“No,” Vulcan snapped behind me. “I’m not leaving you.”
“No, you’ve hovered ever since we left Lotrennia,” I said through breaths. “What was Astraeus talking about in the dungeons?”
Vulcan had been moodier than usual since their little spat outside of Father Marcus’s cell.
“I’ve been guarding your back. Stop being a spoiled brat and appreciate the backup— Right!”
My breath whooshed from me as Ti banked, avoiding arrows from below.
“Astraeus said?—”
“I made a promise,” Vulcan cut me off.
My stomach dipped. “To what?”
“Keep you safe,” he growled. A warmth squeezed at my chest despite the icy winds we flew through.
“At all costs,” I finished for him, remembering the beating he took on theHydra, the arrow he took above Aedrialis. Had he sworn an air oath to Bayne?
“Why?”
My breath was lost in the gust of wind that surged from the center of the island.
“As irritating as you may be,” he grumbled, adjusting the position of his nocked arrow to the opposite side, “you’re strong. You’ve survived longer than I expected. Your resilience and sacrifice could make you a great leader. And despite the annoying sound of your voice…”
I scoffed, my brows furrowing as I did my best to keep my attention on the land ahead of us.
“I’ve come to…appreciate you. You’re perhaps what I’d imagine a sister to be.”
The warmth that swarmed my chest burned to the point of pain, and I blew out a slow breath to keep tears from forming. “Vulcan, I?—”
“Perhaps we can have this conversation another time,” he growled, turning and loosing another arrow.
We flew over the shores. Moans of the fallen and the clanging of metal echoed from the rocks below as my attention snagged on a group of fighters toward the north. Rising fighters.
Vander’s eyes locked on mine as we flew by, his ragged face tired but fierce. His lips turned up, and he thrust his blade into the sky, bellowing, “Bonder!”
Triumphant war cries erupted from the surrounding soldiers.
I snapped my attention up as we tore through a sheet of icy rain that stole my breath. The wind spun as we flew inward. Ti’s wings wavered against it. Aquila flattened his head before a blast of wind caught his wing, and he flipped, slamming Nerissa to the ground. She tucked and rolled as lightning lit up the sky above us, the resulting thunder rattling my teeth.
Tiberius angled to where Nerissa fell and dove. His body shook as he aimed for the rocky ground, and my shield finally broke. I gasped as it fell away, and Ti’s hooves thundered to the ground. Wings tucked in tight, he braced himself against the onslaught of wind.
“Nerissa!” I called through the storm.
She lifted an arm. Tiberius staggered against the wind, his form too tall and wide to stand against it. Vulcan leaped off his back and ran alongside him.
Find Aquila and get back to the bay!I called to Ti.Take out Nivis’s fleet before this storm gets any worse!
A wave of determination was the only response I got. My legs stumbled along the uneven ground. Tiberius didn’t slow as he turned and thundered away from the storm.
A groan escaped Nerissa as she reached for my hand and popped to her feet, giving us a quick nod, her eyes bright withfire and determination. We sprinted through the thick trees, weaving in and out, doing our best to push against the wind.
Where are you?I reached into that strange, quiet place where Olienna’s voice found me.
We’ve breached the eastern port and are headed into the island,she responded.
Bayne is here. We’re heading north, but the storm is too wild for Aquila and Tiberius,I added.
