My Elthika regarded Amaia with slitted eyes as she approached.
“Good evening, friend,” she said quietly. “How are you?”
As if he understood, he let out a huff of derision at the question. He jerked his head away when the Dakkari tried to press her fingers into his jaw. To Amaia’s credit, her lips only twisted in wry amusement, not offense.
“He dislikes everyone,” I informed her. “Don’t take it personally.”
“Then however didyouclaim him?”
I ignored the subtle dig. “With my charm, I suppose.” I grinned, but it felt more like a baring of my teeth. “And because I wasn’t leaving theilla’roshwithout him.”
Amaia swallowed. I swore I caught an edge of a smile. Then she looked back at Samryn, her expression going quizzical. “You want to do this here?” she asked. “But what if someone sees?”
I reached out my hand to press against Samryn’s side, and he lowered his wing, the membrane stretched over bone making a creaking sound as it shifted.
“Heartstone magic isn’t persecuted here, Amaia.” Though I thought it might still be wise to stay hidden. “We’ll go into the forest. We won’t be disturbed there.”
She nodded. Whatever fears she had about using her own ability would need to be quelled—and soon. It was horrendous what the Dakkari had done to their own people in search of power. But the Karag were not the same. Or even the Hartans, for that matter.
Amaia ascended up Samryn’s wing, though the Elthika let out a low growl when she did, as if he couldn’t help himself.
“Enough,” I murmured quietly to Samryn, chastising him through the bond. He responded with an ice-cold flood of annoyance, but the growling ceased. I followed after Amaia, who sat uncertain in the riding seat.
“Like this?” she asked, peering up at me. For a moment, I had a strange feeling as I looked down at her, where I was still standing at the joint of Samryn’s wing.
The moonlight reflected in her eyes, which flickered back and forth between my own. Her wavy hair was pulled back into a messy plait, though tendrils had escaped. Her lips were pursed, resembling a small pout, as she peered up at me, awaiting my instruction.
I swallowed, huffing out a rough breath.
Not her,I decided firmly. Even if she was beautiful.
“Lean forward,” I ordered. “Yes, like that.”
I swung over, tucking into place behind her, with her seated between my thighs. I had no use for tethers when it came to my Elthika—with our bond they were unnecessary, so I only bracketed my arms around Amaia, gripping onto the handle at the front of the mount, pressing low over her back.
“Hang on,” I murmured, her heat seeping through my clothing as I sent the command through the bond. She smelled good, like spiced soap.
The energy rippled through Samryn’s body, and then he was launching into the air, the mighty gust of his wings drowning out Amaia’s gasps. The ascent was rougher than it needed to be, and I gritted my teeth, knowing he’d done it on purpose.
When he leveled out, Amaia was trembling.
“Riding with a Vyrin,” I told her, “is much different than the transport you took here, yes?”
“Y-Yes,” came her breathless reply.
My lips curled as I looked out over the Arsadia. Bright starspeppering a cloudless sky, illuminating towering mountains, which billowed out to deep valleys and lakes in the lower region, closest to the coast.
In the far distance, I spied a formation of wild Elthika, making their way north.
“It’sbeautiful,” Amaia said when she’d finally caught her breath and dared to chance a peek up.
“How does it compare to your Dakkar?” I asked curiously, wondering what she might say. I’d flown over her land. I hadn’t been impressed, though it had reminded me of Harta, in its own way.
“I…I don’t know,” she replied. She looked over her shoulder to look at me. Her cheeks were flushed, her eyes wild in worry but also in excitement. She liked this. “I’ve never stepped foot outside of Dothik.”
“What on Muron’s blood possessed you to come here, then?” I asked, frowning.
“This,” she replied, as if it were obvious. But she didn’t gesture to the magnificence of the Arsadia. Instead she risked releasing her grip on the side of the mount to pat Samryn’s side. “Them.”
