Page 120 of Swift Wings Shadowed Heart
He frowns. “You… got me out?”
I nod.
Forgetting all about that in an instant, his eyes rove over me in a frantic sweep.
“Are you hurt? Did she… did she get you?” His voice is rough, his hands reaching out to grip my arms, his touch surprisingly gentle.
“I’m fine,” I assure him, my own hands covering his. “I’m perfectly fine.”
Relief washes over his face, a visible wave that eases the tension in his shoulders. He pulls me close, his arms wrapping around me in a tight embrace, his grip almost desperate. I can feel the rapid beat of his heart against mine, our bodies attempting to warm each other and get rid of the lingering chill of the frigid water.
“Thank the Goddess,” he murmurs, his voice muffled against my now tangled hair. “I couldn’t see you. I didn’t know how you were faring. Everyone got separated. The battle… it all happened so fast.”
I hold him tighter, burying my face in his shoulder. “I’m fine, and you’re fine.”
We gently pull apart, the relief in Vaylen’s eyes mirroring my own. We get to our feet, the ground unsteady beneath us, and begin to assess the situation. The battlefield is silent now, the screeches of the harpies replaced by an eerie stillness. The last rays of the setting sun highlight the devastation. I get to Zephyros and retrieve a new pair of leathers and boots from the saddlebags and get dressed.
Then, one by one, the dragons and their riders begin to return. Zephyros lets out a low rumble, a greeting to his kin. Agnisar lands nearby, Silas astride him, his face grim but relieved. Omari and Fulminar touch down a moment later, Omari’s lightning-charged hair still crackling with residual energy.
Others follow, some limping, some with wounds that tell tales of the fierce battle. There are groans of pain, but also sighs of relief, the shared acknowledgment of survival. We endured no losses, which is a great relief and a damn miracle. I can tell Vaylen agrees by the way he looks at everyone in awe.
We gather together, tending to each other’s wounds, sharing water and rations. The mood is somber, but there’s also a sense of camaraderie, forged in the heat of our first battle together. We have faced death together, and we lived.
Vaylen surveys the scene, his gaze lingering on the wounded, his expression a mixture of pride and concern. “This was… unexpected.”
Prime Emberstone nods in agreement.
“It makes no sense why the Screechclaw would fight so fiercely,” he goes on. “And the Matron… she doesn’t join a fight unless it’s important. We didn’t even know she was here. This is…” he trails off, shaking his head.
“It’s all her fault,” Silas says.
I look up to find he’s pointing at me.
“Andher stupid, useless dragon,” he adds.
My mouth falls open. I fucking saved his life, and this is how he repays me?
“Yes, it’s her fault,” a senior Skybolt, whose name I don’t know, says, “What the fuck was all that racket she and her dragon made? I knew coming here with thesekidswas a mistake.” He holds a bloody bandage to his head, glowering at me.
Others seem to stir from their exhaustion, ready to throw me to the wolves, but Vaylen takes a step forward, a hand raised to silence the complaints.
“We didn’t come here to fight each other,” he says. “Did we?”
Faced with the High Prime, the angry Skybolt backs down, though not without sending one last glare in my direction.
“Now, focus on regrouping.” Vaylen’s tone leaves no doubt that this is an order. “Get yourselves together. This battle and the Screechclaws’ behavior wasn’t normal. We need to fly over that peak and find out exactly what’s happening. Our mission is far from over. You must prepare yourselves for what awaits on the other side. It won’t be easy. Like I said… the town is destroyed, but the hardest part will be the sight of our friends.” He swallows thickly. “The Screechclaws set them up in a gruesome display. There’s nothing else I can say to prepare you.”
My fists clench as my imagination paints horrific strokes worthy of nightmares. I shove the images aside and start a quiet chant instead.
They’re in a better place now. They’re in a better place.
When everyone disperses, following orders, Vaylen glances in my direction. I think he’ll come over and talk to me, but instead, he gets to work. The mission takes precedence, and what else can I ruin at this point?
49
Rhea
Silence hangs heavy in the air as we mount our dragons. The peak’s large shadow looms over us as the sun sets on the other side. Zephyros shifts beneath me, his powerful muscles tense, his grim mood a brush against my mind.
