“Yeah, there’s trouble,” I say, sliding the metal bolt on his stall to let him out. “I need you to take me up to the tower, okay?”
Surprisingly, he nods as if he understands me. Maybe he does. Thankfully, he’s still wearing the saddle.
I pet his beak. “Let’s go kick some Princess Gia butt.”
I don’t know why she didn’t kill me when she had the chance. Was sending me back home a small mercy? Maybe she just wanted me out of the way long enough to gain control.
Of course, she couldn’t have planned on Kirian having my marble or Astrid’s help. If it wasn’t for that, he might not have been able to get to me at all.
And since she knew we were soul mates, she thought separating us would make Kirian lose his mind. Eventually, he would’ve.
Boy, she’ll be happy to see me.
Kirian
“It’s too solid.” Using my axe, I chop at the thick vines around the base of the dome. Every time I cut through them, they grow right back. “Fuck. Gia’s never been able to do anything this big before.”
Damon puts his sword away. “We’ll have to go up.”
“I know.”
It isn’t ideal. Falling into her trap is probably the dumbest decision I could make, but we need to act quickly. I don’t know how far her powers can go. If she loses control, she could decimate Delaveria. As it is, the sky looks like a cyclone could form.
And my mother is in there. I don’t know if Gia would hurt her, but I won’t underestimate my sister. Not ever again.
Deciding it’s now or never, I put my axe away and leap into the sky. Damon isn’t far behind, and strong wind blows us off course a few times.
When we make it to the bell tower, lightning shoots down, striking the highest point.
We narrowly miss getting struck, taking cover on the stone floor under the rows of bells just in time. Several of them knock against each other, chiming out an eerie tune. Even after the lightning retreats, heat crackles along my back and my hairs stand on end.
“This is fucking wild,” Damon says, crawling to the trap door leading to the stairwell. “Distilled Day water should be illegal.”
He has a point. No one should be this powerful. It’s dangerous, and the secret is definitely out. Once the fae of Valora learn their powers could be this intense, they’ll stop at nothing to get their hands on the substance.
When I shut the door above our heads, we’re cloaked in darkness. None of the lanterns along the walls are lit, and I can’t see a thing. It’s oddly comforting. These are the conditions in which I’ve honed every skill I have.
Reverting back to my days of blindness, I place my feet on each stair with confidence. “Once we get to the hallway, we’ll check the guest quarters for anyone hoping to get a jump on us.”
“Good call,” Damon says behind me. “I’m officially freaked out. Do you hear that?”
“Hear what?”
“Exactly. It’s too damn quiet.”
Agreed. The palace is always bustling with activity. Between council members, noble guests, maids, and other staff, noise is constant.
Right now, aside from the wind whistling above us, there’s nothing.
As I descend the winding staircase, I see a faint glow coming from the bottom. Lights are on in the hallway on the other side of the door. This wing of the castle was built after the curse, and believe it or not, it’s fancier than my quarters. I’m excited to see the rooms, even if it’s just to check for ambushers. They’re reserved for the guests of honor, and no expense was spared when they were designed. Plus, they have the best view of Dawn and Dusk.
Quinn would love it.
A strange sensation swirls inside my chest at the thought of her. It feels like something is tugging at my heart. A persistent yearning that’s almost painful.
It’s the bond rebelling against being separated from her so soon after our first mating. Weird to think a third party is butting into our relationship, but the bond is its own entity.
And it wants Quinn.
Well, it’s going to have to wait. I have important business to—
“Kirian, look out for the—”
I feel the wire against my ankle just as Damon shouts the warning. But it’s too late.
As I flap my wings to propel backward, arrows shoot from somewhere ahead. One nicks my thigh, and I recognize the sting of iron. Dozens of others ping against the stone steps, falling uselessly to the floor with a clatter.
Gia’s not playing around. If it wasn’t for Damon’s warning, I could’ve been speared through the heart.
I didn’t sense the tripwire. Damon felt the frequency in the air—the way the draft bounced off the metal that was strung tight.
Damn.
As glad as I am to have my sight back, I probably regained it at the worst possible time. I feel like I’ve lost a superpower I took for granted.
“Maybe you should go first,” I suggest to Damon, ignoring the burning pain in my quadricep.
“Oh, no. I’m here as back up. I’ll make you a deal, though. If Gia kills you, I’ll take her down and run your kingdom for you.”
Coming from anyone else, I’d perceive that as a threat, but I know he’s not serious.
For one, I’m not sure he could defeat Gia if his life depended on it. Sure, he’s a decent fighter, but physical violence has never been his strong suit. Sparring usually ends with me pinning him to the ground and him promising buckets of my favorite ale in exchange for letting him up and not bragging about the victory later.
“Just swear
