Page 119 of Blackheart

She sat poised for an argument. “Unavailable’means unavailable. You will have to wait for your little Moonhill trip.” Crows flew back and forth outside the tall windows.

Xavian had not told me anything about being busy today. He told me hardly anything at all.

“What’s he so busy doing?” I pressed. Of course he had things to do, I just wanted to be included. He was the one who dragged me here in the first place. Over our few shared meals together, he had promised to discuss controlling the dreams and going over our inheritance. Neither of which had happened yet.

She considered her words carefully. “He’s spending the day tending to… personal affairs. Loose ends, I suppose, before the meeting in a few days.”

Personal affairs. I rolled my eyes and took another bite of muffin. So he was either caught up with Lady Fiera and her tears, or tangled in other matters I probably didn’t want to know about. Still, I was every bit as grown as he was, right down to the hour—and had more resources at my disposal than I could ever have imagined. I could just go to Moonhill on my own.

Amzee had offered to take me, but it could be weeks before I ran into her again, and I had no way of contacting her. I could ask Riven, but he would be busy training new recruits.

There was so much to be done. Everyone was busy, except for me. They had purpose. I did not. I would find mine if it was the last thing I ever did.

“Sounds like I’ll be going alone.” I patted the crumbs away and poured a glass of water from a silver pitcher on the counter.

Lady Jocelynn scowled. “You cannot go to Moonhill alone.”

“Why not?”

Shadows danced around the flowers and feathers adorning her hat, cascading off her dress and pooling on the floor.

“Because you are the Princess of Castivian, engaged to the heir of Whimcastor Hold. Are you really that dense?”

“Exactly. I’m the Princess of Castivian, and you believe you have the authority to tell me what I can and cannot do. Areyoudense?”

The shadows wrapped tighter around her like a protective blanket.

“Hm. Good luck, then. Would hate to hold the bladebreather chaser back.”

Now she was going to treat me like I was doing the work of a commoner? No, I would not stand for it. I would never again let anyone believe that my actions were beneath them.

“You’re coming with me.”

She laughed. “I amnotgoing to Moonhill.”

“Yes, the fuck you are.”

She glared, and for the first time, I think she truly despised me.

Three hours later, I rode horseback on Kostini, with Lady Jocelynn beside me on a black mare. We hadn’t spoken much, except for her making her displeasure known after I hadn’t been sure about which direction to go.

“That is why you should be studying your maps,” she’d lectured before taking the lead.

The trees around us swayed, as if waving hello and goodbye. Signs were nailed to posts every so often, pointing in the directions of various villages and small towns. The sky was a beautiful shade of blue, clear of clouds, and perfect for riding a bladebreather. I shuddered with excitement.

The final hour of our journey offered little to admire. Fewer villages and hardly any directionals until finally, there was a solitary plank nailed to a dying tree.

Moonhill.

I urged Kostini forward, catching sight of the clearing through the trees ahead. He seemed to sense my eagerness, and I leaned into his stride as he galloped. Lady Jocelynn did not share my enthusiasm and stayed trailing far behind.

Coming out of the woodline, there were open grass fields for miles. No houses or establishments.

Only bladebreathers, laying out in the sun and circling the skies in quick jaunts.

Black, red, blue, green, orange—every color of scales and fur.

My hands trembled. It was the very essence of my dreams—a landscape that could promise a better future. With the bladebreathers at our side, we could rescue the prisoners still trapped in the Waywards and forge vibrant new communities here. They were our chance to start anew.