Page 21 of Wings of Desire

My shoulders tremble with sobs as I turn and bury my face into Xakiras’s chest. I trust him. He’ll keep me safe.

“Why? Why would they do that?”

Xakiras grips me tightly, his fingers gently threading through my hair to soothe me. “Both the Sagath and Krel are predators. They are unable to feel true remorse for their actions and are unintelligent, acting only on their urges.”

The sobs grow stronger, and I cling to him like he’s a lifeline, because in this world he is. For the first time, the weight of what might come when the Imperium finds what happened here suffocates me.

Just how much should I actually reveal to them?

Venom

Echo clings to my chest sobbing until her voice is hoarse. I whisper soothing words, pretty little lies meant to make her feel safer, but deep down I know there’s no use. Once theKugitauriand the caliphate know of the brutality here, there will be no peace.

It’s been centuries without war between the Krel and Nocris. Now that they’ve ventured into our territory, we’ll have no choice but to show them no mercy.

“Echo, we should continue searching the camp,” I say, petting her hair as she sniffles and nods. “Will you be alright?”

“I’ll be okay.” Her voice is strained, and it comes out in a whisper, but there’s obvious strength there. It destroys me to realize her coming here has taken everything from her and yet has given me everything I’ve ever wished for.

“I need to find the comms unit.” She untwines her arms from my neck, peeling herself off me and uses the side of her arm to wipe the dripping mucus from her nostrils. Echo’s face is red, splotchy and yet there is a whisper of a false smile on her face that undoubtedly, she placed there for my benefit.

As we search the camp again, Echo’s hand is tightly gripping mine as if afraid to be left alone. Once we reach a large, tatteredtent that’s fallen to one side, she lets her hand fall limply. The cloying scent of decay suffocates me, but I know the bodies have long since been disposed of.

“This is the one,” she says, pointing at the tent. “The comms unit should be in here. Will you follow me inside?” She appears so fragile, holding her arms around herself as if she hopes to shield her vital organs.

Gripping her hand in mine once more, I give it a squeeze. “Of course I will.” I kiss the top of her head then, hoping to reassure her and soothe her fears. “I will always take care of you, Echo; you are mine, remember?”

Echo gives another fake smile, nodding her head. “I know you’ll take care of me.”

I give her a final squeeze of her hand and we walk inside the tent side by side. With my height, I’m forced to bend my head down to fit, pulling my wings in closer to my body so that there is space for us both.

Everything inside is in utter disarray. Several large, shiny objects are broken and smoking, and tables have been flipped on end.

With small, careful steps, Echo walks through the wreckage, letting my hand drop between us. I allow her the space to investigate alone, knowing that seeing everything destroyed must feel gut wrenching.

“This was where the commander slept. He was a great man,” she says somberly, running her hands along a cot that’s upturned.

Her shoulders slump momentarily, until I hear her inhale deeply, straightening them back as if she must remain strong for me.

It’s not a weakness to show your grief, though I say nothing, allowing her to mourn the way that feels most comfortable to her.

“How will you communicate with your leaders?” I ask, following her lead as she tears through the metal wreckage on the floor near the upturned cot.

Echo halts, wrinkling her nose up in thought. “Well,” she says, thinking briefly before continuing, “There’s tech in here that I can use to contact them. If it’s not broken.”

There’s suddenly a rhythmic tapping, strong and steady, that resonates through the earth. My head snaps toward the sound as it builds into a pounding tempo. I recognize that sound; it’s the beginning of a warriors’ cant.

“Echo, hide. Now!” I bark, turning on my heels and drawing my sword from its sheath.

Her eyes widen in confusion. “What? Why?”

“Now!” I snap, holding the tent flap upward to step out into the open alone.

As I exit, the light from a solitarylampfyreflickers on a lone spear. Why is one alone?

I chastise myself immediately, I should have searched for my hunting party before venturing here alone. Echo has made me so reckless, but I would risk it all over again for her.

Rising into the air, I gaze down at the Krel on the ground, realizing immediately why he was left behind. One of its legs is broken, and it’s been hiding in one of the tents to protect itself. The Krel are ruthless and discard their wounded if their injuries are too severe, leaving them to fend for themselves or die. Once he heals, he can return to them on his own, though I will never give him that chance.

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