I sunk into his mind andflew.
The world transformed through the cinderhawk’s eyes.Everything became sharper, clearer, painted in shades of silver that human vision could never capture. The castle fell away beneath us as we soared into the star-drunk sky, wind singing through feathers with a freedom that made my earthbound body ache with longing.
Below, four figures moved along the cobblestone path weaving through the castle grounds, and exited through the eastern gate, continuing toward the village, their voices carrying on the night air. Isi walked in the center of the group, her blonde hair catching moonlight like spun silver. Even from this height, I could see the easy swing of her arms, the relaxed set of her shoulders. She looked happy. Unguarded in a way she never was around me.
The sight was both a blade and a balm. I wanted to wrap that light in my hands and keep it, hoard it away from anyone who hadn’t bled for it.
We followed at a distance, Gavelle’s predatory instincts keeping us high enough to remain unnoticed. The group moved with the casual confidence of people seeking a good time, pausing once for Lexie to retie her boot, laughing when Derren whipped out a joke that made Kerralyn snicker.
The Mistvale Inn came into view, a sprawling timber and stone building that had served travelers and locals for ages. Warm light spilled from its diamond-paned windows, and the sound of conversation and laughter drifted out each time the heavy wooden door swung wide. Through Gavelle’s enhanced senses, I could smell the rich scents of roasted meat, yeasty ale, and the particular mixture of leather, wool, and woodsmoke that marked any popular tavern.
Isi and her friends disappeared through the main entrance, and at my direction, Gavelle circled the building once before finding a perch on a shadowed section of the second story roof, where we had a perfect view into the main common room below. The cracked-open window would allow him to hear, though a cinderhawk’s hearing surpassed ours.
The inn was busy, with at least two dozen patrons filling the space, a mix of villagers, traveling merchants, and off-duty guardsfrom the castle. Serving staff wove between tables, laden with platters and mugs, their aprons stained with ale and their faces flushed from the heat of the kitchens. A bard sat in the corner, plucking a stringed instrument, singing a ballad about star-crossed lovers that made several women sigh into their wine.
Near the stone hearth, a group of local farmers argued over grain prices while sharing a bottle of wine. At another table, two merchants played cards with the concentration of men wagering more than they could afford to lose. The air hung with woodsmoke from the fire and the clay pipes several villagers smoked, creating a hazy atmosphere.
Isi’s group claimed a corner table that offered them some privacy while still letting them see the room. It was a strategic choice that spoke to their training. Always know your exits, always watch for threats.
They settled into chairs, shedding their cloaks and calling for the servant. When one approached, Lexie ordered ale for herself and Derren, while Kerralyn asked for wine. Isi hesitated before requesting wine as well, though I noticed she specified the house vintage rather than anything expensive.
Careful with coin, my practical princess. Always thinking ahead.
The servant bustled away, and within minutes returned with a tray bearing their drinks. The ale came in proper tankards, foam spilling over the rims, while the wine was served in fluted cups. Isi lifted hers for a sip, her expression thoughtful as she tasted it.
“Not bad,” she said, though the words came faint over the general din of the room.
After they’d ordered food, Derren tugged a leather pouch from his pocket and spilled a set of bone dice onto the scarred wooden table. “Who wants to play Dragon’s Teeth?”
An old game, popular throughout the realm. It involved luck, bluffing, and small wagers that could add up to significant sums if you weren’t careful. I watched Isi examine the dice with the samefocused attention she brought to everything else, clearly working out the rules and odds in her head.
I suspected she’d win. She usually did when something involved strategy.
From my hidden perch, Gavelle and I settled in to watch, his patience keeping us motionless in the shadows. There was something satisfying about watching Isi in her element. Confident and laughing, surrounded by people who cared about her.
I thought I knew this careful princess, the determined spy, the fierce woman who’d kissed me like she was drowning, and I was her air. But this Isi was someone else entirely. Relaxed. Happy.
Seeing the way she grinned at Lexie’s joke, the way she absently played with a coin while considering her next move in the game, showed me the woman she might’ve been in a different life. One where princesses didn’t have to infiltrate enemy courts and kings didn’t fall for women who’d come to destroy them.
I wanted her to laugh like that with me.
Jealousy was a poison I couldn’t afford, especially when directed at her happiness. She deserved moments like this, deserved friends who could make her smile without the weight of kingdoms hanging between them.
Through Gavelle’s enhanced vision, I catalogued the scene. Lexie sat to Isi’s right, her dark braids gleaming in the lamplight, gesturing as she told a story that made Kerralyn laugh. Derren lounged in his chair beside her, one arm draped over the back of her seat, his fingers teasing the ends of her braids.
Maddox arrived and strode over, asking to join them, though I noted he directed his question Derren’s way. Derren shot Isi a glance, and she shrugged. Only then did he nod and gesture for the other man to sit.
When Maddox dragged a chair over and nudged it between Isi and Kerralyn, I growled. He’d placed himself close enough that if she turned, her knee would brush his. My magic prickled at my fingertips, urging me to burn the chair out from underneath him.
Gavelle flapped his wings before settling again.
Isi stared at Maddox for a long while, her lips thin, before she angled her body away from his and took a sip of her wine. She played a handful of dice and won the round.
Derren and Lexie grumbled and shook their heads while Isi collected her winnings.
Maddox tossed his opening coins into the pile and took the dice, shaking them in his hands.
His hostility toward Isi went beyond simple dislike, and it wouldn’t be long before I did something about it. He blamed her for his brother’s death, and he would not let it go. I’d been as patient as I could be, but soon, I’d snap. He wouldn’t like that one bit.
