And I appreciated.
I leaned my head on his shoulder, my calm, controlled support through all of this chaos.
“I hate leaving Mrs. Thornbrew’s wild berry jam behind, but I am not going to miss this part.” Dax shivered, drawing his shoulders tighter. “No wonder people don’t want to visit you.”
“The opening is close,” Ryker said. “As soon as we see the light, we go right, three paces forward, then jump to the left.”
“Because…we need the extra activity?”
“Because you might lose your leg if you don’t.”
Blood Brotherhood army or not, Ryker hadn’t deactivated the traps. I had a feeling he wouldn’t for a very, very long time.
The hazy rays of sun greeted us slower than I would have wanted, but finally, mercifully, we were out in the open. My lungs relished in the fresh, open air, even as we followed Ryker’s lead and jumped over the invisible traps waiting in the ground.
I didn’t know what magic was spun to dig them in, but the earth looked undisturbed for years. That Calyx of his must have truly been a genius at deadly objects.
In the distance, where the small glade had once been, the Blood Brotherhood army was still enjoying breakfast, courtesy of Mrs. Thornbrew’s kitchen. Only the rock Orion had slammed me against remained out of the entire ordeal.
The warriors buzzed around with their bowls, ripping into pieces of tender meat and drinking cups of goat milk Krysor had insisted on sending up to the rim. I thought it had been a kind gesture before Dax had informed me Krysor actually had grand plans of starting a very lucrative dairy business and wanted to attract his first clients from outside the crater.
Zandyr stood in front of a large, leather tent. The mighty Dragon who’d crashed Evie’s wedding looked as fearsome as he had on that day, even without his menacing sword.
I tilted my chin up and rolled my shoulders back as we approached under his unflinching gaze.
He might have been married to my cousin, but this was a meeting between leaders.
My personal feelings regarding his smug face didn’t matter. I knew they’d sprouted when he’d hurt Evie at the wedding and had nothing to do with his status.
It would have been easier to hate him if he’d been a deplorable leader–and if Evie herself hadn’t forgiven him. He apparently was also a very good friend.
All that was left for me to do was support her decision–and be vigilant in case he was actually a cad dressed in fine, impenetrable leather.
For now, I chose to trust Evie’s feelings on the matter. And Ryker’s, who also vouched for the man.
While Silas had been busy divulging our secrets to the Northern Clans who wanted to end us, I wanted to free Aquila.
Returning to the Protectorate stronghold would be difficult. The battle of my life, even if I was lucky enough to have a long existence.
It also opened up another problem–Aquila was very far away from Solkar’s Reach.
“I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but I can run very fast,” Ryker teased me away from the avalanche of thoughts.
Always there to carry the burden of them. Actually happy to.
“You can.” I looked up at him. His eyes sparked with a silvery-blue hue, similar to the colors on my crown; they’d been doing that a lot lately when he looked at me, the purple now a tinge reserved for all the other occasions. “But I want to as well.I want that speed. I want to pass the ritual.”
A rush of emotions flooded him all at once.
Pride, because his wife was courageous and strong.
Worried, because the ritual was painful. Deadly, for most.
“The Dragon survived it,” I argued.
“I know you’ll survive it, too. But I am in no hurry to rejoice your pain,” he said. “The agony of your bones and ligaments ripping and then rearranging themselves is not something I wish upon you. But…if you want to try, I will support you. Afteryou’ve recuperated from battle.”
He was right, as usual.
