Page 18 of Flight of Fate

In the past four days since Myron and Silas rescued me in the woods north of Aceleau, Clio, and Kaira have been taking turns keeping me company—or keeping an eye on me so I don’t disappear again.

After Myron personally delivered me to Recienne’s healers to double check every last injury had been healed, and a good day of rest, during which he hadn’t left my side, he’s been gloriously absent. He doesn’t tell me where he goes, but I can imagine it’s down to the chambers where Recienne holds the Flame spy captive. I don’t inquire about the smell of blood he carries with him when he returns at night. Both Kaira and Tori offered their translation services to make it possible for me to communicate with my mate, and I agreed to inform Myron about every last bit of what happened when I took off that night.

I’m not sure what I expected from him, but certainly not the cold, composed face as he listened to what Shaelak had said to me—a face I’ve come to recognize as the mask of the Crow King when he ponders laying waste to the world. It’s those little moments when I can sense him burning beneath the surface. Burning for the wrong reason. Not with passion but with ire—ire on my behalf.

Naturally, everyone in our little group knows all about it now.Relevant facts, Tori called it. Every last detail could help us when it comes to winning this war. If the gods are still meddling, then perhaps we could use it to our advantage. Ever the calculated, planning general, he had analyzed what happened from all angles.

Myron hasn’t visited Shaelak’s temple since the incident in the forest, though, so I don’t wander about the city during the nights either. Whether it is because he doesn’t dare leave me alone or because he’s given up on whatever he was doing there, I don’t know. I blame it on his wind and forest scent that my brain is inclined to play tricks on me during sleep, making me believe I’ve shifted back only so reality can hit me in my beaked face with full force when I wake.

Clio stretches her arms above her head like a cat. “How are you feeling?” She doesn’t wait for me to respond. “Myron must be beyond relieved you’re safe and sound once more. Not that you can’t take care of yourself, but you fell into the hands of Erina’s spies without magic to save you.”

And without a sword or evenhandsto hold such an item, I shout at her in my head.

“It’s a miracle Myron found you. Did he use your mating bond to locate you? Did he tug on it?” Her jade eyes linger on that spot over my left wing where, in my human form, the mate mark was once inked. “Or was it coincidence?”

I don’t know.I wish I had an answer. Tugging on the frail remains of our bond hasn’t worked in a long time. If Myron did somehow use it, that means our connection is stronger than it feels.

Warmth spreads in my chest at the thought of how Myron’s lips twitched into a half smile the last time he caught me watching him, how his hand absently twitched toward me, a finger gliding over the top of my head in a gentle display of affection.

I miss him. Even now that I know he can’t be more than a few staircases away, my heart is aching.

“I will have to ask him myself,” Clio muses. Her black leather pants squeak as she crosses one leg over the other, letting themdangle over the rolled arm of the chair. “Or I’ll ask Tori to translate when he’s back from?—”

She cuts herself off.

From what?

Clio shakes her head. “Recienne has dispatched more patrols to comb not only the south but all strategic locations in Askarea systematically for spies. Not that there’s a chance of truly catching every danger, but it’s better than before. If there are more enemy forces closing in on Aceleau, he’ll find them.”

Because he won’t let anyone near the palace and risk Erina knowing the Fairy Queen is pregnant. When Tori brought in Gus for questioning, the male had been blindfolded, and a layer of solid magic had enclosed him, shielding all external sounds. I haven’t heard a word of his whereabouts since.

“Never mind. Here comes food.” Clio unfolds herself from her chair as Kaira returns with a tray of meat pies and reaches for the one sitting on top of a meat pie pyramid. How she managed to get them so quickly is beyond me.

“Cook had them ready,” Kaira chimes. “Apparently, Myron dropped by this morning and asked to have a snack prepared for you for the afternoon.” Setting the tray down right in front of me on the table, she surveys the amount of food. “Or for all of us, I guess.” She ceremoniously swipes a pie off the plate and takes a generous bite, chewing and moaning as she plops back onto the sofa.

Even now, he thinks of me first, making sure I am taken care of despite my inability to turn back into the woman who once held him through the night. I want to cry so badly my eyes hurt.

Perhaps there is something I can do. Something of use I can contribute to this war that isn’t dying. I could spy. Soar across the realm and spot enemy troops. Or I could?—

Kaira throws me a sharp glance. “What’s our plan for the afternoon?” she prompts with her mouth still half full.

I am not certain it’s a good idea, but I think it at Kaira anyway.“I’d like to go to Shaelak’s temple.”

For a moment, Kaira stops chewing. “Are you sure? Myron will probably skin us alive if we let you out of the palace.” From the undercurrent of her words, it’s clear she doesn’t mean just the temple but my earlier idea as well.

Ignoring Clio’s confused expression, I roll on.“It’s not like I’ll be alone if the two of you join me. Maybe the Brother Guardian will be more inclined to talk to me when I make an effort to visit his sacred location.”

“I’m not sure. Maybe I should find Myron. I’m sure he’d want to go with you.”

Clio sets down her meat pie. “It would be nice to be included in the conversation, you know. It’s bad enough my mate does this all the time with my brother. I don’t need my friends to do the same.”

My heart warms as she calls both of usfriends, and Kaira positively beams. “She wants to visit the temple.”

A knowing look crosses Clio’s features. “Definitely get Myron. The dark realms behind Eroth’s Veil will look like a tea party compared to what he’ll do to us if we don’t tell him you’re leaving the palace.”

“Why does it feel like I’m a prisoner and you’re just keeping me company to make sure I don’t get antsy?”

Kaira relays my thoughts to Clio, who frowns. “Just saying. I don’t want to get onto the Crow King’s bad side.”

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