Page 94 of Between Soul and Vessel
She nodded in understanding.
Swiftly, I pulled it out, and she let out a pained screech. I tossed the arrow on the ground.
“Shhhh, sweet girl. It’s done now. It’s over,” I reassured her, rubbing and patting her side as I inspected the wound. Ichor wept from the injury, but to an immortal gryphon, I doubted it would be fatal.
I moved back by her head, my fingers stroking the soft, silky feathers on her forehead. Holding her gaze, I said, “Thank you for getting us here. I am indebted to you.”
She let out a melodic whistle, the sound of it magical.
Twigs snapped to my left and I twirled, a ball of flame emerging from my hand.
As soon as I saw who it was, I put it out.
“Folkoln,” I breathed in relief.
He walked toward me, my sister in his arms. Her face twisted in pain as she applied pressure to the wound in the crook of her elbow, blood oozing from it. The wound had appeared at the exact same moment Vatara had been hit by the arrow. However, on my sister’s arm, much smaller than Vatara’s wing, it looked much worse.
I rushed over to them. “Thank you for catching her.”
“Of course,” Folkoln replied. “It’s good to see you, Sage.”
I smiled. “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but it’s good to see you too.”
“Fucking hell,” Artemesia moaned. “Why do arrows have to hurt like such a bitch?”
“You’ve got a mouth on you,” Folkoln purred. A smirk twisted his lips, making his snake bite piercings look even more wicked.
The way he looked at her . . . he wassmolderingatmysister.
I sharpened my gaze. Pinned him with it. “Don’t even think about it.”
“A bit late for that,” he said, his shoulders performing an unapologetic shrug. The action caused bits of smoke to break off from his tall, muscular body.
“Put her down,” I snarled.
“Alright,” he said, looking down at her as she writhed in pain.
I waited. Nothing.
Folkoln made a strange face. But he didn’t budge an inch.
“Folkoln,” I grated. “I need to inspect her injury.”
“How strange,” he spoke quietly, more to himself than us. His dark eyebrows shifted together. He shook his head as if he couldn’t believe it himself. Then, they lifted. Onyx eyes met mine. “I can’t feel her emotions.”
“Considering that’s what you feed off of, it’s probably a good thing. Now—” I gestured to the ground. “If you would be so kind.”
Still, nothing.
“What’s your problem?” I asked.
“I can’t,” he said, pulling her closer into him.
“For fuck sakes, Folkoln, quit playing around. She’s in pain,” I hissed at him. My power shifted, just beneath my palm. I’d shove a blade into his abdomen if he didn’t hurry up and comply. This was ridiculous.
“I am,” Artemesia moaned.
“Folkoln,” I said, taking a step closer to them.
