Nox let out a high-pitched shriek of terror as he moved to dive back down, watching me fall to what would be my death, while a scream tore through my throat.
My breath caught as time slowed. The red-gazed wyvern finally leveled out below us as his wings shot out, slowing their fall—directly beneath me.
A grin grew on my face as I reached to unsheathe my dagger from my thigh. The second my blade was free, Kellan glanced up, eyes flaring as they made contact with mine—but he was too late as he reached to unsheathe his sword.
With a battle cry, I dropped down onto his mount and slammed into him—repeatedly stabbing anything I could with my dagger as I ferociously swiped my blade in every direction, feeling each time it found purchase in his flesh.
Kellan’s blood sprayed, covering me, but I couldn’t stop as he roared in pain—his mount too, as if I was stabbing the beast and not its rider.
His hands reached out and grabbed my throat as he tried to suffocate me while we both worked to not fall to our deaths. Each time he aimed to squeeze, the slipperiness of his own blood loosened his hold, and I head-butted him the second he brought me close enough.
He yelped as he threw me, aiming for over the side of his wyvern, but I landed halfway down its back instead, grabbing hold of its scales as the rushing winds nearly swept me off.
My gaze shot to the side at the sound of a violent roar as Nox burst out from the clouds and collided with us. The second the force of their bodies met, I pushed myself to my feet and ran up his wyvern’s back, desperately leaping out toward my own.
My body was mid-air as Kellan’s mount slammed into the castle tower closest to us. Large bricks of stone shattered from the structure, raining down into the courtyard at the terrifying depth below.
With a desperate reach, I willed my body toward Nox as the tower’s pieces flew all around us, slicing into my skin. The second I sensed his wing beneath me, my legs mimicked a run through the air, touching down on hispowerful wing and had me racing up it until I reached his back.
“Holy gods!” I screamed as I settled back into my seat at the nape of his neck.
Chest heaving, my gaze whipped back in the direction of the collapsing tower, and I watched as Kellan fled, guiding his wyvern far beyond the reaches of the castle.
“Fucking coward,” I whispered, shaking my head as Nox hovered in the air.
I glanced down at the front of myself and watched the blood of my enemy dry onto my skin and armor. My body ached from the attack, but we were alive, and I doubted Kellan would be within the next few minutes after everything we had just unleashed on him.
I reached down into the bond, sensing Jace there, his heart racing with adrenaline just as mine was—but he was alive, and that was what mattered. I didn’t dare risk full communication, worried my voice could distract him from defending himself or our people.
My eyes drifted to the city streets that were shockingly empty. I expected the citizens to be trying to get glimpses of the battle occurring just beyond their gates, but they appeared to be hiding in their homes. Then my gaze found the castle, leisurely moving over the crumbling tower and across the other sky-high spires.
I reached down as my breathing finally slowed, patting the scales of Nox’s shoulder. “I need to find Avery,” I admitted.
He twisted his neck to look at me, a golden eye narrowing in distrust for those inside the palace.
“I know,” I whispered, forcing a soft smile at him. “But she needs us. She needs our help.”
He let out a groan, sounding as exasperated as my mate did when I was up to my usual mischief. A moment later, he swooped down and hovered above one of the east balconies, allowing me to jump down from him.
I landed on the platform and twisted back to meet him; he nuzzled his scale-covered snout into my chest. I reached out to rub his own, careful to avoid any of his fiery blood that dribbled from between his scales.
My eyes found his. “Go find Jace,” I whispered. “Protect them. I will find you.”
Nox then took off toward the fields beyond the city gates, where the sound of clashing swords persisted. I blew out a breath before peering around the balcony entrance, creeping low to the floor to say hidden.
Once deemed empty, I pulled off my armor to avoid causing any extra noise, revealing my fighting leathers underneath. Rushing out on silent feet, I made my way to the throne room, where I was certain the queen was hiding with my sister in her wicked grasp.
Chapter sixty-eight
Avery
Azenna had thrown meinto my old bedroom chambers at my mother’s orders, stating that it was too risky to keep me locked beneath the castle in the dungeons, saying it would be the first place Lia would look if she breached the gates. So, naturally, the only suitable place was in the tallest tower of the gods-damn castle. My door was locked and bound with witchcraft, leaving no room for escape.
It didn’t matter how hard I banged on the door or slammed my shoulder into it—the damn thing wouldn’t budge an inch. I had even tried to pick the lock with one of my old hair pins that was in my dresser drawer.
Storming into the bathing chambers connected to my room, my eyes locked on the intricate steel robe rack, where I would hang my dresses before bathing for the day when this was my home. I rushed up to it and ripped everything hanging from its hooks down, throwing them carelessly onto the floor. Wrapping my hands around the rack, I dragged it out into the center of the bedchamber.
My arms struggled to lift the rack, and using every ounce of my weakened strength, I swung it at the door.
