Page 8 of Feathers of Ash and Hope

“Jared, I’m sorry, I—” I start, but he cuts me off again.

“Are you coming with me to see her tonight?” he asks before I have the chance to recover from his verbal blows. He maneuvered me right into that one, the sneaky bastard. How can I say no after what he just said?

Still, I hesitate, not because I don’t want to see her, but if she looks at me differently… I’m not sure I could take it. Jared feels my hesitation.

“If you don’t come, she will soon show up at the Aerie and drag your ass home. You know that, right?”

Home.

I flinch at that word. I haven’t yet stepped foot in the home Jared’s mom has created here in Telos, yet Jared still includes me so naturally in that statement, as if it is my home, too.

Nan, Jared’s mother, was my nanny when I was little, and even when she didn’t need to keep an eye on me anymore, I saw more of her than of my parents.

Then I left court, and Nan and Jared packed their things and came with me like it was the obvious thing to do.

I’ve only seen her twice in the past three years, and always because she sought me out.

Jared is right. She gave me space, and I’m sure her patience is coming to an end.

“I’ll come,” I tell him. “But we need to change first.”

Jared looks down at himself, grimacing at something I can only assume is blood since it’s hidden behind his illusion.

“I don’t have a problem with blood, man, but couldn’t you have warned me that I would bathe in it,” he complains. How I should have warned him when I didn’t know he would come is beyond me.

“Do you need me to heal you?” I ask, but he shakes his head.

“Did you get any answers?” He wants to know instead.

“No.” I shake my head. “But I clearly disturbed someone with the questions I already asked. I’ll meet my contact tomorrow, so let’s hope that goes better.”

“I don’t like it that you go to that meeting alone,” Jared says, and I scoff.

“I would hardly call it alone. Daeva will be with me.” Daeva is my Night Raven, a vicious and tenacious creature, bigger than a horse with mighty claws and a sharp beak.

“Tell that puny human I will show him what I do to creatures that disregard me,”Daeva grumbles in my head, and I chuckle.

“I’m sorry, Daeva,” Jared says, knowing what caused my reaction. “I’m just angry he still doesn’t budge.”

“Tell him I won’t let him off this easy next time,”she says, hearing Jared through me without me having to repeat the words.

“She forgives you,” I relay her answer to Jared. “And no, I won’t take you with me. It’s bad enough that my contact knows my face and that I’m a skyrider.”

“I could use my gift,” he offers.

“And what about Zephyr? Do you want to disguise him, too?” I shake my head. To alter his bird’s appearance for such a long time while Zephyr is flying would send him into exhaustion.

“But I will come to the next meeting in the city,” he declares, setting his jaw, not even bothering to dress it up as a question.

I know a pointless argument when I hear one and stay silent.

“Hey, Trouble.”I find myself enveloped in familiar arms as soon as I step through the door.

I don’t know how she does it, but even though Nan reaches only up to my shoulder, she manages to give hugs that make me feel safe and cared for. I missed her hugs, missed her.

“Let me look at you.” She cups my face between her hands, and her eyes aren’t missing a thing while they travel over my face and body. “I worry about you,” she adds.

“If you don’t ease up, Mom, no threat will get him through this door next time,” Jared teases.

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