Page 14 of Knight's End
Chapter Four
Ryan wouldn’t agree to take Connor with him, though I tried to insist.
“You’re headed into battle,” I argued.
“You’re headed into the unknown. To attempt assassination.”
“You don’t have healing anymore. You need the healer. You can’t just—”
“Declan’s taught me enough.”
I raised a brow.
He simply raised his as he stared down at me. And that attraction between us grew. It flickered like fireflies. And then like a candle’s flame. Ryan took a step toward me, and the draw between us heated, like a fire newly stoked. Hot coals turned over inside me. He roughly grabbed my hair and pulled back slightly, hurting just the tiniest bit. His dark chocolate eyes were molten as he stared down at me, radiating command and confidence. “You’remyqueen. And you’ll do what I say.”
My knees went to jelly at those words.
I swallowed hard against my attraction and my tears. “Yes, sir.”
He leaned down and scooped me up, giving me a harsh kiss. His tongue dove into my mouth, owning it, ensuring my submission. Once he felt me grow soft and compliant, once my arms looped over his broad shoulders and sought to bring his body tighter against mine, he abruptly dropped me into Quinn’s arms.
He stared down at my spy master and used the tone of voice he used on his soldiers. “Use that speed. Scout ahead. Keep her safe.”
Quinn nodded.
And with that, my giant mounted up, cursed his stone beast, and took to the sky.
We left the majority of the gargoyles behind. I ordered those that remained to return to rock formation until Evaness soldiers could return to ride them. They’d surprisingly obeyed that order without hesitation or difficulty. Perhaps they were naturally inclined to laziness. Or … naptime? In any case, the beasts dutifully rolled themselves back up into balls, like little stone pill bugs, their etched features fading back into ebony boulders. I could only hope that the gargoyles had a better attention span for sleeping than they seemed to have for flying.
Ryan had flown southeast, toward our capital, Marscha. The rest of us flew due east, along the hills that separated Cheryn and Rasle, the two countries warring against us.
Fear pricked at my neck the entire journey. I was on high alert for bears, giants, djinn. There weren’t many creeks or large waterways in these parts, so I was less worried about the sea witch. When Connor, who took the lead, started cursing and kicking his gargoyle into a descent, I was relieved. I realized that I’d feared an aerial fight. Our toddler-level flying skills would be no match for any creature—even a pegasus—in battle.
We flew down toward a stone lodge that was set in a dead meadow. The flowers and grasses looked as withered and stooped as old women. Clearly, the area had been through a drought. Everything was a pale tan. We fought to get our gargoyles to land. Mine did so reluctantly, and I slid into the crunchy, dead grass.
Blue’s gargoyle tipped him sideways, rather than touch down in a field. Instead, the beast tilted until Blue slid off, cursing. He accidentally sent us all thoughts of taking a sledgehammer to his gargoyle.
He’s just a baby,I scolded, teasingly.
He’s a magic sarding rock. In Cheryn, he wouldn’t last half a second before someone wished his will away.Blue brushed dust and dead grass out of his hair.
They can do that? Wish away someone’s will?
Why do you think we all became animals? Under threat, it’s better than becoming mindless zombies. We let that wizard transform us rather than let my father wish some worse fate upon us.
An image of his father popped up in Blue’s mind. I saw Sultan Raj, sitting on a jeweled throne, laughing viciously as he made four poor old men dance as if they were nubile young girls. One man’s hip went out and he fell to the floor. The crack echoed throughout Blue’s thoughts. But the old man climbed back to his feet and continued to dance, favoring his good leg.
Blue scrubbed at his face as though he wanted to erase the memory.
I walked over and slid my hand through his. I gave a little squeeze. “Royal parents can be … unkind.” I tried to be diplomatic.
He stared down sadly at me and shook his head.Your mother was kinder than most.
Images flooded my mind. A whip. A chain. A dish of food set on the floor just out of reach. The harsh voice of the sultan as he said,“Transform, boy! No heir of mine—”
Blue squeezed my fingers and tried to stop projecting his thoughts.Sorry. I didn’t mean to send that.
No, don’t be sorry. I want to know you. I want to know—
