Page 205 of Severed Heir

I nodded, but it felt forced. “I understand. I’m just… used to hearing your thoughts. It feels like I’m grieving her. And she’s not even dead.”

His jaw clenched. “It hurts me, too. Knowing I failed Ciaran. But this… this is what’s next.” His gaze drifted to the dragon. “Tansia is my bonded enigma now.”

I wanted to believe him. Wanted to accept this moment for what it was, an ending, and a beginning. But the goodbye still lingered like sand in my throat. I nodded again, and this time, the tears didn’t wait for permission.

This was it. This was the way things had to be now.

He nipped at my jaw, a light brush of his lips against my skin. “The real question is, why aren’t you naked in my arms, forming a rider bond with me?” His teasing smile was laced with something darker. “I know you’ve been dying to hear my thoughts.”

“Maybe I don’t want to hear your thoughts,” I whispered, just to hear his response.

He raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “Oh? Is that so.”

The dragon wrangler cleared his throat, awkwardly stepping in. “I wouldn’t suggest forming a rider bond until after your first flight,” he muttered, a little too loudly.

Archer shot him a withering glance, his patience clearly thinning. “You speak only when called upon. Leave us, Hensley. Gold awaits you for your trouble.”

I glanced at Hensley, then back to Archer, unease tightening my chest. “Archer… I don’t feel comfortable bonding until after she’s proven herself.” My voice came quieter than I intended. “I need to see she can be trusted first.”

He looked at me for a long moment. Then, a small smile touched his lips. “I trust her.”

I turned to the dragon one last time. Her crimson eyes locked with mine again with a near ancient, blood-threaded stare. The unease only deepened. “I don’t,” I said.

Archer gave a single nod, but I caught the way his shoulders tensed. “Understood. Pack your things,” he said, his tone suddenly distant. “We leave for Wrathi overnight.”

He turned away, already walking toward the stone steps. I hesitated, then followed, catching up to his quick stride.

“Why are you acting so strange?” I asked, falling into step beside him.

His shoulders tensed. “Because I know she’ll never be Ciaran,” he said.

“I may not be able to hear your mind, but I know you’re struggling.”

Shadows rippled from his nostrils as he exhaled again. “A leader can never fall. I am not struggling.”

I reached out to stop him. “You are allowed to break. But I won’t form a bond with her, not untilIcan trust her.”

He flinched. “I’m sorry,” he said quietly. “This is a lot for me.”

I wasn’t ready. And I wasn’t sure I would ever be. But the truth was, I had lost Ciaran.

“I know.”

He whispered, pulling me into his embrace. “We’ll get through this, together.”

But as I stared into those crimson eyes of the wyvern mix, I couldn’t help but feel this was wrong.

The next day, we set off for Wrathi. It would take two full days of travel to cross the Continent. Our first night was spent in a Serpent hostel, on the outskirts of the barren Day land of Seraphine.

I lay beside him, the silence thick between us. Finally, I broke it. “When I was in Malvoria, Rok said his father was a Serpent leader of the fallen Night realm.” I hesitated. “Why did your land survive, and his didn’t?”

Archer shifted beside me, his voice low. “Because destroying both Night and Day would’ve shattered the Continent.I don’t know why we survived—maybe because we bordered Malvoria.”

“What happened?” I asked.

He drew a long, quiet breath. “You won’t find this in any passage,” he said. “Not what I’m about to tell you.”

My stomach twisted in dread. “What is it?”

---