Despite his best efforts and power coursing through me in delicious and decadent ways, an unexplainable soreness lingered within me from overworking my power.
It had never happened before.
Then again, back in Aquila, I’d never pushed myself to the limits as I had now.
“Huntress. Commander.” Zandyr bowed his head. “Dax.”
Dax mirrored him. “Bastard.”
Zandyr’s eyes narrowed infinitesimally. “Evie warned me about your particular ways.”
“Trust me, she left the worst out. She’s nice like that.” Dax flashed his teeth.
“Well, we’ll all be acquainted with our particularities very soon.” Zandyr grinned just as sharply. “We’re all family now, after all.”
“Speaking of family–” I interjected before they kept trading barbs until the sun went down. There was something about Blood Brotherhood men and Dax that just didn’t mix. “You’re right, whether we like it or not, our Clans are connected now.”
“Indestructibly so,” he said with regal ease. His eyes lingered in the distance. “But before we continue, there’s someone here who’s very excited to see you.”
Gallops resounded from the back of the army. We turned to see Evie on her mighty nazdran rushing our way. No saddle impeded their movements. She wore a flowy silk dress of Capital making with ribbons that danced around her in the wind in tune with her hair.
My heart leaped at the sight.
She looked free and happy.
The nazdran stopped a few feet away from us with an aloof neigh, so similar to Sylvester’s haughty attitude.
Evie jumped off his back with enviable grace and ran into my open arms so fast, she knocked the wind out of me.
“I’ve missed you!” she squealed. “Sorry for the delay, Zorin loves the open fields. You came earlier than I expected!”
“I didn’t know you were here!” I hugged her tighter, then narrowed my eyes at Ryker. “Why didn’t I know she was here?”
“I didn’t know, either.” He jutted out his chin at Zandyr. “Why didn’tIknow?”
Dax barked a laugh. “The family reunions are going to be glorious.”
“Everybody calm down. Clan people, I swear.” Evie held on tighter to me. “Iwanted it to be a surprise. Thought we could all have a little gathering–if you’re in an inviting mood.”
“Of course you can come visit me whenever you like,” I said.
Dax grinned at Ryker. “One Vegheara leaves, another comes to take their place.”
“I have a feeling she’ll be a better guest than you,” Ryker said.
“Just for a few hours, we’re all busy. With our impending deaths and all,” Evie said.
Ryker and Zandyr exchanged a look.
“So the whole joking-about-death thing is a Vegheara trait,” Zandyr said.
Ryker said. “Yes. You get used to it.”
“You two, acting like you’re not obsessed withblood. You’re so–” She disentangled herself from my embrace and looked up at me, radiant. “You’re wearing the crown!”
“I am,” I said, almost bashful. I’d gotten used to its weight resting on my head.
“Wait, wait.” She rushed inside the tent and came out mere seconds later, balancing a heavy crown on top of her own head. While mine had been forged in the Ember Vale, hers looked to have escaped the most infernal fires and still held strong. Even our crowns were stubborn. “Now we match!”
