It takes hold of me as I keep my right arm raised while the light burns through my arm, a searing pain that will only get worse the longer I try to sustain it.
My lips draw back from my teeth as I remind myself…
Pain keeps me alive.
With another roar, I thump my free fist against my heart, a hard enough hit that my steel-covered handclangsagainst my chest plate. The punch gives me the shot of agony I need, the pain I know and welcome.
Thispain is survival.
I give the Oracle a cold grin, certain she sees the tension in my jaw, the suddenness of my indrawn breath, the visible signs of the severe discomfort I dealt myself.
Her eyes are wide as she cranes her neck to see our surroundings, first the vampyrs, the blood draining from her face at the sight of them, then my thumping fist, and finally my face, where her focus stays.
I did what I needed to do.
My mind is clear again.
Now, there’s only one way the Oracle will survive the vampyrs.
She’s going to fucking hate it.
I don’t have time to go slow or have a conversation about it. I’ll only have seconds after I return my weapon to its scabbard before my light will vanish completely, and we’ll be dropped into darkness again.
Already, my light has nearly faded.
As my eagle continues to fly desperately forward, the vampyrs close in again on either side and above us. So far, they haven’t managed to block our path, but they’ll try.
The Oracle followed my instructions and continues to lean low, her chest pressed to my bird’s back, her hands buried in his feathers, and her legs tucked, gripping tightly on either side of his body.
Swiftly depositing my axe into its scabbard and balancing as my eagle continues his evasive maneuvers, I slide down to his back, positioning myself right behind the Oracle—my steel-clad pelvis pressed up against her ass.
In the same swift movement, I lean forward to cover her body with mine, pressing my chest to her back, my legs against her legs, and my arms over her arms, covering her as much as I can.
She stiffens beneath me, her voice snatched away by the wind. “What are you?—?”
My head descends to the space beside hers and—fuck—I should have leaned down on the other side of her becausenow my exposed cheek is pressed to hers and her skin smells like salt and roses and warm, shadowy alcoves…
“Stay,” I snarl at her, fighting to maintain my sanity while I carefully control my body weight.
The black steel covering my body isn’t light. I need to protect her, not fucking crush her.
In the next breath, I roar at my eagle, “Fly as fast as you can!”
I don’t have to tell him twice. Now that we’re both lying low on his back, he won’t fear knocking us off.
His beak snaps at the air as he shoots forward.
He’s faster than any other eagle, more agile despite his size, and his instincts are impeccable. He will want to survive as badly as I do.
The vampyrs’ shrieks crescendo around us. They’re fast, too, and their desperation gives them speed.
The closest vampyrs strike through the fading light, the scent of their burning flesh overwhelms even the perfume of the Oracle’s skin as they shriek with hunger.
“Do not deprive us!”
“Let us drink!”
They collide with my back, thumping hard, trying to grab me with their clawed hands, but I was expecting their attack, and I’m braced for the impact.
