Page 108 of Escape from the Green

If they survived the ascent, they were as secure as they could possibly be.

I didn't know how long it had been since I had flown, had never had an occasion to fly from my homelands to the Dark Court before, so I didn't know how long it would take.

But I did know that it would take about half the time it would take us on foot, that our massive wingspans allowed us to cover more ground per minute than even a dead run could in fae form.

The Draca part of me was battling for dominance, longing to feel all the wonders of the Change that had been denied for so long. The way the wind rushed over my plates like a warm, sweet caress, the way flying closer to the sun warmed me from the outside in, the way my eyes could see so much clearer, so much further, the way my hearing was so acute that I could hear the gnomes burrowing in the ground, could eavesdrop on conversations from a mile away.

But the other part of me reigned supreme, pushed all that aside. Or, more accurately, used that information in a way that was focused, useful.

In finding Amy.

I would be able, even before the castle came into view, to hear the conversations going on inside, sifting through them, trying to find the soft lilt of Amy's voice if she was speaking. If she was allowed to speak.

My stomach twisted at all the atrocious possibilities, the fates that could await her.

Panic would do me no good, so I tried to think of other things.

Like how Jet had tried to save her, even if it was maybe for his own advancement.

Maybe he could find some kindness in his heart. To save her again. Or, at least, to prevent the worst kinds of harm from happening.

Maybe there would still be a marriage plan.

Sickening, atrocious, horrifying for Amy. But also a way to ensure she wouldn't be down in the dungeons being prodded with iron rods too.

And she hadn't been gone that long. Even if Cass' plan was still to force that marriage, it wasn't likely it had happened yet.

And I was pretty sure all Courts did away with the antiquated ritual of having their consummation rights watched by all who may choose to see.

From what Amy had said of Jet, he had no interest in bedding her.

So maybe she would be saved that injustice.

Maybe she would be able to sit in a room and simply wait for her rescue.

Maybe she wasn't hurt or humiliated.

I could only hope.

The road to putting this behind us would be easier to travel if her fate was tied in with the marriage plan still.

My gaze lifted, looking over toward Smoky who was glancing my way, trying to get my attention. Seeing my eyes, she hooked her legs tighter, allowing her to lift an arm, hold it out, point.

To the right.

Where the Dark Court was.

I had a vague understanding of its location, but Smoky clearly knew more than I did, unsurprisingly.

I curved toward the right, watching as everyone effortlessly did the same, a few of the younger ones rolling in the air, showing off.

I soared forward a bit, sidling in beside Tsar and Smoky, figuring she could subtly guide me if I fell off course. I still had a vague memory of the way to the Dark Court, even if I hadn't been there myself. Everyone knew where it was. It was the only way to make sure you didn't accidentally end up there.

We flew for an hour before around us, the birds started to disappear, the trees got more gnarly, more prone to diseases of the bark without the tree fae to care for them, take care of them. Most Earth fae being of the Light realm.

In my head, I could feel this odd nose-wrinkling sensation that wasn't my own, but instead a collection from all the Draca around me.

With heightened senses, they were all experiencing the acrid stench of the Dark realm, the way the air smelled always of ash and death.