Astrid releases a howl of rage, of pain, and Bastet howls in answer. Her eyes are dry; tears are not enough for her friend. Nothing is enough.
The familiar crackle in the air, a tingling along her skin. Zryan’s voice, soft again. “We need to move them, Astrid. We can’t leave them here.”
She sits up, numb. Move them where? Where could they possibly take Jessa that would be appropriate? She has to be kept safe. Astrid must say all this out loud because Zryan answers her.
“We’ll take her to her room, get her—get her cleaned up. We can make sure she’s looked after properly there. Her and Quincy.”
Her heart cracks a little more. Thank the Stars they are together, wherever they are.
Zryan steps forward. “No!” Astrid gasps, and he hesitates. “No, please. Don’t touch her.”
“Astrid, let me—” but Zryan is cut off by Axel.
“Astrid?” His voice is low, tender. It doesn’t suit him. “I want to help. I am going to take Jessa. You can stay with her, but I need to lift her and take her back to the castle.”
“Where’s Fionn? They can do it,” she says.
Arboria snuffles from next to Jessa. FIONN WENT TO FIND YOU.
“Princess Astrid, will you let me do it?” Axel asks.
She squeezes her eyes shut. Takes a few breaths. “Yes,” she whispers finally. She can’t explain it, why she can’t accept Zryan’s help. Maybe she’s punishing herself for the joy he brought her before Jessa was murdered—murdered because someone thought she was Astrid.
Axel approaches slowly and bends down, his arms gentle as he slides them beneath Jessa’s body.
“Arboria, will you go with them?”
OF COURSE,MYPRINCESS.IWILL NOT LEAVE HER.
“Quincy,” she murmurs. What about Quincy? He’s huge: no one could carry him.
ICAN TAKEQUINCY ON MY BACK, Bastet offers.
Astrid doesn’t bother telling Bastet she can’t lift the fox, she’s not even sure she could cast right now to levitate him onto Bastet’s back, but then Zryan is there again, quick-footed, as though trying to help before Astrid can stop him. He’s bent beside Quincy, and beyond Astrid’s comprehension, he lifts the giant fox and drapes his body over Bastet, heartbreakingly tender, before quickly moving away. Astrid says nothing to Zryan; she just climbs up next to the beautiful fox and holds him. She searches for Jessa and sees Arboria and Axel surrounded by guards, Jessa’s body held close against his chest, her long navy hair cascading over his arm. Bastet whimpers at the sight. Then he crouches and jumps, struggling with the weight of Quincy and Astrid, and she clings to both of the familiars with all her might.
Astrid glances over her shoulder. Skylar is back, standing beside her brother, eyes on Astrid as she flies away. Astrid places a hand over her heart. Skylar does the same.
Thank you, she thinks.Thank you.
39Skylar
For two days, Skylar spends her time mostly alone, apart from checking in on Astrid, who hasn’t shown any sign of wanting to leave her room. Through their bond, she can feel Astrid’s pain—a dull ache that has settled next to her heart. But she’s never been very good at offering comfort; the best she can do is bring Astrid ginger tea every now and then. And make sure she’s safe—that, it turns out, Skylar is good at.
She’s been instructed to “train,” but no one seems to be on hand to enforce this. Axel has been engaged in discussions over the assassination attempt—they’re calling it anattempt, even though it was successful, wasn’t it?—and Zryan disappeared almost immediately after Astrid left.
He’d whirled to her, the storm in his eyes wild.If she dies, you die. So you better fucking protect her.
He didn’t tell anyone where he was going before flying away on Mjolnir, and she feels the dragon’s absence in a way that slightly alarms her. It makes her jumpy, knowing he’s not around—as much for Kaida as for herself.
Kaida. Who right now is bounding in front of her across the castle grounds as they walk through the night, her red-bronze scales shimmering in the moonslight.
Barely more than a week old. The thought makes Skylar’s heart constrict—because what if Kaida doesn’t come out of this? She didn’t think about it when she touched the egg. And sheshouldhave. Yes, she’s an Exhauster. Yes, she’s powerful, and if she’s quick enough, she thinks she can take Astrid down. But what if Bastet goes for Kaida?As a cat, he was barely worth considering. But as a fuck-off massive winged panther…
Look!
Skylar glances down as Kaida launches herself into the air, wings flapping desperately. She manages to stay airborne for a second, maybe two, before she flops to the ground again.
Skylar laughs, delight coursing through her as Kaida blows out a self-congratulatory puff of smoke. She immediately sobers. Mjolnir told her that Kaida will be able to fly in another couple of weeks—but the duel is in less than two now.
