Tears flooded my eyes, and without realizing, I felt my wings spreading, as though I was preparing to leap into the skies.
Matea quickly wrapped her arms around me, tugging me back down to my knees.
“We have to go, Viva.”
A sob tried its best to claw its way up my throat, but I swallowed it down harshly.
“We have todosomething,” I reasoned, my voice hoarse.
“We’ll be back for them,” Matea promised. Our eyes were both on the line forming of children—children with and without wings. Northerners and Southerners alike.
“Each and every one of them,” I swore, looking up toward the Stars as I spoke.
I’dtear the Stars from the sky if thatwaswhat it took to rescue thesefae.
I’d tearmyselfapart if that was what it took to succeed.
ChapterEighteen
The pain hummed through every fiber of my being.
The zirilium I still couldn’t control very well wanted—no,demanded—an out.
I didn’t have much time left.
For better or worse, the putrid smell surrounding the outskirts ofNeokellfinally hit my nose after flying since early that morning. I held back a gag, though part of me knew this was a good sign.
It meant we were close.
I’donly been here twice before with Father, but not a single detail could ever escape my mind.
Instead of the pain, I focused on the way Zaina’s form movedunder mine. Each beat of her wings, each inhale of breath matching my own.We’dalwaysbeen syncedlike that—griffin and rider. And tonight, sheseemed to understandmy sense of urgency.
I just need to make it to the camps…
In the sky behind me, I could faintly hear Valenia and the griffin shesupposedlyborrowedfrom the royal stables, Dax. I had told her to staybehind,that going to the camps was somethingI’dneeded to do alone, but alas—there she was, disobeying direct orders.
I had a feeling that wouldn’t be the last time she would do so.
Once I noted the mountain peak that told meI’darrived, I directed Zaina to dive—without warning Valenia. I could hear her shout from behind me, but the wind and skyswallowed up whatever she said as Ziana’s black wings tucked in, our forms free falling together toward the earth below.
Just above the tree line, Ziana’s wings flared out, halting our descent and carrying us forward, over the thick stone wall covered in spikes and into the heart of the encampment.
Fortunately,I’dremembered to have Hugo dose me with thealychitenullifier before I left Hollis.I’donly been there twice with Father, so the processwasn’tall routine just yet. Valenia, whoseemed to betaking her job as my Right Hand very seriously, had gotten a dose, too, since she almost never left my side. Thanks to that nullification, myziriliumstill simmered in my veins—unlike the abilities of the prisoners kept inside the camps.
Ziana landed near the soldier’s barracks, which was blessedly close to where the worst of the prisoners were held.
And that was exactly where I needed to be.
Handing Ziana’s reins off to the closest guard, all of whom were standing straighter now thatthey’dseen who had just arrived, I headed for the dungeon doors.
The doors opened to a stairwell that went straight down into what would have been pure darkness if itweren’tfor the gift of Northern sight. I heard Valenia racing to catch up, and I looked back just as she was swinging the doors closed behind us. If Ihadn’tknown better,I’dhave said she looked rattled to be there.
“Move faster,” I hissed to her, my veins and muscles feeling as though they were being burned from the inside out.
“My king?”aguardasked as we made it to the bottom of the stairs. I grit my teeth, my hands curling into fists at the sight of not one, but two soldiers down there.
From the corner of my eye, I caught Valenia looking my way.Seeming tosomehow understand the pain I was in,andmaybe evenwhy, she straightened her spine and stepped forward.
