“Perfect,” Kaelith sighed, his chin falling to her shoulder.You don’t think he’s going to incinerate me, do you?
“Kill you?” Rynna turned her head, meeting his eyes.
Shit,she thought. He was right. Bran hated Kaelith, both for the horrible things he’d done and for luring Taren away from Ember Reach.
“I sent word that you were an ally and not to be killed on sight.” Fenn glanced at Kaelith, exhaling as the Phoenix loomed closer. “But I take it you two have some way of communicating silently? This is not the first time it’s seemed that way. Care to loop me in?”
Run! He’s onto us!Kaelith’s voice quipped in her mind.
Rynna spun around, flicking him on the nose.
Uncalled for.A hiss slipped through his teeth as he rubbed the spot, brows drawn into an exaggerated pout.
“Out loud from now on, Kae!” She shot him a warning look, though her cheeks flushed. Turning back to Fenn, she bit her lip. “Sorry, it slipped my mind with everything else happening.”
The rider, standing off to the side, gawked at them with his mouth hanging open. “I honestly don’t know which is more intriguing. The sight of a boy riding the GreatPhoenix, or a newly Awakened flicking the nose of Ember Reach’s greatest traitor like he’s some misbehaving dog.”
“Glad to hear I won’t be burned to a crisp.” Kaelith ignored the rider, then gave Fenn a small, respectful bow. “Thank you. I’ll try to keep most of my discussions with Rynna out loud from now on, though I hope you understand that some things are better kept private.”
Fenn’s fingers flexed at his sides. “Let’s focus on the mission and living through it; then, we can figure out how all this… might work. Even if everything goes to plan, you will still have to answer to the Reaches for your crimes.”
Kaelith’s eyes flashed with hesitation as he considered Fenn’s words before finally nodding. “Agreed.”
The two men dipped their heads in a mutual, brief sign of respect before an all-too-human cry rose from the oncoming bird.
“FAAANNNG SQUAAAD!” Bran’s voice boomed from above, the flames around him flaring brighter with each word. “Hold onto your lunches! Here we go!”
“Oh shit,” Taren muttered just as they were engulfed.
“Be careful, you lout!” Elara’s voice rang out through the roar. “Not everyone is fireproof!”
“I got it, woman! Calm down!” Bran yelled back, gripping the Phoenix’s neck.
“Don’t tell me to calm down! You’re not the one who will have to heal them all!”
Swirling around their bodies like a vortex of igneous light, the flames pulled them in, lifting them away from the eagle they’d been riding. Weightless, they floated up through the center of the Great Elementalherself. And as they reached the top, fire parted around them like water while the group slowly regained its footing.
“You don’t have to ride me like that, Elara!” Bran yelled over his shoulder, shaking her loose. “Just stand. She’ll keep you in place.” He pointed toward the others, who had finally settled in. “See! They’ve got it.”
Rynna pulled herself to her feet beside Fenn, who was already standing, his eyes fixed on Bran. Tall and proud, the boy, no longer a boy, stood at the center of the Great Phoenix’s back, his red robes flowing around him like smelted silk.
“Woah.” Rynna blinked at the sight. “Very cool, Bran.”
“I know, right?!” He threw his arms wide as if to embrace the sky.
“I think I might be sick,” Kaelith groaned, pulling himself to his knees and holding a hand to his mouth. “That was actually worse than the Waygate.”
“You,” Bran growled, mirth fading as he faced Kaelith. “Snakes belong on the ground.”
Rynna moved between them, but before anything could happen, Bran’s eyes darted past Kaelith, landing on Taren.
“Taren!”
Face lighting with joy, he barreled forward to wrap his arms around the young man and lift him clean off the ground in a giant bear hug.
As Taren struggled, feet kicking against the larger boy, Rynna found Fenn standing soundlessly to the side, his eyes crinkling at the corners.
Despite everything, they were all here together.
