Riddle squawks at the black mist and then belches fire, and the mist scrambles to escape the flame, making a hole inside the cloud of gloom. How he’s able to do that, I have no idea. And then I remember—I remember how he ate Grim’s finger. And Grim is a fire elemental.
“Oh my gosh,” I whisper as the realization hits me. Whatever Riddle eats becomes part of him. He’s able to adopt the abilities of his food.
“That’s it, Riddle! Fire!”
The little golem looks at me and peeps.
“Fire, Riddle! Burp again.”
His ears come up and he belches. Once again, a small amount of flame bursts from his mouth, and, once again, the mist avoids it.
“Again!” I tell Riddle.
This time, he takes in a breath and belts out a good one. Flame pours out of his mouth and chases the mist until it rolls away, leaving us.
But it’s too late.
TWENTY-THREE♀♥♂♂♂♂EVERLY
My already aching hands can’t hold onto Pilot any longer. My fingers are shot, and I can’t get my legs back around the immense Pegasus. Even as I realize I’m clinging to Pilot with everything I’ve got, it’s not enough. With tears in my eyes, I look to Riddle, where he soars beside us.
There’s a moment of complete silence as the realization that I’m going to fall to my death hits me. This is the last I’ll see of my little golem. He won’t survive without me because it’s my life that animates his. I can’t even think about my mother or the fact that I’ve failed my Circle. I can’t think of Harlow, or what will happen to Jean-Claude. And I can’t imagine the look of disappointment on Riven’s face.
As the expression on Riddle’s face turns to horror, he flies over the side of Pilot with outstretched wings towards me—tumbling to get to me.
I release my hold of Pilot’s mane and I watch as Riddle screeches.
Everly! Pilot screams inside my head and dives down, after me.
Riddle, meanwhile, tries to grip me with his talons, but I’m too heavy for him to keep me upright. He grips my shoulders and flaps his wings as hard as he can, but the wind current is too much for him. Pilot is right behind us, determination in his expression as he beats the hell out his wings, but I don’t know how he’s going to catch us.
Skyscrapers start rising around us, and I know the ground is close.
Not long now.
But I don’t feel as brave as my thoughts. I’m scared but can’t think. I might die of a heart attack if my end doesn’t meet me soon.
I feel a jolt and a wrenching pain underneath my arms. The slicing pain makes me yell out, but it’s maybe a second later that I register I’m not falling anymore, but flying.
Then a familiar voice says, “Christ, love, at this rate, we’re going to have to get you your own pair of wings.”
“Harlow!” I would wrap my arms around him if I could, but he’s holding me with my back against him.
Pilot arches up and catches up with us. He nods to the incubus in silent gratitude.
“How did you know?” I ask Harlow.
He’s pensive as he speaks. “It’s kind of hard to miss a Pegasus barreling through the sky with a black cloud behind it.”
Harlow lands on the street with a flourish and sets me down. My legs shake and he has to hold me still. It’s then that I realize Harlow has… a tail? It’s long and narrow with a barbed end and it sticks out of the back of his pants, circling around his legs like a gigantic snake.
“You have… a tail?”
“Surprise!” he says with a thick laugh.
Riddle lands on my shoulder and nestles against my cheek. Pilot splays his four hooves on the ground as he lands beside us and lowers his head down, breathing harder than I’ve ever seen him.
“So, mind telling me what the hell happened?” Harlow steps back and I get a good look at the handsome devil. He wears jeans and a hoodie along with his black, skin-tight gloves and that ever-present smirk that both taunts and teases.
At the very top of the closest skyscraper, I watch the mist cloud above chase away on the wind. I have no doubt the count is after Riven.
“I’ll tell you on the way,” I say and start moving toward Pilot.
“On the way where?” Harlow yells after me.
“No time to explain, but we have to get to Riven!”
I turn to Pilot and lay a hand on his back as he nods his immense mane at me. “Thank you, Pilot.”
He shakes himself and eyes me. I won’t leave you.
A swell of pride hits me. I’ve never had friends who were so willing to help me. It’s a feeling that fills me with a warmth I’ve never felt before. I didn’t really have friends back home. I guess I was too busy studying all the time and overall, being anti-social. But, I have to admit, having friends, having others to rely on… it feels good.
Even so, I know I can’t ride Pilot again. Not after how exhausted I am.
“I need you to go back to the castle, Pilot,” I say to the Pegasus as he eyes me with alarm. “And check on Stregen… and Annabell.”
Pilot looks like he wants to argue, but I set a hand on his flank and wipe the sweat off. “I don’t have the strength to ride you again, Pilot.”
“I will take Everly to Riven,” Harlow adds as he looks at Pilot.
I do not feel
