Adrian flinches. “We only did that because?—”
“You thought you knew what was best for her,” Leda growls. “Saying it a hundred times doesn’t make it better.”
His eyes drop to where his hands are folded in his lap, and he falls quiet.
Even though Adrianthoughthe was doing what was in my best interest, it doesn’t change the fact that the end result was to control me. The best intentions don’t make someoneright.
“When I get Graylen back, we’ll meet you and Leda wherewe land.” I clear my throat, my voice uneven. “Then you’ll get us back to Crea.”
Adrian’s head snaps up. “Graylen is coming?”
My eyes shift to Leda. Her face is unreadable, her gaze neutral. She shakes her head slightly and looks away. I know she still thinks Graylen should go back with her, but even if I agreed, there would be no stopping Graylen from doing what he wants.
Finally, I look back at Adrian, my jaw set as I say, “Where I go, Graylen goes.”
Adrian must see something in my eyes, because after a moment, he nods, not asking any more questions about it. The truth is, I don’t know what kind of shape Graylen will be in when I get to him.
But I can’t leave him behind in Penyth.
I just hope he’s still in one piece when I get to him.
“Lu,” Leda breathes, snapping my attention into focus. “Look.”
She points over my shoulder, and I spin around, facing forward again. Zephyr slows as the Zenovia Mountains come into view. After flying through them when Willow led me to Kauri, I know that we have a bit further before we reach where I first saw Daimon.
“Don’t get us too close, Zeph,” I whisper, my hand patting the base of her neck. “I need to be able to get to you guys, but they need to stay hidden.”
Zephyr glides up, a low rumble vibrating through her chest in understanding. She soars into the mountains, the moon’s light hidden as we sink into the outskirts of Zenovia.
A slimy tingle works its way down my spine as the sea disappears behind us. I hate it here—so close to the curse that keeps the realm divided. There’s a heaviness that presses against my skin with each flap of Zeph’s wings. It bears down against my flesh, sticky and unsettling.
Leda shivers behind me. “Do you feel that?” she whispers. “Itfeels like…”
“Death,” I finish. “It feels like death.”
Zephyr banks left, heading for a small cave tunneled in a narrow valley. She lowers us to the ground, rocks tumbling as her wings clip the sides of the mountain.
Adrian scrambles off of her the moment we touch down, Leda not far behind. I take a moment to glide my right hand across Zeph’s side, sending a wave of appreciation to her through our bond.
She swings her head around to look at me from the corner of her eye, her golden irises shining in the darkness.
“Where would I be without you?” I whisper.
Her body shifts as she lowers a wing for me to slide off. I feel warmth wrap around my chest as she sends a soothing sensation toward me.
When I’m on the ground, I turn to Leda. She nods at me, a silent understanding passing between us.
“I won’t let anything happen to the little king,” she vows.
Adrian opens his mouth to argue, but I cut him off.
“Zeph will let me know if anything goes wrong, just as I’ll let her know.” I pat her neck, and she settles into the ground, tucking her wings in tightly.
I don’t mention that I likely won’t be able to feel that bond once I go to the Vale.
“I’ll be back.”With Graylenlingers unsaid in the air.
Leda’s gaze catches mine, her hard exterior cracking as her eyes glaze over, bright and shiny. She lunges for me, her arms wrapping around my neck. For a moment, I’m frozen. But then I sink into her, my arms embracing her back.
