Ronan didn’t bother hiding his glare as he moved past, wings partially open. He stood in front of the opening, his stare pinned to the darkness, daring it to blink first.
The hilt of my dagger was grounding as my fingers brushed over its curve. Subtly, I moved in front of Elva, trying to focus on their voices, on anything but the tightening in my chest. But that darkness, it wasn’t just a pulse I felt, it was a heartbeat. And on the next flutter it spoke, brushing past my ear.
Vyratheon,it said.
My head snapped, eyes sweeping the group, the pitch. None of the others stirred. The wind blew by again, and again it called to me.
Vyratheon.
I swallowed hard, throat tight. Was I actually hearing that? Or finally losing myself? The hairs along my arms rose, my fingers clamping hard around the pommel of my dagger. The world reduced to the sound of that single name and the hammer at my throat.
I kept my face composed for the others, folded my fingers so the tremor didn’t show, but inside, everything had rearranged. Someone, or something, had reached out and touched a chord that had been dormant in me. And it answered.
It was getting louder. The voice. The name.Vyratheon. Vyratheon.
It rattled inside my skull until I wanted to scream just to drown it out. To claw it from me before it cracked me open entirely.
A sapphire glow broke through the panic before I could, flaring from Elysian’s chest. He stilled, ears pricking like a predator catching a scent.
The voice cut off, a weighted quiet slamming down so sharp my head rang with its absence. Agitation skittered across the bond at the moment Ronan began glowing as well, just over his heart, where I knew swirls of raised ink were drawn on his flesh.
Killian pointed between the two with his dagger. “Someone needs your attention it seems.” His hand flexed around its hilt as he turned his focus to Ronan.
I eyed the glow beneath both their shirts. “Is that normal?”
Ronan didn’t break his stride toward Elysian. “It’s a summon sigil.”
Realizing Callum had shifted away from the canyon’s breach, and he was left alone before it, Ford nonchalantly glided back where we all stood as he chuckled, “Fancy term forsomeone owns your ass.”
Elysian growled at him as I frowned.
“It’s more of a binding.” Ronan placed his hand against his chest until the light dimmed then went out. “Like mirrors. One touch against the rune, one command, and the other must answer. No matter the distance, no matter the demand.”
Why was someone beckoning them both?
Ronan’s eyes cut to Elysian, a single decisive nod passing between them. Elysian placed his hand over his heart, tapping his palm against it three times. The sift tore open, sapphire light bleeding into shadow, and he was gone.
Ronan turned back to us. “We keep moving.”
We had made it all of ten feet before Elysian reappeared, the space he left behind barely cooling before the void spat him back out.
The worry dripping from Ronan while Elysian was gone was stark. It bled sharper when he returned. And when Elysian leaned to Ronan’s ear, whispering something too soft for the rest of us to catch, that worry shattered, reformed into fury.
What’s going on?I pressed down the bond.
His gaze snapped to mine. For a beat, he looked like he might rip out his own heart out. He blinked, the held-breath moment breaking. “We’re going to Sahfyre.”
Elysian snarled while Killian bit out a cutting laugh, throwing his hands together into a loud clap before rubbing them together.
“All of us?” My voice was steadier than my chest.
Ronan’s head tilted back, eyes lifting toward the sky. Inessa and Kanoa hadn’t said a word the entire time, but what rippled off them now certainly didn’t feel welcoming.
Unclenching his jaw Ronan finally said, “No. Me and you.”
Oh, shit.Iwas going to Sahfyre?
“Ronan—” Elysian moved in close, frost in his stare as his hand clamped around Ronan’s arm. “Think about this. Are you certain it’s wise.”
