Page 48 of Fallen Star

“The Night Court,” he says, and I swallow, not liking the sound of that. “Unless you’d prefer to stay here and get trapped by the storm? Even after having used our final ingredients for our gourmet meal, and knowing theotheringredient I need to consume to remain satiated?”

He glances at my neck, and another crack of thunder emphasizes his point.

“Fine.” I push away from the table, hating that he’s probably right. “But don’t think this means I’m going quietly.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it.” His smirk returns. “Nor would I want it, given that you’ve proven far too entertaining when you’re being difficult. Just like that cat of yours—begging to be tamed.”

“Begging to be tamed?” I scoff, hating him all over again. “You’d have better luck with that storm.”

“We’ll see,” he says, and the way his gaze lingers leaves me wondering if he means the storm outside—or the one brewing between us.

Sapphire

Hours passas Riven and I ride on Ghost’s back through the valley.

Every shift of his muscles reminds me of our fight earlier. Of the anger in his voice when I accused him of wanting to drug me, and of the way that anger melted into something gentler as he taught me those breathing exercises that lulled me to sleep.

“The stars still singing to you?” he asks, startling me at the sound of his voice after such a long time of silence.

“Still north.” I try my hardest to stay calm—to not let him know how much he’s affecting me. “A few miles or so, and we’ll turn right.”

He nods without looking back. “Got it.”

We lapse into silence again, and flurries begin to fall, catching in Ghost’s fur and swirling around us like glittering specks.

It’s beautiful. The kind of moment that feels pulled from another life—one far simpler than the one I’m living now.

But then the wind picks up, and the snow starts coming faster. Heavier.

A low rumble echoes across the valley.

“Was that—?” I start to ask, but Riven answers before I can finish.

“Thundersnow.” Tension threads through his voice. “We need to find shelter. These storms?—”

Lightning splits the sky, painfully bright.

In seconds, the wind howls louder, and the stars vanish, swallowed by the storm clouds churning overhead. The snow’s whipping in every direction, and I tighten my grip on Ghost’s fur to keep from slipping.

Another flash of lightning brightens the valley, followed by an earsplitting crack of thunder.

Ghost rears back.

It happens too quickly. So quickly that I lose my grip, the wind tearing me off him, even as I search for something to hold onto.

“Riven!” I scream as I hit the ground hard, the breath knocked out of me.

I try to scramble to my feet, but the storm is ruthless, the wind pushing me back down as snow blinds my vision. The world’s turned into a wall of white, the wind screaming so loudly I can barely hear myself think.

I can’t see Ghost. I can’t see Riven.

Panic claws at my chest, my breathing shallow and frantic.

I’m lost. Alone.

I’m going to die out here.

Focus,I tell myself, closing my eyes and thinking.Air is one of my elements. Feel the wind currents. Just like how I harness it when I run.

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