“Don’t youever,” she growled an inch from my face with more vitriol than I'd ever seen from her, “call him an animal. He's far more intelligent than you,Verdunn.”
I recoiled at her sudden anger.
“Aren’tyousupposed to be able to fly, Viper?” Roman asked through gritted teeth.
I stared at him, stunned.
“That’s—how did you know—”
“You think you’re the first Victor we’ve faced?” He scoffed. “We’ve been fighting the squadrons since you were going through puberty.”
“I never learned,” I admitted, chastened. “I was trying.Kleiowas teaching me beforeKseniacame.”
“Of course,” Roman huffed.
“We’ll just have to find another way,”Kseniasaid. “Maybe if we—”
She was cut off by a shrill whistle. We all looked up to see a wave of white soaring toward us. As it neared, it split apart into six individualZverand their riders.Kseniasmiled as they circled us before landing. Roman only watched with the same disgruntled frown he always wore.
“Spy,” the man riding the largest beast spoke. He was lean-muscled and golden, sun-kissed light brown hair atop his bronze head. Still, he looked every inch the warrior in his leather riding armor, and was clearly the leader of this group of half a dozen riders as well. “You’re rather far from home, are you not?”
“Rainier,”Kseniasaid in greeting and I gaped at the ancient hero standing before us. “I could say the same for you.”
Rather than reacting to her challenge, Rainier turned his attention to Roman and I where we stood off to the side. His gaze narrowed as he took us both in from head to toe. Then his eyes snapped back toKsenia.
“You’re going toArchí,” he said, stunned. “Aren’t you?”
“I was under the impression we were welcome any time,”Kseniareplied, her voice having gone cold. “Or soPrima said.”
She crossed her arms and raised a brow in clear challenge but Rainier only narrowed his gaze further.
“Youare welcome anytime,” Rainier said. “All riders are welcome inArchí. TheZver’sjudgment is not to be questioned. But them…”
He waved a hand lazily in our direction to signify how very unimpressed he was with our presence. Roman bristled beside me.
“They're my companions,” Ksenia snapped.
“Both of them?” A female rider standing behind Rainier asked with a disbelieving look and mischievous smirk. The other riders chuckled asKsenia’sfists clenched at her sides.
“Prince Leo sent them with me,”Kseniaspat. “They must be allowed—”
“Prince Leo has no jurisdiction beyond his beloved wall,Ksenia. You know that,” Rainier interrupted, his voice low in warning. “Besides, let’s be honest with each other here, Spy. We are both riders after all.”
Rainier spread his hands wide before him in a gesture that seemed to be a mockery of a peace offering, offset entirely by his wicked grin.Kseniavisibly paled as Roman stiffened beside me, already reaching slowly for his sword.
“I don’t know what you—” Ksenia began.
“Don't insult my intelligence,” Rainier snapped. “This is him, isn’t it? The Victor.”
A hush fell over the surprised riders as my blood ran cold. They were watching me now, every one of them, mouths agape and eyes wide. Roman’s fingers tightened around the hilt of his sword, jaw clenching.Kseniahad gone as white as a ghost but kept peering over her shoulder to where Phantom prowled just behind her, likely judging the distance between them and the possibility of escape.
“You’re bringing him to her because you heard she has the girl,” Rainier continued with an air of finality. This was the truth and he would take no arguments about it.
Ksenia raised her head.
“Yes,” she confessed and a few of the riders began to murmur.
“What do you hope to accomplish?” Rainier asked. “He doesn’t have the corruption. She does and you know it. So what good would it do you to offer him?”
