Go—they’ll kill us both! If you’re alive, there’s a chance I can escape.
He wavered. He didn’t want to abandon me. He would rather stay and fight, die beside me as my brother, but he knew I had a point. If there was any chance at all that I could escape, I would need him alive and free to do it.
I’ll come back for you,he promised.
Someone slammed the hilt of his sword into my head as another kicked my ribs. Ears ringing, I could still make out a beautiful sound. The heavy beat of wings.
Altair stood over me as they hauled me to my feet. “You had designs on the future empress. You committed treason against your emperor by helping her to escape.”
I spat out blood.“You allowed Lord Heron to have free rein of the palace and try to have her killed—twice.”
“I will make an example of you, Talon,” Altair said, his expression calm but his eyes full of darkness. “Anyone who dares betray the throne will be punished—kin or not. Throw him in the dungeon to await his sentence,” he told my guards.
“You need me,” I said to Altair, trying one last time to secure my freedom. “There’s a war coming. Who will lead your army?”
“I have a new army commander,” Altair said, and then, from out of the shadows, it emerged.
Ozul. The Devourer.
And as it made its way to stand beside my cousin the emperor, I knew that all hope was lost.
37
Zara
We flew to the Nazeeran Canyon, where I knew we’d find Ama. She wouldn’t have left Queen Jazela, and with our people supposedly at peace, there shouldn’t have been a reason for Ama to hide anymore. My mind continually tormented me with the look on Talon’s face when we abandoned him to his fate.
Flew to safety,Tempest corrected.
Did exactly as he asked us to do,Shazeera said at the same time.
They had both tried their best to comfort me during the flight, but I couldn’t stop crying. I clutched my abdomen and sobbed until I couldn’t breathe.
He’ll kill him,I kept telling them.The Devourer had completely taken Altair over, and he’ll want revenge on Talon for letting me go.
I thought of all the times Talon had been there for me when I had been attacked, and now no one would be there for him.
Your power in the hands of that creature would have sentenced this entire continent to death,Shazeera reminded me—repeatedly.
That’s the only thing that’s keeping me from begging Tempest to fly me back as soon as I get you to safety,I told her.
That’s not happening,Tempest said firmly.
I could still feel Talon’s lips on mine, his hands on my back and in my hair. We hadn’t even had time to explore our feelings for each other. But I knew without a doubt I was falling for him.
And I had left him behind to his fate.
Amidst a bright orange setting sun, the sky a dazzling array of pinks and purples, we made our descent over the Nazeeran Canyon. In my desperation to return to my people and grief over leaving Talon and Neo, I hadn’t thought about the potential reaction to a giant eagle swooping down in the middle of the encampment.
We were greeted with shouts and screams, as Tempest’s wings buffeted the tents and pavilions.
Should I take off again?Tempest asked, his concern pressing at my mind.These people seem hostile.
They’remypeople. They won’t attack.
A line of archers marched to the forefront of the crowd, drawing their bows.
“Don’t shoot!” I shouted as Tempest lowered Shazeera carefully to the ground. I leaped down from Tempest’s back and spread my arms wide in front of him, Shazeera by my side.
