Page 48

Tension eased, and the horse snickered low as it settled under Sevain’s touch. ‘You need to be more careful, Winter,’ he reprimanded her wolf, tone at complete odds with the way he affectionately scratched the wolf’s chin. ‘What if Nym or his horse got hurt, hmm?’

Far too kind. That thought struck Areanel again. Maybe they shouldn’t be taking Sevain with them.

Sevain turned to Nymlaris, and with a look of pure concern, he asked, ‘Are you sure you want to do this? Rea’s right. Your energy will be depleted quickly. Especially if you take us all at once.’

‘I’ll be fine, Sev.’ Nymlaris reached across, ruffling Sevain’s wild, shaggy hair. ‘I can handle it, and Ada insists we get this done quickly.’ His eyes dulled, and Areanel questioned what their father had said to leave that far-off, detached look in his gaze. ‘It’ll cut our time in half if I just jump us there. Trust me.’

Jump. It was an odd word to describe Nymlaris’s power. He made it sound so easy. It wasn’t; Areanel knew from experience. She had tried and failed to copy the move so many times.

A lot of meals had been missed because of that failure.

Each person, royal or not, had a different power specifically tailored to their personality. The royal siblings, said to wield greater power due to their heritage, were no exception.

Nymlaris, as sneaky as a fox and as slippery as a snake, could bend time and space—Areanel had never personally witnessed the former, though she itched to—moving between and travelling to different locations. She had to admit, it was impressive. Even if he could only do it in small bursts.

‘Come on! We’re burning daylight,’ Elmrynn called.

Ilymathar trotted up to Winter’s side, nudging her with his large snout. The light beaming from the summer sun seemed to disappear as soon as it hit the wolf’s pitch-black fur. The only colour was the wolf’s two beady blue eyes and the prominent jagged scars which covered most of his body, slitting across his face. All the bonded shared the same cobalt hue as their masters, a physical representation of their bond, and Ilymathar had seen many battles, with and without his master. The wolf was entirely wild, preferring to spend his days in the forest, unlike his siblings, Areanel’s bonded, who came and went as they pleased.

‘So,’ Percival’s voice drew her eyes as she patted Ilymathar’s head. ‘Anyone going to address the fact that Elmrynn is giving orders?’

‘Leave it, Percy,’ she groaned.

‘No. He’s right,’ Nymlaris agreed. ‘You are General. Father gave you this mission—he’s just being a baby.’ His hair didn’t move from its perfectly coiffed position, even as he nodded toward Elmrynn.

Areanel took a minute to assess him. Nymlaris was always so put together, from his styled hair to the way his trousers were neatly tucked into his riding boots—everything was always so… perfect. Like a single hair out of place meant Idyssa would crumble to dust.

‘Yeah!’ The sting running through Areanel’s ear from Percival’s booming yell was enough to send her ears ringing again. ‘Who died and put you in charge, you miserable brute?’ he shouted at Elmrynn’s retreating form as his horse trotted to the edge of the path, heading towards the dense forest with the unit of quiet soldiers.

Elmrynn didn’t bother answering, and by the way the muscles in his shoulders were pulled taut, Areanel could tell his patience was at its end. Not that he had much of a reserve for it to begin with.

Reverberations ran up her arm as she slapped the back of Percival’s head. ‘Enough!’

‘Ouch!’ Percival rubbed the spot, glaring her way. ‘What was that for?’ His pitch rose with every word.

‘Being an idiot,’ she deadpanned as Nymlaris and Sevain manoeuvred their horses to fall in line with her and Winter. ‘Let’s go.’ Nodding her head, she patted the side of Winter’s neck, urging her on.

The wolf made to weave around the others, but was nudged aside as Ilymathar and Percival went sailing past in a mad dash. ‘Yeah, preferably before they deafen us again,’ he shot over his shoulder.

Areanel followed his gaze and noticed the palace guards were moving to close the gates. Damnit. Turning in her seat, she gripped the fur at Winter’s and beckoned her forward. ‘Come on, girl.’

‘Race you!’ Percival shouted.

‘He does realise I’m jumping us, right?’ Nymlaris asked, brows raised.

‘I don’t think he does,’ Sevain chuckled from her other side when Percival dashed into the dense thicket of trees.

‘Gods save us,’ Nymlaris cursed. ‘Does he ever listen?’

‘Nope,’ Sevain and Areanel said simultaneously, sending them into a fit of laughter.

Once they reached Elmrynn, Nymlaris positioned himself in the centre of the small group. ‘I will come back for the rest of you,’ he addressed Sevain and the group of soldiers at his back.

Areanel watched and waited as Nymlaris turned to face her and Elmrynn. Scrunching his eyes tight, he called his power. Sweat rolled down the side of his temple, and grunting, his fingers curled into fists as he let that power expand from within.

A tangy lemon scent stuffed Areanel’s nose. Sour and acidic, it coated the back of her throat as the world began to bend and shift, disorientating her senses. Tingling shock waves, like a thousand pins stabbing at her skin but never quite penetrating.

The world became a blur, crackling and dissolving. She was submerged into a fizzing liquid that singed the fine hairs along her skin. Everything seemed off-kilter as the world turned upside down. Suddenly, all she could hear was a resounding pop, and all light abandoned her.