Page 18 of Heat of the Everflame

As the horns grew louder and the meadow filled with a swarm of armed Guardians, the men exchanged a glance, then hurried to finish the deed.

Vance cut a fresh slice along my jaw, alarmingly close to where I knew crucial veins lay beneath the delicate skin. He muttered to himself as the ruby red liquid spilled out into a vial. “Come on, come on, fill up already...” His own hand had begun to quiver, his eyes darting to the sky.

“Incoming,” the archers cried in an echoing chorus. “Attack incoming!”

The clearing devolved into a cacophony of shouting voices, running footsteps, weapons sliding from their sheaths, and thecreak of catapults wheeling into place. Though I was still trapped in place, thevoiceinside me had joined in the frenzied orchestra, humming with excitement over the promise of violence.

In the midst of the chaos, my ears caught on a very different noise. A soft, rhythmic beat—far away, but quickly approaching. Familiar in a way that went deeper than memory.

Thump, thump, thump.

Wings.

My heart sang.

“Oh gods,” one of the men at my side breathed. “Is that a...?”

“Incoming,” the archers screamed. “Gryvern incoming!”

Chapter

Five

Ialmost laughed—I might have, had Vance’s grimy hand not been jammed against my mouth.

This wasn’t just any gryvern.

Our bond swelled and strengthened with every wingbeat.Thump—her fear for my safety.Thump—her rage at my pain.Thump—her ravenous hunger to destroy those who had brought me harm.

My gryvern, my beautiful Sorae, had come for me.

Cordellia’s calm voice cut through the melee. “Everyone, get to your posts. Remember your training. We’ve prepared for this.”

My joyful relief faltered at the steadiness of Cordellia’s confidence. This was agryvern, a legendary immortal beast that was part dragon, part eagle, and part lion. They were unbeatable by almost any weapon and nearly impossible to kill.

Cordellia should be panicking. Theyallshould be panicking.

So why weren’t they?

“Finally,” Vance muttered, shoving the cork in his vial and tucking it away with the jars he snatched from the other men. But instead of rising, he held his position on top of me, his gaze fixed on the sky.

Sorae’s piercing snarl ripped through the air. She was close—even with the flameroot’s lingering effects, I could feel her presence so strongly across our bond.

Thank the gods I’d saved my weakened magic instead of wasting it on Vance’s paltry threats. I would need every ounce of it to fight off the Guardians long enough to mount Sorae and ride away with her to safety.

Any minute now she would find me, rescue me, take me home. If I could just get free of these men and get to her...

Fight, thevoicedemanded.

Soon, I promised.

Vance released his hand from my mouth to fumble for his larger weapons, allowing me to crane my head for a better look.

At first, all I saw was a mighty winged shadow silhouetted against the blinding sun. She tilted downward in a ferocious trajectory for the clearing, the sunlight illuminating her back.

And my joy becamebliss.

Nestled between her wings, his dark hair unbound and whipping against his olive skin, a jeweled sword clenched in one hand and a shield of Fortosian steel in the other, was Prince Luther Corbois.

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