When I looked at his face, I realized it wasn’t the feather that had captured his attention.
We stared at each other, I don’t know how long. I could not make myself speak again or move.
At long last he lowered the feather. His smile never faltered. “Youdidknow having a relationship with the prince was a condemnable offense?”
Still no words.
Keeping his eyes on me, Flesser reached out, sorting through his pile of discarded clothes.
After a moment, he withdrew a blade.
Through it all, he never looked away from me.
“I may be on the lowest rung of our society as you noted, Quay. However, even I can be of use to the queen.” He lifted the blade between us, as he had the feather, and began to make it twist.
At the mention of my mother, my mind snapped back into focus. Without consideration, I raised my hand, then brought it down onto the earth with a dull smack.
From his knelling position, Flesser began to sink into the earth. He cried out in surprise.
After pushing myself to stand, I turned to run through the entrance. Foolishly I nearly paused to retrieve the feather, nearly stumbled as my mind and body fought each other. Common sense won out.
As I exited, I glanced back. Flesser was buried up to his waist in the earth, the dirt already beginning to dry around him. His wings beat wildly in the air, making a snapping sound as against the ground.
A vision of rushing back, prying the blade from his hands and plunging it into his throat flashed through my mind. The image nearly made me stumble once more. I could not commit such violence. Such brutality.
I ran.
After a while, I don’t know how long or how far, I stopped. I was running toward the pines, where I met with Xenith.
Xenith.
For the first time, his face rose up before me.
I should have used the blade. Ended Flesser’s life. No matter the cost to my soul.
I shook the thought away. Xenith was in no danger. He was under the queen’s protection. She loved him. And even if she did not, he was her guarantee to the throne.
He was in no danger.
I glanced behind me.
Nothing.
That would not be true for long. Flesser had certainly already released himself from the ground.
There was one choice. Only one.
And with a solitary regret, I was almost thankful for it.
Closing my eyes—shutting out the night, my fear, Flesser, the queen, even Xenith—I summoned every ounce of my power.
The groan of agonized pleasure that burst from me dwarfed anything Flesser had elicited.
When it was done, I stood tall, my spine cracking at its extension. I unfurled my wings about me. The slivery white feathers sparkling in the moonlight.
It was time. Freedom.
For how long, there was no way to know. But at least it was time.
