Page 43 of Blackheart

It did not take being the golden scholar of Lyonscliff to know that in order to overcome danger, you must become it. Being injured did me no good. I had to find a healer soon, or the puncture to my thigh may be the end of my freedom, and the rest of the Dark Natured with it.

Why couldn’t Clarke have done this years ago? Before the Waywards? Why wait until his dying days?

Kostini slept soundly a few feet away while I waited,and waited, and waited, andwaitedfor Riven to return.

Many hours passed, leaving the faintest moonlight coming through the canopy. No fire, no food, and more concerningly, no Riven. My teeth chattered, rivaling the wind howling against loose tree limbs. Had he not said that he wouldn’t be long?

I braced myself as I stood, cursing at the pain.

A gust of winter's wrath blew against me, and a sharp chill raced through me. Riven was out there somewhere with only his undershirt on.

I pulled over the pack Lord Ansel had given me, hoping there was food inside. As I opened the top flap, the aroma of pumpkin embraced me. My stomach rumbled, and I dug through the bag, grabbing the source of the smell—a muffin wrapped in crunchy brown parchment paper. I took a healthy bite, closing my eyes as vanilla, pumpkin, and sugar melted against my tongue.

It was large enough that I only ate half, not used to filling my stomach beyond need, which was fine. I would surely want the rest later. I peeked back into the bag and pulled out a black garment. It was a sweater, thick and softer than the one I had been wearing, with no holes or stains.

I put it on immediately. It was new. No one had ever worn it except forme.

There was more inside. At the bottom, folded up neatly, was a dark-heather blanket. I pulled it out eagerly, letting it unravel. Falling from the folds of the blanket was a little black orb, landing straight in my lap. Picking it up gently, I held the light weight of it in my hand.

I tapped the orb, and it stirred to life, emitting a calm, blue glow. The blanket buzzed, soft flashes of lightning bouncing within it.

It was warm—unnaturallywarm. Lord Ansel had imbued the blanket with his own Nature.

I took in the sight of the bag with the braided straps, the glowing orb, my new sweater, the half of a muffin I had left, and the blanket. They were the best gifts I had ever received. And they had come from a Witchlord.

None of it would go to waste. The orb would be especially useful in the darkness.

Now, where the hell was Riven?

Chapter 14

Kostini

“Drakers endure the harshest of disciplines. Hunt, blade, and their defiance against Dark Nature. Without it, they would surely fall.”

—A History of Defense, author unknown

My old sweaterwas ratty enough to tear a strip off to wrap around my wrist. Next, I gathered the upper half of my hair, securing it in a loose bun. I tore another strip from my sweater to wrap around the orb and attach it to my waist.

Kostini woke, shuffling to his tall stance. He whined abruptly, rushing me once again.

“I hope you had a good nap,” I mumbled, loading Riven’s bag first, then mine. Getting onto the damn horse by myself was going to be an obstacle. My thigh throbbed just standing, much less climbing.

Accepting that it would suck, I gave my best attempt to mount. Breathing like a mating boar, I pulled myself high enough to swing my bad leg around and plopped in the saddle. I let a string of curse words fly before I regained my composure.

I gathered the reins cautiously, unsure of exactly where to go.

Kostini did not share the same indecision. He took off.

Soaring through the woods, we were guided by nothing but the glow of the orb. We went completely off trail, weaving between trees and leaping over ditches. My long hair bounced behind me, the wild breeze kissing my face.

The breeze.Oh, how I had missed its true nature while within the walls. I didn’t care if the skin on my chest, legs, and fingers pricked at the temperature. I was riding horseback, on the run to Castivian, but free.

Free.

“We’re free,” I said to Kostini. He neighed and pushed faster, riding through the night. I laughed and said it over and over and over again.I’m free. I’m free. I’m free.

My orb began to flash gently, dimming. I tapped it, urging it to brighten. But it went dark, leaving only moonlight and the stars above. Kostini stopped and backed up a few steps.