Page 129 of The War of Wings
“This doesn’t make any sense,” I whispered. “Fucking Saints.”
“That’s us,” Liara quipped.
Realization hit me like a hammer to the back of the skull. I jolted as the pieces snapped together, the full picture finally clear in my mind. “If he attacks while I’m gone, she’ll have no choice but to use her powers. I have the imbued blade.”
Liara straightened, her wine goblet hitting the bartop with too much force. “We can’t get you to the Darkness Beyond. There’s no way through for you.”
“There has to be,” I demanded, my voice suddenly harder. “I came all the way here. There has to be a way through.”
“There isn’t,” Liara answered, her face grim.
“I need to go,” I breathed, taking back Keeperslight from Faldyr’s grip, and sheathing it at my side. “I need to get back to her.” Saints, I was fucking stupid. I was so, so fucking stupid. And she was going to die because of my foolishness. I’d get back to Taitha and Obitus and I would fly straight for Araqina.
“You’re going out there?” Liara called, trailing behind me as I stalked toward the door.
“Of course I am.” I’d gladly die cutting through the entire horde of Occulti if that’s what stood in the way of me getting to Petra. I swung open the towering arched door and gritted my teeth when I saw the Occulti were still crowded in the same spot. I took a left, finding a few stairs down to a separate courtyard out of the view of the Occulti. I’d cut through there and get a head start.
The Blood Saints followed close behind me. “Not advisable,” Liara chimed in a singsong voice that was so out of place in our current surroundings it felt like jagged metal on my nerves.
“Let him go, Liara,” Idros objected. “We’ll see him again, someday.”
They wouldn’t. Not with the promise I made to the Sanguilite. But I kept my mouth shut as I drew Keeperslightfrom its sheath again. With Aegrabane in my right hand and Keeperslight in my left, I had the best chance at making it back to the Iron Rise.
Testing the weight of the imbued blade, I swung it through the air and the entire length of steel erupted into flames. My eyes widened as fire cascaded over the metal, as if the source of the fire was in the metal itself. It was, because of Petra.
My fucking miracle of a woman.
Down the stairs, through the courtyard, straight to the barrier. If I could just get a thirty second headstart before the Occulti noticed me, it would–
“I think we should tell him the whole truth, Liara,” Cyen mumbled, cutting through my thoughts and stopping me in my tracks.
I whirled to the Blood Saints. “What the fuck else is there?” I bellowed.
“Come back inside,” Liara urged.
“No.”
“Fine. I’m sure we’ll be seeing you again soon, then.”
I came close to opening my mouth and asking if Miles was here,soclose to broaching the subject I could taste the fear of her answer on my tongue, but I turned away. And with all the power of Aegrabane and Keeperslight, I sliced through the barrier and sprinted into Occulti territory.
Chapter 51
Petra
My skin burned. Steam climbed up the back of my throat. The storm within me was a hurricane of resolve, and in its eye was a raging inferno. Malosym had Cal. I might not be leaving this Saints damned beach, but Cal would be, and I was going to make sure of it.
Get Cal back. Kill Malosym. That was the plan.
Adorex landed in the sand, her serpentine neck moving back and forth as she scanned the expanse of shoreline glittering beneath a crescent moon, a low growl rumbling in her throat.
Adorex. Stay, she thought, her anxiety echoing through my head.
My lips pursed as I laid a hand on the scales of her cheek. “No, Adorex. You have to leave. Stay close by, though. When I get Cal back, I want you to fly him to Araqina.”
Adorex. Stay, she repeated.
“Malosym told me to come alone. He can’t see you here. I don’t want to give him any reason to hurt Cal.”
