My heart pounds as I watch that glittering blue rectangle rise from the floor.
We need to hurry. Because Draven is right.
The war has already started.
CHAPTER SIX
Ijerk awake as someone touches my shoulder. Panic surges through me when I can’t remember where I am for a second. Winds rush around me, and for some reason, all I can see in front of me are gray clouds. I blink furiously to clear my vision while also trying to shake off the lingering nightmares. Cold hands still grip my heart as memories of ice shards and cut throats and resentful eyes that quickly die whirl inside my mind.
“We’re here,” Isera says from behind me.
I blink hard again. Here? Where ishere?
Then my brain at last catches up and I understand what it is that I’m looking at. The sky visible from Draven’s back.
After Grey portaled us as close to the Silver Clan’s homeland as he could, Draven shifted into his dragon form and then launched into the air with all five of us on his back. He said that it would take a while to get there, and I must have passed out at some point, because I can’t remember much of the journey.
Though, I suppose it’s not surprising. While everyone else was sleeping last night, Orion was torturing me with those awful memories for twelve hours straight. And before that, we broke into the Ice Palace and kidnapped Lavendera and then had tofight our way out. I haven’t slept since the day before yesterday, so my body must have just given out.
I glance over my shoulder. Isera is sitting right behind me, and Orion is behind her. Based on the way he blinks and shakes his head, he must have passed out from exhaustion as well. Using his magic for so many hours on end must have taken most of his energy.
Shifting my gaze back, I look down at the landscape far below.
My eyes widen at what I find down there.
Utter desolation. Nothing but scorched earth and stone and melted buildings. Clouds of ash sweep across the barren ground. There is not a tree, not one single blade of grass, as far as the eye can see. Gray light falls down from the overcast sky, making the already bleak landscape look truly forlorn.
According to the others, this is where almost all the battles took place during the war six thousand years ago. And by Mabona, the sheer scope of the destruction is staggering. I have no idea what war is like among other races, but apparently, when fae and dragon shifters fight, the world trembles.
My stomach lurches as Draven suddenly starts diving towards the ground. Gripping the spike before me hard, I hold on tightly to stop myself from tilting forwards. Isera’s arms around my waist get firmer as well.
“Careful where you place those hands, pretty boy,” she warns as Orion no doubt holds on to her as well. “Or I might cut them off.”
“What, this?” Orion replies, and lets out a short chuckle full of sly challenge. “This is nothing. When we’re alone, I can show you what these hands of mine can really do.”
“Besides stroke your own ego, you mean?”
“Oh, I happen to be deviously skilled at…strokingthings.”
Draven lets out a warning growl and turns his massive head to look at us while he still continues descending. Even in hisdragon form, I can read the exasperated incredulity in his eyes as he glares back at Orion.
I flick a glance at the Unseelie King as well and catch him flashing Draven an unapologetic smirk back. Shaking my head, I return my attention to the rapidly approaching ground. My pulse thrums as the melted ruins of buildings and stone draw closer.
Draven at last swings his head back and looks at the ground too. His massive black wings flare out wide. Then he lands on the scorched ground with a thud that echoes across the desolate landscape.
Grey and Hana, who were seated at the back of our little procession, quickly climb down to the ground. Orion, Isera, and I follow.
Once we’re all standing on solid ground again, Draven shifts back into his human form. Black smoke swirls around us from the transformation until the winds at last sweep it aside.
“This is the last time I’m carrying the two of you,” Draven declares as he strides back to us. Keeping his eyes locked on Orion and Isera, he shakes his head. “Discussing your shared sex life while you’re sitting on my back is disgusting as fuck.”
“That’s not—” Isera blurts out, sounding more flustered than I’ve ever heard. “We do not have a shared sex life.”
Orion smirks. “Yet.”
“I don’t want to hear it,” Draven says before she can retort. Then he turns to Hana. “You, can you find the pocket reality or what?”
Hana, who was gazing out at the landscape around her, jumps at being address directly. But she doesn’t immediately reply. Instead, she looks to Orion.
