“I might have a way to get to it,” I said. Both turned to me. “It would require a temporary diversion.”
Drystan said, “How long? We only have one more week until we have to meet up with the others, and there are still six temples left in Althenia.”
“I can’t be sure. I know I said no one goes alone, but I could meet up with you two when I have this one—”
“No,” Astraea cut in firmly. “You said no more separation.”
My heart fucking ached at her note of panic.
“Then we could all go—” I tried, but Drystan spoke over me this time.
“I’ll get started on the other temples in Althenia alone while you two go on thisdiversion. I’ll be just fine.”
Astraea agreed with him. “I’ll send word to Zephyr; he should be able to help keep you hidden.”
“You two are beginning to feel like the parents I never wanted,” he said, reaching Athebyne and climbing up expertly.
“Just don’t get yourself killed or trapped in a trial,” I said flatly.
“What a poor ending that would be,” he replied, bracing himself on Athebyne for flight.
Astraea and I shielded our eyes from the blast of the dragon’s wings. Eltanin rattled, watching the red dragon fly away. I believed they were beginning to form something of a friendship bond.
I took Astraea’s hand, pulling her through the void to mount Eltanin.
“So where are we going?” Astraea asked, more chipper than she had been in the last few days.
“Volanis.”
Her body tensed, seated in front of me, and I got a bad fucking feeling, stalling my command for Eltanin to take flight.
“Is there something wrong with that destination?” I didn’t know why, but her reaction alone started prickling my wrath.
“It’s… I don’t know the lord there,” she prefaced. “But he… he wanted to buy me from Goldfell before I escaped. Goldfell was going to let the lord—Vermont, I think his name is—have me and the manor, and, in exchange, Goldfell would have reign over Volanis. But it was a trap, and Goldfell planned to kill the lord and his men, then have me join him in Volanis after the sale.”
My hands tightened on her with the absolute rage that surged through me upon hearing those words.
Sale. Buy. Exchange.
I wished that bastard would stop crawling from the grave I’d put him in.
“So we’re greeting Vermont with more violence; good to know,” I muttered with an edge.
Before we took off, I angled her head back to me, holding her chin.
“I hope you know there’s nothing of equal value to you, not even close, inany realm or galaxy.” I kissed her hard, and the soft moan in the back of her throat had me aching for her.
“I never met him; I don’t know what he’s like,” she said.
Her hair was mostly loose and I kissed her neck, breathing in the delicious scent of her wild silver tresses.
“He intended to buy you. That’s enough for me to know his time is running very short.”
I reached into my bond with Eltanin, and he heard my command to leave.
When we crossed over the sea toward the volcanic island, Astraea leaned over to watch the water expand below us. She let herself fall, and I didn’t take my eyes off her to watch her magnificent raven black wings come out and catch her. Astraea twisted gracefully with a bright smile, and Eltanin dropped lower to follow her, as she wanted to fly closer over the water.
Her hand reached down until her fingers splashed across the tame surface and she laughed. The most magnificent sight and sound.
