Page 29 of The Last Heir of Elsewhere

I hesitated, unsure of whether I could rely on Aine’s aid. She was known to be fiercely protective of those she cared about, but I wasn’t sure if the thieves’ guild fell into that category. Still, I had no other options than to put my faith in her.

I gave a small nod, acknowledging our silent understanding, and disappeared into the inky blackness of the night.

* * *

I tooka staggering step out of the darkness and into the forest clearing where I’d left Lonnie earlier. A faint yet alluring fragrance of wildflowers and honey filled my senses, mingling with the sharp metallic scent of blood.

A growl bubbled in my throat. She was gone.

My heart pounding in my chest, I pushed through the thick tangles of branches and leaves, desperate to find her. I needed to see her, to know she was safe.

Something moved out of the corner of my eye and I whipped around just as a sudden shadow engulfed me. Before I could react, an enormous raven swooped down from the sky and landed on my head, its sharp claws digging into my scalp. My heart raced as I cursed loudly and frantically batted at the bird with both hands, trying to chase it away.

“You!” I hissed. “Fucking miserable bird.”

Scion’s raven perched on a nearby tree branch, cawing mockingly as I tried to catch my breath. He tilted his head and glared at me with malice.

Straightening, I glared back. “Were you watching, then? Where the fuck is she?”

The raven made a tittering sound, suspiciously close to laughter and my blood boiled. I might feel foolish speaking to a bird, except that Quill was no ordinary animal. It followed Scion everywhere, and attacked virtually everyone that wasn’t him. Worse, I would swear it talked sometimes, but only when I was just out of earshot.

“If she dies because you wouldn’t help, I swear I’ll eat you.”

Fuck, I might eat him regardless. The monster in my head wanted desperately to snatch the creature out of the air, but right now I needed him.

The raven cawed, as if he could understand me, and leapt into the air, his dark wings beating furiously as he flew just a few feet above the ground. He looked back at me with an urgent expression before darting off again.

With a muttered curse, I sprinted after him.

I ran along behind the bird for what felt like an hour, but was probably mere minutes. I was only vaguely aware of how far we’d traveled. Miles, I could only assume. It didn’t matter, I would have run all the way to Aftermath to find her.

The only thing keeping me from panicking, was that wherever this accursed vulture went, Scion was sure to follow close behind. I didn’t know how it worked between this creature and my cousin, if he could see directly through the birds eyes or if it was more of a general knowing, but I hoped somehow he’d reached Lonnie before anyone else did.

It was strange—only a few short weeks ago, I’d have been terrified that it was Scion himself who’d hurt her. Now, I suspected my cousin would tear his own heart out sooner than hers.

With gritted teeth, I urged the raven to pick up speed. It dipped and weaved in front of me, taunting me with its agile movements. My heart pounded as I tried to keep my eyes locked on its erratic flight pattern. It seemed to revel in my frustration, swooping close before darting away again, clearly enjoying this game of cat and mouse.

Finally, we reached a clearing, and I skidded to a halt as the bird landed on a branch overhead.

The scent of smoke wafted toward me, and I spun around in a daze and froze when I saw the bright orange flames dancing in the distance. The heat was intense, even from this far away, and the crackling of the fire echoed through the woods. Fear seized me, making the hair on the back of my neck stand on end as I approached the raging inferno.

I spotted two figures in the distance and relief washed over me.

Lonnie stood in front of the old wooden barn, swaying slightly on her feet, as if with anxiety. Her once neatly braided hair was now a tangled mess and her clothes were ripped and stained with blood. Beside her, Scion stared up at the flames.

My tense shoulders relaxed as I let out a long sigh, but my mind was still racing with confusion. The metallic smell of blood filled the air and I couldn’t help but notice the crimson stains on their clothes. What had transpired? Whose blood were they drenched in?

“We need to go,” Lonnie was saying, her voice high with nervousness.

“Why?” Scion asked.

“In case the afflicted arrive.”

He cocked his head at her. “...are you saying you know for certain that they will?”

Lonnie didn’t answer him. Instead, as if she sensed my presence, her head whipped around and her eyes widened in recognition. Her lips spread into a beaming grin.

She moved toward me with a determined look on her face, her hair flying behind her like a wild banner. As she reached me, she wrapped her arms around me in a tight hug, dispelling any lingering fears that she was injured. She leaned back slightly and pressed her lips against mine. I could taste a mixture of blood and longing on her mouth, and smell the lingering sex on her skin. My eyebrows flew up. What the fuck was going on here?

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