“Come on,” Dyna grunted, trying to keep him in the air. But her magic winked out, and he plummeted through the clouds out of sight.
Choking on a cry, she dove after him. Her heart pounded wildly as she squinted through the cold mist. They broke through, and she saw him falling through the sky.
“Fly, Shira! Faster!”
They dove. The ground was coming in fast, and Dyna’s heart raced wildly. She called on her magic, and it beat desperately against the reformed barrier on her power. Cassiel fell further away. He was going to drop to his death.
Her heart cried out, and she felt it all the way to her soul.
Throwing out her hand, Dyna let out a scream fueled by her desperation. A splinter cracked in her barrier, and her Essence caught him. Yanking back her fist, the green light hauled Cassiel back to her, and she lugged him onto Shira’s back. Dyna panted as she closed her eyes in relief.
The barrier fell back into place, locking all her magic away.
So many emotions wrangled through her. She wanted to punch him and embrace him at the same time. Instead, Dyna placed her shaking handon Cassiel’s back between his wings, feeling the soft pulse of his heart. It made her vision welled.
“Stupid Celestial,” Dyna murmured. “Look at what you made me do.”
“Your Majesty!” Sowmya and Yelrakel flew to her. “What happened? We saw him fall. Is he all right?”
She turned away. “He is now.”
Murmuring to Shira, the Pegasus flew for Sellav at her command. The cool breeze blew against Dyna, and she was grateful it dried her eyes. As they glided among the clouds, her mind spun with what she had seen Cassiel do and what he had almost done to his people.
The fire had taken over.
Sowmya told her it had, but to see him become a creature of pure flame with no thought or reason other than to destroy frightened her. Because she knew that wasn’t who he had been.
She wasn’t the only one who had changed.
The estate appeared on the horizon. Tugging on the reins, Dyna led Shira to it. They flew past the streams and the town before they landed outside the courtyard gates of the Norrlen Estate. Her Guardians and Raiden were already waiting outside.
Yelrakel landed beside her. “Will you wake him now, Your Majesty? We are far enough away from Nazar. What are you doing?” she asked next when Dyna motioned for Lucenna to take Cassiel.
“He will sleep for a little more.” Dyna dismounted. “Join the Valkyrie and take position in the Anduir Mountains. I will call upon you when I release him.”
“Release him?” Yelrakel’s eyes widened as Lucenna lifted Cassiel in a mist of purple Essence and carried him away. “But you cannot hold the High King captive. I am his guard?—”
Dyna held up a hand. “I am hisHigh Queen.” The words felt false on her tongue, but she said them with every note of authority. “And this is my command. It’s not up for discussion, General. Now leave us and keep watch. I will send Sowmya if you are needed.”
Clenching her jaw, Yelrakel stiffly bowed. Her angry eyes glanced at Sowmya accusingly, then she spread open her gray wings and leaped into the sky.
“You know why I am doing this,” Dyna said. Sowmya watched as Cassiel was taken away, her Guardians following. Only Raiden and Zev lingered behind to wait for her. “Stay near.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.” With a bow of her head, Sowmya flew away toward the roof of the estate.
Sighing, Dyna turned to Zev and Raiden. She couldn’t quite look at her cousin yet, so she addressed the young lord first. “I am sorry to bring my troubles to your door, Lord Raiden. With your permission, I will not keep him here long.”
He nodded with a furrowed brow. “Of course.”
“Is there a … holding room I can place him in until he and I have a word? Preferably away from others. I want to assure he is not a danger first.”
Raiden glanced at his home. “Well, he can stay in the old wine cellar. It’s in the back of the estate, away from the main quarters and fortified well. I will see to it.”
“Thank you.”
It was far more than she could ask of him. But Dyna had nowhere else to take Cassiel. They had a few things to sort through before she could finally move on.
Dyna expelled a heavy sigh. “Was there any word from King Leif?”
