Page 35 of Of Wind and Terror

I know she’s okay—I can sense it, the barest brush of her emotions against my consciousness.

I take a modicum of comfort in that fact.

Draven declared that we needed to “regroup,” so now I find myself heading towards who knows where, stowed away in the back of a carriage like a Gaiadamn animal.

When we finally stop, my stomach is knotted, sweat dots my skin, and vomit crawls up my throat. Bloody fucking hell. It’ll be a miracle if I don’t vomit all across the ground.

Unease skitters across my back at just the thought.

Already, I feel disgusting, like I’m cocooned in a layer of tar and slime. I’m desperate to submerge myself in a blistering hot bath, but I don’t dare voice that wish out loud. I have no doubt Draven—and even Mikage—would use that weakness against me.

Even still, I can’t help but wipe at my arms and legs, attempting to remove as much dirt and grime as I possibly can.

“Welcome home, my new friend,” Draven singsongs as he wrenches open the back door of the carriage.

Blinding sunlight sears my retinas, and I blink my crusty eyelids, wincing nearly imperceptibly.

Draven and Mikage grin down at me. Well…the former grins down at me, his expression decidedly mischievous, while the latter appears subdued. His expression is taut with tension, and there’s a noticeable furrow between his blond brows. He continually flicks his gaze between me, Draven, and the building behind him.

A very familiar building, rising from the sand like jagged, golden teeth.

The Summer Court castle.

I’ve only been here once before, when I was a child, but it would be impossible for me to forget this place.

Though it’s one continuous building, it has varying levels that give it a misshapen, convoluted look. The front entrance is surrounded by stone pillars, and those pillars boost a balcony that overlooks the desert. From there, the castle expands in either direction, the roof dominated with turrets and gables. Stone gargoyles, bleached from the sun and crumbling with age, crouch directly above me, their sightless eyes homed in on my face.

The keenness in their stone gazes sends a chill across my spine.

Draven moves to stand directly beside me and turns his face up towards the castle as well. He cocks his head to the side with a contemplative expression, almost as if he’s attempting to see it through my eyes.

“It’s not as magnificent as some of the other courts’, but I have to say when I first arrived here, I was impressed. Still am,” Draven states lazily, reaching upwards to run his fingers through his midnight-black hair.

The strands catch in the blinding light, reflecting in a way that makes the roots almost appear gold.

“I’ve heard you took over the Summer Court and killed the royal family.” I keep my voice level, despite the frost sweeping through me. “I didn’t know you took up residence in their home as well.”

Draven chuckles and claps me on the shoulder. “All’s fair in love and war. Now, come. We have much to do and little time to do it.”

As he approaches the front doors, they swing open automatically, and two Night soldiers bow humbly as he stalks by.

I don’t immediately follow him.

It’s one thing to know that the Summer Court has been destroyed, but it’s another thing to see it with my own two eyes.

I’ve never been overly friendly with the royal family—after all, Winter and Summer are as opposite as they come and don’t always get along—but it still strikes me how easily Draven was not only able to destroy a kingdom but take it over. He’s living in their house, sleeping in their beds, sitting on their thrones.

And where is the Day Prince in all of this? Aren’t the two allies?

Mikage offers me a sympathetic smile and jerks his chin towards the front entrance. “Come. You shouldn’t keep him waiting.”

I don’t want to stay out here in the sweltering summer heat, but I also don’t want to take a step into enemy territory either. Indecision roots my feet in place.

“How can you be okay with this?” The question bursts free before I can stop myself, and I inwardly curse at betraying my true emotions.

Calm.

I need to be calm.

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