Yes,his mind whispered. It sounded like his monster’s voice. It echoed like a memory, and suddenly he was a boy again, running through a skeletal wood for his life.
He was not afraid.
Not for himself, not for her, becauseshe would not die today.
He’d seen it.
He trusted it.
And he watched as she transformed before him. From a trembling, terrified thing, into a warrior.
A woman who had seen death, not once, buttwice,first with the shadow wolves and then with this very raphon.
A woman who was not afraid.
Arawn moved towards the cage, but Kinlear lifted his cane in warning.
Just as Ezer raised her hand, and whispered, “Come on.”
Six leaned forward. And just like before, just like in the Eagle’s Nest...the raphon placed her beak against Ezer’s bleeding hand.
It was like magic, the two of them together.
They both closed their eyes. He swore he was watching two souls entangle, watching something entirelynewto this realm, this world, spring to life.
A raphon rider...who fought on the gods’ side.
She was stepping into her destiny, right before him, and she had no clue...no clue at all, at howgreatshe would be someday.
When their connection broke, Six padded away and went to sleep.
Never, not once, had he seen the beast respond likethat.With careful hands, Kinlear opened the cage. The hinges screamed, and Ezer flinched...as if a spell had been broken.
A bond.
The very same one that the darksouls had spoken of...a bond he couldn’t force, because it was theraphonthat chose the rider.
And it had to happen in its own time.
“Well done,” Kinlear said, as Ezer left the cage behind. “Raphonminder.”
How desperately he wished he could tell her what he’d seen in his dreams. How desperately he wanted to move time forward and be in the skies with hernow.When he was still well enough to do it.
Not yet,his mind whispered.Not yet.
Still, Kinlear smiled.
He felt, for the first time in ages...alive.
Ezer paused just before she passed him.
She settled her dark, scarred gaze on his, earning athumpfrom his chest.
“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.”
He was surprised at how much it looked like she meant it.
And even more surprised, at how his only response was to smile.
