A shudder goes through the training ground. A wave of power spears from thecrystal and across the capital, as if we poked a hole in a dam and stood by the water as it overflows. The air feels clearer as a tingle washes across my skin like a current of electricity. Tane relaxes, and Lachlan and Evander ease their grip on him as their wings burst from their tattoos, the black feathers shining like oil on the water. A breath later, mine, Mina’s, Mathilda’s, and Luna’s are bursting from our backs. The familiar weight is a comfort I sorely missed.
“It worked!” Mina cries, spinning in a circle, her scarred wings fluttering in the breeze. “And look, the venom hit raven stone.” She points to the puff of smoke coming from the hand-sized hole in the ground where the venom leaked before the basin was in place.
Tane eases up onto his elbow and stares at the missing portion of his right arm. His voice is rasping and gruff. “The pain is gone.”
Mathilda pats his other arm soothingly. “Then we can figure out the rest together.”
He looks up into her eyes, his own limning with tears. “I’m even more undeserving now,” he whispers, averting his eyes when her lips quiver.
“Never,” she breathes, and his gaze returns to hers.
My own heart is close to bursting seeing them finally be honest with each other.
But Luna’s voice cuts through the emotion. “We need to find the rest of the quartz and destroy it.”
My mouth drops open as I reel back in shock. How dare she? Tane lost his arm, and she’s already moved on? My wings tuck in tight to my body as I prepare to launch myself at her. Lachlan grabs my hand, pulling me to a stop.
“We can do that later,” he orders. “Let’s get Tane inside and settled.”
“Absolutely,” Evander agrees with him, but steps closer to Luna.
Lachlan and Mathilda hoist Tane up between them, standing still as he becomes steady on his feet. Tane leans more on Mathilda’s side than he does Lachlan’s, and they trek back up the path to the Great Hall. Mina races ahead to make sure our path is clear. And Evander becomes a shadow behind Tane. I follow a few steps behind Luna.
“You cut his arm off like you’d had experience with that before,” I murmur, keeping my eyes on Lachlan in front of us. Afraid that if I look at her, I’ll snap again.
She glances sidelong at me before staring straight ahead again. I had almost given up on her conversing with me when she grumbles, “In my life before, at our village, a big part of my duties as a sorceress was healing. Magic was in abundance in the human lands, and so were magical creatures. So I had to know a variety of healing methods for all kinds of beings.”
I nod thoughtfully, thinking through everything she’s told me already.
“Was your sister a sorceress too?” Her foot catches on a protruding cobblestone. She stumbles, but lurches upright, steadying herself.
“She was,” she grits out.
“And you said you were turned? Was your sister turned, too?” I study her profile. Her face gives away nothing.
“My sister had a separate path.” Her tone is curt, obviously not wanting to elaborate. “Why are your wings not white?” she asks me, glancing at my silver wings that are still out on display. My brows raise in surprise. I had not expected her to continue the conversation.
“I have no idea.” I shrug, looking around at the poppies that wave in the breeze.
“Were they always that color?”
“Yes, they came in that way. We thought it was because they were new feathers, but now that my wings have fully grown in, I think they’re going tostay this way.”
“Interesting.” Her eyes narrow on a silver feather closest to her.
“Do you know why?—”
My question is cut off. Mina stands at the edge of the terrace looking down at us. Her face contorted with fear.
“The bridge is doing something!”
I sprint past everyone, up through the terrace, and into the Great Hall before sliding to a halt in front of the rune etched into the white marble. The gold markings are flaring and dimming over and over. The light I saw during the district meetings wasn’t a reflection—but this. A signal.
Lachlan, Tane, Mathilda, and Evander trudge into the throne room and come to a halt beside me.
“Is someone trying to reach us?” I ask, staring at the light flashing from the rune.
“It’s possible …” Lachlan trails off.
