“My power is part of me and also wholly Eira’s,” he was explaining. “With your injury, your bones were lost. Eira helped them find each other again, healing the break. But the skin was taken. Gone, not lost. So her help stopped there.”
I nodded, fascinated. I couldn’t help but think of the visible bones in Keir’s chest. Maybe that was what had happened to him. I could ask… but then I’d have to explain how I’d seen him shirtless.
Instead, I opted for “When Eira grants you power, what does it feel like?”
“It feels…” He adjusted his grip around my waist, pulling me closer and taking more of my weight as we went over a high groove. “Like sticking your hand in ice for so long that instead of freezing, it burns. Two overwhelmingly powerful feelings at the same time.”
My brows rose. “That doesn’t sound very pleasant.”
“Power from the gods is a weapon. Name a weapon that feels pleasant.”
“Good point.” I was gearing up to ask him more about his runes when he stopped abruptly, fingers tightening on my waist, suddenly on high alert. I frowned. “What—”
“Shh.” He tilted his head to the sky, scanning. “Did you hear that?”
I shook my head and looked around. I didn’t see anything, but unease spread through me.
Rade ushered us behind a nearby boulder. We crouched, and I had to bite my lip as my leg gave a cry of agony.
Boom. The sound like thunder. But the clouds weren’t dark enough for that. And then again,boom. Closer this time. There was no lightning, no rain, no impending storm…
Boom.
And then I saw it.
Huge, feathered wings. So white they nearly blended in with the clouds. But its violet beak and talons gave it away.
A bird—larger than any I’d ever seen, larger than anyanimalI’d ever seen—hovered over us, and with each flap of its wings, aboomshattered the sky. Even from a distance, I could see its feathers sticking out around its head like a mane. They rippled in the wind as it circled us. Beady black eyes scanned the earth. Looking for prey.
For us.
The runes on the side of Rade’s head glowed, and then a thin, scarlet film drifted over us, pulled up like a blanket. It glinted softly in the sunlight, and when Rade looked at me, his eyes were two crimson stars in his head. He mouthed,Don’t move.
My nails dug into the rock in front of us as I stared at the creature, willing it to move on.
Its eyes landed on us—but it seemed to look through us. Whatever shield Rade had erected must have had its intended effect, because it let out a frustratedcawbefore veering north, thunderously flapping its mighty wings until it disappeared behind one of the peaks.
I shuddered in a deep breath. “What was that?”
Rade relaxed beside me, and the crimson shield faded. “The Roc,” he answered. “Only one of its kind—as far as we know. One of the many creatures that roamed free during the Time of Night. It dominates the White Horns and usually leaves us alo—” He cut off sharply.
My head snapped to him. “What? What is it?”
“Your runes,” he said.
I put my hand to my forehead, a useless gesture since the runes were smooth against my skin. But when I pulled my hand back, I could see a soft emerald glow reflecting against my palm. “What’s happening?”
“Your power sensed danger and reacted.”
I gazed at the green reflection on my palm in wonder, wondering if he was right for one crazy moment before quickly dismissing it. I had no power. The only other time the runes had glowed was in the Seer’s hut when Zarqa had bestowed the markings on me. That must be what this was. The remnants of Zarqa’s magic. My runes were still fresh, and perhaps the imprint of her power still lingered. That was the only logical explanation.
You do not know yourself.
Anxiety built in my chest, growing steadily as Rade’s brows pulled close together, thoughts chasing each other over his face.
“Rade?”
He blinked and shook his head. “We should be safe now. I’ll keep the shield up tonight just in case.” He took my hand and helped me to my feet, but the line between his brows remained, and we barely spoke the rest of the way.
