I wanted to stay. I wanted nothing more than to stay in those strong, warm arms and never leave. He made me feel safe. He made me feelseen,heard. He’d touched me like no other had touched me before and it had been with him that I’d felt like…like I was not a slave. That I was not to be so easily discarded, so easily overlooked.
He’d seen me, even inDothik.
Remember his betrayal,Vienne, I told myself. A small sound escaped my throat, a small, desperate little ache that had wound its way from my heart and out from between my lips.
He’d never intended to help me find the heartstone.
I needed to remember that because that was the only thing that would make it easier to leave. Because I had to leave. There was no other choice.
And I needed to leave before he woke up. I needed to leave before the horde began to rouse, or else I would have to use my gift and I didn’t need the pain that would follow. The pain would come soon, no doubt, but I needed to be clear-headed for my journey.
I need to be brave, I told myself.
My breath hitched when I felt something familiar spreading across my skin, a brief prickling that made me regard the shadows carefully, though I knew I would not see her.
Tentatively, I reached out with my gift, seeking in the darkness. Biting my lip to suppress my gasp when I found it, I felt that bright, warm energy spreading through my limbs.
I’m sorry I can’t help you, I told it, I toldher. Devina’s soul was lingering in this world. That was what I believed. Because her brother would not let her go, for whatever reason.
It shamed me that I hadn’t eventriedto help her. Every time I’d wanted to bring up Devina’s request, my throat had closed tight and I couldn’t force the words out.
It was reckless but I leaned down over Davik and brushed my lips across his. A whisper of a kiss, barely there. A goodbye.
Before I could second-guess myself, without looking at Davik again, I treaded softly to the entrance of thevoliki, ducking under the flap and out into the darkness of early morning.
The horde was quiet. They were all tired and asleep after the long journey west. A blessing, perhaps, because it meant that I could roam through the horde unseen, my boots crunching over earth silently as I wound my way towards thepyrokipen.
I knew the ones that were unbonded to Dakkari. I wouldn’t dare try to steal a bondedpyroki, so I’d paid careful attention to the enclosure upon our return a couple hours earlier. The ones unmarked with golden paint were not bonded. And thus, fair game.
Mostpyrokiwere lying on the ground, their four long limbs tucked underneath them carefully, some huddled together in groups, while some preferred to sleep alone.
I spied Nillima, who slept apart from the rest. Her head rose when she saw me and even in my state of grief and despair and anxiousness, a small, sad smile pulled at my lips when she sharply turned her head away, as if pretending she didn’t see me.
“Take care of him,” I whispered to her as I passed, running my fingers across her scaled neck, though she made a sound of protest.
Themrikro, thepyrokimaster, was nowhere to be seen and so I set my eyes on an unmarkedpyroki, sleeping towards the fence of the enclosure. It lifted its head to regard me as I approached. I felt no fear as I ran my palm over its snout, though it chuffed in confusion.
It stood, towering over me on four legs, stamping its clawed feet into the ground, tossing its neck.
I stroked its snout, determination rising.
“I need your help,” I whispered. “Will you help me?”
There was something to be said about the intelligence ofpyrokis…and I knew the Dakkari revered them for a reason.
I could understand it now. I even swore thepyrokiunderstood me, or understood my desperate plea. Because in the next moment, it bowed its front legs forward, allowing me to scramble over its back before it rose to full height again.
“Thank you,” I whispered to thepyroki, setting my sights on the gate that separated the encampment from the plains.
I took a deep breath in. A part of me had expected to feel like I had while staring at the glittering turrets inDothikweeks ago. Frightened beyond belief so that I physically trembled with it.
I felt fear, no doubt, but it wasn’t the same. It was…inevitable fear, but I would not let it deter me.
“Vir drak,” I whispered to thepyroki.
Chapter Forty-One
“Davik!”
