Page 103 of Of Blooming Embers
Bright flicks of pink and yellow wavered, the cracking of stems making me flinch. Oh, Ancients. The protector of the Mirage Orchid was back. Stalking us.
With fearful eyes, Gavrel tilted his head, and then suddenly pulled me into his arms, dove, and plunged us over the brink of the cliff. “It’s the only way!” he bellowed as the darkness consumed him.
As we plummeted, my scream sliced through the murky emptiness.I blinked, and time slackened as if we fell in slow motion, my nails scratching toward the cliff’s edge. Gavrel was lost to me. Gobbled up by the cold abyss.
With a swooshing flap of wings and a spray of loose stone, two enormous, serpentine-like shadows pitched themselves over the precipice. My lashes fluttered, trying to clear the sheen of tears from my eyes so I could see the beasts diving for us.
Within my next blink, a flash of gilded scales filled my vision, and my body jerked painfully in midair, cold bone wrapping around my torso like a cage. A rumbling snarl vibrated through the creature’s foreleg and my sinew. Terrified, I gripped the curving ebony talon as we soared through the never-ending darkness.
The edges of my vision blackened, my consciousness surrendering to the looming faint. One last word flashed in my mind before the shadows seeped over my mind.
Wyvern.
With a gasp,my eyes fluttered open, and I struggled against the heaviness wrapped around my middle.
“You’re all right. You’re safe.” Gavrel kissed the back of my head, his hand sweeping damp curls off my temple.
A deep breath surged into my lungs, calming the frenzied images bouncing around my brain. “I dreamed,” I said, shifting on my back so my side pressed against his front.
“I know,” he replied, his fingers twining with mine.
“I know how to get into the dungeon.”
“Iknow.” He propped himself on his elbow, waiting for me to realize what he was saying. The crease between his brow deepened. I reached up and smoothed the pad of my thumb over it.
“You were there, in my dream, weren’t you?”
“Yes. It would seem our b … b … it’s trying to overpower the rune’s ember. Join us … together.” He cringed as a ripple of pain ran through him at the mention of our link.
I rose to kiss the corner of his lips, and then I ran a hand over his jaw.
“Well, you know we need to pay a visit to the wyvern that guards the Mirage Orchid then.”
His brows shot up, hidden behind the messy strands flopping over his forehead. “Abso-fucking-lutely not.”
“You have a better idea?”
His mouth pinched, and he sagged onto his back. I sat up, placing my hand on his taut stomach. “I can do this, Gav. It didn’t harm me the last time. I … I saved its hatchling.”
He scowled, giving me a sidelong glance. “Wewill do this.”
Smiling, I leaned over and kissed where his dimple hid. “Deal. Let’s fly.”
“You’re crazy.But I like that.” Breena’s grin sliced across her visage. I wasn’t sure whether she was going to kiss me or bite me.
“I recallsomeonementioning winged creatures the other day,” Marek mumbled.
“Someone’s wittle staff is showing,” Breena chided.
Marek’s knuckles turned white around his quarterstaff, jaw ticking as he glared at Breena.
“Hmmm, I don’t—I don’t remember anyone saying anything of the sort. It was all my brilliant friend’s idea.” Breena slapped her hand against Rhaegar’s chest, and his breath puffed out of him. “Wasn’t it, Rhaeg? Wasn’t it Firefly’s idea?”
I didn’t think someone’s eyes could rollthatfar back, but my cousin proved me wrong.
Rhaegar shrugged helplessly at Marek.
I brushed my hand over my cousin’s hand. “The idea was brilliant,cousin. Our dream just confirmed what path to take.” As the seam of his mouth softened, he gave me a tiny nod.
