Page 52 of Skyshade
There was a figure, right outside her window, filling it like a god. Oro.
STORMFINCH
Panic gripped her chest. This had to be a dream—an illusion.
But Oro’s amber eyes were clear, he was right there. Even without her powers, she could feel the link between them, fainter than before, thanks to the bracelets.
For a moment, she felt joy, warmth, relief, like being plunged into the sunlight after weeks in darkness.
Fear replaced it.
If Grim found him here, if anyone did, he—
She opened the window and pulled him through it.
Oro nearly collapsed onto the floor. He was cold, shivering. He had dark crescents beneath his eyes.
He had flown here, across the world. It must have taken days.
“What are you doing here?” she demanded, searching wildly for his pulse. It was still strong. It was a wonder he wasn’t nearly dead.
Oro only looked at her. He seemed lost for words for a moment. Lynx brought over a blanket with his teeth and draped it over him.
Treacherous creature.
Oro reached back and pet Lynx on the leg. He curled up behind him and purred.
“What are you doing here?” she repeated. Her voice was hushed. Any sign of panic, and Grim would be here in an instant. It was his room, after all. Their room.
This was bad. Very bad.
“Our bond weakened. I was worried something had happened to you.”
She lifted her wrists, to show her bracelets. “They block my power.”
Oro frowned. His gaze trailed up her arms, to her chest, to her face. He searched her quickly, as if looking for any sign that she had been hurt. Then, his gaze roamed across the room, as if half expecting to see that she had been locked in a prison.
“You flew across the world to make sure I was okay?”
“Of course I did,” he said sharply. His breathing was labored.
“You could have sent someone else. The risk, it—”
“I didn’t trust anyone else.” He looked at her, and she understood his meaning. He didn’t trust anyone else not to kill her on sight. She was the traitor.
Yet—he was here.
Tears gathered in her eyes. She couldn’t believe it. So many nights, she had clutched the golden rose necklace to her chest and thought of him before burying the emotions down.
Isla knew she should send him away. She knew she was a risk to him. But she couldn’t stop herself from slowly reaching a hand to touch his face. His eyes closed as her palm pressed against his cheek. As her fingers grazed his lips. She made to move, and his hand curled around her wrist, keeping her there.
“Oro,” she said, her voice a rasp.
“Isla.” And the way he said her name...it was nearly her undoing. She nearly threw her arms around him, nearly kissed him, nearly did a thousand stupid things that would only end in more confusion and heartbreak.
But then a sound cut through the darkness. A pitch like a talon scraping the night itself, nearly painful, wholly beautiful.
Her hand still against his face, they both slowly turned toward the intricate cage in her room, and the small blue bird sitting within it. Dread and hope dropped through Isla’s stomach.
