A more accurate way to define how he wielded Essence would be “annoying.” That afternoon, he was the one to launch a snow drift onherhead before she could summon the elements to halt the freezing tide of flakes. Though Serenna assumed Fenn would figure out maddening ways to utilize even an innocent talent such as mending.
It wasn’t fair how he’d manifested his magic so fast. “I’m almost regretting giving him that power now,” Serenna mumbled, staring out the window as the tranquil stars blossomed across the sky.
Lykor’s eyes thinned in Serenna’s direction. Assessing. “Why did you?” he asked, unbinding his hair, shaking the fringes away from his face. Aiko batted at a stray strand like a cat pawing a string.
Guilt from deceiving Fenn still clung to Serenna like the hoarfrost on the windows. She shrugged, withholding the truth. “It seemed like a better use for Essence since…” She waved her golden shackle between them.
Lykor’s jaw clenched, the ticking in his cheek suggesting she’d struck a nerve. He barked and bit out every word. “Do you want to take the tether off?”
“No.” Serenna lifted her chin, despite feeling like it was practically an offer, rather than a challenge. She set the fungus back on the table, crossing her arms. “I don’t want you in my head.”
Lykor made a show of rolling his eyes.
And wouldn’t it be fitting if he forced me to ditch the gold and Vesryn finally appeared?Serenna reached for an easy escape, picking up the Heart of Stars. She hoped it was enough to keepLykor away from contemplating her power and the tether. For all of his browbeating to find another relic, he’d all but abandoned this one on the dining table like it was nothing more than a decoration.
“What are you doing fiddling with that trinket?” Lykor asked, right on cue.
The topic change had the tension in Serenna’s arms dissolving. “You’ve been away in that jungle while Fenn and I have been searching the fortress for weeks.” She relaxed into the couch. “If there are any clues about where the other artifacts might be, couldn’t the Heart tell us?”
“And has it blessed you with some miraculous insight?” Lykor sarcastically asked. Aiko stretched, flapping her wings before winding down the front of Lykor’s chest to curl up on his lap. “Or have you picked up the habit of prattling like your lieutenant companion?”
Serenna scowled. “You’re the one who asked.”
“What is it saying then?“ Lykor prompted, apparently lowering himself to engaging.
Sighing as if he’d demanded a tedious favor, Serenna held the relic to her ear. She frowned, acting like she heard something aside from the poem.
Lykor leaned closer, burning her with his stare. “What is it saying?” he repeated with increasing interest.
Serenna shushed him, eyes darting, like she was absorbing every word. Letting her jaw go slack, she met Lykor’s gaze with awe.
“It says you’re a prick.”
Lykor barked out an explosive laugh. Serenna glared at him, slouching into the sofa.I should’ve known he’d be amused.
Attention wholly on scratching Aiko under the chin, Lykor asked, “Have you triedaskingthe Heart where the others are?”
“Of course I’ve tried,” Serenna snapped. A blatant lie. And Lykor knew it, judging by his arching brow, the action pinchingher chest as it reminded her of Vesryn. “What wouldyouask the dragons?” she volleyed back.
“Ask it,specifically, if there are Hearts hidden in the ancient druid capitals.” Lykor cracked his neck. “Start with the jungle and the volcano.”
Serenna studied the artifact, chewing on her lip as the repeating verses droned on in her head. “How would I do that?”
“I don’t know,” Lykor growled. “That’s a voice I’m not privileged to hear inside of myskull.” He waved his gauntlet. “Send a thought into it. Surely you can manage that.”
Serenna pursed her lips, focusing on the crystal’s depths. The riddle floated over her like snowflakes on the wind.
Greetings, young draka, hear our plight,
New hatchlings from earth and starlight.
Feeling absolutely ridiculous, Serenna interrupted the words.Greetings greatdragon, master of skies…She faltered, having no clever rhyme.
Serenna sucked in a breath when the Heart ceased its chanting. Whispers lingered at the corners of her mind, giving her the impression of a silent beast rearing its head at a whiff of prey.
Scalp prickling, Serenna hurried on with Lykor’s questions.Do you know what happened to the Hearts? You spoke of the galaxy whelps hiding the relics after binding your power. Did the druids steal any back in the war?
An unfamiliar voice uncoiled in her thoughts, a snake stretching in the sun. The lilt was higher, but no less guttural than the one that had been intoning before. Pulse thundering, Serenna went rigid, fingers blanching from clenching the artifact.
