Forcing my mind to stay awake, I looked to Ronan. “I think I’ve finally figured out what your wings remind me of.”
He glanced at me before looking back into the flames. “What’s that?”
“What’s that small lizard called—” My hands flapped uselessly at my sides. “With the wings?”
He squinted at me, unimpressed. “You mean a Kaida?”
I clicked my tongue. “No. Alizardwith wings.” My arms kept flapping, as if the ridiculous gesture might summon the memory of its damn name.
That earned me another glance. Elysian wasn’t watching the forest anymore, he was listening, head tilted slightly toward us, fingers tracing the blade of his dagger.
“That’s not a thing,” Ronan argued.
Ford’s snicker broke it apart, his face a pout of discomfort as he rubbed at his back. He had convinced himself the hour of sleep he got was enough, insisting he was good to take watch with Ronan, Elysian, and I.
He had fallen back asleep multiple times.
The last time, Ronan had elbowed him awake so aggressively, I think it startled him enough to shake the sleepy feeling for a while.
“I’m telling you it is.” I exhaled, fighting back my own tug of sleep.
Ronan’s expression was unreadable, per usual, but the way his jaw ticked, the way the vein across his forehead pulsed against the curl that laid against it, something was bothering him.
Ford snapped his fingers triumphantly. “Nyctom! They’re from Nyctom. Remember the teacher from the lesson...gods, what was her name? Seven feet tall, hair to her toes—”
“Yes!” I broke into giggles at the memory. “Though, I don’t think that’s where I learned about them.’”
“So,” Ronan chimed in. “I remind you of a small lizard?”
Elysian got up then, pacing the line of trees.
My yawn cracked the moment, and I leaned back to the forest floor, counting the stars to keep myself from slipping. “Yes.”
Ford leaned closer, fingers hovering inches from the edge of Ronan’s wings. “Just let me see if they feel the same—”
Ronan didn’t even turn. “Do you enjoy breathing?”
Ford’s hand froze. “Honestly? Not as much as I enjoy annoying you.”
Smoke shot out, snapping for Ford’s throat as he jumped back. “Okay! No touching, got it.”
“Don’t take it personally,” I muttered. “He’s a very delicate creature. I’ve never seen him let anyone near those things.” My lips curved. “They must beverysensitive.”
Ford wheezed beside me, and Ronan just stared, wings still stretched, expression storm-dark and unimpressed.
A low growl sounded from the trees and I waved Elysian off. “Down, boy.”
Ronan’s eyes shot to him before settling back on me. In a flash of white, skin turned to fur, and Elysian disappeared into the forest.
“I do see it,” Ford added. “He just needs to stick out his tongue and it’s a perfect match.” His eyes had closed, though this time Ronan let him rest.
“Mm, no. That’s a snake,” I corrected.
“Okay.” Ford groaned, pushing himself from the ground. “You’ve lost me. I’m going back to sleep in the comfort of my dirt bed.”
He shuffled toward the tent, leaving Ronan and I in the hush of the fire’s glow. It was momentarily peaceful with nothing but the crackling flames between us.
Until my stomach growled, loudly, and Ronan asked, “Do you need some blood?”
