“I am scared.”
She ran her finger between Hero's ears. “You don’t have to come with me.”
“I’m not scared for myself. I’m scared for you.”
“Me too,” she murmured.
Honey knelt beside Gur, knotting white and red flowers into his mane. Eyes closed, the lion-semargl appeared to be sleeping, but his tail continued to swipe back and forth across the forest floor. Magda couldn’t tell if he enjoyed the attention or was merely tolerating it.
Anqa had her back turned to them as she preened her feathers, one massive wing angled upwards as she worked.
Damion and Kaelan leaned against the little hut, drinking water and sharing what was left in the basket, watching the scene, neither looking particularly happy.
Kaelan’s brow furrowed as she approached.
“I look that good, huh?” she said, hands on her hips.
He chucked away his apple core. “What now?”
“We go to the Spire.”
“We fly?” Honey asked, bounding over.
“Doesn’t Anqa need to go back to her mate?” Magda asked, glancing back at the roc, who suddenly let out a high-ringing shriek.
“Her mate was killed,” Honey stated plainly, in the same way she might tell someone their shoe was untied.
“When? How?”
For the first time since the empusa had siphoned her soul, Honey frowned. “Anqa isn’t sure. She left us after we thought she was no longer needed and found him... or what was left of him. All his feathers were taken, and his head removed.”
Magda’s stomach churned.
“Then she can take you back to the forest,” Kaelan said to Honey.
“How will you reach the Spire?” Honey asked.
“I can take Magda there.”
“No,” Damion said. “Remember what happened the last time we did that? We all go together this time.”
“Damion’s right,” Magda said to Kaelan. “Besides, I can’t drag you unconscious before the Crown. And if I have to fight, I’ll need you at full strength.”
“Then we fly?” Honey asked.
“The Spire is a long way from here,” Damion said. “Will Anqa be able to carry all of us over the gulf and then the mountains?”
Honey twirled her hair. “She will require frequent rest.”
Gur stood, stretching, and let out a mouthy lionish sound, as if he were attempting to speak.
“We’re not taking that thing with us,” Damion said.
Gur’s eyes fixed on Damion, clearly communicating what he thought of Damion’s protest.
“I agree,” Kaelan said. “We can’t trust him, considering...”
“Considering what?” Honey asked.
