The night sky ignited in an eerie blaze—three silver flames burst from above as the gray dragons unleashed their fire. The men screamed, their cries echoing through the open air as the flames consumed them.
Gasps rippled across the courtyard. The silver fire blazed against the black sky, and I raised my arm to shield my face.
Shayde tugged at my elbow, trying to pull me away. But I couldn’t move.
When the flames finally faded, only one chain hung empty. One elemental was gone—but the other still hung there, naked and writhing, kicking at the air, screaming for mercy.
“A fire elemental,” Cora said, her voice bored. “That’s unfortunate.”
My vision tilted.
Shayde grabbed me by the waist, lifting me before I could process what was happening. He ran, boots pounding against the stones as he carried me away from the courtyard, away from the horror.
But I still heard everything.
The man’s scream.
The crack of breaking bones.
The sickening gush of blood.
I reached through themarekem, making sure Scarlet was seeing this.
Shayde didn’t stop running with me slung over his shoulder until the music and flames were only a memory in the distance—drowned by the pounding of my pulse and the burn of revenge clawing through my chest.
Chapter 50
My eyes closed as I tried to let the burn of whiskey wash away the sight of those men doused in flames. Three torturous sips in, I gave up on the ridiculous idea and set the glass down on the cabin deck beside me.
I will never forget this night.
A gust of cold air cut across my skin, but I didn’t flinch. I’d been sitting on the porch of the same cabin we’d stayed in last night for over an hour. I’d left my cloak inside on purpose—because if those men had to endure the freezing cold, the least I could do was sit with the discomfort.
I don’t know why I felt survivor’s guilt. They were traitors to our people. They deserved to die.
But not like that.
Elements—Scarlet has made me grow soft.
Our loyal pack of wolves must’ve sensed my unrest. They’d met us in the woods with our bags and escorted us back to the village we’d deemed safe for the night. I could still feel their presence now, lingering just beyond the trees—watchful,protective. Unlike yesterday, every cabin stood empty, but we’d taken the same one as before.
Shayde and I hadn’t spoken since he carried me out of that courtyard.
After we paid for the night, he’d stopped by the tavern for a decanter of whiskey, poured us each a glass, and said he was going to shower. And that was it.
The wooden door creaked open behind me, but I didn’t move. His footsteps echoed across the porch until Shayde sat beside me, draping my cloak over my shoulders.
“You’re freezing,” he said.
“I don’t care.”
“I’m under strict orders to bring you back alive. Frozen doesn’t count.”
“I saidI don’t care,” I snapped.
“Well, I do.”
My gaze snapped to his at the sharp edge in his tone. My eyes narrowed. “Why?” I asked incredulously.
