I scanned his face expecting to see the solemn facade crack, but it held firm. He was being serious, and I didn’t even know how to proceed. Taking a deep breath, I closed my eyes and imagined the still-flying creature in my mind. Grave hadn’t offered instructions, but I did my best to obey his request.
There was nothing else in the world I wanted more than for Dysis to return to me with Fisher safely in her maw. It wasn’t just a thought in my mind, but a feeling I felt with my entire being; so similar to using my magic to conjure fruits and vegetables in my garden at home. I silently begged for the wyvern to come back to me and opened my eyes skyward, hoping she had somehow heard.
Dysis’s corkscrew maneuvering halted, and she leveled out. Her large green eyes reflected against the sun’s rays as she looked down at me. My heart nearly leapt from my chest as the larger wyvern sent another red flame from its mouth toward her. Not only would Fisher die, but so would the wyvern. She flicked her head instantly and dove deep toward the land, barely dodging the heat from the fire.
“Tell Vek to let it be!” Grave yelled in his mother’s direction, but her eyes remained up. “She’s learned her lesson! Tell your beast to stop!”
The two wyverns dropped and soared in a deadly dance, all while Fisher hung lifeless. Stream after fiery stream emitted from Vek as Dysis evaded each attack. Zalzre had taken to the hunt and was at the tail of Vek, but his opponent remained out of reach.
Dysis was more agile and faster than the Vek, but her maneuvers started to slow. She was growing tired. Not only could I see her fatigue happening in real time, but deep down I somehow felt her energy sputtering.
“Mother!” The king turned and ran toward where she sat back on her feet. “Dysis dies, and your guard dies with her!” His words were enough to knock her out of the dream-like state.
My eyes lifted just as the enormous beast diverted toward the hills and away from my wyvern. I silently breathed my gratitude to the land for keeping both the guard and creature safe. If I returned to Rivale without Fisher, I might as well walk myself into the prison to be held for trial. Not assisting a guard in a time of need was grounds for execution.
Feet running, I moved to meet Dysis just as she set down a still-unconscious Fisher. His face was pale except for his pink, wind-whipped cheeks. I pulled back and waited for his chest to rise, panic ringing in my ears. A shallow breath finally lifted the guard’s chest; I exhaled in relief.
“Let me get to him.” Micah moved in next to me wearing formal clothes. “I need you to scoot back. If you’re touching him, it may interfere.”
Backing up and standing, I bumped into Grave’s brawny chest. Exhausted and feeling more worn out than I should’ve, I turned and leaned into him as tears threatened to spill onto my cheeks. Dysis let out a small trilling noise as Grave wrapped his arms around me and stroked my hair. Heavy palm pressing in, he silently gave me the permission I needed to bury myself further.
I couldn’t be sure what had caused the emotions to hit as hard as they had. Even though Fisher was a guard, he’d become someone close to me, and I wanted him to live. He’d been someone I could depend on at Sutton Castle when I was surrounded by women who only wanted to hurt and sabotage me. And though he hadn’t protected me against Ryder, I knew he would have, if the man who’d hurt me hadn’t been the prince. My relationship with Ryder had made me question my judgment of people, but Fisher restored what little faith I had in my ability to discern between good and evil.
“Would you like to go home?” Grave’s voice wavered as he spoke. “If you would like to leave, I’ll make arrangements. I cantake you myself, but I can’t do so until tomorrow. Or I will send Micah and Sky to take you this afternoon.”
I hesitated, still unsure of what I even wanted. The thought of returning to Ryder prematurely soured my stomach. Only a week had passed, and nearly all romantic feelings I had for him had dissipated.
“Your actual home.” Grave continued as if he’d read my thoughts. “You can live with your father for the next three weeks, and Ryder will be none the wiser.”
Though the offer was enticing, I couldn’t walk away from a land filled with people that I might be able to help. And I wasn’t quite ready to leave the comforts Kuroden had provided either. Perhaps the biggest reason to stay was that I wasn’t yet ready to leave the man holding me safely in his arms.
“Hey.” The king pulled back and tipped up my chin. “Whatever it is you want, I’ll make it happen. There is nothing I wouldn’t do for you.”
A moment passed between us as the rest of the world fell away. The amber hue in his eyes dove into me as the black center circles dipped down to my mouth. So many thoughts passed between us without a single one needing to be said.
“He’s okay,” Micah called out. “Someone get him a cup of water.”
“Water!” Athela demanded as she stood and retreated toward the castle. “Get him inside!”
“I’m fine.” I stepped back and ran my hands down my pants. “There’s no reason for me to return just yet, especially when I’ve been such a failure.” I forced a laugh. “Besides, just wait until you get to see me fail week after week, it’s quite something.”
“The offer stands,” the king said, not quite sounding like he’d wanted to give it. “You will always have a choice here.”
9
GRAVE
“Can you just sit already?” Amalee’s tone teetered on the edge of annoyance. “Your pacing does nothing but stress everyone out.”
“Speak for yourself.” Sky nudged her. “I think it’s sweet that he’s anxious.”
“I’m not,” I lied. “I don’t want to be late, and if she takes any longer, we’re definitely not going to get there on time.”
The end of the week arrived quicker than expected. I’d been so busy that I’d spent little time with Audryn. Knowing I had a limited amount of time left, I made a choice. I wouldn’t waste even a single moment without making my interest in her known. Regardless of nerves, I’d tell her how I felt.
Footsteps padded down the stairs, and I waited at the bottom with my gaze up. My mother’s seamstress had talked me out of the all-black dress I had in mind for the occasion. Instead, she crafted a gown made of silver silk with black beading across the corset. It was a nod to Kuroden’s secondary royal hue while still using the black primary hue with the adornments.
The sleeves were thin, sheer pieces of fabric to rest on hershoulders while the corset’s structure kept the gown from drooping. The mesh paneling on the sides of the abdomen left her partially exposed, but my sister had convinced me to go with the emerging design.
