Page 105 of Severed Heir

His words lingered in the cold air like mist. I let out a slow breath. “Yeah, Cully. I won’t lie... but I’m not upset. It was the truth.”

“I’ll fix it,” he said, voice low with resolve. “I swear to it.”

I didn’t think it could be fixed.

We flew in silence for hours, crossing lands both lush and scorched. The sky darkened slowly, until the storm hit without warning. One moment, the horizon was clear. The next, it vanished.

A wall of white swallowed us whole. Wind howled in shrill bursts, slamming into us with ice-laced fury. The temperature plummeted. Every breath scraped through my lungs like shards.

Snow blurred everything, and Naraic’s wings strained to hold. “I can’t see,” I muttered, squinting into the void. “Can we land?”

Black smoke curled from his nostrils as he fought the gusts.“No. But if we don’t, we might not survive this blizzard.”

The wind shrieked louder. I clutched tighter to his spine, fingers numb, limbs aching. The sky screamed like it wanted us gone.

We skimmed a frozen ridge before slamming down and crashing against the slope. I hit the ground with a grunt, frost biting into every inch of skin. My knees stung as I scrambled upright, brushing ice from my sleeves.

“Well,” I muttered, surveying the desolate white stretch, “with a little fire, this could almost be cozy.”

Naraic snorted.

Cully gave him a look. “I can’t read your dragon’s mind, but I’m pretty sure we’re both thinking the same thing—this is completely insane. There’s nothing out here but snow and death.”

“We grew up in snow,” I said, shrugging. “We’ll build a shelter. Like the old explorers.”

He blinked. “A snow shelter? Sev, we grew up in a castle. With servants. What part of that makes you think we can build a snow shelter with bare hands while stranded on a Serpent’s land?”

I turned toward the bleak horizon, eyes scanning for anything that might offer cover. “Whose land is this?”

“Lasar’s,” he said. “Serpent of Bretherian, we’re in the iced city of Neverin. If it were up to me, we’d be flying south, breathing ocean air under palm trees. Not… trudging through ice stacked on ice.”

“We’re not risking Naraic’s wings in this weather,” I said, shaking my head. “Besides… I always thought Lasar was one of the less terrible ones. He’s sort of kind to me.”

I glanced back. Naraic blinked slowly, not offering much—just tired silence.

Cully studied me. “That bond between you two, it’s strong. Kind of fascinating, really. But please tell me he agrees this is a terrible idea.”

Naraic dipped his head.“The other bond is weakened.”

My stomach sank.“Archer? Is he hurt?”

“Exhausted,”Naraic said.“You’ll feel him less now. The prison wards sever most senses. Even the channel.”

Cully’s grip found my elbow. “He knows we’re here,” he whispered.

I blinked. “Lasar?”

But the answer stepped from the mist before either of us could breathe.

“Severyn Blanche,” a voice rasped. “To what do I owe the pleasure?” A tall, white-haired figure emerged through the swirling snow.

“We’re seeking shelter,” I said, steadying my voice. “May we use your hostel for the night?”

Lasar’s pale eyes swept over us, lingering for a beat on Naraic. Then he turned, breath fogging the cold air. “You’ve come far. You deserve more than scorched logs and frozen rations.” A faint, unreadable smile touched his lips. “Come. You’ll stay in my estate.”

I glanced at Cully. “You remember Lasar, right? From when we were kids?”

His voice dropped. “Yeah. But... this might be a bad idea.”

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