Page 144 of Burning Heir

“You aren’t coming with me,” I hissed low.

Emerich cried from above, and not even a minute later. His talons raised high before striking the ground. Naraic and Ciaran flew through the clouds. “Damien, I won’t risk you getting expelled.”

Damien ignored my curses as he mounted Emerich. “Archer is my brother, in case you forgot.”

Naraic huffed a breath of ash, lowering his spiked spine for me to mount. Ciaran flew in circles above, releasing a cry through the sharp wind. I had heard that cry before—a cry of mourning.

I stared at Damien. “Night is three days of travel. I don’t have that kind of time.”

“I can portal us halfway once we get to Ravensla. You can portal us once we’re in Heit, the western Summer realm.”

“I have never portaled, Damien. I’ll scorch you all!”

“You trusted me in the trial. I trust you, Severyn. You are more powerful than you think.”

I climbed onto Naraic’s back, grazing my hand over his scales.

“What’s going on?”I demanded through the bond.

“The bond is down.”

“Is he—dead?”

A pause. “I don’t know. Ciaran can’t hear him.”

Ciaran cried from above like a wounded bird. The same noise Haziel made when Myla was taken to Malvoria. I nudged Naraic with my boot, and he took off.

Archer could be dead. The thought destroyed me. Destroyed any sense rattling my mind.

I had nothing to protect my body besides a few rusted daggers.

The sky welcomed us through the clouds.

Which way was Demetria? I knew the capital was the other end of Verdonia, but was that west? Which way was West?

Breathe.

I swore Naraic was in control of my lungs at this point. We flew over the ocean, wings spread wide and fast. We hadn’t flown like this since Skyfall. Ciaran stayed a few beats behind. The midnight sky loomed over, soaking us in nightfall. Not the stars I wanted, not the moon’s glow I fasted to feel on my cheek.

“Naraic, can you hear him?”

Silence rang through our bond.

We made it to Ravensla at half the time, landing on the beach for a moment to catch our breath.

Damien closed his eyes, opening his palm. “I can’t portal Naraic without the risk of slicing him, Sev. He can’t come. I don’t trust my quell, not after the last trial.”

I glanced at Naraic and into his darkened eyes. The overhung shadows consumed the violet hues in them. “Tell Ciaran I will save Archer.” It pained me to leave him, but I knew flying would take days.

Emerich bowed low.

Ravensla, stripped of the lights and glamour of the festival, appeared different without the flurry of visitors.

Naraic huffed as I climbed onto Emerich’s back—and as those shadows ripped off my heart, the bond between Naraic and I swayed, fading as I gripped new scales.

Emerich clawed at the sand before taking off.

Damien yelled, “Hold onto me.”

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