Farron and I exchange a surprised look, then with a rush of excitement, I leap up behind his little sister. Farron jumps on behind me, the large creature just big enough for the three of us.
Our horses take flight into the sky, joining the rest of the legion in the air. Gladiators hold tight to stern-faced women, riding their steeds with effortless grace.
A golden eagle screeches as it flies in front of Delphia’s horse. “Thanks for helping me find my brother, Justus,” I hear her call over the wind.
I look down as the arena gets smaller beneath us. The green flames still flicker, each one a warning. Tomorrow, it won’t just be the arena overrun. It will be all of Hadria.
“Amazing rescue,” Dayton yells to his sister. “But what’s the plan now?”
“The Huntresses weren’t the only thing we found in the desert,” she says back.
I follow her gaze ahead of the legion.
Drifting out of the clouds is a dark and terrible structure: the black sails of one of Kairyn’s airships. Four others follow in its wake.
“Stop, Nori!” Farron cries. “That thing will blast us out of the sky!”
But something thrums to life in my chest, an urgent pull that sends shivers of electricity through my body. “No, Fare. That’s exactly where we need to go.”
More winged horses shoot out of the clouds, escorting the ships. As we get closer to the first one, I make out the figure at the helm.
His smile, such a rare sight, strikes me like an arrow to the heart. Ezryn waves us forward, pointing at where our horses can land on the deck.
I look backward, toward the outskirts of the city where Sira’s army lies in wait. A question tugs on my mind: is Wrenley down there? Did she run back to Sira’s clutches? Or is she somewhere in the ruined colosseum?
I take a shaky breath. There are too many unknowns. But my princes are with me.
We may have a hope yet.
CHAPTER 102
Rosalina
The deck of the ship is a bustle of activity. Farron, Nori, and I dismount our Pegasus, and it takes off back into the sky, falling into formation with the other winged horses that flank the ship. Dayton’s laugh booms over the shouts of the crew as he flings Delphia in a circle, squeezing her so tight all the breath shoots out of her in an exhale.
I scan all the faces aboard the ship before my gaze meets Ezryn’s atop the bridge. My heart stutters. He came back, like he promised he would. Delphia and Nori are safe, and the Huntresses of Aura have come to our aid.
I never doubted you,I whisper across our bond.
The smallest flash of a smile flickers on his face.Do you always have to be right?
Yes, actually. At least when it comes to you four,I say in my mind, raising a brow.
His gaze narrows, and the small smile turns wolfish.Get over here and let me kiss you.
Eagerly, I dash across the deck, winding through the bustling crew. My heart hammers in my breast, every moment out of his arms feeling like an eternity.
Just as I’m about to reach the stairs leading up to the bridge, a voice calls my name: “Rosalina!”
I turn to see Delphia and Nori standing together.
“Girls.” I walk over to them and pull them in for a group hug. “You did it! You survived the Ribs!”
They wiggle out of my grasp, and Delphia crosses her arms. “Wasn’t like it was even hard,” she says.
Nori picks at a fingernail. “Speak for yourself. I still have sand in my hair.”
“I’m so proud of you both,” I say.
