Page 58 of The Searching Songbird

“It's now or never, Shendri,” Suzu added. “Move!”

With one last, sorrowful look back, Lily vaulted over the railing into the open air. She braced for the impact that was sure to come, but Suzu's talons caught hold of her waistband before she hit the ground, saving her from the worst of it.

As her feet hit, Suzu's voice rang in her ear, urgent and demanding.

“Run, Shendri! Run as if your life depended on it.”

With a burst of adrenaline, Lily took off, flying over the wet grass faster than she thought possible. The baron's shouts echoed behind her, spurring her on. Spotting Draven's frozen form off to the side, she changed direction, her feet slipping on the slick grass as she did.

“What are you doing, Shendri? You should be heading straight for the forest, not wasting time on that lying traitor.”

I can't just leave him there, Suzu.

“Of course, you can! He's one of Bade's minions. He deserves everything he gets.”

Lily grit her teeth as she continued to run. True as Suzu's words may be, there was no way she was going to abandon him. He'd saved her hide more than once on their journey here. Even if it was part of his orders, she still owed him.

It had nothing to do with the way she fit in his arms or how he made her feel alive for the very first time. It was a simple debt repaid. That was all.

She ground to a halt in front of him, her chest tightening at the look of agony radiating from his chocolate eyes. “Suzu, the ring.”

The phoenix dropped the severed finger into Lily's outstretched hand and disappeared in a flash of light. Lily pulled the bloody ring off and tossed the finger to the side, grateful that her years of administering first aid had given her an iron stomach. She stared at the black stone. Now what? Do I say something to make the enchantment go away? She wiped the ring off on her skirts, then brought the stone close to her lips.

“End enchantment.”

Draven remained frozen, staring back at her with red, unblinking eyes. She bit her lip.

“Release!”

Nothing happened. With a frustrated growl, she gave her foot a little stomp.

“Do something, Shendri!” Suzu urged. “They're coming!”

She whipped her head around and saw two footmen headed her way. “Shit!” She dropped to her hands and knees and began searching the ground.

“What are you doing?”

“Looking for a rock...” she murmured, intent on her search. “Ha!” With a shout of victory, she grabbed a fist-sized rock and placed the ring on the ground. She proceeded to smash the ring's stone with all of the pent-up aggression from the day, pummeling it over and over until there was a loud crack! and she heard Draven's body hit the ground with a thump.

Scrambling to his side, she slid her arm beneath his as she helped him climb to his feet. “Please tell me you can run.”

“I can run,” he rasped.

“Good.”

Without looking to see if he followed, she took off, running toward the treeline. A moment later he fell in step with her, his face fixed forward as they ran.

“Thank you... you could have just as easily left me behind...”

“You probably would have been freed anyway, once I broke the enchantment. It was nothing.”

“Still... I'm glad you came.”

“I owed you a debt. Consider us even.”

And with a final burst of speed, she shot ahead of him into the forest.

No way was she going to let him see her cry.