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“Yes, Sol, and I’ve carried that memory of you all these years.”

“And you are sure I’m the one? Your ryder?”

“Certain,” he said resolutely, making a turn to fly us over the lake. “You just have to trust me.”

I did. I knew it in my heart. I just needed to prove it to myself and to him.

Before I could change my mind, I took hold of the spikes around his neck and raised myself to a crouch on his back.

“Sol! What are you doing?”

“Trusting you,” I breathed.

And then I leapt.

A roar drowned out the rushing wind as I fell.

His scream of “Sol!” in my mind was gut-wrenching, and fear rushed through our bond.

I'd jumped over the water. If he couldn’t catch me, I hoped I would survive the fall, but there was no guarantee, and it was going to hurt.

I twisted and turned, not knowing which way was up, my limbs wheeling. Then I caught sight of the water rushing toward me. It was suddenly so close I knew I’d made a mistake.

I braced for the water, closing my eyes, and holding my breath.

A crushing grip closed around my torso, snatching me from the air, and my descent abruptly stopped. A taloned claw held me, inches from slamming into the water. I jerked with the change of direction, and groaned at the pain it caused. It had not been the gentle dive and catch I’d imagined. But he had me.

I opened my eyes, and the shore was upon us. It was too late to land.

We were going to crash.

Everything went dark, and we rolled. I could hear the sounds of impact on shale, and we rolled and bumped. It all happened so quickly.

Then… silence.

TWENTY-EIGHT

NYX

Iblinked and found myself looking at the sky. The rocky beach beneath my back was a reminder of the horror that had just happened.

Sol!

I unwrapped my wings from around my body and revealed her, looking dazed but whole in my tight grip.

I eased my claws open, and she sat up, her eyes shooting to mine.

Relieved she was okay, I let my head fall back to the ground and let out a sigh that carried with it a stream of smoke.

“Are you okay?” she gasped, sounding terrified, and somewhere inside, it pleased me to know she was worried after what she just put me through.

When I didn’t answer right away, she scrambled up to clasp my huge face in her tiny hands. “Nyx, talk to me. Are you okay?”

Was I okay? Was she kidding me?

I blinked, then rolled. The movement was so fast, she was under me before she knew what happened. I towered over her, nostrils smoking in rage. She scurried back, and I advanced until we were nose to nose.

“Are you out of your mind?” I bellowed into her head before I pushed away, stalking across the shore, then turned and advanced on her again. “What were you thinking? You could have DIED!”