Page 72 of Vathia
“Does anyone know what’s going on?” I snap.
She shakes her head. “No, but Vasari is really agitated. I think we need to wake the camp.”
A scream rings from somewhere in camp, returned with a dragon’s roar. “I think it might be too late for that,” I mutter. “Prepare for battle.”
Anxiety churns and I watch as she dashes for her armor, putting it on with impressive speed, before I turn and bound out of the tent, running towards the screaming that’s ringing out across the night.
“Zaddro, where are you? What’s happening?” I grip the hilt of my sword, the familiar weight of it in my hand bringing a fighting calm over me as my adrenaline pumps through my veins.
“Enemies, maybe a few hundred. Not nearly enough for a full-scale ambush,” he informs me.
“Why would they attack a war camp with so few soldiers?” I mutter to myself. Fear pours through me like ice water as my bonded beast and I come to the same conclusion. It has to be a distraction of some sort, but what?
Spinning on my heel, I race back towards the others, nearly colliding into them as I bark out my previous thoughts.
“We should help our warriors,” Ravina states. “We can’t just stand here waiting for whatever they decide to throw at us next.”
“You rash female,” I hiss. “You need to use that head of yours. Getting caught in distractions is what gets you killed. Killian, sound the bell. Jesper, Aemon, take Ravina to the dragons and get airborne. I’d feel better knowing she is in the sky causing mayhem than getting killed and left in the mud down here.”
She places her hands on her hips. “And what exactly are you planning on doing, Talyn?” She says my name with disdain but I can’t blame her.
“I’m going to help our warriors, Princess. Now go!”
Jesper picks her up and throws her over his shoulder taking off towards where our dragons are, Nero fluttering above her as he races after them.
Killian follows after them, the enormous male pulsing with feral magick, ready to be let loose on whoever dares hurt our mate.
As I go to turn, Aemon’s hand lands on my shoulder. “I don’t know what’s been going through your head lately, but pull it together. I don’t want to have to explain to my mate that one of her bonds-to-be is dead.”
The blow from his words hits exactly how he intended them to: a subtle reminder that Aemon has completed the bond with her. That heisher mate. My tongue is dry with the shame that coats it so I nod, unable to speak. I may not be a male worth her time, but I won’t cause her any more pain. A bond breaking—even an unfinished one—would be excruciating.
I don’t meet his face as I call over my shoulder, finding my voice just for this. “Keep her safe, Aemon.” Then I take off towards the sounds of clanging metal and the screams of those dying, waiting for their last breaths to leave their lungs.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
ADRENALINE RAMPAGES THROUGH MY BODY as we run as fast as we can towards the open field where our dragons are waiting for us. The sounds of bloodcurdling screams and clanging metal echo in my ears reminding me of that night when my world collapsed all those years ago, and I can’t help but let anger fill me. Killian’s words from training sit at the forefront of my mind, keeping the full effect of my rage from consuming me.
“Your Vopn Fö magick feeds on the rage in your blood, but without control, it will control you and you risk hurting the people you care about. You won’t be as aware, driven with your bloodlust. Control it, Ravina.”
Nero soars above our heads as we weave through the numerous tents and his excitement quivers through our bond. “Finally. My collection will grow tonight. I can taste it.” He was elated when I gave him Cresida’s eye and it’s now back at Kraryn Castle with the other two he’s acquired. They’re his most treasured belongings.
“Just stay close to me,” I tell him firmly. If something happens to either one of us, we die, and with him nearby if I get injured, I can draw strength from him and vice versa.
He catches onto my thoughts. “Of course, Rav. You know I won’t let anything happen to you. We will get through this just like everything else we’ve been through.”
As we get to the field our beasts rush towards us, the ground shaking with their size, and I swear if I wasn’t so accustomed to working around them I would have ended up on my ass.
“Come, Lost One, we must take to the air. You’ll be safer there,” Vasari urges, nudging me towards her back. “And make sure that bird is locked away. We don’t need him getting caughtin the crossfire. Roasted rat is not a part of my diet but I won’t waste sustenance either.”
Nero scoffs. “I will not be caged like a damsel in distress. I will fight for glory and eyeballs, and there is nothing you can say to stop me.”
“He will be fine,” I reassure both her and myself.
As I go to climb up Vasari’s leg, I find myself pinned between two males.
Jesper’s finger and thumb lift my chin so I’m forced to look at him. “You will do as you’re told up there, Beastie. Do you understand?”
The familiar coolness of Aemon’s shadows wrap around my body, noticeably stronger in the night. His lips whisper against the point of my ear. “Don’t make us worry, or it will be you paying the price. Let’s listen to our grouchy Elemi bond-mate, shall we?”
