‘Come on.’
She held her breath as the raphon leaned, breathing in the scent of her blood.
It dripped on that glimmering black beak and ran down the white scar like a delicate rain.
She swore the beast began to purr.
Like her blood was a balm to a worn and weary soul.
‘Hello,’ Ezer whispered, her voice a trembling thing as the raphon leaned ever closer.
And pressed her beak to her bleeding hand.
The shift was instantaneous. Ezer’s vision went dark at its edges, like a black cloud of oil had overcome her. And there it was again: the image of a single dark feather, floating alone. Lost in an endless sea. She gasped, for she could still feel the raphon’s beak, still feel its hot breath on her skin, and when the vision broke, she realized she was crying.
The raphon pulled away.
The chains clinked as she went back to her corner, circled a fewtimes, and slumped back down on the worn shavings.
This time, it closed its eyes, and she was certain the beast fell asleep.
The gate behind her opened. So loud it made Ezer jump, for she was still standing there, frozen, with tear tracks on her cheeks and her bleeding hand dripping into the shavings.
‘Well done,’ Kinlear said. ‘Raphonminder.’
Arawn was staring at her like he had in the woods. Like he was slowly unpeeling the layers of her, breaking down her walls … and some part of that made her feel bare.
She wiped her tears with the back of her hand.
She was cold and tired and feeling like her insides had twisted up in a knot …
But beyond that.
She felt, for the first time in ages …alive.
She settled her gaze on Kinlear.
‘If youeverlock me in a cage again,’ she said, ‘I don’t care that you’re a prince. I will skin you alive. And I will feed your bleeding corpse to my raphon.’
She was surprised at how much she meant it.
And even more surprised at how his only response was to smile.
14
Arawn found her in the warmth of the Aviary, minutes later, seated on a bench just beside the doors.
‘Minder.’
She looked up to find the prince walking towards her, ever the picture of Sacred glory … beyond the redness in his face that revealed he might have just left a screaming match with his twin brother.
Thank the gods Kinlear was nowhere in sight.
‘What do you want?’ Ezer asked.
The bravery she’d felt moments ago was gone. In its place, fresh waves of pain from her wounds. Her hand oozed blood, and her nose … the salve had certainly worn off.
‘Izill is waiting for you in the courtyard,’ Arawn said, and frowned down at her like he expected her to leap to her feet.
