“What?” The word dropped from my mouth in shock.
“We have to fly across The Rift to return to Aurum,” Callum repeated as he nodded to someone in the distance, his hands never leaving me.
“You’re being serious?” I said as I looked up at Callum, my eyes studying him as a crinkle of amusement spread across his face.
“Yes.” He nodded, before gesturing to someone behind me as a flap of wings beat behind me.
“You just want me to fly . . . directly into The Rift? Just like that?” I questioned once again, positive I’d misheard him.
“Trust me, starlight, it will be fine.”
I laughed nervously. “It’s not that I don’t trust you, Cal. It’s just that this . . .” I said, gesturing toward the abyss of dark fog rolling beside me as eerie shrieks still called out from inside it. “Is not exactly something Iwantto fly through.”
He pulled me toward him, wrapping his arms around me as the scent of amber and leather flooded my senses, instantly relaxing me. “It’s going to be fine. Once you’re flying, you will see a glowing golden light—just follow it.”
“That’s . . .soencouraging,” I retorted. “You do realize that The Rift has been known to swallow angels whole, right? That it’s nearly impossible to make it outalive.”
“It’s the only option available, starlight. Plus, we’ve made theflight across The Rift multiple times, and I’m still alive.” He winked at me as he led me closer to the edge of The Rift.
“You’re not entirely selling me on this concept,” I said as I looked up at him, and a chuckle fell from his lips.
“Come on,” he said as he pressed a soft kiss to my forehead, and I shivered slightly, heat rushing to my cheeks at the gesture. “I’ll see you on the other side.”
I let him take my hand, guiding me right toward the edge of The Rift. I stood on the precipice, my head looking down at the drop off below me as I released a shaky breath.
This was so not what I signed up for today.
And yet, it seemed to be my only viable option unless I wished to remainalonein a deserted wasteland.
With a reluctant sigh, I tugged on the muscles in my back, my wings coming free as I called them to the surface. Golden feathers surrounded me as I beat my wings, feet lifting off the ground slightly.
I hovered there, staring into the vast expanse of darkness as a shudder ran through me. My gaze darted to the side, finding Callum staring at me, a strange look on his face as he took me in.
“What?” I asked as I crossed my arms over my chest, wondering why he was staring at me so intently.
“Nothing,” he replied as a dimpled grin spread across his cheek.
“Then what are you staring at?” I muttered as I darted a quick glance toward The Rift and, yep . . . it wasstillthere, just waiting to be crossed.
“You.” The word fell from his lips as my gaze returned to him.
“What?” I asked.
“You,” he repeated again. “Your wings—stunning.”
The word hung in the air between us, lingering, until an eerie shriek pierced the silence, and a full-body shuddercoursed through me as my gaze returned to The Rift with horror.
“Ready?” Cal’s voice sounded from my side, and I cut a glance in his direction.
“No?” was my only reply before he was tugging my hand, and The Rift swallowed us whole.
A chill sank through my bones as I left the relative safety of the desert dunes. Heavy plumes of cool fog settled against my skin, and I realized I could no longer feel Callum’s hand against mine.
Panic shot through me, freezing me in place. I stopped moving.
Just . . . stopped.
I was alone.
