Page 49 of The War of Wings
Katia’s drivas were the only ones to exist. Or so we thought. That driva, that unknown, unfamiliar intruder… It wasn’t one of Katia’s. Somehow, it was Malosym’s.
And I couldn’t help but wonder if it knew where we were because of Miles.
???
Here.
Obitus’ thoughts in my head pulled me from my own. The relief was palpable when the horizon revealed itself. The sun had broken through from behind the clouds after the thunderstorm had passed, and the closer we got to Nesan, the stronger its rays felt. I was sure my face and neck were reddened.
We let out a collective breath when the drivas finally landed on the shoreline. Just a few miles up the beach was the bustling port city of Bienmari Point. But here, on our little stretch of shoreline, it was wild, with vibrant green bushes and trees hanging out over the yellow sand. It was quiet. Untouched. I wouldn’t be surprised if humans had never set foot on this expanse of beach.
I slid from my seat, unfastening my bag from Obitus’ side before my boots trudged through the sand to his snout. “Thank you,” I said quietly, placing a hand just above his flaring nostrils.
He snorted in response, pushing his snout further into my hand before backing away.Obitus. Sleep.
“I thought Adorex said drivas can fly for five days?” I jeered.
Can. Tired. Still.
“Go get some rest.” I chuckled, and as soon as Miles and Petra had removed the other packs, Gehenna and Adorex followed Obitus farther down the beach where the three of them promptly curled up and drifted off.
The moment as the drivas were settled, something clicked into place. Petra must’ve felt it too, because we were running for each other, colliding in the middle. I held her to me, my hand clutching the back of her head as sobs overtook her body. I gritted my teeth, emotion clawing at my throat at the sound of her cries. It didn’t take long for her to regain control of herself.I wanted to tell her it was okay to shatter, that I’d be right there to pick up the pieces. But I knew how her mind worked. I knew she’d pushed her fear and her trauma into a tiny little box and stored it away somewhere in her mind, the same thing she’d been doing her whole life.
Miles was standing expressionless, staring back out over the sea. With Petra’s hand folded in mine, we stood beside him, silent for a moment.
“What the fuck just happened?” Petra finally said, breaking the fragile quiet.
Miles turned to me then, the two of us tall enough that Petra didn’t even notice the silent conversation happening. I furrowed my brows, a silent question. With a tight jaw, he gave the slightest shake of his head.
He hadn’t known the driva was coming. He hadn’t fucking known. Crushing relief spread in my chest, because it meant we had time. Meant there was still hope for him. I was counting on it.
“Did you see its eyes?” I asked quietly, tearing my stare from my brother. Petra looked up at me in question. “Completely black.”
“How does Malosym have drivas?” Petra whispered, so quiet I almost couldn’t hear her over the gentle waves.
“Occulti can take any shape or form,” Miles answered, as if it was just that simple. And I supposed it was, in a sense.
“But how? Has he done that before? Have either of you heard of that, read it in a book?”
I looked to Miles, because if one of us had read something in a book, it would’ve been him. “I don’t know,” he finally answered, regret in his voice. “Maybe I read it…before.” Before he was struck down and lost his memory.
I cursed myself for not being as well-read as I could’ve been. There was a huge library at my disposal in the Eserenian castle. Why hadn’t I utilized it more?
“Let’s get a fire going,” Petra said, her voice defeated as she turned away. “We all need some rest.”
We moved silently about the beach, the implications of the afternoon’s attack looming over us.
Chapter 19
Cal
Drivas snored. Loud. So loud, in fact, I wasn’t sure how their existence could ever be doubted, because I was positive they could be heard throughout every realm. I thought I was sick of hearing the ocean waves, but I reckoned I’d take that over the thunderous sound of three sleeping drivas.
The fire burned low, embers lazily floating into the air, seemingly weaving between the stars before their lights winked out. Miles had taken his bedroll and moved it about a hundred feet up the beach in an attempt to escape the worst of the drivas’ snoring. Petra and I had stayed in place by the fire. I watched as her lashes fluttered closed, listened as her breathing slowed and evened.
Carefully, I slipped my arm from beneath her head, staring for one extra second before I made my way down the beach. Thesand shook with the sound of the drivas’ snoring, and I had no choice but to cover my ears as I passed their sleeping forms.
“Holy shit,” I murmured to myself when they were far enough behind me that I could actually hear myself think. “There’s no way that’s healthy.”
