Page 142 of Burning Heir

Damien groaned, cursing under his breath. “Did you get any sleep at the estate? Because I swear, rock is more comfortable than those beds.”

I’d tossed and turned all night. The bond between Archer and me pulsed until it dimmed in the early hours of dawn. I tried not to let it get to me, but I knew he was home in Demetria.

“Same here,” I muttered.

A brush of warmth consumed my skin as we entered the Summer trail and walked until we reached the long rope swaying over the rushing waters below. One by one, we crossed over. Damien let me go first. I gripped the zipline, heaving myself over. My muscles groaned in protest as I landed—muscles that hadn’t had more than a few days to recover in months. I wasn’t stretching nearly as much as I should have.

And the bond between Archer and me might have stolen a bit of my energy.

We passed by the broken bushes, just a mile from the lake where I’d found Klaus and Naraic. Damien noticed my lingering stare.

“Sev, have you ever thought if your quell could… resurrect him?”

I shuddered. “He’s… bone. That’s all that’s left of him, Damien. If I tried, I think I’d create something far worse than any forbidden quell ever could.”

Damien shuddered, too. “Is there a reason it worked with Naraic?”

“Naraic severed his bond with Klaus before he died and bonded with me. Klaus knew I’d come to the academy. It was only a matter of time after I got my letter.” I told him about Veravine and showed him the bracelet on my wrist.

I didn’t mention that barter between our fathers. I didn’t know how.

“It seems our families have known each other for decades. My father told me the past Serpent was killed by the Forgotten. I think you should open the port. My grandfather left his last words in his.”

“On your mother’s side?”

He nodded. “Archer has it now. My father would have smashed the ring if he’d gotten his hands on it.”

I flinched. I could never imagine destroying a person’s last words.

We neared the trail’s end, where it forked into a campground. Saani flicked her wrist, and her whip struck the burnt logs, sparking a flame.

She pointed toward the end of the trail. “Daggers are near that tree. Suit up. We’re going to spend the night in the woods.”

Jutting from the bark were two dozen daggers. No sheaths, but I managed to prod three between the thickest parts of the leathers I’d changed into at the estate. Damien placed the end of a dagger between his teeth as he tightened his boots.

The twelve of us moved toward the forests. The sun crept between the gray clouds and across the horizon. Silence fell as the scurries of the woods grew louder. This felt like a death mission as howls tore along the branches.

“How many beasts does Summer have?” I asked Damien.

A student who resembled Saani locked eyes with me. Then, trilling passively, she said, “We learned this in week one. Summer has five predators. Rippers will tear your flesh off and wear it, so if you see a student who’s gone mysteriously missing and glowing orbs, don’t believe for one second it’s them. Death dwellers are everywhere. But Summer has three other predators—cleavers, detors, and vermilds. My name is Bria, by the way. I am a second-year.”

A tremor went down my spine. I’d have to do my research on those beasts.

My fingers curled around the iron blade as Summer encased us in the heated sunset. The forest cried back, the squeals growing louder the farther we ventured in. The slim light of the setting sun guided us through the broken path. Palm trees wavered in the breeze, and vines crawled, wrapping along the branches.

Bria screamed as a vine coiled around her leg, slithering with a loud hiss. Before we could cut through the thick, curling vine, her yelps turned to chokes as it tightened around her throat. I sliced at the green veins of the vine, its circular mouth rimmed with razors. Blood spewed as the vine sank deeper.

I struck a flame against its body, withering the plant until it fell to the forest floor.

Bria clasped her neck, a circular welt forming from the suckers. Her tanned skin turned pale as her wild eyes surveyed the woods. Breathlessly, she kicked the dead, shriveled vine away. “Did I mention the vines can kill you?”

I’d felt those vines’ pincers before. I knew their teeth left aching welts.

We kept going, the howling and cries growing closer, louder as dusk settled over the horizon. I glanced at Damien, whose dagger was out and ready to strike. I knew he could fight—we’d been spine to spine as the death dwellers surrounded us.

Then, Damien lunged at me, swiping at a glowing orb of fangs—I yelped, drawing my dagger as the creature fell to my feet.

“That is a ripper, Severyn,” Damien said breathlessly. “Keep your quell at the ready.”

---