“Don’t!” I cry before either of them can attack. But Aurelion dives in and snatches me into his arms before either Kaelun or Jah’ruud can react.
Aurelion angles his wings, and we’re high above the land in minutes. I cling to him to keep from falling, but at the same time I’m furious. “What are you doing?”
“I cannot participate in this farce any longer. You are mine. Or you will be once we reach Tarquenor.”
I slap him before I think better of it, but he only laughs wildly, baring sharp teeth. “Do you ache for it, Yalina? The bite is a powerful aphrodisiac that lasts for days. You must have burned for me. I can hardly blame you for settling for Noreth and his bull.”
“You know nothing,” I shout over the rushing wind.
I crane my neck to look behind to see if Kaelun and Jah’ruud are somehow following, but all I can make out is barren desert as far as the eye can see.
Yalina
“I will never love you if you force me to marry you,” I tell Aurelion bitterly. The wind whips my face and snatches my words. I think for a moment they are lost, but he growls.
“And I will die if I do not.”
Have I misheard? “What?”
He swoops lower, spreading his wings wide and the ground rises up below. Rocks and shrubs rush past and ahead the Pamarna Ridge rises in the distance. We are headed directly into Tarquenorian territory.
“I have marked you. I must be near you. Rejected males never survive.”
I blink. Tears rush to my eyes, and I do not know whether it is the wind or the idea of him dying because of me.
“Why did you do it? I told you not to.”
“I had to,” he says simply. “You are mine.” After that he falls silent and will not speak again.
As we approach the top of the ridge, Aurelion beats his wings faster, seeming to struggle to make progress. A strong wind blows in the opposite direction, buffeting us and blowing us around in the air.
He grunts and his claws dig into my thighs. I clutch at him when a nasty gust nearly topples us. It howls through gaps in the rock face, and sand and gravel sting my arms and face. Then with a shout Aurelion tucks his wings and dives for the ground as the fury of the wind increases. The howl becomes a shriek so high it pierces my ears. Large rocks tumble over and over, blown away by the force of it.
We rush toward the ground faster and faster, and I shut my eyes. Just as we must be about to hit the dry desert sand, Aurelion banks. Then he tucks me into his side and rolls us to an abrupt and dusty landing. My heart is racing as I lift my headand struggle to my feet. My hips and shoulders feel bruised and battered, but nothing feels broken.
Aurelion snarls and steps in front of me, and through the dust Jah’ruud descends through the spiral of a tornado, clutching Kaelun to his side.
Their hair whips around their faces, and the look on Jah’ruud’s face is formidable.
Aurelion pulls me closer, keeping his eyes on them, and I tremble. This is going to be so much worse than the duel. Even Kaelun looks furious, the lazy smile gone, replaced with a thunderous expression. The wind screams.
I cover my ears, but it does no good.
“Give her back,” Kaelun calls above the roar of the wind.
“Never.” Aurelion’s claws dig into my arm as he tightens his grip.
“You will die if you don’t.”
A savage hiss is snatched away by the wind. “So you have a pet elemental. No wonder you are so cocky. It matters not. She is mine. And I will die to defend what is mine.”
“As you wish.” Jah’ruud raises his hand, and the wind grows so fierce I can barely keep my feet. Sand stings my eyes.
They are right. This is going to end with someone dying, and I cannot face that. None of them will back down. Not unless I force them.
In desperation, I look around, spotting the only weapon within reach—Aurelion’s hunting knife, strapped to his leg. I grab the handle and yank it from the holster, bringing the blade to my own neck. “Stop! All of you. Or you will be fighting over a dead body.”
The wind dies instantly. Thousands of pebbles and a storm of sand drop to the ground, making us all cough and cover our heads. Kaelun freezes, and Aurelion turns to me in horror.
