Page 52

Story: Blood Rains Down

Do they know what is coming?I asked as we watched Calista greet each of them as if they had never met before, bowing with her hand over her chest before moving on to the next.

They know, and they are ready,was all Nithra said as the fastening fell silent once more.

It was a strange sensation that coiled in my chest watching Calista bask in her unbridled joy, knowing that this clearing would soon be stained in the blood of armies. Sadness and hope tangled into a web and I didn’t know how to find the end of either thread.

Chapter seventeen

ATALIIA

Softafternoonlightpouredthrough the window as the familiar purred, tucked between my arms. I scratched behind its ears as it stretched its small paws, its claws extending and retracting as it woke from its nap.

The day had been spent waiting for the healing tonic to mend Nox to a point that he was well enough to tether without extreme pain. Ammord was always quiet until the sun began to set and though I wanted to go into Sethros, it was too dangerous to show our faces so soon after Pri had been attacked.

“What should I call you?” I asked, the familiar’s rough tongue lapping at my wrist. I rolled over onto my back, pulling the cat onto my stomach. “What about Onyx?”

Its fur turned as white as snow as it stared at me. A soft chuckle vibrated out of my chest at the nonverbal answer. If I was to be stuck with it until death, at least it had a sense of humor.

“Okay, fair enough—no color names then.” I pushed myself upright and scooted back against the headboard, watching as it circled a few times between my crossed legs before falling into a comfortable position.

“What about Changeling?” I joked, raising a brow. It hissed back at me and this time, a full-bodied laugh burst from my lungs. “You really are mine, aren’t you? I hate it too . . .kinda.” I cooed, scratching my sharp nails under its chin.

I let out a soft sigh, looking over my shoulder through the large window and watched as the breeze blew over the dunes, pushing the sand into small funnel shaped columns.

“What about . . . Cyloe?” I pulled my eyes back to the cat in my lap and it purred against my legs.

A smile spread across my lips.

“Cyloe it is then. Now, are you a boy or a girl?” On cue it lifted its leg into the air, licking at its fur, and another chuckled escaped my lungs. “A girl, I see. How ladylike of you.”

A knock sounded at my door and my eyes snapped to the sound.

“Ata, may I come in?” Pri called from the other side of the wood and I let out a sharp breath.

“Yes,” I responded, watching as the door creaked open.

She slipped through the opening, shutting it quietly behind her as she sauntered toward me. The hair on Cyloe’s spine straightened as Pri approached and as she reached her hand out to pet her, Cyloe hissed.

Pri retracted her hand with furrowed brows. “Well that’s a first,” she said softly. “Animals usually love me.”

“Don’t take it personally, I don’t think she really likes anyone,” I said, shooing Cyloe from the bed. “When are we leaving?”

Pri sighed and pushed her golden locks over her shoulder as she fell back on the bed. “As soon as Nox is awake. He should be healed enough to withstand tethering without too much pain.”

“Pri, do you know who Nox is?” I questioned cautiously, dragging my eyes from the bed of my nails to meet her gaze.

“Yes.” Her voice was hushed as she said the word and I clenched my fists together, trying to restrain the anger her answer ignited.

“Why would you let us work with him? Why would you ever tell him anything if you knew he would sell the information we traded with him?” I scolded, the words harsh as they left my mouth.

Pri shot up from the bed, her eyes narrowing on me. “Because we needed information that only he had. He is the one that warned me of the attack on your academy with enough time to let Wren know. To get you out—to get you to safety.”

“Nox is the reason that attack happened in the first place,” I snapped. “He is the one that sold information to The Silliands on how to even get into Redelvtum, how to break past the wards.”

Her face fell at my words, her golden skin paling as they sunk in.

“What?” she breathed, a look of horror slowly seeping into her features.

“He sold that information to Dukovich, Pri. Then turned around and sold you the warning of the attack. None of that would have happened if it weren’t for him.” I could see the gears in her mind frantically turning as she stared at me. “Dukovich bought and acted on the information because he knew if he didn’t, Nox would sell it to Ammord.”

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