Page 44 of Of Nightmares & Fire
“You good, Princess?” He says, watching me curiously. With a small nod, I squeeze his hands, shrinking my smile for the show I am required to put on. When the parchment in my hand meets his, his facial features change just the slightest. The joking brightness that once filled his features becomes serious, and his eyes flit between my eyes in question.
“From Kyros.” I whisper against his cheek before I kiss him, giving my blessing for the challenge. When I lean back, he’s not looking at me but at his brother in the crowd, and I can’t help but feel like an entire conversation is taking place within their eyes as Istep back. He finally looks at me, and although others may not see it, I see the narrowing in his silver eyes.
“What has changed?” He asks quietly, keeping a close eye on those around us.
“Everything.” I breathe, and with just that one word I know it to be true. I may have decided to run away and make a place for myself in the world, but leaving with the heirs to another kingdom? My father will know that I am leaving on my own accord, but it won't matter. He will blame anyone else.He will blame everyone else.I am the key to expanding his reach; without me he doesn't have much else to go on to further the land his vile touch rots. He will bring war to the lands, and if I’m wrong, if Kyros is wrong, we could be the cause for the deaths of thousands.
With the ceremony coming to an end, I turn to look out over the people I am leaving. My wish is that by leaving them today, I will be able to bring them a better life in the long term. I have nothing left of myself here. I will meet with their queen of Diemos, and together we will make a plan to finally rid Eathian of this poisonous bed of snakes. I can only hope that I may be able to find myself somewhere between here and there.
Swallowing, I turn back to face my father.
“Prince Cadoc Natharia of Irowerth, please accept my favor for this challenge.” I say with my eyes never leaving the man who sired me. Cadoc steps forward, placing his hand on my lower back, letting me know he is here, and when I turn to face him, his smile is sad as he nods in understanding. The gesture makes my browsdrop as my mind whirls on what the plan was… Shit.What do I do next?
The deep pound of the drums announces the journey’s beginning, and in a hurry to get this over with, I kiss Cadoc on his lips. I feel nothing. A numbness takes over my body, and I wrap his wrist with a delicate gold ribbon. The small smile he gives me causes my heart to ache. I hate deceiving him when he has only shown me nothing but kindness.
Clapping my hand over his, I try to smile back. However, my eyes never reach his as they instead round in panic. In the distance a shadow forms in the otherwise cloudless sky. The trajectory and speed at which the object moves make my brows pull together in the center of my forehead with terror. The massive screech that follows causes everyone's eyes to snap skyward as well.
My father begins barking demands as chaos erupts, but I stand there frozen in place as I look up at what is now clearly a massive beast, feathers the color of deep oiled bronze and a shock of yellow on their underbelly. It drops from the sky like a bolt of lightning that is coming right for me. Its shadow looms over all of our heads, and as I stare into the bright sky, the birdlike creature with taloned hooks at the apex of its wingspan and a dark, viciously sharp beak blacks out the torturous sun in a nosedive for where I stand with the suitors.
I’ve heard stories of the beasts that dominate the skies, but never here. Not here. Not in Eathian. The Thunderbird opens his shadowy beak and lets out the powerful wave of sky-cracking cries before banking hard to the left, sending sand flying and wind blowingback my hair. Thunder rolls in the distance, and the surrounding air becomes forceful in its whistling and whipping, lifting sand higher as it does.
One moment I am standing on a stage for everyone to see, and the next I am grabbed from behind, tucked under large arms, and a hand covers my mouth as I scream for help.
Chapter thirty-one
Kyros
“Whatthefuck!”Igrind the words through my teeth as I throw my shadows out around me and Zinya. I can feel her magick pressing against me too, trying to calm the disarray. It helps minimally.
“Why in the pits of Zamiel is a Thunderbird attacking?” Zinya calls out over the shouts and cries of those around us. I would like to know the same. The creature’s wings down thrust, generating a powerful wind that makes the loose sand beneath our feet fly into the air. It makes it hard to breathe, much less see. Their cries from the sky echo all around from the people gathered for the ceremony. Thunderbirds are generally not found in these parts, let alone attacking humans. Their sole purpose is toprotect, to keep balance within the land, and to steer storms where they are needed most.
I’ve never seen a thunderbird in person before. The depictions from tomes written by our ancestors, as well as paintings and statues of them, do nothing to serve them as they truly are. The vast expanse of their four, X-like wingspan is incredible. Their dark feathers have an almost luminescent glow even in the bright morning sun, while their yellow underbelly appears as though it has been dipped in gold. Deadly claws reach low, threatening to pluck people from where they are, and many of them do just that. The whole ghastly spectacle is in conflict with the sheer wonderment of the creature itself.
“I don’t know. Find Mavros! This wasn’t the plan, but we will use it to our advantage. Let’s get the fuck out of here.” I yell, glancing over my shoulder at her. She nods and runs in the opposite direction that I am heading—toward the last place I saw Astraea. I grunt as I continue to use my magick to conceal me, giving me an advantage as I move through the crowd.
A scream catches my attention just as I see a body fly sideways. I curse, picking up speed, and I slide to my knees, catching Colette as she is cast aside like a discarded match. Her vibrant red hair spilling out around her like a spark from a flame.
“Where is she?” I ask as gently as I can manage, but my heart is racing and my shadows coil around me like black snakes of death…Colette's round eyes track the movement, and confusion and realization battle for dominance across her features. With another demanding grunt, I shake her desperately, asking again. “If you know where she is, you need to tell me. Did you see? Did she run?”
“Kellan.” She finally says, just as Zinya and Mavros cut through the shadows. Mavros’ shadows now join with mine.
“Keep her safe. Do everything you can to meet me at Dune Village just before Creshian.” I pass Colette to Mavros as his eyes burrow into mine, and he accepts the shocked handmaiden. Questions and things that will have to be left unsaid for now cross his face, but I shake my head. “The village, Mavros. Get there.” Gruelingly, he nods with pursed lips, and I level him with a promise in my eyes before I rend a portal right before everyone. I couldn't say where we were meeting for risk of other people hearing, but he will understand where I meant. I watch them all disappear as Mavros casts his shadows out over everyone to help them get away, and the screaming and disarray only intensifies.
I have to trust my brother to get them all to safety. He has the sense to make sure the rest of the team is accounted for too. As I step through the portal, I unsheathe my sword to prepare for a fight. I know as soon as this portal shuts behind me, I will not have much magick to rely on, as it was never fully restored. I feel my energy depleting already.
The portal snaps shut, and I’m thrust into the darkness of the stables. The horses whinny and shake with my charged presence, but I don’t mask my power this time. If the guard Kellan wants to take Astraea for himself, then he will have to go through me.
It’s then that I see them. Astraea is wrapped in his arms, and hers are wound around his neck. The pressure in my jaw intensifies as Iclench it hard enough to crack the bones. I sheath the sword, and what is left of my shadows leaps from my body without thought. Astraea screams as they pull them apart, and I step between their bodies.
“Wait! Kyros!” She yells as the dark mist lifts the backstabbing guard up by his throat, and I watch with a curious tilt to my head, surveying the emotion in his eyes. Drinking it in when I see the terror fill them as he sees who it is controlling the magick that binds him.
“I should snap your neck for betraying her.” The wrath in my voice comes out with an otherworldly rumble as I bring my face nose-to-nose with him. I make sure he feels the promise in my threat as I continue to squeeze him with magick. “You just couldn’t stand it, could you?” His face is blotchy red and purple from lack of oxygen, but soon it will be void of all color when I drain him of his life. I barely register Astraea pulling at me through my rage, satisfied enough knowing that she is here and unharmed.
“Kyros,please.” She doesn’t yell, scream, or hit me. If she had, I don’t think I would have heard it at all. But this? This soft whispered plea of my name? Her delicate touch on my arm. It breaks through every hard wall I have. I blink, and my magick falls away when I look at her. Kellan gasps for air as the bastard falls to the ground. On his knees, he claws at his neck as though he can open it further to allow more air into his lungs.
“I told you, I will end anyone who aims harm at those I claim asmine. His betrayal was his death sentence, and I’m the executioner.” I growl, and I see her lips part with a shaky breath just before Ilook away from her, back to the man wheezing for breath. I realize what I’ve just said, but it’s too late to take it back now. My brows furrow as I look down on Kellan.
“He didn’t betray me. He saw an opportunity to get me away and out of harm's way and took it. You’re right, you know? You did say that death would be dealt by your hand, but you also promised me that it would not land on mine. Not only that, but you promised you would not kill innocents. Kellan did not betray us. Spare him, I beg you. If for no other reason but that. Please don’t kill him.” She says gently, and again, it causes my chest to feel as though it is cracking open, leaving my heart bare for her. It aches, and I want nothing more than to bury the pain. Taking a deep breath, I continue to stare at the man at my feet. His life hangs in the air between my ragged breaths.
