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“Ræna,” I said.
She jotted in her notes and I remained quiet while I watched her sort through her thoughts. She slowly raised her eyes to me, her mouth curled into a wicked grin. “Tell me, Lord Ryker, how exactly did you get your wealth?”
I leaned forward and gave a wicked grin of my own. “Because I’m more like my dragon than just wings and fire.”
“Good. Then I need you to retrieve this.” She pointed to a particular phrase.
I read her notes.
…prismed jewels deprive dark magic so that it cannot be maintained by the possessor.
I nodded once. “And what will you be doing?”
“Meet me on the roof in an hour,” Kya clipped before storming out of the room and slamming the door behind her.
I landed on the roof an hour later, when the sun had nearly set. I was met by Kya, Malina, and Nikan. All dressed in black leathers with cloaks and masks covering the bottom half of their faces except Kya, whose mask was pulled down, and each of them was fully armed. Nikan had a sword strapped to his back. Kya and Malina both had daggers on their thighs and bows with quivers across their shoulders. Odarum was standing behind Kya, wings tucked in tight. He bobbed his head to me in greeting. Kya turned her head to look at him and I could tell that they were speaking with each other before she turned back around to face me.
“Do you have it?” she asked in a tone that sent a chill down my spine.
“I do. I brought one for each of us.”
“Us?” She raised an eyebrow.
“You really think I’m letting you go without me?” I knew what her plan was. I wouldn’t stop her, but Gods be damned if she thought I wouldn’t be coming along.
“No,” Malina and Nikan said in unison and I tried not to sneer at them.
“I didn’t ask you,” I said to them through gritted teeth.
“Ryker, they’re right. This is what we do. We know how to remain undetected.” Kya stepped forward and I shifted away my wings.
“I have shadows. I know how to remain hidden as well and I can provide additional cover if needed.” I crossed my arms over my chest.
“He’s got a point,” Malina said.
“Yet he’s not Roav,” Nikan said sternly.
Kya paused for a moment.
Come on, little gem.
“Nik, it’s not a bad idea. He can stay outside the wall while we go in and if we need assistance, he can help. Not to mention that solves the problem of crossing the river. This way we can take the safer route through the city,” Kya said to him.
Nikan sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Fine. But he needs to keep his control in check. If he senses you in distress, he can’t just come busting in there to come to your rescue.” He looked up at me. “Trust that we know what we’re doing.”
“Done.”
Odarum Traveled us to the outskirts of Bhara, the City of Sages in Riyah, beyond the two-story wall that surrounded it. Having been to the city several times for official Nation business, I knew my way around well, as did the others. We stayed hidden within the trees until it was completely dark, watching the city quiet down for the night.
Before we left, I had tried to convince Kya to allow the Vaavi to do this, I didn’t want her to be in danger. But she shut me down quickly with a snarl and a roll of her eyes.
Kya stood in front of me, my arm wrapped around her waist, and leaned back against my chest while tracing circles on theback of my hand with her fingertip. I don’t even think she knew she was doing it, her full attention solely on studying the city before us.
Taking a silent step forward, Nikan nodded his head toward Bhara. Knowing it was time for them to leave, I bent down so that my lips were touching Kya’s ear.
“Come back to me.” I kissed the sensitive spot below her ear and I felt her shiver.
She glanced at me from the corner of her eye and whispered, “Even if I didn’t, I know my shadow would always find me.” The side of her mouth tilted up into a smile.
