Page 78 of Claws of Death

Clio, Tori, and Recienne site-hopped probably straight to their beds, and Kaira, Herinor, and Silas are leading our remaining group at a faster pace than I have in me.

“Do you need help?” Royad walks beside me as I approach the monster of wide steps leading to the residential levels of the palace.

I shake my head at him. “No help, just time.”

He nods, a sympathetic smile on his lips, and shifts into his bird form, fluttering ahead as Myron’s shadow falls over me from behind.

“I can offer both.”

When I give him a confused glance, he gestures at the stairs. “Help or time.” His eyes are darker than I’m used to, deep shadows circling beneath them. It’s been a long day and night for all of us.

“You don’t need to?—”

“I never said I needed to. Justthat I can offer both.”

We’re now standing at the foot of the stairs, facing the obstacle in my path.

“It can be a lot for a new Crow to fly for the first time, and you did so for two full days with only a few hours of rest in between.”

I try not to remember the sensation of falling when I landed on his hand after we found the army. If he knew how close to plunging from the skies I’d been, he’d never take me on another mission again. My muscles cramp in response to the thought of flying, and I twitch to work against the sensation of someone twisting my limbs.

“I’ll manage.” Because I need to know I can handle this. Being a Crow, shifting, flying, the power, the strength. I need to know I can stand on my own even with the most powerful Crow alive next to me.

Myron doesn’t offer me his hand. He doesn’t walk away either. “Time it is, then.” He simply waits, looking at the lowest stair with me as I gather my will and shape it into a rope to pull my legs forward.

One step. Just one step and my muscles are on fire.

I can do this.I’ll fight in a war soon. I’ll throw all I have at the enemy, and I can’t let my legs be what fails me when the time comes.

Another step.

I groan as the back of my thighs take my weight, pushing myself forward.

Myron takes both stairs in one stride, but he remains at my side, patient, silent, no judgement in his eyes as they follow my every move.

By the time I make it up half the stairs, my calves are burning like fire, my left hand is shaking, and my neck is ready to snap.

“Just a few more,” I tell myself.

Myron follows, still by my side but a step below the one I’m tackling now. “You know you did amazing today,” he murmurs, breath at my ear, and I stumble forward, taking another step in the process. My hand finds the handrail, clutching it so hard my knuckles turn white.

“I’m proud of you, little Crow.”

I take another step.

“You’re the first female Crow in millennia, and you’re fast like the wind.”

Another step.

“Your wings shimmer like silver when we fly beneath the clouds.”

My hand slides up the rail, pulling me another step higher.

“Two days of flying and you haven’t complained about the aches and pains of unturned muscles.”

I want to tell him that I have plenty to complain about, but I need my strength to make it up the stairs.

“I would sweep you into my arms and carry you straight to your bed, but you set your mind on doing this on your own, and what mate would I be if I didn’t support you with all I have.”

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