Page 14

In an instant, he released me, and I shot out of range of his grasp, doubling over to catch my breath.

“Don’t ever touch me again!” I screamed, the words raw in my throat as I leaned against the bench for support.

His eyes shot to mine, confusion creasing his brow.

“You wanted to see. And now you have. I believe a thank you is the more appropriate response,” he said, readjusting his leathers.

“You showed me nothing,” I hissed, but I didn't even believe my words. The second the power slithered into me, I knew it was right. It had found a home in me. But still, I resisted. I didn’t want it to be true. It couldn’t be true.

“You can lie to me all day, but you can’t lie to yourself. Not truly. I watched you absorb our shadows, on that lawn across the rip, and just now, right in front of me. The longer you fight it, the more difficult it will become for you,” he said.

“I’ll never be what you want me to be. As long as I have a say in the matter,” I seethed, inching backwards, running a hand through my unkempt hair.

“You couldn’t fathom the weight of your decisions here.”

“This isn’t my home. None of this is my responsibility,” I hissed.

“You’re a Duskbound. Whether you like it or not. And you were right, we do need something from you. Something we can’t takeagainst your will. Believe me, if we could, I would have found a way to do it already. Because I’m no gentleman. Because we’re running out of time. This realm is dying, and you’re the single fucking thing that has the ability to save it.”

He stepped towards me, darkness still sparking across the surface of his leathers, like they were bleeding smoke into the ether. Panic surged through me as he advanced in my direction once again. But something from above had his eyes shooting to the sky.

The sound of powerful wings beating tore through the lawn, sending bursts of wind through our hair, through the desolate grass and everything surrounding us, blowing out the remaining tendrils of his shadows. Aether retreated, creating a distance between us just as the frame of a silver Vördr slammed into the muddy earth in front of me, throwing chunks of dirt into the air. It lowered its head and sent threatening hisses of air through its nose, stomping the ground with a hoof, its full and utter attention on Aether.

Both icy and onyx designs danced along its fur, shifting in the muted light as its muscles tensed.

My heart skipped in my chest as its tail flicked dangerously close, the sheer size of it overwhelming. The air seemed to grow heavier as it stomped the ground with a force that shook the earth beneath us.

Aether stepped back again, and I thought I saw a flicker of amusement in his eyes, as if he half-enjoyed the occurrence. He clicked his tongue, the sound dripping with annoyance, before letting out a slow sigh.

“And if the shadows weren’t enough to convince you, perhaps this will.”

As I stood there, frozen, I felt its gaze shift toward me. Every muscle in my body screamed to run, but my legs wouldn’t obey.The creature’s massive form loomed, becoming uncomfortably still.

It was then that the Vördr turned on its hindquarters and faced me, stepping close enough—so close I was certain it could smell my fear. Breaths came in shallow gasps, heart hammering in my chest, as the creature’s gaze locked onto mine. It was impossible to look away.

Slowly, it bowed its head before me, its enormous form lowering to acknowledge me in some way I couldn’t begin to comprehend.

“Tryggar has just claimed you.”

CHAPTER FIVE

"You're goingto have to get more momentum than that if you want to sling your leg over properly," Vexa said, crouching beside me on the platform inside the stables. The scent of hay and leather filled my nostrils, mingling with the distinct ashen smell that seemed to permeate everything in this realm. Tryggar stood just ahead, an ill-fitted saddle strapped to his back, his silver coat catching what little light filtered through the stable's weathered beams. Tiny motes of dust danced in the air between us, stirred by his occasional wing movements.

Finally, I had managed to stay out of that tower for more than my daily allotted time, but as much as I wished I could say it was intentional, that I was pretending to be absolutely miserable at learning to ride the Vördr, I couldn’t claim credit. I was just, indeed, miserable at it.

Vexa had been trying to explain the mounting maneuver to me before we tried the real thing, and apparently, I couldn’t get the movement right.

“Their backs are sensitive, and until we can have a proper saddle made to accommodate you both, you’ll have to be extremelycareful. I don’t want any injuries. If you fall off one of these, it’s very hard to get back on the next time. Trust me,” Vexa said, demonstrating the maneuver on one of the saddles atop the docking platform.

I nodded, turning back to the saddle of my own, and lunged, jumping to sling my leg over it. I slid as I hit the smooth leather, but managed to grab the horn quickly enough to halt myself.

“Well that was, perhaps, too much momentum.” Vexa chuckled, eyeing my sitting stance as she pursed her lips.

“We’ve been at this for hours. Maybe this just isn’t for me.” I eyed the silver Vördr behind me, who simply snorted and dug his hoof into the hay, tossing his tail to the side.

“Just take a break, I’ll be right back,” she called out as she edged off the platform, hitting the dusty ground with a thud. “Gonna go tell Aether we need more time.”

My gaze followed her as she trudged towards him. We hadn’t spoken a word to each other since our argument days before—when he had engulfed me with shadows. When I had brought them into myself.