I want to believe that neither of us owes any responsibility to the humans living in that city. They hated me and wanted me dead. They betrayed Erik and tried to kill him. What’s more, they aren’t defenseless. I created weapons that will allow them to fight monsters on their own.
But all he has to do is murmur into my ear, “Maybelle and Kedric.”
They are the names of the human couple who raised Tamra and Gallium, caring for the twins at great risk to themselves.
With a resigned sigh, I murmur back, “Mother Solas and her granddaughter, Rachel.”
Mother Solas was the one who gave me my grandmother’s pin.
Rachel was on my personal guard. Erik placed her there so he could keep an eye on her and protect her from the humans who would like to see the royal line extinguished once and for all.
Rachel called meLady Silverspunand treated me with rare kindness. I have never wished her harm.
There’s one more name I also say. “Councilor Genova.”
She was the one who asked about Malak’s beginnings.
She was also the one who warned me that I was in danger before I left the city. On my last morning there, when she walked with me in the apple orchard that Malak had created, she asked me:“What does a powerful man do to a woman strong enough to challenge him?”
My answer echoes back to me.
“He destroys her.”
At the time, I believed she was warning me about the Vandawolf’s motives, but now her words remind me of other dangers.
Thaden Kane is out there, and every minute I delay going after him, I risk my siblings’ lives.
But Tamra would never forgive me if something happened to Maybelle and Kedric. Not when I could have kept them safe.
“How long will it take us to reach the city?” I ask Erik.
He grimaces before leaning close again. “Walking, it takes nearly four hours to reach the city’s western side. Running, maybe half that time.”
It’s too much. Whatever monster is about to rise from the ash could decimate the entire city in that time.
I turn my focus back to the bird.
Erik follows my line of sight.
The beast is pressed to the ground in front of us, its face turned up to me, a pleading look in its eyes as if it wants me to make the noise stop.
As soon as it seems to realize it has my attention, it scoots farther forward, aiming its large head for my lap.
I firmly place my palm against its forehead to stop it from knocking me over again. I don’t have a hope of shouting commands at it in the storm, but it pauses, nuzzling up against my palm.
I lean in close to Erik. “Do we have another choice?”
He shakes his head.
Dear saints.
The hardest part will be rising through this storm into what will hopefully be a clear sky above it. Or we might encounter something worse up there.
I suddenly gasp. “My satchel!”
It contains Malak’s tools. I can’t leave them behind. Not because I plan to use them, but because they can’t fall into the wrong hands.
“I’ll get it!” Erik says.
