Page 57 of Moon Raven Rising
“Wait, what do you mean? Where are you going?”
“When this is all said and done, I have decided I’m going to find out where I came from. You inspired me—I found some old journals in Miles’ things. He aided in my coming to Aldramani. I guess there is more to me than just a pretty face with an attitude problem.” She says, and I give her a sidelong look, causing us both to laugh out loud.
“When that time comes, just know you have the full support of Aldramani at your back.”
“Oh, I hope so; I am risking my life for your asses.” She winks, turning from me as Trent approaches, leading Maki and Ambriel my way. Kait pats him on the chest before sauntering away.
“I’m glad to see her in good spirits,” Trent says, watching Kait leave.
“I think we are all making do with what we can right now. Did you check in with the sentries about Dax?” I ask, discarding my bone broth and handing the empty mug to one of the women who have started packing for the next move. She bows her head, grateful to take it, and I smile in return. The endearment and gentleness causing the feeling from earlier to warm me further.
“Nothing yet,” Trent responds solemnly. “No one has seen Cano either.” I give a curt nod. Dax is ok. I would sense if he wasn’t. As for Cano, I just hope that the trust that was put in him wasn’t misplaced. “Ambriel has tried to reach Dax with her magic…”
“There is nothing but a wall of shadow every time I try,” Ambriel adds as they all come to a stop in a half-circle facing me. “What about you? Have you tried? You spoke with all of us…” She says and my eyes snap to hers. I don’t know why I didn’t think of trying. I stand suddenly, a wide smile spreading across my face and I grab Ambriel by the cheeks. I pull her to me, nose to nose and we both laugh before I plant a kiss on her forehead.
“You are a genius!” I whirl through the crowd on light feet as I race to a clearing to be in direct light of the moon. As the silvery light soaks into my skin, my hair reflecting its glow, I close my eyes, letting my power fill me.
I feel the others watching, but what brings a smile to my face is the smoke and cedar that immediately engulf my senses. As soon as I reach out to him, our bond sizzles like the crack of his fire element and pulses through me as his shadows pull me into the depths.
“Please tell me you are ok,”I beg through the connection in our minds. My heart begins to race when all I am met with is the inky darkness that is his magic, but then, like a fire taking to kindling, his mind opens to me.
“My queen,”He breathes; the sound of his voice is filled with tension, but I can sense the relief he feels too.“Are you safe? Did you make it to the others? My brother?”His questions come out rapidly, and then there is a sharp stab of pain that punctures the connection.
In the distance, I hear Bracarva bellow as her heavy wings carry her through the sky. I tighten my eyes shut as I push my magic out again. I refuse to lose the connection I have with him. I need to know that he is ok and that the plan can still carry on as it is supposed to.
“Dax?! Everyone here is safe. Where are you?”Please, let him hear me.I beg the gods to allow my magic to reach him. There is a ripple in the darkness, then nothing.“DAX?!”I call out again. Using more magic, my heart becomes frantic. My pulse pounds in my ears as my mind races with how I can reach him. Why did I feel a spike of pain?
Warmth grasps me by the hand, and then I know Ambriel is at my side as the war maiden bond mark on my wrist thrums with her power. The connection of our hands intensifies the magic and reminds me of what Osiris said about the stone that sits in my pocket.
I scramble with my other hand, ruffling my skirts, trying to get into the pocket so I can give the stone to Ambriel so we can channel her magic more directly. Just as my fingertips brush the rough stone, a sharp, ear-splitting scream bellows through the sky above us.
“I’m with Osiris. Cano is with us. We’ve—”He grunts, and I feel it again; the pain radiates through me like fire burning me alive.“Go to the caves. Get the people to safety. Nothing will keep me from reaching you, Raelle.”His voice fades with every word and our connection dies like a gust of wind blowing out the flame on a candle.
But connection or not, I know that my scream is heard through the kingdom as I bellow my cry into the frigid air around me. Not even the wind could take away the sound of my pain. Its piercing echo rivals even the dragon’s roar, which lands at my back. Swirling smoke curls from her nostrils, and a vibrating growl rattles the very ground we stand on.
When I open my eyes and turn around, they lock with Bracarvas. “We leave now,” I growl, and she responds by wrenching her head back forcefully, billowing a stream of fire into the sky.
A beacon.
A warning.
We may be running right now, but we will rain down the fires of hell soon enough.
Chapter forty-five
My jaw falls slackas the face of a man I never thought I would see again comes into view. Though changed with time, worn and filthy from being locked away for a lifetime… Still the same face of the man who I idolized more than my own father.
“How?” I ask dumbfounded. I blink as though my vision will clear and he will no longer be standing in front of me. Cano looks as shocked as me as he looks at the man whose arm is draped around his shoulder and barely hangs onto life.
“Who did this?” I ask another question, but he does not answer either. His head lulls to the side as though he is going to pass out at any moment.
“Dax, I don’t think now is the time…” Cano says, pleading with me to keep moving, but the shock of the ghost standing here has my feet rooted in place. This doesn’t make any sense. Why would uncle Declan be here? Why would he be a prisoner of Demetrey? A hand clamps down on my shoulder pulling me back and I turnwith a furious growl, my sword angled up to sever the throat of whoever dares touch me.
“Careful… We are on the same side.” Osiris says as he levels me with a cold glare. “Cano is right. We need to—” Osiris’s words are cut short by the sound of another voice.
“I should have known…” The man says behind us and Osiris’s shoulders tense. His lip curls back in fury as he lays eyes on whoever is at my back. “You can never stay out of trouble can you, son?” Osiris’ jaw flutters and my eyes narrow on the motion, then I turn to face the King of Valeska, my blade still angled for the kill at his son’s throat.
Fire flickers in his hand as he looks to the point of my blade and pulls Cano closer to him by the crook of his arm. The threat is clear for all to see. My head tilts as my raven surfaces, the glowing embers in my eyes blooming and casting the world a vicious shade of red. Shadows spill from me and curl around my arms, slithering along the length of my blade toward Osiris.
