A war cry. A promise. If the god ever comes back, he won’t be able to leave again.
"Wow." The whisper comes from my right and nearly sends me flying out of my own skin. I whip around, heart in my throat.
Sin stands next to me, cradling an unconscious Sinalyn in his arms. His eyes are locked on Draxis, reverence painted across every inch of his face.
“When the hell did you get here?” I hiss, still clutching my chest.
He tears his gaze away from Draxis just long enough to glance at me. “A while ago,” he says, as if that explains anything, then turns on his heel and walks off, carrying his mate like she weighs nothing.
I barely have time to breathe before another voice cuts through the air.
"I’m here, too." Levi. I spin, nerves shot. I’m going to strangle the next person who sneaks up on me.
He stands behind me, looking completely unfazed, holding a very bloody, very broken Amira by the arm. Her head is bowed, her posture trembling. She’s barely conscious, barely upright.
“She’s still alive?” I ask, blinking in surprise.
He shrugs, unbothered. “It’s the King and Queen’s place to punish her.”
“I agree with him!”Neris chirps, her tail swishing.“I’ve already got a few fun ideas!”
Her giddiness makes me chuckle.
The flames encircling me begin to flicker and die, retreating into nothing.
I turn and see Draxis walking toward me, power and purpose in every step. He shifts mid-stride, the transformation smooth, instinctive, as natural to him now as breathing. After all the trouble we’ve gone through with trying to make him shift, he’sdoing it now like he’s done it his entire life. His body gleams with strength, not a single scratch left behind.
My heart cracks wide open.
I don’t wait for him to reach me. I run straight into his arms.
He doesn’t hesitate, he lifts me off the ground in an instant, burying his face in the crook of my neck, his strong arms holding me tightly.
His voice rumbles against my skin as he shifts me slightly in his hold, peering over my shoulder. “The dungeon,” he commands. “We’ll deal with her later.”
And then his fiery wings blaze to life — black bone laced in living hellfire, the flames dancing along the edges like they were born to kiss the sky. I lean into him and he takes off through the air.
Chapter 18
Draven
She smells like earth and defiance and everything I fought to come back to.
“I thought I lost you,” she whispers, shivering slightly.
“You did,” I breathe, voice low. “But you called me back.”
We shatter into the sky, the earth falling away, the clouds parting like silk. She’s cradled against my chest, arms wrapped around my neck, her heartbeat steady.
The higher we go, the more the world fades.
I level us out, coasting high above the forest and the mountains in the distance. The wind whips around us, but the heat from my wings keeps her warm. All the events of today — of the last few days, of the last years — fade away. It’s only her that matters. Only this moment.
My hand slides behind her neck, pulling her forehead to mine. “You saved me. You brought me back when even I didn’tbelieve I could come back. You’re mine, Kassira. I’m never letting you go,” I say, voice rough.
Her breath catches.
I press my lips to hers — soft at first, then deeper, until her fingers are fisting my hair, her body melting into mine midair. My wings flare wide, the fire pulsing with each beat of my heart.
