Zyphoro glances over her shoulder. “What if she didn’t have time to?”
Daed draws in a heavy breath, then exhales just as heavily. When he finally turns to me, there’s tension in his jaw.
“Wife. I need you to go back to the cabin.”
I roll my eyes and yank my hand free. “I’m so tired of being told to go back to the cabin. Must I remind you I’m more than capable of protecting myself? Or shall I demonstrate with green fire? Or perhaps another stormwyrm?”
Zyphoro laughs quietly into her hand. Daed hears it. His frown deepens.
“Fine,” he concedes. “Stay on deck if you must. But we’re going ahead to make sure it’s safe before you and our daughter set foot on that island.”
I part my lips to argue, but he cuts me off with a look.
“I’m not debating this. I know exactly what you are and what you’re capable of. Which is why I’m asking you to use that strength to protect her.”
That lands. That makes sense. Protecting our daughter is the only thing that matters.
“Very well,” I say, quieter now.
Around us, the others release a breath as surprised as relieved.
Daed’s shoulders drop slightly as he takes my hand again, this time with reverence. He lifts it to his lips and presses a kiss to my knuckles.
“As soon as I know it’s safe, I’ll come back for you.”
“With what?” Zyphoro asks, that cruel smile curving across her lips. “Have you forgotten your wing situation? I’m not sure the prince beingcarriedinto Baev’kalath is the grandest of entrances.”
Daed doesn’t flinch. He’s already considered it clearly because within a heartbeat, he stretches out his hand.
A coil of smoke unfurls beside him, and Ashen appears, small and soft in his kitten form. He lets out a low mewl and curls around Daed’s leg, his wispy tail flicking through the air like mist.
Daed kneels, fingers gliding through smoke-fur, and whispers something only Ashen can hear.
Ashen’s form ripples.
What was once delicate begins to grow, tiny paws stretch into massive, padded feet. His sweet, pointed face shifts into that of a great lion, framed by a thick mane of swirling shadow. His small body expands into something enormous, muscled, powerful. He arches his back and with a low rumble, wings tear from his shoulders, curling out in an elegant, smoke-woven spread.
When the transformation settles, Daed places a steadying hand on Ashen’s neck. The creature huffs, adjusting to his size.
Without hesitation, Daed mounts him, just as the sound of wings snapping open fills the air. One by one, the others shift, and I find myself surrounded by true Fae. Tall and commanding, with wings stretching wide, runes burning bright across skin that gleams like starlight. Power radiates from them in pulsing waves.
“I will see you soon,” Daed says.
Ashen opens his jaws in a wide yawn or a complaint; with him it’s always hard to tell. I smile despite myself, reaching up to cup his jaw, brushing my nose against his.
We’ve been through too much, he and I, and though the void may live inside him, he is no demon, not to me.
Sometimes, I think he would rather trade it all for the quiet of my Grove. Sleep all day. Roll in the grass. Chase birds and dream beneath the sun.
Daed gives the word, and Ashen unfurls his wings and leaps into the sky. The others follow in perfect formation, slicing through the dim shafts of sun, blotting out the pale light as they soar toward Baev’kalath.
I watch them go until they blur into shadows against the clouds, and then, until they vanish altogether.
I know they’re right. I remember Baev’kalath well enough to know its walls should be lined with Blades, and if they are not… something is deeply wrong.
But there’s no force more capable of facing it than the one I just watched disappear into the sky.
Still, I wait.
