Could he feel me watching over him? Fretting? Squirming underneath my sodden coat with worry?
Not only for my cousins and every civilian the Serpents would surely trample under their expensive boots.
For him.
For the unbreakable Commander who suddenly felt brittle.
My chest constricted as I sensed him entering the crater. Breaths coming out shorter, I turned toward the entrance to Solkar’s Reach, as if I had any chance to see him through the dusk, rain, and speed.
The sky cried at his return, but even this worried me; it should have been snowing.
Solkar’s Reach was thawing under and around us, and I had no amount of intimidating the Northern Clans would help that.
“Gods,” I whispered and looked up at the unforgiving sky, as if answers would fall from it. The icy raindrops pattered against my closed eyelids as if they wanted to gouge them out. But the sky wouldn’t bother with a mortal like me. “What is happening?”
No answer.
No murmur.
No light.
Only rain and despair, growing as Ryker rushed toward the city.
Fast.
Faster than I’d ever known he could.
Sylvester must’ve sensed his approach as well. He left his perch on the tower and glided into the last murky rays of light fighting the night’s approach, to greet his Commander.
I turned and raced down the stairs, leaving rushed, sodden footprints behind.
Anticipation and dread both fought inside of me.
The fortress doors screeched open.
Excited voices floated up the floors, beckoning me closer.
Then a wail.
A scream so ugly and raw, it tore at me.
I pushed my legs harder, faster, cursing this body for not having the blessed Solkar’s Reach speed.
Another scream.
Nadya.
Why–
Why was Nadya crying?
An ugly realization hissed in my mind.
I refused to believe it.
It was impossible.
I ran faster, jumping over banisters and five steps at a time, as her sobs flayed my heart raw.
