Page 19

“ W hat the fuck?” Ridge snarls, snatching my arm as I round the corner in the hall.

Well, that certainly wasn’t expected.

I jerk my arm free, his anger unnerving me. “I had things to work out with Lamond.”

Ridge stares at me, his breathing uneven. “Yes, everyone could see that .” He bites out the last word, still keeping his voice low.

I could swear insecurity dances in those golden eyes of his. “I’m not following this. Are you jealous of Lamond?”

He takes a step closer to me, ignoring my question completely. “Do you know how reckless that was? What if he’d wanted to work out his feelings with you, too?”

I refrain from stumbling backwards as Ridge encroaches into my space. “Oh good, are you back to being temperamental? I was wondering when we’d be back here again.” I let that flame emerge in my eyes. “Answer the question.”

Ridge takes another step, my back lightly brushing against the wall. We’re breathing the same air at this point.

“I wouldn’t have thought twice if he’d so much as breathed toward you in anger, Aledrya. I would not have gambled you for even a moment.” He holds my stare, unblinking. “You can call that whatever you’d like, because I sure don’t have an answer for why I feel this way.”

It takes a few moments for his words to catch up with my racing mind. “That seems like a big leap from detesting my presence, no? ”

“Things change.” His voice turns gruff.

I can’t form a thought, let alone words. My hands tremble, so I place them on the wall at my back, searching for stability.

“What has changed?” My gaze dips to his mouth and stays there. Thoughts of those lips on mine pop into my head, making me blush. “Outside of allowing me a place to stay, I can’t say you’ve been very courteous toward me.”

“Hmm.” Ridge has yet to move an inch, still watching me like I could disappear at any moment. “It doesn’t really seem like you want someone to be courteous to you. Look how that’s worked out for Lamond.”

I angle my head, brow furrowing. “Neither one of you seems to trust me, and that’s an issue for me.”

Ridge’s eyes flare with challenge, his brow raising. “Is that so?” he purrs, leaning in another inch. “Ask me something.”

I baulk for a moment, before recovering. “Whose house did I stay at?”

“Mine,” he answers without hesitation.

Voices carry down the corridor, and I freeze. Ridge never takes his eyes off me, smirking while I wait for the hall to quiet once more.

“Thank you for the honesty,” I say softly, turning my attention back to him. “However, I’m truthfully a little confused by what you’re getting at.” My eyes inadvertently slip once again to his mouth before I force them to meet his gaze. “We’ve had quite a convoluted relationship so far.”

“Easy is boring,” he murmurs, and my thigh muscles tighten at his rolling timbre.

“Ridge,” I breathe, biting my lower lip. “This is too complicated.”

“How so?” His voice remains low, leaning in closer. The movement makes me draw in a sharp breath.

“You make me feel…” I trail off, attempting and failing to find the right words. “Frustrated. Exhausted. I feel like every time we make progress, the next day you act like you can’t stand to be near me.” Our eyes lock. “Just be straightforward, Ridge.”

His jaw tenses. From this close, I can see the conflict in his eyes .

“You can’t do that though, can you?” My voice has gone quiet, barely a whisper. “Because you don’t know what you want. For all your talk about me not having a grip on my emotions, it seems you don’t either.”

His hand flies up, cupping the back of my neck, forcing me to meet his hardened stare. “Perhaps you’re right about some of that,” he drawls, as if he hadn’t stolen my breath with a single movement. “I don’t know how I feel, and I’ll tell you why that is, Aledrya.” He drops his hold on the back of my neck, moving closer so his lips brush the shell of my ear. “I’ve never given a shit about impressing anyone, capturing anyone’s attention; but you live in my head, occupying all my thoughts.”

My gasp from the heat of his breath makes my cheeks flush even deeper red. Pulling his head back, he holds my gaze for a minute, neither one of us saying a word.

A husky laugh leaves him as he pushes off the wall, smirking down at me. “I’ve given you a lot to think about.” He flicks his gaze over me before meeting my eyes again. “I’ll wait until you’ve thought it over.”

I stand there, gaping at him for several more seconds, before he chuckles again. He steps forward, pushing a loose strand of hair behind my ear. His touch snaps me out of the daze. “We’re not done with this conversation,” I say with defiance.

He smiles. The first genuine, full smile I’ve seen from him. It feels like an eruption of warmth through my veins to bear witness to it. “I’ll be waiting.”

Forcing myself to move, I snake down the narrow hallways, away from Ridge. My feet have memorized the path, carrying me as my mind whirls. I elbow my way back to Deah and Lotog. Emmy shoves her way over as I do, bloodied, yet still grinning.

“Where were you? You missed my spar,” she pouts, making room for me beside her.

I offer a smile. “Sorry, got caught up talking.”

Deah leans forward to meet my eyes, eyebrows raised. She smirks and leans back, saying nothing. One of the smaller Novices is sparring with a younger officer as I scan the room. Ridge still isn’t back in his spot next to Laz, and for some reason, it doesn’t sit right with me.

Something that feels like light pressure washes over me. I swallow; I could have sworn it felt like the sleeping spell the officers used before Campout Weekend. I reach down our tether. Artemis?

Silence. Our tether is there, but it’s as if it’s gone dark, echoing in return. The hall feels chilled. I look around again, past the pair still sparring. Ridge is still nowhere in sight. Laz has disappeared too.

“Are your birds responding?” Trying to keep the panic out of my voice, I shift to face Deah and Emmy.

They both pause, no doubt reaching down their tethers. Deah shakes her head. Emmy crinkles her forehead. “No, Adonis isn’t.” Lines of worry form around Deah’s eyes.

I reach into my pocket for the stone that has brought me peace for the last weeks. I rub my finger over it, savoring its smooth and warm surface.

Alarm bells are going off in my head. As if in answer to my growing concerns, the walls of the training hall rattle. The room goes unnaturally silent; even the pair sparring freezes.

Emmy stiffens next to me. “What was that?” she whispers, voice trembling.

Where are you? Ridge’s alarmed voice slams into my mind, demand lacing every word.

I fight the quaking in my hands. I came back to the training hall. What is happening?

His reply isn’t immediate, and my pulse skyrockets.

A boom ricochets through the training hall, creating an uproar through the crowd. Rocks crumble from the ceiling, the walls shake at the impact. People shove backwards, avoiding rocks toppling, a thin layer of dust hanging in the air. I keep my eyes on the Block that leads to the Overhang.

Something long and dark slams into the Block again, causing more rocks to tumble .

“Can it break through that?” I ask Deah, still beside me, chaos surrounding us.

Her eyes are wide, staring ahead at the Block. “I don’t know…” She shakes her head, as if trying to clear her vision. “What is that?” she whispers, the serpent-like creature’s body coming back into view.

“Amphithere,” I breathe.

You want to help me take this monster down or what? Ridge says smoothly down the tether. I have Artemis, she’s safe and waiting for you.

“I have to go.” I grab Deah’s arm, turning her toward me. “I can’t stand back and watch.”

Where did you go? I press urgently, eyeing the exits.

Front entrance, the Amphithere has the Overhang totally impassable. It brought escorts, too. Ridge’s voice is clipped and direct.

Deah grabs hold of my hand before I can leave the training room. “Wherever you’re going, you’re not going alone.” Sheer determination shines in her eyes.

We take off for the exit, but I hear several footsteps behind us. Holding my pace, I swing around, finding Lotog, Emmy and Ingrid trailing us. Lotog sends me a lopsided grin. “Package deal, baby!”

They’ve brought a strange power that interferes with the tethers to our birds, Ridge growls, his urgency fueling me.

Barreling away from the training hall, the sound of falling rock haunts us throughout the snaking corridors.

Rounding the final corner before the entrance, an eerie silence fills the hall. It seems most have either been diverted to fighting or hiding. I slam my hand onto the Block that protects the front entrance, watching it fall away. Before I can venture a step, a deafening force of wind threatens to suck me back inside.

“You cannot go out there.” The voice is garbled by the wind. I rotate toward the source, staggering against the forceful power.

Lamond .

The wind whips around him like a vortex, kicking up small stones and dust as it does. “You are not ranked officers; you are not guards. It’s not safe for any of you,” he grunts, dragging his gaze to each one of us.

“What is happening?” Lotog reaches for my arm, fighting the cyclone encasing us into this hall.

Lamond finds my eyes again. “I have the power of wind. Now, close the Block and come back inside. That’s an order.”

Wrath ripples through my body. I don’t care about his order, all I want to do is get outside.

Artemis is out there.

Ridge is out there. My heart stutters on the immense fear that Ridge is outside while I’m in this power suck.

Why did Lamond drag me here, to the Ravels, if not to help protect it?

I narrow my eyes. “Stop this,” I demand, stumbling against the force shoving at my backside.

“I need to protect you. It’s for your own good.” His voice drops to a growl, brows crashing together. I can hear the desperation that lies behind his order.

Before I can stop it, power surges through my body, but this time, it’s unlike anything I’ve ever felt. It’s all-consuming. Exacting. It feels like a curse, seeking out a victim. A pulsating urge prickles my fingers, and I know without even looking that it’s not fire.

This is too numinous. Out of my control.

It’s something I’ve shoved down, deep within. Something I’d written off as too dark, too corrupt to be explored.

I’ve pulled the plug, tapped the emotion that feeds this strangeness; now the raging waters can’t be stopped. I may be new to my power, but I’m no stranger to darkness.

After all, darkness and I might have more in common than I’d realized.

I throw my arm sideways, a blast of power rains down with it. I pour all of my energy into it, focusing on getting away from him. The wind stops instantly .

“What the Beneath?” Lamond cries out, sagging against the stone wall. His breathing is harsh and uneven, eyes still swirling with rage. “You killed my power.”

Lotog’s eyes go wide, gawking at me. Deah freezes at my side. I feel a presence behind me, eyes piercing into my back. Turning, I face the door and find Ingrid gawking at me.

“You’re a Nullifier ,” she says, mouth agape. “The first in a thousand years.”

Thoughts circulate in my brain, but I clamp down on the questions. “We can dissect this more later. Right now, we need to go.” I push past Ingrid, desperate to get outside, the lump in my throat growing with every passing second.

Bursting through the door, I sag with relief to find Ridge with Artemis and Orion, waiting as promised.

Ridge narrows his eyes at me. “That certainly took long enough. Get on.” He points to Artemis. “Proximity eliminates the power dampening the tethers to our birds. You should be able to communicate with your birds out here.”

Reaching for my tether to Artemis as I mount, I’m relieved to feel it connecting her emotions to me once more.

Ridge’s harsh mask is back, long gone is the male I spoke with in the corridor. Oddly, it comforts me to see him back in his warrior mindset. Shadows cross the sky, and I look up to find Hans, Solay, and Adonis circling high above.

Ridge wastes no time giving orders, pointing toward the Pass. “You fly in. Attack alongside the officers already locked in combat. You do not dismount. You do not get in the way. You come to their aid when needed. Clear?”

“Yes, sir.” The group nods in unison, and Artemis begins beating her giant wings to follow Orion.

We take flight; it will only take us mere minutes to make it to the Pass. I spy dark clouds forming in the distance, despite the wealth of sun earlier in the day. Ridge’s face tells me he notices my rising concerns.

They’re summoning a dark power. We believe the king has possession of an ancient artifact from our realm, Ridge admits. The Unborn Vase was stolen right before the strange power appeared .

My throat feels constricted. The Unborn Vase?

Before he can answer, a black blur shoots between us, sending Orion and Ridge careening through the air in the other direction.

“ Ridge !” I screech as he and Orion plunge through the air. Ridge manages to retain his grip on Orion as the mighty bird flaps his wings against the drop. The fall has forced the bird belly up, the frozen dirt below threatening to swallow them up.

Even Orion’s formidable pinions do nothing against their fast-paced careening through the air; his talons slice through the air in desperation.

Ridge throws a hand out, palm side down; a rush of power flooding out, dirt and wind billowing in all directions. The force slows their descent, Orion tucks in his mighty wings for their impact. They land with a heavy thud, but Ridge takes the brunt of the blow.

They roll once, but Ridge springs to his feet immediately. He hurriedly checks Orion over before gesturing for the bird to take to the skies again. Once Orion takes flight, Ridge unsheathes his sword, stalking toward the chaos ensuing in the Pass.

A roar behind me forces my attention elsewhere. Turning in my seat, my eyes snag a sudden movement. Another Amphithere. I’d already forgotten how horrifying it was this close.

We need to get this thing away from the other Novices. Artemis clacks her beak and screeches at the Amphithere. Taunting it.

The others have mounted and ascended into the battle amongst the clouds; Hans swooping down at one of the Amphitheres as an officer launches arrows from the ground. Adonis dips low, picking off enemy lines.

My eyes gravitate to Ridge, who is locked in hand-to-hand combat with soldiers dressed in purple.

Torrent forces.

Behind you! I shriek toward his mind, seeing a soldier creeping from the woods. Ridge whirls around, slinging his free hand in the soldier's direction—ending his life without so much as touching him.

Everyone is in motion but us.

I have an idea, I tell Artemis. I’m going to need you to catch fire and barrel roll. Is that possible?

If you summon your fire, we would look quite threatening, she purrs.

Forcing myself to fill my lungs entirely, I call to my fire, begging it to boil to the surface. There is no anger to act as kindling; Lamond is not here to push my buttons. Ridge is not here to fuel my emotion.

There is only me.

Reaching deep, I latch onto a lump of ember that was previously imperceptible. Now, it feels like it radiates through my entire chest, trumpeting its glowing presence. When my skin prickles with delicious heat, lambent flames dancing there, the feeling exhilarates me.

Turns out, only me is more than enough.

Artemis hovers in the air, awaiting my answer. Down to the Pass, we’ll come up that way. You know where to aim?

She chortles and dives, so I assume that was a yes.

We fly faster than we’ve ever flown. She tucks her grand red wings into her sides, nosediving toward the earth. She pulls up, skimming the ground as she grows hot. Within seconds, flames are licking at my ankles, my knees, then my hips.

I take a deep breath, drawing that red-hot power from my core. The one I know without a doubt are my embers.

This better work, otherwise, our show was for nothing but a measly anecdote, Artemis’ growls, but her words do nothing to temper the burning hunger I feel to end this Amphithere.

We’re on fucking fire .

The feeling is thrilling.

Engulfed in the deepest red flame, we gain altitude quickly. Swinging around, my lips curl back into a smile to see the Amphithere trailing us, our inferno catching its attention .

Hold on. I don’t want to retrieve your carcass. Artemis clacks her beak. She ascends completely vertically, climbing to an altitude that makes my head spin. I grip one hand on her neck and bring one to the dagger at my side. I’ve never felt safer on the back of my Phoenix. The flames make us one.

I glance back one last time, pleased to find our plan taking hold. “Now!” I order, holding my dagger high.

Artemis stops beating her mighty wings, and we free fall. The rapid descent acts as an accelerant to our flame, momentum making the heat swell. She tucks her wings tighter in as she rolls, avoiding clamping down on my legs. We approach the Amphithere within seconds.

I loosen my grip on Artemis and say a silent prayer that this isn’t the daftest thing I’ve ever done. It feels as though a ticking clock is slowing time.

Tick . Tock .

Artemis reaches the Amphithere. I use her rolling momentum to fling myself toward the creature, summoning my power to retain the flames. My fire hums delightedly in response to my call.

I land on the top of its head, grabbing hold of its horns and locking my legs around its slender neck. The Amphithere thrashes against my flames, coiling and spiraling, its serpentine-like body made for this maneuver. I turn and will my fire to incinerate the feathers along its back. The monster roars in agony, falling faster than I had thought it would.

Tick . Tock .

The flames catch like a match in a dry forest, sending a blaze down the line of feathers along its spine. The Amphithere bucks against me, pitching us in all directions. I grasp my dagger, but my rapid movement sends the knife hurtling through the air.

A flash of white cuts in front of the creature, making it roar with displeasure. I can hardly comprehend the scene in front of me as Orion hooks long, piercing talons into the Amphithere’s face. Ridge unsheathes the sword at his back, slinging down with a ting .

Sword meets flesh, and the Amphithere becomes limp beneath me. Its serpent body is so pliant that Orion loses his grip.

I’m still latched on, and there is no way for Artemis or Orion to retrieve me. I release my grasp from the horns.

I’m hurtling through the air, looking for red flames through my stinging eyes.

Tick . Tock .

Gods, the ground is considerably closer than I’d realized.

Artemis swoops under me with mere inches to spare between her belly and the earth. Grasping onto her neck, I slide my body forward.

I’m alive . A grin burns my cheeks as I burst out into laughter.

The boom from the Amphithere crashing into the earth rattles me out of my momentary rush.

Do not get comfortable. We are not done, she instructs.

There are more ? Glancing up, my vision locks onto two more Amphitheres, engaged in battle with the others.

I draw a shaky breath, willing my power to hold out longer.

You need to get closer, I instruct her.

Aledrya, Ridge cuts in urgently, but I block him out. I can’t have distractions while flying this close to the other two Amphitheres.

We veer right, circling around the serpents as they dart between our fliers, spinning and snapping at the Phoenixes. They steer clear of the ones on fire, but follow after as if enamored by it.

Adonis is burning a bright orange, Deah hurling daggers from her back. The monsters flee from her blade and flame. I revel at how skittish the Amphitheres are of our inferno.

Prepare yourself, Artemis screeches and gains momentum toward the pair. I see Phoenixes darting in every direction, but I block it out until this task is done.

I pull deep from my stomach, letting the anger billow out like smoke. But what I’m calling for isn’t fire at all. I let that sinister sensation rise—Artemis burns like a hot red sun as she swan dives, aiming between them. She crosses the middle of the Amphitheres, and I push the power out in every direction I can .

A whoosh escapes me, and I sag over with the exertion of summoning my nullifying power. This strange magic feels leaden, like it takes every fiber of my being to call to it.

Both Amphitheres shriek, shriveling up before collapsing to the earth below. Something catches my eye as I watch their descent. I see Lotog plummeting, arms cast out in reach for a hold that won’t come, Hans screeching and trying to catch up to him.

The ticking clock starts up again, dangerously slow.

Tick . Tock .

A scream burns my throat. Lotog must have been in the area where I threw my power. Artemis dives after Hans, following his shrill cries as he trails his flier. A white flash below. I see Orion skimming the ground, racing toward Lotog.

He flings himself under Lotog’s body at the last possible second. They collide with a sickening crack .

Tick . Tock .

Artemis increases her speed, getting us to the ground within seconds. Shaking, tears already welling up, I dismount, gently approaching Orion and Lotog, who are sprawled on the grass. I pray the army of creatures and men attacking us are long dead by now, because out here, we’re sitting ducks.

Ridge appears out of nowhere, blood caked on his neck and face. He kneels next to Orion and Lotog, assessing them. “What happened up there?” he demands, eyes dark as he faces me.

“I—” I can’t even get the words out before a horrific cry escapes Hans. The bird collapses with wings sagging unnaturally, next to Lotog. His head protectively resting over Lotog’s chest.

Tripping over my own feet, it feels like an eternity until I make it to Lotog’s side. My heart remains perched, only to plummet as I take in his bloodied and bruised face.