“Sorry to interrupt, but a military vessel has just veered out of the canals and is sailing this way, Mórrgaht. They must’ve been alerted to a disruption in Filiaserpens in spite of the heavy fog you dropped over the ocean.” Imogen’s already outlined with smoke, as though she’s a second away from bursting into her bird form.
“Or the kid talked,” another Crow suggests.
“No.” Imogen shakes her head, defensive of this child that isn’t even hers. “He wouldn’t have.”
“Shift before they see you whole, Lore.” My father stands farther down the beach from us, his tired gaze affixed not to the approaching dark speck on the east, but to an area of water near the beach where, I suspect, my mother lies. “Carry my daughter away from here. They may know she’s escaped Dante’s prison, but I don’t care for their eyes to so much as touch her.”
Before he’s even done speaking, Lore’s in feathers, knees bent, wing extended. I don’t waste a minute to climb atop his back. We’re airborne before the others. Well, except for those already in the air, but they hover over the forest.
I’ve asked them to wait for if they fly beside me, Little Bird, the Faeries will know I’m back.
Because he’s larger than the others.
As we fly west, toward the Sky Kingdom, I look over at Shabbe. To think the queendom is as vast as Luce yet appears as minuscule as a dot. I cannot wait to bring down the wards and explore the land of pink beaches and magical blood. The birthplace of our tempestuous Cauldron.
Thoughts of the Holy Cauldron steer my mind and gaze off Shabbe and onto Dante. My next and final task.
Or so I think.
Sixty
Behach Éan, we’ve arrived.
Hmm . . . Where?
Home, my love. We’re home.
I jerk upright. When my body begins to list, Lore snaps his outstretched wings higher and tilts.
Oh my Gods, I slept? And seeing as the sky is striated with pinks and purples, I assume I’ve been asleep for a while.
Five hours.
Five?The trip to the Racoccin beach took us two.
You needed sleep. And we were in no rush.
So did you . . . Sodoyou!
I will have plenty soon.
I stare at the faint shape of the moon that’s filling out in the pastel sky.How is it that I didn’t tumble off your back?
First off, would I ever let you fall?
No, but accidents—
Happen to people with careless steeds. Besides, your father flew beneath us the entire time. You’d think he’d trust me, but apparently, seven hundred years of friendship doesn’t make me worthy of his daughter.
I never imagined bliss could be painful, but between my father’s fierce affection and my mate’s intractable love, my heart hurts. How did I get so lucky?
I sink my hands into the feathers at Lore’s neck and draw my thumbs over the hard line of his shoulders. Gods, he must be beat.
Though he doesn’t quite rattle, a deep hum rolls through his bones and vibrates his muscles.Careful, Little Bird, or I may fly off with you.
I smile at his threat.
Someday, I’ll take you away. Just the two of us.
