, powerful beats beneath me, but every muscle in my body felt stretched thin, vibrating with exhaustion.
I leaned low against the saddle, the constant sway and pull of flight lulling me.
My eyes drifted closed once, twice, only to jolt awake as Kaelith shifted sharply, rumbling displeasure deep in her chest.
Stay awake, rider,she murmured in my mind, her tone more stern than usual.
“Sorry,” I mumbled aloud, blinking hard against the rush of cold air.
Another few miles passed, and I slipped again, head sagging forward.
Kaelith snapped her wings mid-flight, sending a jarring tremor through the saddle that made my heart lurch.
Tie yourself in,she ordered, her voice low.
“Right,” I muttered, cheeks burning with embarrassment. I fumbled with the worn leather straps at my thighs, securing myself tighter to the saddle. “Sorry, Kaelith.”
She didn’t answer, but I could feel the way her worry buzzed low against my skin, protective and relentless.
