Page 63 of The Silent Mountain
“Your Highness!”
Theodor’s voice pulls us out of our thoughts. He is running towards us, this time with Cassie hot on his heels. “Tell them what you told me, Cassie,” he demands.
“Elio ran past me a while ago,” Cassie says, gasping for air and coughing slightly. She is holding her sides. “I called out to him because he looked so sad.”
“And then?” Favian asks, taking a step closer. “What did he do then?”
“A flock of birds passed us,” she says. “The same ones as a couple of days ago. I wanted to inform you about it the moment I saw them. They didn’t attack, though; they circled above the clan and then took off. Elio saw them and got angry.”
“No, he didn’t!” Favian exclaims. “This stupid boy!”
“He really got angry,” Cassie repeats. “I saw him.”
“That’s not what I am talking about,” Favian pinches the bridge of his nose. “He shifted, didn’t he?”
Cassie blinks. “Yes, how did you know?”
“He is following the birds,” Favian exclaims.
“What!?” Ludwig and Stefan both blurt out at the same time.
“How silly!” Stefan says, and for once, Favian doesn’t seem to disagree with him.
“Where did the flock fly off to?” Favian asks sharply. “Cassie, where?”
“Towards the beach,” she answers promptly, her eyes looking at him fearfully. “But he is a dragon, isn’t he? He can fly.”
“He is a young dragon, and the ocean is dangerous for most of us. It stretches our connection to our kingdom and weakens us,” Favian explains, taking a few breaths to calm himself down. Through our bond, I can feel his raging emotions though. “Ludwig, take a couple of warriors and inspect the shore.”
“Yes, Your Highness,” Ludwig answers promptly and takes off immediately.
“Stefan, I need you to stay here and keep an eye on the clan.”
“You can’t possibly fly out there,” Stefan exclaims. “It’s too dangerous, even for you, my king!”
“My little brother is out there,” Favian says with a dangerous timbre in his voice. “This is a risk I am willing to take!”
“I will go with him,” I tell Stefan.
Both men look at me in shock. “Of course I will,” I say. “You don’t know what to expect out there. I am your mate, and the bond between us might be beneficial.”
“I agree with Princess Alana,” Stefan says, completely taking me by surprise. “In the current situation, it sounds like the best option.”
“Ros’ senses are incredibly strong,” I tell Favian. “She will complement your dragon senses well and maybe see and hear things you don’t.”
Favian doesn’t argue with me and takes me by my arm. “Come,” he says. Instead of leading me outside, he leads me to the balcony again. “Hold on to me,” he says.
I cling to him while he jumps off the balustrade. We don’t fall for long, as his body shifts and changes in the air, until I find myself sitting on the back of his majestic dragon, my arms around his neck.
twenty
The Birds II
*ALANA*
Thecoldwindbrushesthrough my hair, making me shiver slightly and press myself tighter against Favian’s dragon. I have gotten so used to flying on his back that I truly find joy in it, and Ros herself doesn’t mind it one bit anymore.
Why would he do something so silly?Favian links me.
