Page 80 of Black Crown

I poked my head into the hallway and drew back in as quickly and silently as I could. No good. Two Druman down at the far end, headed this way. I looked at the window and tried to convince myself the idea fluttering through my mind was a good one.

How far up are you?

Ugh, he’d already caught me. I crossed the room and looked out the window, squinting to make out any details of the people below.I’m in one of the spires.

The window was nothing like the massive balcony in Tyrrik’s room in Verald. I heard grunting behind me, and the rancid stench of wet leather and unwashed bodies wafted through the room. Druman.Time to go.

I pushed myself off the smoky glass ledge and launched into the air. My stomach jumped into my throat, and I clung to the green net of my Phaetyn veil first and foremost which showed just how crazy my life had become in recent months. The flow of the air seemed so natural now. My confidence that my Drae form would save me made plummeting to my death almost fun.

Shift, Ryn, Tyrrik growled.

Geez, let a woman have her fun.But the primal timbre of his voice called my Drae to the surface. Roaring wasn’t entirely advisable with my father around, so I only let a quarter of it out, but knowing Tyrrik’s ears, Draedyn had probably heard me shift. Why wasn’t he coming after me? Was the noise of the party covering my escape?

He wouldn’t just let me go, would he?

27

The sun was well on its way to the evening horizon as I pumped my wings and headed toward the mountains of Gemond. The briny scent of the ocean faded with the setting sun. The first half-hour’s uneventfulness brought no peace. I spent just as much time looking behind me as I did in front. When memories surfaced, and my panic simmered past boiling, Tyrrik pushed calming energy through our bond. By the end of the first hour, my heart no longer raced, and the fresh mountain air beckoned me.

True to my word, I hadn’t asked Tyrrik for any details the entire time, leaving him to concentrate on rounding any others he could find. I scouted the ground, looking for hints of shimmering gold to find Lani, and remembered I’d need to drop my Drae shield to be able to see her.Drak.

Tyrrik?

My concern must’ve leaked through our bond because his reply was immediate.Are you okay?

I’m getting close, but I’ll need to drop my Drae shield to be able to see Lani’s veil.

Bloody drak. I’ll do my best to protect you, Ryn, but we don’t know how far that part of our mate bond travels.

Right. He’d already said that.I’d flown over an hour by now, but being fully mated had to help our bonds stretch. Giving voice to my itching curiosity, I added casually,How are things there?

Wet.An image flashed through my bond. Dark water rippled as far as I could see. Tyrrik raised his head, and in the distance, at least a dozen boats sailed, clustered together in the water appearing black with the backlight of the dying sun.

My jaw dropped open.You’ve almost caught up to them? I thought it would take more time to collect the others before you could leave.

Promise you won’t turn around?

I snorted with disgust, the sound coming out of my Drae snout as a chuffing noise.Yes, I promise to not turn around. Lani and Zakai need to be informed, too. I’m not going to abandon them.

We lost Dilowa and Gairome. Zarad’s gone, too, but I think he’s still alive.

What?I replied dully.Lost, how?

They’re dead, my love.

Images flashed through his mind, memories of earlier in the day.Dilowa whispering an idea to the group about the man she’d met the night before. The twin assassins and Tyrrik arguing with Zarad, and the prince storming off with Gairome. I’d seen that happen.

The boats left at dawn.The twins found out about an hour before you awoke.The vessels are carrying young men from Verald and Gemond.The boats were about a quarter full.Zarad and Gairome wanted to talk with the harbormaster themselves.They thought with the emperor in the throne room, they could move around undetected, but they didn’t come back.

Dilowa?

She left to talk with Prince Marb, Mily’s brother, but didn’t come back.Nielub, Niemoj, and I got out of the castle just after you. Do you remember that platform outside?

He showed me a mental picture of the courtyard and the raised platform near where we’d landed on arrival. Before he could block it, another image seeped through. Not just an image, a memory.

The distance was significant, and I could only see the details because Tyrrik had partially shifted to use his Drae eyes. A crowd of Azulis surrounded the platform, dressed in clothes not quite sheer. This group reminded me of the people in the outer corridors leading up to the wild orgy.

Queen Mily stood on the platform, wide-eyed and whole, her insides still in, although her dress was shredded and saturated with blood. Marb, Dilowa, and half a dozen other people stood near the former queen.

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