Page 14 of Black Crown

I smiled and slid down the side of the rock, cradling my hands under my head to get comfy. I closed my eyes.Yes. What’s your . . . favorite animal?

Desert panther tastes the best.

Not to eat!I chuckled sleepily.To have as a pet. Do you ever think about the things we can have when the empire isn’t starving and people can do more than survive? I think I’d like a dog. One I didn’t have to consider eating.

I focused and was rewarded with an image from Tyrrik. He was out on one of the top balconies in the Gemond Kingdom, looking out to where I lay. I knew he couldn’t see me from there, but it was comforting to know he was looking out for me.

I think I’d like a dog I wouldn’t eat too, he finally answered.Our dog.

Who said Drae and human traditions couldn’t see eye-to-eye?

* * *

“Ryn,”Lani whisper-shouted, shaking me. “Wake up.”

I peeled an eyelid open and, noting the darkness around me, grumbled, “Leave me alone. It’s not morning yet.”

I closed my eyes again, curling up on the not-at-all-comfortable jagged stone, determined to get every last second of sleep I could before I took off. The Phaetyn invisibility power was great, but Lani was right; it took effort to keep it up. Normally, I healed super-fast, but the idea of having to resume that cloaking-cover made me even more determined to get some extra Zs.

A roar boomed overhead, ricocheting off the rocks around us, and I sat up with a gasp, scrambling for a hold as the entire mountain shook. Blood whooshed in my ears as my body stilled, and my mouth dried. There was a Drae . . . here.

Collecting myself, I crouched beside Lani, blinking rapidly to adjust to the darkness. The roar cut off abruptly, and the tremors stilled.Everythingstilled, hushing in the presence of the sheer power of the beast above us. I swallowed and peered up into the night sky and then to my companion, my eyes wide, as the sound of beating wings tickled my ears.

Tyrrik?I shouted through our bond.

White fire streamed across the velvet night sky.

Tyrrik’s fire was blue. Which meant that Drae wasn’t Tyrrik, and there was only one other option. Terror pounded against my ribs as I contemplated what it would mean if Draedyn found me. I couldn’t be locked away again. I grabbed my chest, gasping for breath.

Ryn?Tyrrik’s voice was laced with panic.What’s the matter?

An image of our bedroom in Gemond flashed through our bond. I could feel his alarm as he hurried out of the room, not bothering to get dressed. My thoughts derailed for a moment until he skidded to a halt in the hallway and repeated,What’s the matter?

Lani whispered in my ear, “We’re good, Ryn. We’ll be safe under my veil. Tell Tyrrik. Now.”

My mind raced, and I reached for the frayed threads of reason to form a coherent sentence.

If you don’t tell me what’s going on right now, I’m coming to find you. I can feel your fear, Khosana, and I need—

My fear evaporated, and a deep yearning hit me, as if the roar weren’t a threat but an invitation. If I flew into the sky, I’d be able to meet my father. Yes, I’d been told my whole life he was terrible, but the truth was he’d risked everything to keep me alive because he wanted me. He had always wanted me, and even now he wanted—

Lani clapped her hand over my mouth, and in a blink her gold net of Phaetyn power cast over the two of us. I frowned and shook my head. What just happened?

“You had a bad dream,” Lani whispered. “Tell him that. Make something up, Ryn, because he can’t come.”

I glared at Lani, tempted to tell her to shut her child mouth. Actually, I wanted both of them to shut up so I could process what I needed to do. “Let me talk to him,” I whispered. “Pull the net away from my head, just for a minute.”

She nodded, and the gold net inched away from me.I’m al’right. Bad dream, and Lani freaked me out on top of it.

Then why is your heart rate still elevated?

Because she’s still pissing me off.

Lani jerked her head toward a large boulder, and I followed her toward the rock, glancing around the midnight sky for any hint of the emperor.

Tyrrik’s doubt through the bond was so strong it was like he was standing in front of me holding a sign that said ‘liar liar aketon of fire.’ If I told him about the Drae in the sky, he’d shift and probably try to come to my rescue. But that would be pointless. And I needed him there in case the Druman attacked Gemond or Draedyn showed up. I could still feel Tyrrik’s presence in my mind, almost like we were both debating what to say to the other.

Lani’s going to put up the veil for a bit so I can sleep. I’ll—

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