This was . . . something much worse. It had charged down the bond as if it had beensentfor me.
Was it possible that Alfrigg’s army had already sacked the village and taken Kaden prisoner? A mere soldier wouldn’t have been able to tamper with the demon prince’s mind, but one of his own . . .
My blood went cold at the thought.
“We have to get back,” I managed, my whole body still trembling from the pain and terror. “Can you . . .” I trailed off, my heart hammering in my throat.
Sorsha sucked in a breath and gave a stiff nod, though her face was lined with concern.
Getting to her feet, she closed her eyes, concentrating on summoning her wings.
This time I felt the magic rolling off her. The princess’s rage had taken on a life of its own, seeping out of her inwaves of immense power. Turquoise wings fanned out behind her, and relief flickered in my chest.
She held out her arms, and I gripped her neck as she launched us into the air.
Glancing over my shoulder, I took one last look at the decimated village, where smoke still rose in sickly plumes. The only sound was the howling of the wind –– the villagers’ voices silenced.
Chapter
Fifteen
LYRA
My stomach clenched as we approached Bijult, and I could feel Sorsha’s heart hammering. Relief surged through me as we swooped down through the steely gray clouds, and the jagged rooflines came into view.
The village appeared just as it had when we’d left, the uniform shape of the pine tar–blackened houses popping up from between scraggly trees. A few fae roamed the narrow snow-dusted streets, and chickens pecked lazily at the frozen earth.
A shaky breath escaped me as Sorsha landed, but as I climbed the rickety wooden steps that led up to the entrance of the safe house, a roiling fury bubbled over inside me.
The heavy door slammed against the wall as I barged into the cottage. Adriel looked up from where he sat on the bench, reading a battered-looking book.
“Where is he?” I growled, heart punching against my ribs.
“Same place you left him,” Adriel grumbled, brows furrowing. “Where’s —”
He broke off as Sorsha strode in behind me, his hazel eyes snapping to her face as he took in her devastated expression.
Not bothering to explain what we’d found in Körkis, I stormed up the rickety stairs and climbed the ladder to the small alcove, where Kaden sat hunched on the pallet, wings splayed behind him.
He turned at the sound of my footsteps, and his eyes widened as I launched myself across the room.
He surged to his feet, but I was already airborne, smacking into his chest as he turned. My momentum sent him careening backward onto the pallet, and the two of us landed in a tangle of limbs.
The sheets were cold and soaked with sweat. His intoxicating leather-and-night scent wrapped around me, mixed with the slight tang of perspiration.
“What —the fuck— was that?” I snarled, pressing the blade of my dagger to his throat just hard enough to draw blood.
Kaden’s pupils were wide and dark, but I could see the thin band of stormy silver dancing around them. He swallowed, and the small movement drew his flesh into my dagger, causing the line of blood to slide over the flat of the blade.
Though his face was deathly pale, he composed himself enough to return my glare. “What are you doing here, Lyra?”
“I came back to kill the demon who tried to fry my fucking brain,” I cried, fury surging in me anew.
Kaden’s lips parted slightly as understanding flared in his eyes.
“Oh, good. You remember,” I crooned with feigned sweetness.
Something dark flickered in his expression. “It seems you got the message.”
