“Don’t tell me you two are coming?” she teased. She twisted from where she was kneeling on the ground, satchel still in hand.
Ren stared down at her with crossed arms. Another soldier Evelina didn’t recognize stood beside him, a curious look on his face as his eyes bounced between brother and sister.
Evelina’s heart warmed at the sight of Ren, hoping against all else he was coming on this mission too, even if he was stationed on the western coast.
“Couldn’t let my little sister show me up,” Ren teased. “We’re heading out to the coast in a week or two. Don’t get into too much trouble while slumming it with the Riders.”
He hugged her and she breathed him in, searing the final taste of home into her mind, before he and his friend disappeared into the distance.
It wasn’t aboutshowing his little sister up.Ren looked out for his siblings, especially Evelina. They all had it in their heads she needed their protection, but nowshewould be the one to helpthem.
A dark mass appeared in the sky, shaking the trees and blowing the grass back as it lowered to the ground. It was followed by two more masses, their wings spread so far that they blocked out the morning sun. The three beasts landed, the ground trembling beneath Evelina’s feet in their wake. Her heartbeat sped up and she took a step back along with Gloriana. Evelina had only been around wyverns a few times—mostly in passing—and even less this close up.
Daimon and Keir sat atop their wyverns, while the largest one was without a Rider. It walked over to Brielle, each step of its clawed feet shaking the trees around them. Brielle smiled as it lowered its head in front of her. She patted it between the eyes and turned to Evelina.
“This is Vero.” Her voice was filled with pride as she introduced her beast. It turned its head toward Evelina, the eyes as red as rubies. “He’s a little grumpy, but there’s nothing to worryabout when you’re with me. We’ll give you two plenty of time to bond with them once we get settled in camp.”
Keir slid off his wyvern and Evelina tracked the movement, avoiding looking at Daimon atop his.
“Gloriana, that’s Codax.” Brielle jutted her chin out toward the wyvern. Its scales were a deep green, so dark he appeared black. “He’s a little more friendly, but I hope you don’t have any gooseberries in your pockets, otherwise he’d go straight for them.”
Keir motioned for Gloriana to come over. She shot Evelina a nervous glance. It wasn’t every day a healer rode a wyvern, but if they were to be the Alpha Fleet’s healers, they’d have to be comfortable being around them.
Evelina took a step forward. A growl sounded from her left and froze her to her spot. Her eyes darted over to the third wyvern, the beast’s teeth showing as it growled again.
“Z,” Daimon said sharply, patting her neck. He looked down at Evelina, his eyes soft and curious. “She wants to be introduced too.”
The wyvern stopped growling and her ears perked up. She tilted her head to the side, her glowing golden eyes assessing Evelina.
“That’s Zephyr.” Brielle stepped up beside Evelina, waving off the creature. She leaned in and whispered, “She’s the moodiest. Like her Rider.”
“I can still hear you,” Daimon said gruffly.
Evelina swallowed, her nerves increasing as Brielle led her over to Vero. This wyvern wasmassive.Most were, but this one… It was bigger than a small cottage, longer than the tallest oak sitting on the edge of the healer’s garden.
Keir helped Gloriana onto Codax, while Brielle helped Evelina onto Vero. She showed her how to place her foot on a thick rope with knots that hung off just beside her wing. Evelina grabbed the rope, placed her right foot on the knot, and hoisted herself up. The transition was awkward and horribly uncoordinated.But Brielle was patient, giving her a push from her left foot so she could get a better position.
Once she was seated, she tested out the saddle, feeling Vero’s scales beneath it. His scales were smoother than she thought they would be beneath her fingers. But soon, her stomach dipped as Vero flapped her wings and lifted from the ground. It was terrifying seeing the wyverns up close, but now that they were breaking above the tree line, the fear was being replaced with pure exhilaration. She couldn’t help but admire her realm stretching out around them. The sights of the tops of trees, the palace behind them, and even the healer’s garden—from this height, it felt like she was dreaming.
Zephyr and Daimon took the lead, flying in front of Keir and Brielle. Evelina was transfixed by him, mesmerized. He looked as if he belonged there—so sure in every movement he made—all the while seeming entirely relaxed.
She still couldn’t believe she was going to be on the border with him. Her heart was pounding for ten different reasons, but having to come to terms with the pain of him leaving her was at the front of her mind.
Fifteen
Daimon
It wasevening when they finally touched down at the camp. They were greeted by Aster and Willow just landing from a patrol, but Evelina and Gloriana didn’t linger. Brielle led them to a cabin beside the fleet’s, the healer cabin Jarrett used to sleep in. It was stocked with herbs, tonics, and tinctures. Still, Gloriana and Evelina came with sacks filled with more supplies. Evelina didn’t so much as look at him, but he found himself stealing glances in her direction every few breaths.
He yawned while he paced outside of Evelina’s cabin. Something in his chest buzzed and burned with warmth, his magic answering a song he couldn’t hear. A primal magic poking at his chest. Zephyr seemed restless too, her head following Daimon as he started to stalk around the camp.
“Up for a ride?” he asked her. Her ears perked up, eyes glowing in the dimming light.
He glanced out into the thicket of forest outside the camp, where a fire was crackling. He knew Brielle slept less than anyone else, her need to keep others safe driving her to stay up all hours of the night. She was usually who he reported to when taking flight, a way of keeping track of the Riders in case something went wrong while in the air.
He left Zephyr behind, the trees too closely packed to let her follow, unless he wanted to wake the entire camp with her knocking them over—a feat she would be all too eager to do. He crossed over the fallen trees and pushed through the bramble bushes until he found Brielle seated by the small fire.
“I’m headed up for a quick sweep,” he said by way of greeting.
